by Blue,Marina
Melody froze. As her heart fluttered, the words echoed in her head. Fifty. Five. Thousand. Dollars! “Are you kidding me? That’s incredible! So this means you’re my lawyer again, right?”
“Yes, Melody, it does.”
Melody beamed. It was true. This was fantastic news. “Alright, thanks so much. When can we get the funds into my account?”
“That’s why I’m calling. Immediately!”
“Immediately?” Melody’s mind raced. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. One second ago, everything seemed lost, but all of a sudden, here was a lifeline. “Really?”
“Yes,” Celia said. “So long as you get down here by ten o’clock.”
And just like that, all the elation Melody felt collapsed. “Tonight? But I’m singing tonight.”
“Cancel it. These funds are wrapped up in an offshore account, and I need to send the bank your notarized signature to seize them. Now, I’ve managed to convince the notary to stay in the office until the banks close in four hours, so you got to move. Besides, this thing with your husband, if he discovers we’ve found a stash of his money, he’s liable to move it. We have to do this quick, or we’ll have nothing.”
“Ok. But first I have to-”
“No,” Celia said. “You have to get here immediately.”
“Ok, but I’m over three hours away.”
“Right. You’re on vacation. Wait, which road are you taking?”
“The I-93.”
“No good,” Celia said. “There was an accident. It’s bumper-to-bumper both ways.”
“Thank you! I’ll take the Coastal Highway instead. If I speed I should get there in about three hours and forty-five minutes.”
“Great! But I’m not kidding, Melody. Get moving. If you’re even one minute late you’ll lose everything. Do you understand?”
Melody looked at the Coeur de Mer. It was still Pearl’s.
For now.
Melody had to save it. If she didn’t, no one would. No one could. This was the only way to repay the woman who’d raised her. She turned the car away from Rick’s, the ocean, and Knox, and said, “I’m on my way.”
Chapter 32
Melody rocketed up the steep road that led out of town, taking the winding turns quick and sharp. Behind her, Craving Cove was already shrinking. As she took the final turn she could see the tunnel that emptied into the outside world.
But then she realized she needed to let Rick know she’d be leaving.
Fumbling with her phone, she called his number.
It rang once before a frantic Rick answered. “Hello?”
“Hi Rick, it’s Melody.”
“Melody! There you are! When are you going to get here? The band’s already warmed up, and the place is packed! Plus there’s a guy from-”
“I’m sorry, Rick. I can’t make it tonight. I’ve got a thing with my husband. I’m heading back to the city. Back home.”
“You’re heading home?” He sounded shocked.
“Yes. Now listen, can you tell Knox I’m sorry I can’t tell him in person, but I won’t be coming back tonight because… Hello? Hello?” Melody's headlights automatically turned on as she drove into the tunnel. “Damn. No reception.” Melody tossed the phone onto the passenger’s seat, and grabbed the wheel with both hands. She stepped on the gas, and rocketed through the tunnel like a bullet. When she came out of the other end it was already dark. The trees looked blacker. Bleaker, too. And the road ran straight down the steep hill towards the highway.
Melody's phone rang. It had to be Rick calling back. She reached over to grab it.
But then suddenly a beeping car horn cut through the night. And from behind, a pair of headlights lit up.
Melody squinted as she peered into the rearview. “Go around, jerk.”
And the car did. It swerved into the oncoming lane and gunned its engine. It rolled up onto her flank, and matched her speed, so the two cars were side-by-side on the steep hill. Inside, the driver was wearing a black jacket and a baseball cap. He was young. Pale. And as he turned to look at Melody, she could see brand new stitches on his cheek.
Melody’s heart leapt. “Sparrow!”
The young man smiled. And jerked his wheel to the right. The car he drove slammed into Melody, sending her swerving onto the rocky shoulder.
Melody stomped on the brakes.
Sparrow shot ahead of her, and she pulled back onto the road.
Melody was terrified. Her heart was beating faster than the bass in those electronic dance clubs.
All she could do was slow down.
Sparrow did the same, and as he hit his brakes, the two red lights on the rear of his car glowed angry, like the eyes of a dragon. As Melody stared into them, her mind raced. She searched her options. She only had three.
She could stop completely, which would only make it easier for Sparrow to catch her.
Or maybe she could make a quick U-turn. Then she’d race back to the cove for help. But then she’d lose the only chance she had of saving the Coeur de Mer.
Which left only one option. If she wanted to save her own life, and the childhood home she grew up in, the only way she could go was forward.
So she wiped the few beads of sweat off her brow. And Melody jammed down the gas. Her car shot forward, straight towards the rear of Sparrow’s black sedan.
Sparrow stared in his rearview mirror. And he realized what Melody was doing. He squeezed his wheel and screamed, “Oh my God, you crazy bitch!”
And Melody rammed him from behind.
Sparrow’s head snapped back. The impact knocked his car forward, sending him careening meters away from her front bumper.
“You’re crazy!” he yelled.
Melody couldn’t hear him. But even if she could, it wouldn’t matter. She pressed the gas down again. Her car sped up, nearing his back bumper.
Sparrow grabbed his wheel tightly. He braced for the impact. And as Melody approached, he clamped his eyes shut.
But at the last second, Melody yanked the wheel to the left. She zipped past him in the oncoming lane, and barreled down the steep road at top speed.
A few seconds passed and Sparrow opened his eyes. He saw Melody was twenty yards away, and moving fast.
“Son of a bitch!” He slammed on his gas, and raced after her.
Melody looked in the rearview mirror and laughed. “Idiot.” But then she stopped the celebration because one hundred feet ahead, the road just stopped, and forked left and right at ninety degrees. If she turned left, she’d be going the wrong way. If she went right, she’d be heading to the highway and safety.
But if she went straight, she’d crash through the metal guardrail and fly off a forty-foot cliff. And she was going too fast to do anything but that.
Melody eased off the gas, and pumped the brakes. The road ended in fifty feet.
Suddenly, a loud crunch shook Melody’s car from behind. She looked back. Sparrow was tight on her tail. He gunned his gas again, and knocked her forward, faster than before.
Melody was already driving too fast. Unless she slowed down she’d be killed for certain. So she slammed on her brakes. Her tires locked up. And with only twenty feet left, she started to slow down.
But Sparrow kept on the gas. He pushed her forward, and both cars sped back up, faster than before. And in seconds, the guardrail, and the cliff beyond, stood mere feet in front of Melody’s car.
It was too late for her to stop.
But behind her, Sparrow hit his brakes, turned his wheel, and spun to a stop in the intersection. Right as Melody crashed through the guardrail. She kept the brake depressed, but she still bounced down the rocky dirt patch quickly. All she could do was look on in horror.
And a few seconds later, the car flew off the cliff’s edge, and crashed forty feet below.
#
Once Sparrow’s car was stopped, he threw it in park, and jumped out. He slipped on the tiny rocks on the road, and fell on his chest. But the young man immediately leapt to hi
s feet, and ran to the edge of the road. He leaned out, and looked down over the cliff’s edge.
Below him, Melody's car was on the rocky floor. It was upside down, and a small fire burned on its belly sending a thick line of black smoke towards the starry sky.
Sparrow blinked a few times. And as his eyes adjusted, Melody’s car exploded in a bright ball of flames.
Sparrow smiled. He’d finally killed Melody Song.
Chapter 33
“Hello, counselor?” Sparrow said. “It’s me.”
The counselor said, “Is it done?”
“Yep. I drove her off the cliff.”
“So she’s dead?”
“Yes. Melody Song is no longer a problem.”
“You’re certain?”
“Like I said, I watched her go over the cliff myself, and that’s a forty foot drop. Plus, nobody crawled out before it blew up. So yeah, she’s dead.”
“But you didn’t see the body?”
“Listen here, when you murder someone by driving them over a cliff, it’s usually frowned upon to go down and check their pulse. Especially since it was directly…” Sparrow stopped speaking normally, and instead shouted into the phone, “Next to the freeway!”
“Point taken. But Mr. Waters will not be pleased it wasn’t verified.”
“Then you can tell Mr. Waters that next time he can take the garbage out himself. And I can stay home and drink brandy in front of a fire.”
“Tell him yourself.” The counselor hung up the phone. Melody was dead. Part of him cursed the need for this level of violence, but mostly he was thrilled. This was, in every conceivable way, great news. Still, his eyes got misty. Which was strange. Every single problem he was facing had just vanished. The deal would go through smoothly. Craving Cove would go broke, and every single citizen would either be evicted, or eventually sell their property to Coldwater at a fraction of the cost. Then Mr. Waters would start drilling for whatever he wanted, probably oil, and he’d get a huge bonus. The counselor would never need to work again. Maybe he’d take an extended holiday to go whoring in Thailand or Laos…
After all, now he was free.
Still though… the way it all came about. It seemed so cold.
But he pushed down the emotion. And swallowed hard. It was stupid, feeling bad for her. Be a man. Suck it up. The counselor called his employer, and a familiar receptionist’s voice said, “Mr. Waters’ office.”
“It’s me, put him on.”
“Right away, counselor.”
A few seconds ticked by. Then Mr. Waters said, “Hello? Goat?”
“It’s me,” he said. “And it’s done. You won’t be hearing from Ms. Song ever again.”
“That’s good. Then set everything else into motion, and recoup the bait. I don’t want to lose any assets.”
“You’re sure? It seems like maybe we’ve done enough.”
“Waste not, want not. Your job is to protect all of my property. Even the small stuff. Understand?”
“Yes. I’ll take care of it immediately.” The counselor clicked on his laptop. And went to hang up the phone.
“Oh, one more thing,” Mr. Waters said.
The counselor put the phone to his ear. “Yes?”
There was a pause. And out of what could only be a smile Mr. Waters said, “Great work.”
Chapter 34
Melody Song lay on the ground, mere meters away from the broken guardrail. Somewhere above the sound of a motor revving was followed by a car pulling away. Melody’s mind raced.
What just happened?
She sat up and looked around. She was on the dirt. The hill was rocky, and steep. Below her, a car was on fire. And the memories flooded back into her mind.
Sparrow had attacked her. Pushed her through the guardrail and over a cliff. But at the last minute she’d managed to open the door and roll out. Thanks to the darkness, and the shrubs around her, Sparrow obviously hadn’t seen it happen. Otherwise he’d be climbing down to finish the job, instead of driving away.
So she was safe. For the moment. Melody crawled back to the road. When she got there she felt her head and checked her hand.
No blood. That was something.
But then it hit her… The appointment at Celia’s!
Now how would she make it? Without a car, or a phone, she would never get there in time. It was hopeless. She looked back at the highway. Just three and a half hours of fast driving. That’s all she needed. And she’d have been at Celia’s law office to sign the papers and save Pearl's house. Her home. She made two tight fists with her hands. God damn you Sparrow! I swear the next time I see you I’ll-
A long horn blast cut through the night air.
Melody turned to it.
Grumbling up the hill towards her was a large vehicle. The way its engine roared, and the chains dragging behind it clanked, made it sound like a lioness that had broken out of the zoo. As it got closer, Melody could make out the logo on the hood.
Joe’s Storm - Salvage and Tow.
The tow truck came up next to her and stopped. The guy behind the wheel had a salt and pepper beard so thick she couldn’t tell if he had lips. His eyes though, they were soft. Kind. “You ok, Miss? I saw your car go over the edge and thought you’d be dead.”
“I’m fine. The car’s… not.”
“Was there anyone in there?” He looked down at the line of torn shrubs.
“No,” Melody said. “Just my cellphone.”
“Well, thank the good Lord for that.”
Melody smiled. “You are one optimistic man.” She looked back down the hill. “I may be fine, but my mom… My aunt really, she won’t be.”
“Why’s that?”
“I have to get to the city to pick up some money to save her home and business. Now I’ll never make it.”
“The city? I’m headed there myself. And late for an important date.”
“What’s going on?”
“My daughter’s giving birth.” And somehow, through those whiskers that were thicker than fog, he beamed a bright smile. “It’s my first granddaughter.”
“Congratulations,” Melody said.
“Don’t congratulate me, girl,” he said. “Hop in. We got some road to eat, and I’m not sparing the whip!”
Melody thought about the offer. Then she ran around the truck, opened the door, and hopped in. Next to the man was a bag full of toys. Inside it was a pink bunny, a tiny tutu, and some small, pink socks.
The guy threw his truck into drive, and fired forward, cruising down the ramp towards the freeway at top speed.
Melody buckled her belt and said, “Don’t get pulled over.”
“Oh, there’s no chance of that.” He pat the CB radio hanging off his dashboard. “This thing’s busted, but I used the one back in my office to let the troopers know I was coming through full speed. I go back a ways with most of them, so they’re giving me clear sailing down the I-93.”
“The I-93? We’ll never make it,” Melody said. “There was an accident there a couple of minutes ago. Take the Coastal Highway.”
He glanced over at Melody. “Really? Wow, you just saved my night. What’s your name?”
“Melody Broo- Song. Melody Song. And you are?”
“I’m Joe,” he said. “Pleased to meet you. What do you do, Melody?”
“I’m a singer.”
“Oh, you’re the one who just got a job at Rick’s!” Joe turned onto the highway, but stayed in the right lane, prepping to take the first exit.
“Yeah, how did you know?” Melody asked.
“All the sailors are talking about you. Word is your pipes are pure gold.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. Wait, you’re a sailor, too?”
“Kind of. I do large junk and refuse transfers. My ship, the Storm, can haul fifty tons of scrap from one shore to another.”
“If I ever have a couple tons of wreckage to haul I’ll let you know.”
“You do that, darling. And I’ll wave
the fee seeing as how your advice is going to get me to my granddaughter’s birth.”
“Sure thing.” Melody looked at the toys. “So your daughter’s having a little girl?”
“Maybe. She didn’t check the gender.”
“What?” Melody picked up the tutu. “Then why all the pink dresses?”
Joe smiled again, right through his beard. “Just a feeling, I guess. I liked raising a little girl. They’re the most amazing things I’ve ever seen on this planet. Strong. Smart. Able to do anything they put their minds to.”
As they put the miles behind them, Melody smiled. “Damn right.”
Chapter 35
“Melody! Melody! Melody!” The crowd at Rick’s was going crazy. There were roughnecks, fishermen, bankers, and even students from the nearby college. The place was packed.
So it was with a heavy head that Rick took the stage. “Hello Craving Cove!” he said.
And the whole place got louder. Rowdier.
“Woooo!”
“We want Melody!”
Rick put his hands up. “Hi everybody. I know you’re all here to see Melody Song.”
There were more cries.
More shouts.
“But I’m afraid I have some good news, and some bad news.”
And the room went quiet. There was that sense floating through it, the way cigarette smoke used to cover bars, that a worst fear was about to be realized.
“Yeah,” Rick said. “Thanks. So Melody isn’t here tonight.”
“Boooo!”
“You suck!”
“Bring on Melody! Melody! Melody!”
Rick put his hands up again. “Come on now, I know you’re disappointed. I am too. But there is good news!”
The crowd calmed down again. Everyone cocked an ear.
“And that good news is…” Rick smiled, and pointed to the bar. “A free pitcher of draft beer for every table!”
There was still some fussing. One large sailor said, “There’s five of us here, a pitcher won’t do squat!”