by Marnie Perry
The sheriff said, ‘she’ll be missed around here, she was a friendly, affable soul,’ he grinned, ‘and she also gave great tips too…apparently, though I ain’t saying that’s why she’ll be missed.
Lando did not return his amusement, ‘well, as I said, I have to be getting back.’
‘Yeah, sure. Well, it was nice seeing you again, Jonas.’ Lomax sounded very sincere as he said this.
Lando nodded; again his reluctance to encourage anyone, even a man he liked and respected to get close to him prevented him from reciprocating. He simply nodded.
He turned away but Lomax’s hand on his bicep pulled him to a halt he turned back frowning with impatience as well as the touch and his frown deepened still further when Lomax said softly, ‘I know you won’t, but I have to say it anyway, if you’re ever in any trouble you know you can come to me.’ He squeezed Lando’s arm and stepped closer, ‘you have more friends here than you think, Jonas.’
Lando was rendered speechless by this statement, before he could find his tongue Lomax walked away leaving him standing there utterly amazed before he too turned and made his way back to the sleazy diner to make a phone call.
*********
Adela had a fun day in Eden. She had chatted with the man in the drugstore when she had gone in to look around. She had ended up buying $20.00 worth of toiletries she didn’t really need, but she felt compelled to after she had been treated so very nicely. She had had her lunch in one of the café’s and had been treated like a very important dignitary. News must travel very fast in Eden because the sheriff had found the time to put down his coffee mug and come over to speak to her while she ate.
He was a small stout man with brown (too brown to be natural) hair. He had told her that she was most welcome here in Eden and that she would be perfectly safe as there was very little crime. In fact they had not had a murder in Eden since 1993 and that had been very quickly and efficiently solved by his predecessor with the help of his deputy at the time, who she just happened to be talking to right now.
Adela had congratulated him and said that she did indeed feel very safe. He told her that if she had any problems whatsoever she was to call him immediately, he gave her his own personal cell phone number as well as that of his office. She had been deeply touched and thanked him very graciously. He was beaming as he left the café telling her to have herself a nice day now.
She loved that expression and decided that when she got home she was going to tell everyone she met to “Have themselves a nice day now.”
She thought about what he’d said about being safe and recalled Olivia saying that she herself would never be safe anywhere, she hoped she was wrong and that she was safe now. It seemed that everything she did and heard reminded her of Olivia. She wandered around meeting and chatting to almost everyone she met until the heat became rather overpowering. She decided to head back to her cabin and have a little nap. Smiling and happy she made her way back to her cabin. She did not notice a pair of blue eyes watching her intently, nor see the mouth that curved up in a smirk or the man who followed her along the street and into the woods.
It was a little after 4.00 clock when she arrived back at the cabin just as she put her key in the lock she heard ‘hello there.’ She turned to see the family she had seen coming back from the beach when she had first arrived the day before.
She said, ‘hello.’
The whole family came walking towards her. The mother held out her hand and said, ‘my name is Angela Carter, this is my husband Paul, and these two little terrors are our sons, Scott and James.’
Adela included the boys in her hand shakes which amused them no end. ‘My name is Adela Faraday and I’m very happy to meet you, terrors and all.’
They looked askance at her obviously surprised as most people were by her accent. The two children giggled as small children do, especially boys, it was required of them.
Paul said, ‘you’re English.’
‘Yes, I’m here on holiday.’ She went through the same routine that had become part of her litany now, telling them about her tour etcetera.
They all stared fascinated as she spoke, especially the children.
They invited her to join them on their porch for lemonade; she was tired but did not want to refuse their gracious offer, so she put the idea of a quick nap out of her mind and joined them on their porch with the brightly coloured awning, which was a feature of all the cabins giving them shade. She was glad she had accepted their invitation because she spent a very pleasant afternoon with them, relating stories of their respective homes. They told her they were from Indiana, and like most American people she had met since she’d been here, had relatives or friends in the “Mother land” as some people called it, and always asked if she knew them then seemed disappointed and sometimes rather disbelieving when she said she didn’t.
The Carter’s broke off their conversation on occasion to call out a hello to people as they passed. They had explained that they had been coming here every year for the past five years and knew most of the locals. They were nosy and inquisitive, a little too nosy perhaps but she liked the Carters very much and felt rather guilty when she thought that knowing these people would come in useful if unwelcome visitors came calling. Her own neighbours at home were not the sort you could ask for help, they more often than not either ignored her or complained about the noise her mother made, especially late at night when she had come home from the pub very drunk and knocked over dustbins and threw up in their gardens.
At one point Angela said, ‘oh there’s someone new, I wonder if he’s taking the empty cabin next to us.’
Adela turned but could only make out the back of a tall, dark haired man wearing jeans and a black T-shirt heading into the woods. She said, ‘don’t tell me he’s someone you don’t now?’
They all laughed then little Scott said that he was hungry and Angela ruffled his hair and said that it was very nearly time for dinner, Adela took the hint and rose to leave, but Angela waved her back into her seat saying, ‘you’ll join is of course, Adela.’
‘Oh no, I couldn’t impose, I have food in the…
She was interrupted by Paul, ‘no good arguing, Adela, once Angela has made up her mind it stays made up, so get used to it.’
Adela laughed, ‘well, if you’re sure.’
They assured her that they were and that was that. The meal was lovely and when it was time for the kid’s bedtime she read them a story which sent them to sleep, Adela didn’t know whether to be complimented or insulted, but Angela and Paul were very pleased.
Eventually she said, ‘well, I really should be going I’ve been travelling quite a lot and this heat makes one very tired, I’m still getting acclimatised to it.’ They laughed and said that by the time she went home she would be much acclimatised to it. Paul said that she must visit Indiana next time and maybe she could visit Illinois and Kentucky and the other states which surrounded their own. She said that they would be next on her list of places to visit and she meant it.
She thanked them for the meal and their company and midst see ya’s and invitations to call on them at any time, Adela left. She remembered that she had not called Martin and Sally today. She had last called them three days ago informing that she was enjoying herself but not since. She kicked off her shoes, pulled off her clothes and lay down on the bed wearing just her underwear, safe in the knowledge that there were people around her who would not hesitate to come to her aid.
**********
Hennessey had checked into the small hotel asking for a room overlooking the street so that he could watch her as she moved about. He called Glissando informing him that he was in Mississippi and on his way to confront The Target, Glissando did not say much only acted as though Hennessey was telling him something he already knew, but Hennessey knew he was secretly delighted that he was closer to Desi. Hennessey hung up without saying goodbye and lay thinking about The Target and making plans. He had the perfect place to take her, after all h
e had lived not far from here for the first nine of his thirty three years and knew the area very well, he also had the perfect spot for the interrogation.
He did not know it but he awoke at almost the exact same time as Adela on her first full day in Eden. He had slept longer than he intended, he usually only needed four hours to get by but he had slept for six. He must be getting old he thought with a wry smile.
He showered and dressed and headed out to the café where he enjoyed a big breakfast. He hardly ever suffered from pre- hit nerves; in fact he couldn’t even remember the last time he had been even slightly nervous, on the contrary, plotting his strategy and preparing to head out to a job always gave him a healthy appetite.
Feeling buoyed up with expectation he left a generous tip and headed out to his car.
The sun was very bright even this early in the morning; it was going to be another scorcher.
He had caught his first glimpse of her as she exited the café the day before. He had seen the fat cop talking to her; he saw her smiling and laughing with him and with the waitress. He sat on the seat by the bus stop as though waiting for a bus; he raised his newspaper as she walked by wearing a big blue hat with flowers around the brim. It was not the same hat the two goons had described so she must have discarded that one and bought this new one. But like most people she had not been able to resist buying one almost exactly the same. People were creatures of habit, thank goodness; he had planned many a hit relying simply on people’s inability to discard their habits. He got to know how they thought, how they felt, what they liked and disliked, they were his prey and he the hunter.
So like the tiger he watched his prey as she walked down the street looking in shop windows as she went. He could not see her face too well because of the hat, but she had incredibly long hair. It was a kind of golden brown colour and very thick, the plait she had tied it into was as thick as his wrist. She was not tall but she carried herself straight, her shoulders back and her head held high showing off her long slim neck, a neck very easy to snap in two no doubt. He looked down at his hands as he thought that. He had snapped the necks of two men in his life, he hadn’t much cared for it, but it had been necessary at the time. He wondered what it would feel like to have The Target’s neck between his fingers. He thought about Glissando’s request to kill her. Maybe that would be the way to go; perhaps it would be quicker for her, but quicker than a bullet? Perhaps if he came from behind and did it, took her by surprise, she would think he was going to shoot her since he had a gun.
He shook himself, what was he doing thinking about the best and quickest way for her to die? First he had to get the information from her; he would deal with the rest later.
When she headed for the woods he knew she was making her way back to her cabin. He would follow her and get the lay of the land.
He meandered through the woods as though enjoying a walk in the sunshine. He sat on one of the benches where people were having lunch, either on the other benches, on their own chairs or on the grass. Her back was to him and she saw her talking to the couple with the kids. He didn’t much like that, the couple seemed to know everyone and that was sometimes a bad thing. They were the sort to notice a stranger and were those kind hearted people who felt it their duty to lend a hand in times of trouble.
Never mind, he would deal with them if they interfered, them and anyone else who got in his way.
He watched surreptitiously as she talked to the couple, she gesticulated a lot with her hands and threw back her head when she laughed which was kinda sexy, as was her laugh.
He noticed the woman with The Target looking his way so rose and headed back towards the town.
He did not think that she would come back into town today and he did not want to risk going back to her cabin tonight. No, tomorrow would be soon enough to follow her, she seemed to like wandering around by herself and with a bit of luck he would get her alone at some point.
He opened his bag and took out a book he always carried with him, that and the map of the world. This one was a collection of poetry by assorted poets and was very dog eared and scruffy now. He lay down on the bed, opened the book and found his favourite poem, The Lady of Shallot. He had read it maybe three hundred times, perhaps more and every time it stirred and yet saddened him in a way he could never decipher, and maybe he didn’t really want to. To understand why the poem did what it did to his emotions might somehow spoil how he felt about it, make it ordinary.
He read until he realised he was hungry so went downstairs out of the hotel and across the street to the diner where he ate a very nice meal of fried chicken and rice.
After he’d eaten he made his way to the local bar where he enjoyed three beers, the most he’d had in a long time, his limit was usually two. He had seen what drink did to people and he prided himself on the fact that he never let anything dull his senses in that way. The same with sex, he limited the time he spent with anyone. He had not had a serious relationship, in, well, ever. He came and went as he pleased, he smiled at the pun. Relationships were not for men like him, for men who lived as he did relationships were restricting, unnecessary, dangerous. He liked sex and that’s all he asked of a woman, just sex. Although he never went with prostitutes, he didn’t like paying for something he could easily get for free; he never had any trouble finding a woman to share his bed for the night. But he was not selfish; he gave as much as he received, but never more.
He respected women, to a certain extent; he just didn’t want or need one in his life. He never let himself dwell on the thought that maybe it wasn’t a matter of not wanting or needing a woman in his life but of not being able to have one. He had long since accepted that he would live and die alone and told himself that he preferred it that way.
He drank his beers and talked to the bartender then made his way back to the hotel, as he did so he looked towards the woods and The Target’s cabin, He smiled to himself, get a good night’s rest Miss. Target, it may well be the last peaceful one you have.
**********
In the morning Adela woke bright and early invigorated and ready to start another day in Mississippi. Her first thought was as always of Olivia and wondering how she was and had she got to France okay and was she one her way to Spain perhaps, or Italy. Still thinking of Olivia she showered and dressed in shorts and a pale blue T-shirt, the same colour as the hat, with white frills around the cuffs and neckline. She then made herself breakfast of egg and bacon then after cleaning her teeth and donning her hat and sunglasses she headed out.
The curtains to the Carters cabin were still closed so they either weren’t up yet or they were still getting themselves ready to leave. She had enjoyed herself with the them the day before and felt awful as she hoped that they would not insist on her accompanying them on their excursions today. They were going into Gulfport to the beach for the day and she wanted to explore. But she would avoid the woods just yet she would leave them for another time; she hated to admit that she still felt a little apprehensive about being alone in a secluded area, but she did. But every hour she spent here she felt better and was becoming more and more at ease; still she wouldn’t tempt fate just yet.
She walked down the path and through the woods; she was half way through them when she saw the Youngs coming towards her. They said good morning and asked how she was finding her cabin, was it comfortable and so on?
They chatted for a while then they made their way back to their cabin and Adela to the town. She called in to see Dean Maxwell in the bookstore and was persuaded, not that she needed much persuasion, to stay for a cup of tea. They talked and laughed and she spent a very nice forty five minutes there leaving him with a promise to call back later for more tea and chat.
She walked down the street saying hello to almost the same people she had greeted the day before. She saw a bus coming down the road towards her with a sign that said, “Biloxi.” She had seen in her book that Biloxi was a pleasant place to visit, with lots of things to see and do and only
two miles or so from here. She also recalled that the author John Grisham set some of his novels in Biloxi and thought she would like to see some of the settings for his stories. She was quite close to the bus stop and on impulse put out her hand hoping that the bus would stop for her. It did and she got on, thanking the driver for stopping in an unscheduled place. He told her she was welcome and she paid the fare.
There were only four people on the bus and she smiled at them all as she sat down and they smiled back. She sat next to a woman in her early fifties who told her she was going to visit her son in prison. Adela told her that she was very sorry to hear of her troubles, but the woman said it was no trouble for her and her son deserved everything he got. If you dance with the devil you’re bound to get your feet burnt. Adela wanted to laugh, but the woman was very serious so she just nodded. But she was to remember the woman’s words later.
The other three people talked to her about the area she was visiting and told her places of interest that she simply had to see and before she knew it they were in Biloxi. She said goodbye to her fellow travellers and the driver and got off the bus.
This part of Biloxi seemed to be a very busy area with lots of people around and seemed to have a lot of casinos and bars advertising jazz music, she could actually hear strains of the saxophone all along the street.
Unlike her brother David, she was not a huge fan of jazz, not that she would tell anyone around here that was for sure, she would probably get beaten up. She strolled along until she found a quieter area and could enjoy herself window shopping. She popped into several shops and bought a pair of cuff inks shaped like a saxophone for David and a very pretty pair of pearl earrings for Sally. She looked around for something for Daniel but couldn’t seem to find any swastika cuff links. Never mind, she would think of something before she left.