by Rayna Morgan
Lea hesitated to show the photo Pat had furnished, but figured he’d seen worse.
She held up her phone. “This is the only picture I have.”
He leaned closer to the picture and clucked his teeth. “What happened to her? She didn’t look like that when I knew her.”
“That’s the reason she’s on the streets. Her abusive husband left her penniless.” Lea was excited to hear he recognized Mary. “What can you tell me about her?”
He shook his head, dismayed. “She relayed stories about a wonderful husband who died of cancer. I wished I’d known. I might have been more comfort.”
Lea looked at their surroundings. “You care about these people, don’t you?”
“People in the river bed regard each other as family.”
“Is she still here?”
“That’s the reason I didn’t recall the name. She left weeks ago. I haven’t seen her for some time.”
“Do you have any idea what became of her?”
“Either she got off the streets, or she moved to a different encampment. There are several popular sites around the county.”
Disappointment rippled across Lea’s face.
“But if she don’t have a car,” he added, “there’s only one within walking distance.”
Lea perked up. “Where would that be?”
“Over by the Avenue.” He pointed toward an area on the other side of the bridge.
Lea’s heart sank.
The Avenue was an area local people avoided, and for good reason. Nevertheless, her resolve to find Mary held firm.
She whistled for Gracie. “We’ll get out of your hair. I appreciate your help, Tiger.”
“You never gave the reason you’re looking for Mary.”
Lea hesitated, unsure of what to disclose. But he’d been open with her, and she felt he deserved an answer.
“I’m worried she picked up her husband’s bad habits and resorted to violence herself. She’s suspected of making threats against a friend of mine.”
Tiger pulled out the stub of a cigarette and struck a match.
“This is a reason I enjoy living here. You can smoke and drink.” He took a drag on his cigarette. “You live in a shelter, no smoking and no booze. You’re in bed by nine and up at six.”
He used the remaining stub to light the last cigarette and then looked longingly at the empty pack.
“Your friend don’t happen to be a cop, does she?”
The air was suddenly charged with tension. “As a matter of fact, she is. How did you guess?”
“Mary never spoke bad of this so-called abusive husband you claim she had, but she has no good feelings about the po-leez.”
He drew out the word disrespectfully and spit on the ground.
Lea shivered and Gracie’s ears perked up.
Is the alley cat about to emerge? Lea wondered.
“Tell me more,” she said in a raspy voice.
Sensing her discomfort, he let the moment pass while he blew smoke rings.
“The way Mary told it, the police hassled her for making too much noise. The landlord didn’t look favorably on her attracting cops. She ended up getting kicked out of the place she lived.”
Lea felt like laughing at Mary’s version of events. “Do you think she carries a grudge against the police?”
“From the way she talked, I’d say yes.”
“Any officer in particular?”
“The one who arrested her for disturbing the peace.”
Lea caught her breath. “Would you happen to remember the officer’s name?”
“For one thing, it was a woman.” He scratched his head. “Let me think.”
Lea waited silently as he stared into space.
“It reminded me of fishing,” he said, when he finally looked back.
“Fisher? Pat Fisher?”
“That sounds about right.”
“Did Mary tell you what she planned to do?”
“Yep. She planned to get even.”
• • •
Tiger walked Lea and Gracie to the edge of the camp and helped her climb the embankment.
“You won’t be bringing your cop friend, will you? I’m not suggesting we’re doing anything wrong, but my friends don’t care for the heat snooping around asking questions.”
“If I find Mary, there won’t be a need.” She reached out her hand. “Thanks again for your help.”
“No problem. I hope you keep Mary out of trouble.”
Before he left, Gracie sat in front of him and raised a paw.
He leaned over and shook the dog’s foot. “Like I say, she’s mighty well trained.”
After watching Woody shuffle off in the direction of his shack, Lea leaned against her car to empty dirt from her shoes and pull burrs from her socks. Looking woefully at the grass stickers in Gracie’s tail, she considered going home to change clothes and brush the dog.
“What do you think, girl? Home for a cleanup?”
Gracie lowered her head.
Lea suggested another course of action. “Or shall we use Tiger’s information to find Mary?”
The dog barked with excitement.
“Just as I expected,” Lea said.
She opened the back of the car and the dog jumped in.
“Stickers are no deterrent for my canine sleuth.”
• • •
After her visit to Hobo Jungle, Lea stopped by the office.
“You must be having an interesting day,” her father observed from his seat at the reception desk.
She kept her head down as she walked past. “Why do you say that?”
He pointed to footprints on the floor. “You’re tracking dirt.”
She gulped. “Sorry. I’ll clean up the mess.”
He held up Gracie’s tail and pointed to the stickers.
“I hope you didn’t pay that groomer. He did a lousy job.”
She couldn’t think of anything to say.
CHAPTER TEN
Redevelopment efforts in the area known as the Avenue included construction of a community center and improvements to the park. As a result, the neighborhood was pleasant enough during the day when residents made use of a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and a swimming pool. A person might almost believe it was the success story the city proudly claimed.
But the area continued to be plagued by poverty. The main component of the residential section was old, run-down housing. Retail consisted of small mom-and-pop businesses. A biker bar at one end was a known hangout for drug dealers. Proximity to downtown Buena Viaje provided shoplifting and panhandling opportunities for the homeless or criminal elements.
At night, when the underbelly of the city shone through, it was plain who controlled the area. Those same residents who enjoyed the park during the day stayed home after dark.
That’s when the Avenue became noisy with people promoting drugs and prostitution, speeding cars with tires screeching, and drunken arguments in parking lots. Police came regularly, breaking up domestic disputes or chasing suspects through back alleys that sliced through the community.
For those reasons, Lea limited her search for Mary to daylight hours.
She drove to a park four blocks off the Avenue which Tiger described as having restrooms often left unlocked at night. Access to facilities made the park a magnet for street people denied use of washrooms in restaurants or public buildings which required coins for entry.
The park was empty except for a young man wearing baggy pants who was pushing a tram and a woman lying on a bench.
Lea parked her car and walked toward the woman.
The figure lay as still as death with a newspaper draped over her face for protection from the sun’s glare.
From a foot away, Lea called a greeting. “Hello. Excuse me.”
Still no movement.
Lea remained as motionless as the figure on the bench, fearing the worst.
The paper suddenly rustled as the woman breathed in and out.
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With an audible sigh of relief, Lea moved forward. “Mary, are you awake?”
The woman sat upright. “Who wants to know?”
Surprised, Lea retreated and held up her hands.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. Tiger said I might find you here.”
Mention of the familiar name seemed to calm the woman, but she gave Lea a critical once-over.
“Why were you talking with Tiger?”
Lea knew it was unlikely Mary would see Tiger soon. She kept up the ruse which worked at the patrol station.
“I’m writing about what the city does to help the homeless population.”
“Next to nothing, I can tell you that.” Mary’s voice was gravelly. She threw the newspaper in the bin beside the bench and cleared her throat.
Lea approached slowly and pointed to a place on the bench next to Mary. “Do you mind?”
“Go ahead.” The woman moved over. “Take the load off.”
The woman’s age was hard to determine. Lifestyle, more than age, may have caused streaks of gray hair and lines in her face. Her checkered shirt was wrinkled, but clean. The sandals were scuffed and worn, but her jeans looked new.
“Do you live close, Mary?”
“I’m staying at a place up the road.” There was wariness in her eyes. “Why did Tiger send you to me?”
“When I asked how he’s been treated by the police, he said you’d have more to say on that subject.”
Mary cackled. “He got that right. I can give you an earful.”
At that moment, a noise like a shot rang out. Both women jumped to their feet.
Lea gasped, short of breath. “Was that a firecracker?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a car backfiring.”
They joined people running down the street, uncertain if they were moving away from or toward the popping sounds. When they reached the Avenue, they flattened against the side of a building, gasping for air.
After catching her breath, Mary poked her head around the corner and peered down the street.
Another popping sound, deeper and longer than a firecracker. Lea’s heart beat so fast, she thought it might explode.
“Let’s get out of here,” she shouted.
But Mary was frozen to the spot. Her face was pale and her hands trembled.
• • •
It was almost the end of their shift. Tom and Pat were headed back to the precinct.
Tom pulled a cell phone from his pocket and placed a call.
“Hey, Paul. How about a game of basketball after work? Unless you’re afraid of getting clobbered.”
“Sounds good. Call your brother. We’ll make it a threesome.”
Tom looked at his partner. “Better yet, I’ll bring Pat. That’s sure to get Jack there.”
He hung up and issued the challenge.
Pat thumped the steering wheel “Heck, yes, I’m in. Me and Jack against you and Paul. No problem. Bring your best stuff.”
The two-way radio squawked with a ‘shots fired’ summons to a location close to them.
Pat looked to Tom for confirmation. His face showed displeasure, but he nodded.
She made a u-turn as he spoke into the radio. “Car 54 responding.”
Tom pressed the recall button on his phone.
“Sorry, buddy. Looks like I have to cancel. I’ll check you later.”
He turned on the siren.
• • •
Within minutes, Lea and Mary heard the welcome sound of a siren racing toward them.
As the wailing got closer, a merchant rushed into the street, waving his arms for the policemen to stop. He spoke rapidly in broken English, pointing to a crowd down the street.
Before rolling up his window, the officer on the passenger side spotted the women huddled along the side of the building.
“What are you doing here?” Tom shouted.
Pat leaned forward over the steering wheel. “Who are you talking to, boss?”
As Mary moved toward the car, Lea hurried to block the woman’s view of the driver.
“I’ll handle this,” she said, leaning over the window of the car.
Reading the unspoken warning on Lea’s face, Pat gunned the engine.
“Talk to her later, boss. We need to get to the scene of the disturbance.”
Lea wasted no time moving away from the vehicle.
“Stay away from the Avenue, Lea,” Tom warned. “It’s not a safe place to be.”
Before giving Pat the go-ahead, he added, “Pass my advice along to Maddy.”
“You aren’t telling us our business are you, Tom?” Lea asked sarcastically.
“I chalked that up as futile long ago.”
As soon as the police left, Lea grabbed Mary’s arm and pushed her toward the park. “Let’s find my car and get out of here.”
Inside the vehicle, Lea rested against the cushion and tried to calm her breathing. When she glanced at her companion, Mary was still shaking.
“Does this change your mind about living on the streets?” Lea asked.
When the woman failed to respond, Lea offered to buy dinner. “We didn’t have much chance to talk.”
Mary quickly agreed to the free meal offer and made a suggestion of her own. “Maybe a glass of wine to settle our nerves.”
Lea raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay with alcohol?”
“Don’t worry. Drugs are my demon, not booze.”
“All right, give me a moment,” Lea said.
She typed a message on her phone and pressed the send button.
A moment later, she drove to the hotel relieved to get away from the Avenue.
• • •
As Pat drove back to the station, Tom called Paul to talk about their game.
“Sorry about that, buddy. Are you still up for a game? I need an outlet for the adrenaline rush I’m feeling.”
“Were you in a dangerous situation?”
“Just some doped-up joker on the Avenue firing gunshots in the air.” Tom hesitated before offering additional information. “Surprisingly, I ran into a person I wouldn’t have expected to see in such a seedy part of town.”
Paul sounded interested. “Anyone I know?”
Tom chuckled. “I hate to name names, but you live under the same roof and share a son and two dogs.”
Pat hit the gas pedal and sped through a yellow light. Tom’s phone flew out of his hand onto the floor.
“Hey, watch it!” he shouted.
“Sorry, boss,” Pat said, making a sharp right into the gas station on the corner. “But we’re running on fumes.”
Standing at the pump out of Tom’s view, she sent Lea a text warning her what to expect at home.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
In the parking garage at the Surf and Sand Hotel, Lea read Pat’s text.
She sent a response. Thanks for the heads up.
Next, she sent Paul a message. Taking a client to dinner. Get pizza for you and Jon.
Her phone rang before she and Mary left the car. “Hi, hon. Did you get my message?”
“Yeah. No problem. Your father’s coming over for a game of chess with Jon. I’ll ask him to eat with us. Sorry you’ll miss it.”
“Me, too, but you guys have fun. Got to run.”
She was eager to get off the phone. It was easier to be evasive in a text.
They entered the hotel. Passing the cocktail lounge, Mary paused.
“I’ve been here. Well, there.” She pointed to an outside patio with a view of the ocean. “One night after the bar closed, me and a couple of friends crawled over the wall and slept on the lounge chairs until a security guard ran us off.”
They continued to the restaurant where the hostess led them to a table for two.
Lea pointed to a table for three by the window. “We prefer that one.”
After being seated, Mary studied the menu.
When a waitress came for their order, she shifted in her chair. “There are too many choices. It’s hard to decide.�
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The waitress made suggestions. “The roast chicken is a favorite. Meat lovers swear by the short ribs.”
Mary remained undecided. She glanced in Lea’s direction. “What are you having?”
“I’m more of a fish person. I’ll have the salmon,” she told the server.
Mary closed her menu and handed it to the waitress. “I’ll have what she’s having.”
“Would you like to start with a salad?”
Lea took the lead. “I’d like a spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, please.”
“Make it two,” Mary said. “And bring some wine.”
“Certainly. Which wine would you prefer?”
Mary looked confused. Lea picked up the wine list and made a selection.
“Two glasses of Riesling, please.” She consulted her dinner companion. “Is that all right?”
Mary nodded. “Fine by me.”
When the waitress brought the wine, Mary took a sip. Her face lit up.
As soon as the waitress left, she raised the glass to her mouth and took a big gulp.
“Sure beats the brown bag vino I’m used to. The last bottle tasted like NyQuil and Karo syrup, with rubbing alcohol dumped in for good measure. After I drank it, I needed a nap.”
Lea smiled. “Do you mind if I ask if drugs are the reason you’re living on the streets?”
“Will what I say be in the newspaper?”
“Maybe. I never know if articles I write will be accepted for publication. Would it be all right to use your name?”
“I don’t mind. Not likely anyone I know will see the write up.”
She leaned back and stared out the window.
“You asked if drugs are the cause of my current living situation. I suppose it’s one reason, but there are others.”
“Like what?”
Mary’s mouth broadened in a wide grin. Except for discolored teeth, her smile was her best feature. “I’ve always been unlucky in love.”
“How did that lead to your addiction?”
“I experimented with drugs in school, but I was never hooked. My biggest mistake was dropping out before I got a degree. It made it hard to get a job. Luckily, the manager at the restaurant where I worked and me had chemistry. When I got pregnant, we decided to marry. But after the kid came, the attraction fizzled. I stayed at home with the baby while my husband hooked up with every new waitress he hired. We finally split up.”