Ultraviolet

by Nancy Bush

  “I trusted you,” Dawn said. “I talked to you. You asked so many questions.”

  Keegan pocketed my phone.

  I squeezed through the open wall and ran pell mell for the rectangular light that signified Do Not Enter’s back door.

  It was the half beat of surprise that saved me. That and the fact that Dawn, in her outrage, unknowingly stepped in front of Keegan at the exact moment of my charge, impeding his chance to snatch the back of my sweatshirt. I banged my knee into the edge of the door and sucked in a breath at the pain but kept going, limping a little like Dwayne. I ran outside into the night. I was closer to the Pilarmos’ yard and zigged that way. This fence was wood. I tossed the beer over and scrambled after it, my knee throbbing. There were shouts and running footsteps behind me. I landed on the other side. Slipped in the mud. Lost precious seconds searching for the can. Keegan was swearing up a storm behind me. A moan of fear tore from my throat. I sprinted for all I was worth toward the stone wall that divided the Wilsons from the Pilarmos. I hit something and stumbled. The can flew from my hand. I slammed into the ground, my cheek grazing something hard. A gnome.

  Keegan was over the fence and heading my way with shocking speed. I had to leave the can. I grabbed the gnome and jumped onto the fence, scrabbling for a hold. Ropes of ivy hung down and I wound one hand around one.

  His hands grabbed me from behind. He had me by the neck. I cried out as he yanked me from the wall.

  From near the house came a low, canine growl. The kind of ggrrrrr that lifts the hairs on your nape.

  Keegan ignored it. He was shouting, calling me names. All rage. No finesse. No concern for being caught.

  He actually hit me, a haymaker to the side of my face that semistunned me, although I didn’t notice at the time. I was a whirling dervish, whipping around, trying to break his hold, intent on saving my life.

  “You fucking bitch,” he snarled, shaking me hard.

  A black form leapt at him, catching his arm. Lobo’s teeth flashed white.

  I heard a yelp of pain and was released. I fell to my hands and knees. Something fell to the ground beside me: my cell! I snatched it up.

  Keegan was screaming. The wolf-dog and the quarterback were duking it out in the mud. Lobo was ripping skin but Keegan had the dog by the throat. In a haze, I suddenly worried about the dog. I grabbed the gnome from where I’d dropped it and hurled it at Keegan, shrieking Lobo’s name.

  Keegan’s grip slipped. Lobo backed off, growling, watching Keegan stagger to his knees and attempt to gain his footing.

  The Pilarmos’ lights flashed on, and a man yelled, “Lobo! Stop!”

  In the illumination, a gleam of metal. The beer can. Keegan, breathing hard and frozen in the dog’s glare, watched me gingerly pick it up. He moved but the dog feinted, his lips drawn back in a snarl.

  I couldn’t climb the wall. I had no strength. It took everything I had to make it to the edge of the dock and fight my way around the end of the stone wall to Tab A/Slot B’s seawall on the other side. I had to search with my toe and then make a jump. One foot slipped into the bay but I made it. I crossed their property without incident. On the far side of their lawn, the neighboring property was divided by a tall wooden fence. I could scale it, but I didn’t need to because concrete steps, shortening in length from elongated to normal step height, sloped upward along the eastern side of the property. I could get back to Beachlake.

  I moved like an old woman, my head aching. In the distance I heard the welcome sounds of sirens. It was after midnight. Dwayne had called the cavalry.

  I reached the step that was on level with the main floor of the house. An uncurtained window gave me a close-up view of the living room and Tab A vigorously inserting into Slot B, backlit by shimmery blue water, the home to indifferent redtails, angelfish and a shockingly scary eel with fat, protruding yellow whiskers.

  Slot B looked up, saw me, threw back her head and screamed.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  I tried to sneak my bruised and battered body to my car, but the police showed up before I could. They had the nerve to throw some handcuffs on me and tuck me into a police car. I told them very specifically not to touch the beer can unless they wanted to screw up the fingerprints from the rapist who’d doctored the beer with a date rape drug. They looked at each other but were careful with the can.

  At some point Josh Newell ducked his head inside and looked at me. I said, “I signed up for my Neighborhood Association board. Thanks for steering me the right way.”

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Peachy.”

  One of the other officers called to him and he ducked back out. They both looked in the direction of the road and I swiveled to see Dwayne approaching. You could barely discern the limp, he was so intent on getting where he was going. I would have waved at him, but it’s tricky with your hands behind your back. The police used to be a lot more lenient about these things, but a couple of arrests gone wrong, and handcuffs behind the back were now basic operating procedure.

  Josh and Dwayne talked a long, long time. I think I heard Larrabee’s name invoked at some point. Maybe even my brother’s. Josh did not want to let me go. That was clear. I think his nose was out of joint that I hadn’t told him I was working as a private investigator.

  The Wilsons showed up, yelling, which created its own disturbance. Dionne was with them though they tried to shoo her back home. They were all trying their damnedest to get Dawn released, but she’d been scooped up with the rest of the kids from Do Not Enter, Keegan included.

  In the end, Dwayne won my release. I was uncuffed and allowed to leave with him. He and I walked to his surveillance car. “We’ll pick up the Volvo tomorrow,” he said.

  “My purse is in there.”

  “You’re lucky you’re not at the Clackamas County jail,” Dwayne warned quietly.

  “What did I do?” Now that I was safe I was starting to feel really put upon.

  “Trespassing. You scared the shit out of Maggie DeLuca.”

  “Slot B?”

  “She called the police right after I did. Complained about a Peeping Tom.”

  I realized then that Dwayne’s shoulders were actually shaking with suppressed laughter. It kind of torqued me at first. I mean, where was all the worry about my health now?

  Then I had a remembered image of Slot B screaming for all she was worth. “Okay, it’s funny. But the rest of it isn’t.”

  “I had to do some fast talking to explain what you were doing. You’re lucky you’re friends with Officer Newell because he’s ‘by the book’ in a big way.”

  “I heard you mention Larrabee.”

  Dwayne sighed. “Yeah. Had to use his name to increase our credibility. They called him. He vouched for you—and me. We’re gonna owe him. So, what happened tonight?”

  I told him about Dawn’s ratting me out, and my panicked bid for freedom, which wouldn’t have happened if not for Lobo. Dwayne listened, then admitted he hadn’t waited till midnight. He placed the call to Josh Newell as soon as he heard Lobo’s snarling and growling and all the yelling.

  We returned to his place. Binkster staggered off the couch and snuffled me, wagging her tail. I was covered in mud. Dwayne invited me to spend the night and I showered and washed my hair, changed into one of his T-shirts and crawled into his bed without a qualm. I woke once in the middle of the night and realized I was alone. He’d taken the couch and The Binkster.

  This left me lying there in the dark on my back, reviewing my feelings for him. From personal experience, I knew he generally slept in the nude.

  Don’t ask. And no, we didn’t engage in sexual relations. But now I was kept awake wondering what I would see if I dared step into the other room. I found myself faintly jealous of my dog.

  I fell asleep right before daylight, then had to drag myself awake. I staggered into the other room, bracing myself, only to find Dwayne sprawled in his clothes on the couch, Binkster on the floor beside him. I had to
hand it to Dwayne. He’d managed to roust her from sleeping next to him, something I can’t seem to manage.

  He came wide awake and looked at me. I was going to make some comment about sleeping alone and taking his bed, but he stopped me with, “You’ve got a helluva shiner.”

  This wasn’t really a surprise as my right eye was practically swollen shut. I turned to the bathroom to take a look. Purple and black and fat. The blood was seeping into the flesh all around my eye socket.

  “How does it feel?” he asked.

  “Like it looks. And the rest of my body, too.”

  Dwayne thrust his hands in his jeans and leaned against the bathroom doorjamb. “Violet called and said to send her our last bill. We’re off the Hatchmere case.”

  I gazed at him in dismay. “That’s it?”

  “At least Keegan Lendenhal’s going to see his day in court. They’ve got his fingerprints on the can, and the Wilsons are going to press charges.”

  “Dawn? I don’t believe it. You learned that last night?”

  He nodded. “Dionne’s the one who’ll testify. She said Lendenhal did the same thing to her. I don’t know what proof they have, but the secret’s out.”

  “Good.” I was undoubtedly going to be part of this legal circus as well, since the beer with the date rape drug had been intended for me. I had this picture of myself on the witness stand, some bright defense attorney pointing out that I had misrepresented myself as a minor.

  “Why’s Violet ditching the investigation?”

  “She’s convinced the police know she’s innocent.”

  “That’s not true,” I protested. “Larrabee hasn’t given up. It’s an ongoing investigation.”

  He lifted his palms.

  “I’m not giving up. Are you giving up? I’m not giving up. I’m going right back to the truck stop. I want to talk to Tammie. I want to know who Dante is, and I think she can tell me.”

  I could hear the belligerent tone in my voice, but I didn’t care. I was mad at Violet. She drags me to the CMC party and then blithely says it’s over? Talk about your unfinished business.

  My cell phone rang. I examined caller ID and said, “It’s Melinda,” in some surprise as I said hello.

  “Hi, Jane, it’s Melinda. I suppose you forgot, but today’s the pre-Thanksgiving bake sale at the Village.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t been all that warm and fuzzy the last time we’d spoken. “Right. I’ll stop by. What time will you be there?”

  “About three.”

  “See you then.” Dwayne looked at me askance as I hung up. “Bake sale,” I reminded him.

  “Can you get more of those fruit bars?” he asked instantly.

  “And I’m working on a rum cake, too. Oh God. Is next Thursday Thanksgiving?” I asked, knowing the answer in advance. I’d warned Dwayne about Cynthia’s invitation though he didn’t apparently regard it with the same horror I did.

  I changed back into my muddy clothes and Dwayne drove me and Binkster to my car. I was thrilled to see my purse was still there, untouched, and all my credit cards and identification were right where they should be. Sketching Dwayne a good-bye, I headed back to my cottage, my gaze darting around in search of possible garage-salers.

  Since last weekend, things had been pretty quiet, but I feared Ogilvy might be planning another event. I was happy to see there were no signs, no items on display and no cars. I noticed the garage was no longer locked and, snoop that I am, took a peek inside after I put Binkster in the house.

  There was a pile of unwanted junk in the center of the floor, but the rest of the place was surprisingly cleared out. Almost clean enough to actually park a car inside.

  I spent the rest of Saturday morning finishing my final report and billing for Violet. I gave her a quick call as I was getting ready to go to the latest bake sale, and when Violet answered we suffered through one of those conversations that’s filled with a lot of hemming and hawing, and which I’m completely no good at. Finally, I said, “What gives? You don’t want to know who killed Roland?”

  “Hon, it’s time to stop wasting money, don’t you think? I appreciate the work you and Dwayne have put in. It’s really helped. I think it even helped convince Dwayne’s detective buddy that I’m innocent. But I’m ready to just put it behind me. More than ready. I’d love to know who killed him,” she added, as if she heard how much she’d abandoned her cause. “I just don’t think it’s a priority anymore.”

  She deftly switched the subject to George Tertian and the Columbia Millionaires’ Club, her voice growing animated. Her focus had completely changed. Why, why was it so hard for me to give it up?

  “If you have a chance, can you ask George about Dante?” I finally cut in.

  “The guy who sent you out the window?”

  Violet found my aversion to the man slightly humorous. I said, “If all the men are millionaires, I’d like to know what his business is.”

  “Sure, I’ll ask him,” Violet said.

  “Thanks.”

  The bake sale was at an empty storefront in Lake Chinook Village, a fairly new development where all the stores are designed to appear as separate buildings even though they’re joined together. A small art gallery had failed and moved location, and its abandoned storefront was now rented conditionally by various groups.

  The Junior League ladies were helping out the neighborhood association with another bake sale. They’d decorated with fall leaves and cornstalks and cornucopias. Inside they’d lined their tables with paper Thanksgiving-themed tablecloths, and the baked goods were displayed in all their luscious, mouthwatering glory. Leigh and Bitchy Anne were manning one table; Jody and Melinda another. I’d cleaned myself up again and wore a long black sweater that covered my hips and my best jeans. I’d combed my hair down straight and I’d worked pretty darned hard on my makeup. Couldn’t do much about the black eye, though, and as I approached they gazed upon me with varying degrees of horror.

  “Walked into a door,” I explained.

  I could see the “oh, sure” looks pass over their faces as they threw each other sideways glances. I wondered if they would believe me more if I told them star quarterback Keegan Lendenhal had clocked me on purpose.

  Melinda regarded me with real concern. She was wearing peach-colored slacks and a cream blouse today. Her own hair was perfectly coiffed and her skin looked luminous. I wondered if she’d been to The Face. “What really happened?” she asked, pulling me away from the tables. I kept my eye on the goodies. I was pretty sure I saw some of Jody’s peach bars. No rum cakes visible.

  “This wasn’t related to Roland’s case,” I assured her.

  “Really?” Melinda couldn’t tear her gaze from my injury.

  “Really.”

  “Have you learned anything more about Roland?”

  “Actually, I’m off the case. The police have turned their attention from Violet, and she decided to terminate our investigation.”

  A series of emotions crossed Melinda’s face, relief being chief among them. “I’m glad you’re going to quit harassing Gigi, Sean and Emmett. It was a waste of time anyway, since Violet killed Roland.”

  “I’m still going to investigate on my own.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “I want to know who killed him.”

  “Why is it so hard for you to realize Violet’s guilty? She’s not even paying you anymore. Why don’t you investigate her? You’ve wasted your time on Roland’s kids. And those Wedding Bandits, I guess. And Emmett! And probably me! The one person you haven’t looked at is Violet.”

  A cell phone began ringing. Leigh said, “Melinda, it’s yours.”

  Melinda didn’t want to give up her tirade, but she tippy-tapped her way to her purse and dug out her phone. I watched as her expression darkened and she clicked it off like she had the last time I’d been with her. She clearly wasn’t a slave to taking a call, but then I knew that from personal experience.

  I purchased some peach bars, then wangl
ed a rum cake out of Jody, who said I would have to come back the next day as she’d presold all of today’s. I was thrilled she was going to make the extra effort for me.

  “Treat it right, and it’ll still be fresh for Thursday,” Jody said. “I’ll tell you how.”

  “Thursday? Oh. Thanksgiving.” I had no intention of waiting that long. As soon as I got my cake I was going to have an orgy of calories all by myself. Okay. I might invite Dwayne.

  Melinda offered to carry the peach bars to my car. I told her not to bother, but she had things on her mind. “What do you plan to do?” she asked me.

  “About the investigation? I don’t know. Follow some leads.”

  “What kind of leads?”

  “The kind that lead to answers.”

  “You have stopped harassing us, haven’t you? We can count on that, right?”

  “I’m going in a different direction,” I assured her, gently placing the peach bars on the seat.

  “I’m glad to hear it,” she said, but she didn’t look glad about much of anything as I drove away.

  In the evening, I headed down I-5 to the truck stop again, having squirreled away the peach bars untouched. It was like a strange hoarding need on my part, my cache of nuts for the winter. I figured I could have a piece of pie à la mode at the truck stop and get today’s quota of sugar and calories and still have tons more at home. Yes, my diet leaves something to be desired, but I don’t much care.

  I tucked my hair into my baseball cap and put on my fake glasses one more time. It went a long way to taking the focus off my shiner, though anybody who took a good look at me couldn’t miss it. I was beginning to recognize a few of the regulars, but hopefully they did not feel the same about me. I lived in a bit of anxiety that the trucker who’d shooed me away would burst through the doors and point an accusing finger at me. But, as I’d come to expect, no one paid me any attention as I settled onto a counter stool. The video poker machines at the far end were a lot more interesting.