Quiver

by Peter Leonard

  Luke said, “Think somebody’s going to shoot at us tonight?”

  “No, I do not, but you never know. It’s like wearing a seat belt, okay? It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  Bill glanced at the computer.

  “Car’s registered to Theodore Monroe Hicks, address in Clawson, downstate, and yes, it’s a 197 °Chevrolet Camaro Z28. You know your stuff.”

  Bill picked up his hat, grabbed his flashlight off the console and opened the door. He looked back at Luke and said, “They give me any trouble, pick up that radio and call for backup. We’re on County Road number 20, four miles from Empire. Can I count on you, partner?”

  Luke said, “I think so.” Wondering if Bill Wink was serious. He could see the shapes of two heads in the Camaro as Bill approached the car.

  Teddy sat in the front passenger seat, his eyes trying to adjust to the bright lights. Jesus, they were fucking blinding him. He opened the glove box, took out a big chrome-plated Sphinx nine, watching the cop get out of the patrol car. He saw the dark silhouette shape coming toward them.

  It was a good thing Celeste was driving ’cause he was fucked up, trying to remember how many beers and shots of Jager he’d had. He released the safety and racked a round into the chamber.

  Celeste said, “Jesus, Teddy, you dipstick, put that away. I can handle this country boy.”

  He slid the gun under the seat.

  She hit the button and the window went down. She had her hands on the steering wheel-ten and two, the way they taught you at driver’s training-as the cop walked up and shined his flashlight in Celeste’s face.

  He said, “License and registration.”

  Now he swung the flashlight across the interior, holding on Teddy and then looking in the backseat. He was a sheriff ’s deputy. Teddy could tell by his Smoky the Bear hat.

  Celeste said, “I don’t think I was speeding, was I?”

  She handed him her license and registration and insurance certificate.

  He seemed to study the license.

  Celeste said, “It’s me. I had blond hair then.”

  “Do you know why I pulled you over?”

  “No, sir,” she said.

  He was bending over, his head almost eye level.

  “You were weaving all over the road,” the cop said. “You been drinking?”

  “No, sir. I’m not allowed to on account of my religious conviction. I must’ve taken my eyes off the road trying to find that national Christian radio broadcast Theodore and I listen to. It offers spiritual enlightenment-food for the soul. You should tune in sometime, officer. It’s very inspirational.”

  “How’s your driving record?”

  “Clean as a whistle,” Celeste said. “Never got a ticket in my life.”

  “All right, you have a nice evening. Keep your eyes on the road, let Mr. Hicks work the radio.”

  Teddy waited till the deputy was in his car before he said, “Never had a ticket, huh? Listen, he doesn’t believe you, runs your license, sees you got more points than a boxful of pins, we’re fucked. And what was that bullshit about Christian radio?”

  “It’s called quick thinking,” Celeste said. She put the car in gear.

  “Wait till he goes,” Teddy said.

  They watched the cop car pull out and pass them.

  “You were laying it on a little thick.”

  “He believed me ’cause I was convincing.” She looked in the rearview mirror, didn’t see headlights, and hit the accelerator, picking up speed.

  “He believed you ’cause he wanted a piece of ass. If I wasn’t here he’d have asked for the order.”

  “It’s over and done with. Why’re you worrying about what might’ve happened?”

  Teddy could really be annoying.

  Bill and Luke were talking about their favorite movies, driving through the woods to the lodge, high beams illuminating the narrow road Owen McCall had cut through heavy timber so he could build his place by the lake. Jesus, he had a spread, bordering national parkland on one side. Probably the biggest privately owned piece of property in northern Michigan. Bill wondered if this kid sitting next to him had any clue how rich he was.

  Luke said, “My top five are Aliens, Terminator, Fargo, Rocky, and My Fair Lady.”

  “What’d you say?”

  Luke said, “I was kidding about My Fair Lady.”

  “Geez, I hope so. I was thinking you went gay on me.”

  “ Pulp Fiction was my fifth favorite,” Luke said.

  “That’s better.”

  “What about you?”

  Bill was thinking Full Metal Jacket, Rambo, Above the Law with Seagal; he also liked Rocky and The Rock, the one set on Alcatraz. That had some good action scenes. They came through the woods and pulled into the yard. There was a car parked in the circular drive, a Lexus. He glanced at Luke. “You got company?”

  “It’s Jack,” Luke said.

  “Who’s Jack?”

  “An old friend of my mom’s.”

  “He staying with you?”

  “I don’t know,” Luke said.

  Bill didn’t like it. He thought he’d been getting somewhere with Kate. And now this old friend shows up.

  Luke took off the vest and said, “Thanks, it was a blast.” Got out and closed the door.

  Bill couldn’t remember if he said good-bye to Luke or not, his brain was so clouded at the moment. Jesus, she trusted him enough to call up and ask for him personally. And he saw the look on her face the other day when she showed up at the lodge. He’d had his share of relationships. Knew women and there was something there, he was sure of it. He was going to ask her out to dinner, take her to Windows on the Bay-have a gourmet meal and a good bottle of wine. Get to know each other.

  Maybe the guy was just a friend, as Luke said, but Bill doubted it. Kate was too good-looking and rich. He’d have to give this one some serious thought.

  SEVENTEEN

  Luke woke up to Leon licking his face. He pushed him away. “God, Leon.” Wiped Leon’s slobber on the bedsheet and looked at the clock. It was early, 7:15. Luke got up, went downstairs, opened the front door and let Leon out. He saw Jack’s car still parked in the same place and was surprised. His mom said he was staying at a motel in Northport. He didn’t mind Jack showing up if it made his mom happy but didn’t like the idea of him staying over. They were on the couch watching TV when he got home, not even sitting close together.

  He heard Leon bark, opened the door and let him in. He went upstairs and checked the other bedrooms-they were both empty. He went to his mom’s room, tried the handle. It was locked. Now he was pissed. He couldn’t believe she’d get together with somebody like this. He felt guilty ’cause his dad wasn’t there, and it made him angry.

  Luke walked back down the hall to his room, Leon trailing him, took a shower and got dressed. When he went downstairs again his mom was in the kitchen making breakfast, a whisk in her hand, arm wrapped around a mixing bowl. He could smell bacon cooking. Leon was sitting on the kitchen floor, staring at the skillet on the stovetop, bacon grease popping.

  “Morning,” she said. “How was last night, did you have fun?”

  He sat at the table his mom once told him came from Normandy, bleached wood with a drawer at one end. “Looks like you had more fun than I did.”

  She stopped moving the whisk and gave him a quizzical look.

  “What does that mean?”

  “Where’s Jack? He still up there sleeping?”

  Kate said, “What’re you talking about?”

  “I can’t believe you’d have him over. Don’t you care about Dad anymore?” He was angry, couldn’t hold back.

  His mom looked stunned. “Of course I do. I don’t know what you think happened, but you’re wrong.”

  “Where is he, then?”

  “I don’t know,” Kate said. “Maybe he’s out taking a walk.”

  She put the bowl down and stared at him, then moved to the stovetop. He could see her flipping sli
ces of bacon in the big cast-iron skillet. She made pancakes and piled them on a platter with the bacon and brought it to the table. Leon came over and sat next to Luke, looking up at the food.

  She pushed the platter toward him. “Eat something.”

  He could feel the anger building in him, like it was under pressure, like he was about explode.

  “What’re you going to do today?”

  He stared at the table, couldn’t look at her.

  His mom said, “Want to hang out? We could have lunch at the Bluebird.”

  He couldn’t sit there any longer. Got up and walked past her out of the breakfast room.

  His mom said, “Where’re you going? Talk to me, will you?”

  He moved through the lodge to the back door, put on his fleece jacket and a pair boots and went outside. It was cold. He could see his breath as he moved toward the woods.

  Teddy smelled bacon cooking and it made him hungry. Could he ever go for a couple eggs sunny-side up, sausage and gravy and grits-with syrup over the top.

  He could see Jack’s car still parked in the yard. Spent the night but not with the lady. Maybe he was losing his charm. He watched her get out of bed and stretch her arms over her head and yawn. He watched her set on the toilet, do her business. He watched her look at herself in the mirror and brush her teeth. No bath this morning and Teddy had to admit he was disappointed.

  He heard a door bang closed and saw the kid come out the back of the cabin, moving with purpose toward the tree line, then into the woods and not a minute later the kid was standing right below him. Teddy thinking this was the moment of truth. If the kid turned and looked up, their whole plan could come unglued in a split second. But he didn’t and Teddy watched him head deeper into the woods and he took out his cell phone, dialed a number and said, “Let’s do it.”

  Kate heard the front door open and close and Jack came in the kitchen, rubbing his hands like he was cold. “Sure smells good in here.”

  He took off his jacket and folded it over a chair and sat across from her.

  She said, “Where you been?”

  “Out in the woods,” Jack said. “I saw a deer.” He sounded excited.

  “How about coffee and some breakfast?”

  He said, “I like this laid-back up-north life. I could get used to this.”

  She got up and poured him a cup and made pancakes and put them on a plate with three slices of bacon and handed it to him. She was worried about what she was going to say to him and decided to just say it. “Listen, I’ve got a problem with Luke. Probably be a good idea if you gave us a little time alone.”

  He didn’t react. It either bothered him or it didn’t. She couldn’t tell. He kept his eyes on her and said, “I understand.”

  Now, in retrospect, she realized she should’ve been smarter, more aware. Luke was hurting and vulnerable, and having Jack overnight was probably the dumbest thing she could’ve done under the circumstances. Nothing happened, in spite of Jack’s persistent attempts to kiss her. He finally got the message and gave up and when the movie was over-they watched One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest — it was late, and Kate said, “Do you really have a motel room down the road?”

  Jack said, “Know where the Red Lion is?”

  And Kate said, “That’s on the other side of Suttons Bay, isn’t it? You can stay here, if you want.”

  She took him up to the guest room and he put his arms around her and tried to kiss her again. She pushed him away. “Come on.”

  “I can’t help myself,” Jack said.

  “Luke’s right across the hall. That’s all he’d need-open his door and see his mother making out with somebody.”

  Kate went to her room and locked the door, thinking that, in his current state of mind, Jack might sneak down and try to visit her in the middle of the night. What made it more difficult-she wanted him too-knew she was interested in him again. Maybe this time it would work. It was the third time their paths had crossed in twenty-some years, and wasn’t the third time a charm?

  When he finished his breakfast, she walked him outside and they stood looking at each other. “You all right?” she said.

  “Fine. Why?”

  “I don’t know,” Kate said. “You seem like you’re somewhere else.”

  “Maybe I’m tired,” Jack said.

  “I can understand-all your effort trying to get me in bed. That can tire a guy out.”

  “Now, you know what you do to me and always have,” Jack said. “I can’t control myself around you.”

  Kate said, “I guess it’s my fault, huh?”

  He flashed his famous grin.

  Kate said, “Where’re you going?”

  Jack said, “Back to Tucson.”

  “You sure?”

  “That’s what I’m thinking,” Jack said. “But you never know.”

  With him you sure didn’t. She put her arms around him and kissed him.

  “Be careful,” he said, “I’m in a weak physical state.”

  “You’ll be all right,” Kate said. “Call me, will you? Let me know what you’re doing.”

  Jack stopped at the market in Omena to get something for lunch. He was paying for a sandwich and a Coke when a deputy sheriff came in and looked around. He saw Jack and stepped over to the counter. He had his hands on his hips, showing off his arms, staring at Jack, sizing him up. He wore the brim of his hat low over his eyes. Jack assuming this was his intimidation pose.

  The cop said, “That your Lexus out front?”

  Jack said, “Yeah.”

  In that stupid uniform, he reminded Jack of the two Tucson cops who’d arrested him at a picnic table outside Guero’s Taco Bar. He was taking a bite of a soft chicken taco when he saw two nine-millimeter Glocks aimed at his face.

  Jack saying at the time, “You mind if I eat this? I’m starving.”

  They must’ve,’ cause they put him flat on the patio stones and cuffed his hands behind his back. He hadn’t eaten in twelve hours. He thought about that taco for three and a half years, and it was the first place he went when he was paroled.

  Jack met the deputy’s gaze and said, “What can I do for you?” Jack thinking he was going to say, “You’re under arrest for driving a stolen vehicle.”

  “You’re a friend of Mrs. McCall’s, aren’t you?”

  “I am,” Jack said.

  “You staying there?”

  Jack couldn’t figure out where he was going with this. “I was.”

  “Where you headed now?”

  “Is there a point to all this,” Jack said, “or you just making conversation?” He resented this yokel getting in his face.

  The deputy stiffened up. “You’ve got a broken taillight,” he said. “That enough of a point for you?”

  Jack regretted what he said. Had always had trouble keeping his mouth shut in certain situations.

  “Have your license and registration with you? I’m going to have to issue you a citation.”

  He took a pen out of his shirt pocket and opened his ticket book.

  Jack said, “I got tagged last night in a restaurant parking lot in Suttons Bay. Dealership isn’t open till Monday. Think you could cut me a little slack?”

  “I’ll give you forty-eight hours,” the deputy said. “After that, I’m going to give you a ticket. We understand each other?”

  Jack just stared at him.

  “I didn’t hear you,” the deputy said with a grin.

  “Yeah,” Jack said. But, no, Jack was thinking, we don’t. He didn’t get why the deputy was being such a hard-ass. It didn’t make any sense. But in his experience, it didn’t have to-cops could fuck with you anytime they wanted.

  Kate had to give Luke time to cool down, come to his senses. At eleven o’clock when he still wasn’t back, she drove into town. Stopped at Tom’s and bought cold cuts and Italian bread for lunch and a whole chicken for dinner. She’d fill the cavity with onions and lemons and thyme and roast it in the oven.

  She expected
to see Luke playing a video game on the big TV when she walked in the door. But it was quiet. She called his name. Nothing. Leon was stretched out on one of the leather chairs, eyes following her into the kitchen. He heard her putting groceries away and came in wagging his tail.

  Kate squatted and held Leon’s face in her hands and said, “Where’s Luke? Have you seen him?”

  Leon stared at her with sad eyes and an expression that said, I don’t have a clue.

  Kate went upstairs and checked Luke’s room. No sign of him. She went back down and checked the garage. The Corvette was there. She opened the door to the storage room and saw Owen’s bloodstained jacket hanging on a hook, and the memory of his death came flooding back, her adrenaline pumping now as she put a leash on Leon and went into the woods looking for Luke. They followed a trail for a while till it disappeared, Leon going crazy, sniffing and pulling her. They went up a slope to a ridgetop and down the other side. Kate yelling, “Luke,” her voice sounding strange in the dense silence of the woods.

  By four it was getting dark, difficult to see under the canopy, and she realized there was no way she was going to find him. She took Leon back to the lodge and fed him. Then she sat in a leather chair and warmed her hands by the fire, wondering what to do. She got up once and called Luke’s cell phone and got his voice message. She looked at her watch-it was 4:45. He’d been gone for almost eight hours.

  There was one more place she hadn’t looked. She grabbed a flashlight from a kitchen drawer and walked out to the shed behind the lodge, opened the door, and went in. It smelled like aged wood. There was a worktable with tools on it and more tools hanging from a pegboard on the wall. It was a place where Luke liked to spend time. She hoped she’d see him sitting there, tired, ready to come in for dinner. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t on the beach either, where Kate stood, facing directly into the wind. The sky overcast, lake water dark and heavy, wind turning up whitecaps that rolled in, pounding the shore. It was cold and the air was clean, smelling of pine trees.

  Bill Wink had given her his cell number and she tried it now and got his voice mail and left a message.