Deceiver

  He stands up and begins to pace back and forth. “How could that asshole disappear off the face of the map for two hours without any trail?”

  “Doesn’t he have to have some kind of alibi? Can you go and pick him up?”

  Dan is the law. I just don’t understand why he can’t do whatever he needs to do to uphold it, especially when there’s the life of a young girl hanging in the balance.

  “On what charges? Shaking a police detail? Making me look like a jackass? There’s not a fucking thing I can do, and he knows it. If I go near him without proof again, it’s harassment. The slimy bastard won’t hesitate to have me hauled me up on charges. No, I can’t go near him. My hands are completely tied.”

  I shake my head, horrified and helpless as I stare into nothingness and then, I whisper, “Untouchable.”

  He stops pacing, his head snapping toward me on the sofa. His jaw sets, his hand clenches into a murderous fist, and his glistening eyes lock like magnets onto mine.

  Then, I see it. It’s right there, clear as day staring back at me. A glimmer of understanding. Untouchable.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “I have to go,” he says.

  “I know.”

  Without another word, he stands, and I follow him to the door. He turns to me, placing his hand on my cheek. I close my eyes, leaning into his palm, nuzzling against his warmth, and pretending that he still loves me.

  He leans forward, kisses me lightly on the lips, and sighs into my mouth. Is this goodbye?

  “I need to think,” he says, his soft, warm eyes caressing me.

  “I know.”

  He looks down at Rufus who sits impatiently at our feet, his bags packed and ready to go. Dan laughs, kneeling down to pat him playfully. “Can he stay a little bit longer?”

  “Yeah. Of course. Josh will be thrilled.”

  “I’ll call you later, then?”

  I smile. “I’d like that.”

  He nods and walks away.

  “Dan!” I panic.

  He halts, turning back around. “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  “I know.” He smiles, and then leaves.

  I sit back down on the couch when he’s gone, unsure what to do with myself. I told him that I loved him, and he said “I know.” Not, “I love you, too.” Just, “I know.” And now, he needs to “think.” Have I made a total FUBAR of this? Is it truly Fucked Up Beyond Repair? Or can I still fix it? He did say he’d call me, though. Even if it was about Rufus.

  I grab the remote and flick on the television, surfing through channels that I don’t even pause to look at. I finally settle on a cooking show, some master chef telling me how to make a perfect squash casserole. Am I hungry? Should I be? I’ve eaten two hors d’oeuvres today. That’s it. I sigh, refusing to starve myself.

  After dining on a tasteless lasagna dinner that I dug out of the back of the freezer, I take a soak in the tub that lasts for about an hour. I’m dressed for bed by eight-thirty and back on the couch with my book. I check my messages before I dive back into my hot, Martian romance. Only one text, from Josh.

  “Mom, staying at Eric’s tonight. Gotta work until nine tomorrow night. Don’t worry, I know the drill. I’ll be home by eleven.”

  I smile and text him back. “Be safe and I love you.”

  I place the phone back on the coffee table and open my book just as it chirps again. I sigh and pick it up.

  “Love you, too, Mom.”

  More tears as I stare at those four little words. Well, I should be glad that, at least, someone does. I wipe my eyes and go back to my book.

  Sometime during the night, I wake up on the couch, cold and shivering, and stumble down the hall to my bed. I curl up beneath a mountain of blankets and don’t wake up again until daylight is streaming through my window. I yawn and stretch, and then a wave of unreasonable panic sets in.

  Fuck! What time is it? Where am I supposed to be? What day is this? What’s my name?

  I jump straight up on the bed, dancing around for a full five seconds before I remember that my name is Candy and it’s Sunday, my day off. Whew!

  I lie back down while my heart recuperates and then, I remember Dan, and I decide that my heart may never fully recuperate. Why bother getting up at all?

  I give myself a harsh reprimand and roll out of bed, forcing myself to go through the normal morning routine. I make the coffee, take a shower, brush my teeth, dry my hair. I even remember to let the dog out.

  Once I’m dressed, I stare at myself in the mirror. I look like shit. Yoga pants and an old gray T-shirt that’s two sizes too big, frizzy hair, and red, puffy eyes. I’ve slept for more than ten hours. So I don’t understand how my eyes can still be so bloodshot.

  I have to get my shit together. I can’t let Josh see his mother like this. How can I expect to win back my man if I look like I’ve been dragged beneath a truck? He didn’t spit on me or arrest me last night. So there’s still hope. Right? This fat lady isn’t quite ready to sing. Not just yet.

  With a renewed spirit, I retreat to the bathroom in search of my Visine, and then I focus on my hair and my makeup. Next, I peel off the yoga pants and the T-shirt that I just put on, replacing them with my favorite skinny jeans and a tight, stylish tunic with a plunging neckline. I stare at my reflection and nod, the slightest hint of a smile playing on my lips. It’s a start.

  I feel like a new person as I head back into the kitchen for some java. It’s a long time before we need to be at Mr. Stratford’s house. I think I’ll go see Jade or Gabby. As I stand in the kitchen sipping my coffee and trying to decide, my phone rings. I don’t even look to see who’s calling.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi,” a deep, gravelly voice greets me.

  “Dan?”

  He clears his throat. “Yeah. It’s me. Sorry. I’m tired.”

  “Were you working all night?”

  “Yeah. I just got home.”

  “Did you find anything?”

  “No. Nothing. She just disappeared into thin air, like the other girl. We have a few fresh teams out looking this morning but no leads so far.”

  “Something will turn up. You sound like you need to sleep. Don’t worry about Rufus. He’s fine. Can I bring you anything?”

  “No. I don’t need anything. I told you I would call. So, I’m calling.” Silence for a moment, and then he sighs. “Honestly, I just needed to hear your voice before I laid down.”

  He needed to hear my voice! Hope springs eternal, and I smile into the phone. “Well, honestly, I’m glad you called.”

  “I want to see you tonight.”

  I mouth a silent prayer of thanks at my ceiling. “That sounds great. My day is totally open.”

  Or, it will be. I just need to pop over and kill that murdering sack of shit, Jesse Stratford, real quick, and after that, I’m all yours.

  “I have to run back to the office and check in after I get some shut-eye. Is eight-thirty too late? I know you have to work tomorrow.”

  “No, that’s not too late. I actually went to bed early last night and got up late this morning. So, I’m rested and ready.” For you, baby!

  “That’s good. I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty, then?”

  “Why don’t I drive myself?” I offer after brief consideration. If I have to leave in the middle of the night, I won’t be on foot again, and I won’t have to make up any excuses if I don’t get back from Mr. Stratford’s in time.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I want to. You’re tired, and I want you to get some rest.”

  “I don’t like the thought of you driving around by yourself late at night.”

  He cares! “I’ve been driving myself around for years now. I’ll be fine. Go to bed, and I’ll see you at eight-thirty.”

  “Okay,” he finally agrees.

  “Sweet dreams,” I coo at the phone.

  “Oh, and Candy… I…”

  Yes? I hold my breath. Say it. You can
say it.

  He sighs. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Yeah. See you tonight,” I reply, refusing to be defeated.

  I hang up, more determined than ever to turn things around and to have a great day in the process. I rinse my cup and place it in the sink. Then, I go to Josh’s room and open his closet door. Now, where is it? I know I packed it away in a shoe box last year. I lift lid after lid, peeking inside, skimming through pictures, Legos, and…hm… Playboys?

  Aha! I pull out the limp, rubber Halloween mask that Josh and Eric bought last year. It’s a pig, but not the friendly kind, not the Porky Pig kind. This one is ugly as hell. I smile and stuff it into my purse as I head out the door, on my way to Jade’s house.

  If Arkansas had a real city, that is where you would say that Jade lives. A tall, two-story home, not much bigger than the standard shotgun house, although much nicer, located within walking distance of the all the major downtown conveniences. I park on the street and stroll up the sidewalk, meeting her children on the way.

  “It’s Miss Candy!” Annie shrieks and runs to me, dropping her chalk and wrapping her pudgy little arms around me. She looks just like Jade.

  A jolt of stark terror hits me suddenly as I think about the missing girl and Mr. Stratford, who could very well be driving around, trolling for his next victim, right now. My gaze darts up and down the street, which really does me no good since I have no idea what he even drives.

  “Well, hello there, Annie! Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s in there.” She points toward the house.

  “I see. How are you today?”

  “I’m fine.” She smiles, showing me that she’s missing yet another tooth.

  “We’re waiting on my grandmother,” Stevan informs me.

  I look up to see Jade’s son, another little carbon copy of her. Older than Annie, he still has his sweet, boyish features.

  “Oh, you are, aren’t you? Are you guys going to go do something fun today?”

  “Yeah! She’s taking us to see Billie Bubbles!” Annie gushes.

  I don’t really know who that is, but I assume it’s some new kids’ movie. I nod excitedly.

  “She means the Aquarium. She names all the fish,” Stevan says, rolling his eyes.

  I laugh. “Well, gee. Tell Billie Bubbles I said hi, then. I wish I could come with you. Sounds like you’re going to have a lot of fun.”

  Jade’s mother pulls up in a brand new Lincoln, honking, and the kids quickly abandon me, flocking to her instead.

  “Hello!” Jade waves as she steps out of the house.

  “Well, hi there. What are you doing here?” She glances at me as she walks past.

  “Oh, nothing. I was bored so I thought I would just swing by. I’ll wait here while you see the kids off.”

  I saunter away toward the house and plant myself inconspicuously on the front steps, watching as Jade and her mother hug and plot and then hug again. Then, I stand and wave as they pull away, smiling and throwing my arms in the air, making a big presentation of the farewell.

  Jade walks back toward the house. “Whew! Sorry about that.”

  “No, I’m sorry for crashing. Am I interrupting anything?”

  “Of course not. Nothing at all. Come on in.”

  I follow Jade inside, my eyes ping ponging from one piece of contemporary art to the other. The first thing that strikes you about Jade’s house when you walk in is all the white. White furniture, white rugs, white paint—the place is a veritable white house. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful, but how does anyone raise two children in a spotless, white house?

  “You want something to drink? I was about to make some tea.”

  “That sounds wonderful.” I smile.

  “What have you done?” She looks at me curiously.

  “About what? What do you mean?” I swipe at my face and poke around in my nose.

  “No. I just mean you look… I don’t know, really pretty today, I guess. Did you get laid?”

  “This morning? Don’t I wish. No.”

  “Hm.”

  I follow her into the kitchen and sit down at the table as she makes the tea.

  “So, I was thinking,” I ramble.

  “Aha!” She places a fresh glass of iced tea in front of me. “I knew you were up to something.”

  “No, not really.” I chuckle. “Dan has to work tonight but I’m going over there at eight-thirty, when he gets home. That gives me plenty of time to go with Sami and Lora tonight first.”

  “I don’t know about that. Remember what they said about him recognizing you?”

  “Oh! I’ve got that figured out. See?” I cram my hand inside my purse and pluck out the pig mask, wiggling it slowly over my head. “Recognize me now?”

  She snarls, her lip curling over her teeth. “Damn, girl. Forget what I said earlier. You is ugly!”

  I pull off the mask, laughing as I stuff it back into my purse and fluff my hair. “What do you think?”

  “Well, I don’t think there’s any danger of him recognizing you in that thing.”

  “Me, either. So, there’s no reason I can’t come along, then.”

  Jade shrugs. “I don’t see why not. Are you hungry?”

  I think about it. Am I? Yes. I believe I am! I nod, smiling. “Yeah. I think I could eat.”

  Lunch consists of a beautiful Cobb Salad and a few Mimosas, which we share with Sami and Lora at the old Capitol Hotel. Sami finally agrees to my coming along with them tonight, and we spend almost an hour plotting out all the logistics. I shove off again after lunch, strolling leisurely back to my car and enjoying the fresh, crisp afternoon.

  I spend the next couple of hours running a few minor errands that certainly could have waited but provided some means to help pass the time. I even shop for a new outfit, determined to shock Dan into submission tonight. On my way home, I stop by to see my stylist and end up getting a trim and a rinse to brighten my dull, blond hair. When she’s done, I stare into the mirror and run my fingers through my hair, smiling, satisfied. Perfect.

  Five o’clock finally arrives, and I board my chariot once again, heading out to meet Lora and Sami.

  “Okay, if you insist on coming, put these on.” Sami tosses me a pair of dark blue coveralls.

  “Is this the only size you could find?” I protest as they begin stepping into the unflattering attire.

  “Yes. But, we can hope, if all goes well, no one’s going to see you in them except me and Lora.”

  I sigh and slip my leg inside, hiking them up to my chin so I can step into the other leg, and push my arms in. I flap them around at my sides for a minute. Then, I roll up the sleeves and the pant legs, adjusting the waist so they’re not hanging beneath my ass.

  “There. That’s the best I can do.” I sigh.

  Sami looks me up and down and gives me a thumbs up.

  “Hm.” Lora chuckles, flopping her sleeves around like she’s wearing a sheet.

  “Well, at least Sami’s fits,” I observe.

  “Sami’s belonged to Gabby’s son when he was twelve.” Lora giggles as she holds out her arms for Sami to work on.

  “Okay. Let’s go,” Sami says, putting the final touches on Lora’s alterations.

  We load into Lora’s car and make the short ten-mile journey toward Mr. Stratford’s farm. We gossip and giggle the entire way, our spirits high as though we were heading to a rock concert or a movie instead of an execution. Soon enough, Lora begins to slow the car.

  “There they are.” She points excitedly.

  “Pull up,” Sami directs as she rolls down her window.

  From the back seat, I scoot up, bobbing my head around, trying to see them. I can make out Lucy’s Corvette, pulled to the side of the road with the hood up.

  In spite of the coming darkness, Lucy and Gabby spy us from down the road. They walk over to lean in Sami’s window as soon as Lora’s car rolls to a stop.

  “Hey, y’all!” Lucy beams. Gabby smiles and waves at me throug
h the rear window.

  “Any sign of him?”

  “Not hide nor hair,” Gabby reports. “But Billie and Jade are parked about a mile up the road that way, in case he comes from that direction for some reason.” She points down the road past Mr. Stratford’s farm.

  “Okay. It’s after six now,” Sami says, peeking at the clock on Lora’s dash. “We should have plenty of time, but you know what to do if he comes back early.”

  Lucy nods. “We’ll flag him down for help, and then I’ll keep him busy while Gabby calls you.”

  Gabby shakes her cell phone at Sami.

  “Good. I guess we’re ready, then?” She glances at Lora and then at me for confirmation.

  “Who’s got the pills?” I ask, panicked.

  Sami gasps, patting frantically at her pockets. Then she exhales, her hand resting on her breast pocket, and she closes her eyes. “I do.”

  “Okay. Then, we’re ready,” I breathe.

  We smile and wave as we drive away, spinning toward the lights at Mr. Stratford’s house. We strain our necks as we roll slowly past the driveway.

  “Looks like the coast is clear,” Lora says as she looks for a place to pull off the road and park.

  “Not too far,” Sami warns. “We still have to get back and forth without being seen.”

  We continue down the road for some distance, and I begin to think we need to turn around.

  “There!” Sami points at a cluster of Walnut trees just off the road, and Lora pulls smack into the middle of them.

  We step out, stretching and preparing for the short hike to the farm.

  “Here.” Sami hands us each a small flashlight. “Let’s go. Candy, put your mask on.”

  She’s getting way too bossy. Still, I do as she says, wiggling it over my head again and adjusting the eye holes so I can see.

  “It stinks in here,” I grumble, wondering what the hell Josh and Eric did inside of it last Halloween.

  Lora turns around to say something, and her face suddenly contorts in horror, as she screams bloody murder. It scares the shit out of me and I scream, too, pitching the flashlight in the air and hauling ass toward the woods.

  “Candy! Lora, Shut up!” Sami yells, bending over to pick up my flashlight. “What the fuck is wrong with you two?”