“Ugh, who’s Barbara?”
“Works at the grocer and is dating one of my suspects.”
“Oh?” Kerry replied, instantly interested, but the conversation ground to a halt as the two boys ran down the steps, fighting, pushing, and poking each other. It took both Mabel and Kerry a couple of minutes to get them settled. Then Mabel took Kerry aside. “Barbara is the girlfriend of Don Sigmundson. I don’t know if she’d talk to me, and I don’t know how to approach her to see where Don was—” she lowered her voice to a whisper “—the night that Karen was killed.”
“You want me to ask her then?”
“She’s closer to your age, maybe eighteen or nineteen, and I was hoping you might be able to relate better.”
“Why not. All the school kids walk to the grocer at lunch to get some extra food if they need it. I can walk over today and see if I can get any info from her. Which night again?”
“September 3rd. It was a Wednesday.”
Kerry frowned. “Anything else going on that day? Anything earlier I mean. Nobody remembers dates like that.”
Mabel was at a loss.
“Okay, doesn’t matter,” Kerry said, waving her off. “I’ll think of something.”
Mabel smiled with relief. “Thank you for doing this. This is very helpful.”
“No problem,” Kerry said. “I get to help my Auntie in like totally investigating a crime. I just can’t wait to tell Lisa.”
“Oh, don’t say anything to her. I don’t want the word out.”
“Too late. We already know. We listened in when you and Lisa’s mom were talking.”
“You little scoundrels!”
Kerry laughed. “Remember, you owe me for this.”
“Yes.” Mabel gave in. “I owe you.” Kerry beamed.
Hector overheard his mother and starting whining. “Why does Kerry get owed? Why can’t I?”
“Oh, Luv,” Mabel said. “You don’t even know what we’re talking about.”
“I want to be owed, too,” Fred chimed in.
“Enough! Off you go,” she said, swatting their bums to get them going. They repeatedly protested, “I want to be owed!” until Kerry stepped in.
“If you’re good, I’ll get you some candy for lunch.”
Fred cheered. Hector was unimpressed. “I’m too old for candy.”
“But you like Betty Stuttgart, right?”
Hector blushed, and Mabel’s ears pricked up. This was a first, hearing her ten-year-old boy had a crush on a girl. But Betty was fourteen! “I might just introduce you if you’re good,” Kerry said.
Hector blushed even deeper, embarrassed by his mother’s attention, but nodded slightly. Fred picked up on this and said, “Hector’s got a girlfriend, Hector’s got a girlfriend.”
Hector punched Fred in the shoulder and then ran out toward the driveway with Fred chasing after him. The bus had arrived, so Kerry lugged all their school bags out. “Be good!” Mabel shouted after them, but the boys were already climbing into the bus. “Love ya!” she called, but only Kerry heard. She turned back, waved, and then got on the bus. And though the morning ended in chaos, Mabel’s heart swelled with love and pride at how they were finally pulling together as a family.
CHAPTER 27
Kerry and Lisa were talking and giggling as they lazed their way over to the grocer at lunch. They had become fast friends after Kerry had arrived in Blue River six months ago, and they spent the entire end of term and summer together. With Lisa never having had a girlfriend her age, it was a revelation to have Kerry in town, and even more so for Kerry, but in a different way. When Kerry came to Blue River, she wasn’t looking for friendship and wanted to return to Seattle and be with her old friends. But now, thanks to Lisa, she didn’t hate this place so much. And, truth be told, more and more, she even liked it. Lisa was a blast, and Hector and Fred, though a real pain sometimes, could also be fun.
Even more surprising, Lisa was not as tomboyish and bookish as the friends Kerry once gravitated to. Lisa loved makeup and was preparing to go to beauty school. Kerry picked up tips on using eyeliner and blush and taking better care of nails by merely being around her. And thanks to Lisa, Kerry was even starting to like it — though she preferred most days to go without. In return, Kerry tutored Lisa in math, and while Lisa couldn’t believe a girl could be so good at it, Kerry loved it, in part because of her dad.
As they walked on, Lisa started to tell a joke. But Kerry only half-listened, reflecting instead on her father and wondering again if she were somehow to blame for his suicide. That maybe she wasn’t good enough for him, and maybe that’s why he did it. While Mabel kept reassuring her by saying, “Both parents loved you dearly, child,” Kerry wasn’t sure. Still, Mabel was a godsend. Kerry had learned more about her parent’s hopes, dreams, and fears from Mabel than she had ever known or suspected at home. Now, she felt she could relate more to her parents after their death than when they were alive, and that hurt because she’d missed her chance.
When Lisa finished her punch line, Kerry smiled. Lisa was always good at pulling her out of her dark moods.
The village grocer and gas station were coming up on the corner of one of Blue River’s few ‘downtown’ streets. A young, tattooed man with a shaved head was filling up his car with gas. Lisa and Kerry tensed, expecting the usual catcalling from a bored skinhead working one of Larson’s farms stopping into town for gas and the hope of something more.
“Hey, ladies! Why don’t you come for a drive? I’ll show you around.”
Lisa shook her head as they walked past.
“A couple of lesbians, uh?” the guy said, laughing like they would appreciate the joke. “I like those too.”
“Get out of here, loser.”
“Ahhh,” he pouted. “Don’t be stuck up like that. Don’t go. Come on. You want some weed? I got something extra special too. Hey! I’m bored as fuck around here. Come back!”
Lisa and Kerry exchanged uncomfortable looks and didn’t open up again until they walked under the grocery eaves and went inside.
Barbara was loitering behind the counter, filing her nails, looking bored. Kerry remembered her from the July fourth fireworks on the beach because wow, what a night that was. Mabel had built it up for days. “Oh, dear, you’ll love it. Folks up here blast fireworks like their God-given right to spray-shoot machine guns. Bam, bam, bam, boom!” Kerry hadn’t believed it because, until then, Blue River had been a total bust. But the fourth of July eventually came, and with hands pressed tightly to her ears, she’d watched wide-eyed a full twenty minutes of booms and bursts of light, far, far brighter than the night’s backdrop of vibrant stars, and she had been wowed.
Yet, even that moment of awe hadn’t lasted. While Kerry had left early because of the boys’ bedtime, Lisa had stayed on and later told her about the aftermath. After the families had left the party, the bored, single men and women who worked at the mine or at Larson’s farms had gotten drunk and fought and worse. Their chaos left the beach strewn with empty beer bottles, cigarette butts, and the odd used condom. Lisa’s mom had organized a community cleanup, which Mabel and Kerry helped at, that filled bags and bags with garbage.
Lisa linked her arms with Kerry and pulled her towards the beauty supplies. She selected a lipstick and then guided Kerry back to the counter.
Barbara was still filing her nails and chewing bubblegum.
“Oh, what’s your color?” Lisa asked, nodding at her hands.
Barbara blew a giant bubble, which she popped back into her mouth. “Lavender red,” she replied.
“Ohhh, nice,” Lisa said. “You got great nails. Can I see?”
Barbara laid her hands on the counter, fingers spread wide, pleased by the compliment.
Lisa gasped. “Oh, I’m so jealous. Look at this, Kerry.” Kerry obliged, leaning over to take a look but not sure what she was admiring. “Gorgeous cuticles. Do you get manicures often, or is this all you?”
Barbara smacked a bubble back in her mouth and leaned for
ward, engaged now. She couldn’t help but wiggle in her seat and smile. “It’s me.”
Lisa examined her hair now. “Wow! I love your hair too. Is that a professional perm?”
Barbara touched her hair and shook her curls. That’s when both Kerry and Lisa saw a thin bruise high on her forehead and gaped at it. Barbara frowned and looked embarrassed, quickly fixing her hair to hide the bruise. Then she pulled away from the girls, moving around some papers behind the counter.
“My last boyfriend hit me too,” Lisa said. “I get it. Men can be such jerks.”
Kerry shot around in surprise as Barbara glanced back, embarrassed. She didn’t say anything, so Lisa reached out to hold Barbara’s hands.
“Who’s your man?” Lisa asked her.
“I doubt you know him. He works out at the mill.”
“My George did, too,” Lisa said, proudly. “He was five years older than me.”
Kerry was shocked and a little impressed, and maybe even a little jealous. She did the math and figured that Lisa had been dating a twenty-one-year-old man. She didn’t think you could date boys older than your age.
“He was nice, at first,” Lisa continued. “But he got jealous at times. You?”
“Sometimes,” Barbara said, fiddling with her hair. Then she added with a sad smile, “Not very romantic, either.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Ughhh, tell me about it. Cheap dates, all around. You end up on Smithson Island?” Barbara blushed in response, and they both giggled. Smithson Island was one of the make-out points for young and old alike. It was up near the new mine, accessed by a gravel road through the forest, a small island at the end of a large lake with a short wooden bridge from a beach shore. The waters were crystal clear and blue and reflected in a perfect mirror both the mountain and forest during the day and the moon and stars at night. It was common to have roaring fires in fire pits on the island or on the lake’s beach, and many a young woman and man had lost their virginity at this spot.
“Do you know George? My old boyfriend?”
Barbara thought about it then shook her head. “Maybe’s he’s gone. I don’t know him.”
“Yeah, probably is,” Lisa said with a laugh. “He certainly hasn’t called me lately. Does your boyfriend work the night shifts? Those are the worst.”
“Some nights, yeah. It’s not great. He works a lot. And we have a trailer out on one of Larson’s properties too. He manages one of the farms and Larson’s pretty particular.”
“He’s a Larson man too?” Lisa asked, impressed, which threw Kerry, not knowing if this were part of an act or what Lisa really felt.
Barbara nodded and then sized up Lisa. “You know, there’s some cute guys out at the farm. A girl like you might fit in.”
Lisa asked, “Really?” And then twirled around, laughing.
Barbara giggled with her and then confided, “We’re thinking of getting married too.”
“Oh,” Lisa said, sounding a little taken aback. Then she came out of it. “Congratulations! The mill’s a good job for a husband.”
“Yeah, I think so,” Barbara said, proudly.
Lisa looked around and then lowered her voice. “Can your future husband score us some weed?”
Kerry gaped at Lisa, half-expecting Sheriff Dan to come in and arrest them all.
Barbara focused on Lisa and smiled. “Sure. Come out to the farm, and we can cut you some. You know Parker’s Ridge?” Lisa nodded. “It’s the second left down the road. Go about a mile in. You can’t miss it. There are a few trailers out there.”
Lisa winked. “Gotcha. I’ll do that.”
Then Lisa and Barbara settled in to talk about boyfriends some more. But since Kerry hadn’t even kissed a guy yet, she felt embarrassed, like a third wheel, and drifted from the conversation.
Then she heard Lisa ask what they had come in for and that brought her back. “Hey, was your boyfriend working the night that girl died at the mill?”
Barbara frowned and then shook her head. “Nah. Said he’d worked his shift that night, but I found out later that the mill was closed for maintenance. I think he went to the peelers instead.”
“Ugh, Curt’s Strip Club,” Lisa said. “George did the same. How did you find out?”
“He came home late, stunk of beer, cuts on his knuckles, that sort of thing. Dummy said he got injured on shift. But you know how it is. Then we got into a fight about it, and eventually I just dropped it.”
“Yeah, totally. Boyfriends are idiots.” Lisa said, but this time neither laughed. “Well,” Lisa added, moving back. “It’s time we got back.” She looked at Kerry and nodded her head in the direction of the schoolhouse. “Nice talking to you, Barbara. Maybe I’ll see you at the farm.”
Barbara brightened. “Sure thing. Anytime. I’ll introduce you to some of the boys.”
Lisa led the way out with Kerry trailing behind, somewhat unsettled. She had learned more about Lisa in the last ten minutes than she had since arriving in Blue River. It seemed Lisa was a lot more complicated — and more adult — than Kerry had realized.
Lisa put her arm around Kerry’s shoulder and shook her out of it. “You heard that?” she said. “About the cuts on his hands. About how he lied about going to work. Barbara’s boyfriend doesn’t have much of an alibi, does he? Him lying and all. Let’s run over to my place, and you can call Mabel. She’s probably dying to know.”
Kerry agreed, but she had more on her mind. “Hey, uh,” she said. “I didn’t know you dated an older boy.”
Lisa laughed, then blushed. “I don’t really want to talk about it. He broke my heart.”
“When did it happen?”
“Last year. He left after we uh…” Lisa hesitated and looked embarrassed. “He left after he took me to Smithson Island. He said he loved me.” She looked pained. “I guess he didn’t.”
“So after… He just dropped you? After he said he loved you?” Lisa nodded, her eyes tearing up. “Ughhh,” Kerry said, determined now more than ever to get out of Blue River. “Men are jerks.”
She pulled her friend into a bear hug like one of Mabel’s good ones. Lisa pushed her off playfully, and then they ran to Lisa’s house to call Mabel before the one pm school bell.
CHAPTER 28
Tuesday, October 21
Energized by Kerry’s tip from the previous day, Mabel plotted her next move. Knowing that at least one of her suspects might have visited Curt’s stripper bar, Mabel thought it best to ask Curt in person. After getting Sally organized for the nine am breakfast shift, she got in the car and drove over, thinking of what she would ask him. Like Mabel, Curt worked non-stop and spent most of his time running his bar. While they shared some of the same clientele — the construction crews, sawmill workers, and truckers of the region — only families and tourists dined at Mabel’s, and only Larson’s men ate at Curt’s. And while Mabel prided herself on her cooking, Curt augmented his cheap four-dollar breakfast with a morning strip show. Curt had told her once that he used the morning show to try out his new strippers; if they did well, they graduated to the night show, where the tips were better.
She’d learned a lot about the strip club business from Curt. Most strip clubs around the region allowed clients to throw coins or yell insults at the girls, but Curt would have none of that. For all his faults, Curt considered his place as a kind of rural Gentlemen’s Club, and, as the only strip bar for fifty miles, the patrons toed the line. If a Larson man acted up, the man got banned. And a ban meant a sentence of extreme boredom out on the various grow-ops, and even worse, exclusion from hanging out with Larson’s uppers, who had their ‘management’ meetings at Curt’s over beers — though Larson himself rarely showed up. He preferred being the lord of his own trailer compound, which had a sinister reputation with the strippers.
Thus, to Mabel, the strip club seemed the least of the town’s many vices. The bar was in a two-level nondescript building with blackout windows and a reinforced steel front door that looked like it had survived
a war. The morning was bright and sunny, but you wouldn’t know it walking in. With the door open, what little light filtered in behind Mabel blinded the men at tables nearby and highlighted how seamy and run-down the place was. Once the door closed, the peeling paint and stained floors disappeared in the dim light, and the club seemed somewhat respectable again. Several men, a few she recognized from her diner, were scattered around the room. Most were either finishing their breakfasts or staring blankly at a naked woman dancing on a pole. The music wasn’t as loud as it was at night, which Mabel guessed was a courtesy to those who hadn’t yet had their second cup of coffee.
“Mabel!”
Mabel smiled and sat down on a stool as Curt swept the bar clean in front of her. While she didn’t approve of these clubs and felt somewhat alien to the place, Curt had a kind heart and treated his women well.
“You want a water?” he asked.
Mabel nodded, and Curt fetched her one. Curt was roughly fifty, on his second wife —a former stripper like his first — and had five kids, mostly grown now, except for the two-year-old who’d come along with his second marriage. He wore a loose silk shirt unbuttoned at the neck, had thick, wavy hair with no hint of gray, and a lazy charm that served him well. He was a chain smoker, who almost always had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, as he did now. Although Curt’s place was still independent as far as Mabel knew, his bar was a personal hangout for Larson’s men and any State Police on Larson’s payroll. Although Sheriff Dan wasn’t on Larson’s payroll yet, Dan showed up on occasion as he and Curt were hunting buddies. Larson tolerated Dan and there seemed to be an unspoken agreement — if Larson’s men weren’t bothered, neither he nor his men would bother the town. While this arrangement had served folks well as Larson formed his empire, now that Larson was the undisputed king of the drug trade in the region, his protection of local folks was slipping. Not enough to cause an uproar, not yet. Profits were still good, and families were taken care of, but more and more Larson didn’t punish his men acting up as he once did, and fear was creeping in. Even Curt looked a little older and more strained than the last time she’d seen him.
Heart of a Runaway Girl Page 13