Double Blind

by D P Lyle

  Sam watched them go. “Impressive man. I don’t think I’ve ever met a Noble nominee.”

  Chapter 22

  The next day, Sam, Alyss, and Shelby arrived at Casa Grande a little past one. Carmelita ushered them to the patio where Burt introduced them to his son Conner and Hollis’ daughter, Kelly.

  Conner, eighteen, had just finished his freshman year at Princeton. He was tall, fit, blonde, and possessed his father’s intelligent, intensely blue eyes. His smile was welcoming and his handshake firm. Sam liked him immediately, but noticed Alyss nervously studying Shelby’s reaction to the attractive young man.

  Kelly, like Shelby, was seventeen and two weeks out of high school. She had porcelain skin, green eyes, and a pixie-like face, framed by raven hair, cropped and combed so that it curled beneath her jaw. The sunlight added a tempered blue hue. A faint sprinkle of freckles lay across her nose.

  Kelly turned to Shelby. “Did you bring your swim suit?”

  “Right here,” Shelby said, indicating the Elmo backpack slung over one shoulder.

  “Cool bag,” Kelly said. “Come on. I’ll show you where to change.” She led Shelby around the Olympic-sized pool to a low cabana that extended its entire length.

  Conner followed them as far as the pool deck. He stripped off his shirt, revealing a lean muscular body above his denim colored swim trunks. He dove into the water and with smooth strokes swam to the other end where he executed a perfect flip turn and reversed his direction.

  “He swims like a pro,” Alyss said.

  “Conner’s on the swim team at Princeton,” Burt said, his face beaming with pride.

  The two girls came out of the cabana, giggling as if they were old friends, raced each other toward the pool, and jumped in.

  The water sparkled in the sun. Sam could smell a faint hint of chlorine mixed with the aroma of the pines. Beyond the pool, near the cabana, Carlos was busy firing up a huge oil drum smoker.

  Sam accepted a bottle of Budweiser from Burt and sat at one of the patio tables. Burt and Alyss settled across from her, nudging their chairs near each other.

  Carmelita placed a plate of quesadillas on the table. “Cheese, Ortega chili, and red onion,” she said. “But, don’t eat too much. Carlos is going to smoke some ribs and brisket.”

  “I can’t pass on these,” Sam said. She snatched one of the quesadillas and took a bite. “Hmm. Carmelita, do you cook like this everyday?”

  “Only for my Carlos,” she said with a twinkle in her root beer brown eyes. “Mr. Eagan, he eat like a bird. That’s why I like when he has guests. I can make all the things I like.”

  “Call me anytime,” Sam said. “I could eat like this every day.”

  “She’s not kidding,” Alyss said. “I wish I could eat like her, but if I did, I’d weigh two hundred pounds.”

  “Simple,” Sam said. “Just take up boxing as a hobby.”

  Carmelita retreated to the kitchen. As soon as the door closed, it reopened.

  “Here’s Hollis,” Burt said.

  Sam looked up as a man, at least ten years older than Burt, stepped onto the patio. Hollis’ entire appearance screamed vanity. Over-dressed for the occasion, which Sam guessed was typical for him, he wore a caramel cashmere jacket over a white silk shirt and brown pants. The shirt gaped open to the fourth button, revealing a tuft of silver hair and a single gold medallion, which hung from a matching chain. His teeth were perfect, capped; his tan, indoor, paid for. He approached them, a wave of cologne leading the way and a broad, practiced grin on his face.

  Burt made the introductions. Hollis shook Alyss’ hand and then Sam’s, which he cupped in both of his. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” he said. His dark brown eyes swept over her face as if studying it for flaws. He released her hand and sat next to her. “Are you ladies enjoying yourselves?”

  “Very much,” Alyss said.

  “Beautiful day,” Hollis added. “Better than Houston. It was ninety-five and sticky when we left yesterday.”

  Burt laughed. “I’ve been telling Hollis that he should build on his land and move here permanently, but I can’t get him out of Texas.”

  “Why should I build when I have this place to visit whenever I want?” Hollis said, waving an arm toward the house.

  Carmelita appeared with a scotch on the rocks and handed it to Hollis. He took a deep pull. “That’s wonderful. Carmelita, you’re the best bartender I know.”

  “Where’s Niki?” Burt asked.

  “Getting dressed,” Hollis said. “She’ll be down shortly.”

  As if on cue, the door opened and Niki appeared, wearing a bright yellow string bikini beneath a sheer black shirt, open in the front. Sam wondered what took so long to put on.

  Even though she was only 22, Niki Upton had a household face. Not homely, household. One that had been in every home in America. Vogue, Cosmo, Elle, Redbook, and a number of fitness and lingerie magazines. She was tall, thin, with sunken cheeks, a pert nose, and huge blue eyes, which gave her a startled look that only added to her youthful beauty. Her short blonde hair looked like a tastefully trampled cornfield.

  Sam was amazed. And more than a tiny bit pissed. She had seen Niki’s face dozens of times, staring from the magazine rack at the grocery store or on the coffee table at the homes of friends. Niki had even been featured in a television special on the production of some sports magazine’s annual swimsuit layout. Sam had convinced herself that all these beautiful super-models weren’t actually that beautiful. That the camera was simply kind to them. That they wouldn’t really stand out in a crowd. Niki proved all that wrong. Even with no makeup, no special lighting, she was incredibly beautiful. Damn it!

  Then there were those breasts. They looked like two ICBMs, each of which could level a major metropolitan area. Sam felt as if she should move from the line of fire in case Niki’s brain stumbled onto the launch code.

  Niki accepted a glass of wine from Carmelita and walked toward them, hips swaying indifferently as if walking the runway in the latest Armani or Versace design. She sat in the empty chair next to Sam.

  When Burt introduced Niki to Sam and Alyss, her cool demeanor dissolved into a warm smile. “Sorry I’m late. I was on the phone with my agent. Did I miss anything?”

  “No.” Sam said. “There are a few of pieces of quesadilla left.” She slid the plate toward Niki.

  “Great.” Niki took one of the wedges and bit into it. “God, I’ve missed Carmelita’s cooking.” She devoured the wedge and took another. “I always eat like a pig when I’m here.” She patted her bare belly. “And I’ve got a lingerie layout to do in Paris in two weeks.” She bit into the second wedge, then licked grease from her fingers. “Oh well, an extra hour in the gym tomorrow.”

  Conner, a towel draped over his shoulders, walked up to the table. “Dad, we’re going to take some horses and ride up to the lake. What time’s dinner?”

  Carmelita looked out the open window from the kitchen. “Five,” she said. “And don’t be late.”

  Conner laughed. “Don’t worry, we won’t.”

  Burt introduced Hollis and Niki to Shelby. Shelby’s eyes widened when she shook Niki’s hand.

  “I can’t believe it’s really you,” Shelby said. “Conner said you were here. I see your pictures everywhere.”

  Niki smiled. “You must work in a garage. Mechanics seem to love my calendars.”

  Shelby laughed. “So do the guys on the football team at my high school. And my friend Kaylee thinks you’re like the greatest model ever.”

  Niki blushed slightly. “You’re embarrassing me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh no, don’t be. I love fans. Where would I be without them?” Niki ran her fingers through her hair. “Give me your friend’s address and I’ll send her a couple of signed pictures. If you think she’d like them.”

  “Like them? She would like have a major stroke.”

  Everybody laughed.

  Beautiful, witty, cool, charming.
Niki had it all, Sam thought. She would be easy to hate if she wasn’t so damn nice.

  “Come on,” Conner said. “Let’s get going.”

  Alyss looked at Shelby. “Wouldn’t you rather stay here and swim?”

  Shelby rolled her eyes, released an exasperated sigh, and whispered to her mother. “Mom, don’t do this. I’m not a baby.”

  “Something wrong?” Burt asked.

  “I’m just concerned,” Alyss said. “Lloyd’s murder. Then, the Kendalls saw something. God knows what.”

  Burt smiled. “I heard about that.”

  “Oh?” Sam said.

  “Forrest Wade told me. I’m sure it was Billy they ran into.”

  “I don’t know,” Alyss said. “Besides, Shelby’s not very experienced with horses,” Alyss said.

  “She rode beautifully the other day.” Burt leaned toward Alyss, placed a hand on her arm, giving it a gentle pat, and smiled. “Don’t worry. Conner’s been on horses all his life. And he knows these horses better than anyone. And there isn’t some wild man running around in the forest.”

  “How do you know?”

  “This is a small valley. Not much can hide in here. At worst, it was a bear.”

  “OK,” Alyss said. “So it was a bear. I still think it would be better if they didn’t go riding off somewhere and run into it.”

  “Trust me. If it’s a bear, it’s more afraid of them than they are of it.”

  “Really?” Alyss asked, her wrinkled brow relaxing slightly.

  Burt smiled and took her hand in his. “Yes, really. They’ll be OK.”

  Alyss looked at Shelby. “OK. But, be careful.”

  Shelby gave her a quick hug. “Thanks.”

  The three teenagers headed toward the cabana to change. Returning five minutes later, they piled into Conner’s truck and drove off toward the stables.

  Alyss looked nervously after them.

  Sam leaned over and touched her arm. “Want me to go with them?”

  Alyss shook her head, “No. Shelby would have a fit. I’ll be OK.”

  “So will they,” Sam said.

  Sam kept a watchful eye on Alyss, who seemed to relax as the conversation turned to the weather, politics, movies, and other topics. Sam noticed however that Alyss frequently glanced toward the stables as if hoping Shelby would change her mind and return to the pool.

  Burt dominated the conversation with Hollis adding comments here and there. To Sam’s surprise, Niki more than held her own on a variety of subjects. Brains, too. It wasn’t fair. Finally Burt launched into the history of Gold Creek.

  Niki stood and stretched. “I’ve heard this story before. I think I’ll see what else Carmelita has to nibble on.” She headed toward the kitchen.

  Burt continued his story.

  Gold Creek sprouted a hundred and fifty years earlier as a collection of miner’s tents along the creek from which it took its name. Later, several log houses, two saloons, and a hotel appeared, followed by a pair of brothels. Near the turn of the century, Victorian buildings began to replace the log structures and the town became one of the hidden jewels of the Rockies.

  Mining reigned supreme until the 1980’s when the price of gold and silver dropped and the cost of mining sky-rocketed, making it cheaper to import these precious commodities than to hammer them from the hard rock. The mines closed, the town staggered, but hung on, transforming itself into a tourist spot for those who wanted quiet, natural beauty and a place to uncoil from the pressures of urban life. Now, according to Burt, it was the best place on Earth to live.

  By the time Sam finished her Bud, the conversation turned to the murder of Lloyd Varney.

  “Sam saw the murderer,” Burt said.

  “You did?” Hollis asked.

  Sam explained what had occurred on that night for what seemed like the twentieth time.

  “I told her, Billy Bear Wingo’s the only one around here that fits that description,” Burt said.

  “And he has the temperament,” Hollis added.

  Chapter 23

  Shelby extracted her foot from the stirrup, swung her leg over Storm’s muscular back, and dismounted. She released the reins and the black stallion wandered over to where his two stable mates were munching grass.

  Conner spread out a blanket near the shore of the lake and the three of them sat down. He pulled a bottle of wine from the canvas bag he had brought and looked at Shelby. “This cool with you?”

  “Totally. I love wine.”

  A wine opener and three plastic glasses appeared next. Conner opened the bottle and poured. “Merlot. I clipped it from dad’s cellar. He’ll never miss it.”

  Shelby took a sip. “This is awesome.”

  “This is better.” Kelly tugged a plastic baggie from her pocket and opened it. Inside were three neatly rolled joints. “Do you party?” she asked Shelby.

  “Totally,” Shelby said.

  Kelly fired up the joint and inhaled deeply. She passed it to Shelby.

  Shelby took a hit and passed it to Conner. She held the toke, and then exhaled. “I can’t believe you guys actually know Niki Upton. She’s like a mega-model.”

  Kelly laughed. “Yeah, Niki’s cool. She and Dad have been together for about four years.”

  “What about your mom? What does she think of Niki?” Shelby asked.

  “Mom lives in Houston, too. She hates Niki though. I never bring her name up. If I do, Mom goes ballistic.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Shelby said. “My Mom’s the same about my Dad’s new girlfriend Tiffany. Hates her.”

  “I hope I never get hung up on that jealousy trip,” Kelly said. She took another hit and passed the joint back to Shelby.

  Shelby took a deep drag, held it, and as she exhaled said, “You guys are like totally cool. I was beginning to think this place was completely dead.”

  Conner laughed. “We always have fun.”

  Shelby took another hit and passed the joint to Conner. “What I really like is E.”

  Kelly cast a quizzical look. “E?”

  “Ecstasy.”

  “You’ve done that?” Kelly asked.

  “Sure,” Shelby said. “It’s big in LA. I mean like everybody does it.”

  “What is it?” Conner asked.

  “I don’t know. Something they mix with water or juice or anything. You drink it and fly. Especially if you have a couple of beers with it.”

  “Sounds wild,” Kelly said. “Where do you get it?”

  “Everywhere. I know a couple of guys at school that always have some. Hell, they come to school sick every day.”

  “Sick?”

  “You know. Wrecked. Fucked up. Mangled.”

  “You guys in California seem to have the wildest lingo for everything,” Kelly said.

  Shelby sipped her wine and giggled. She could feel the marijuana’s effect. “Yeah, E is cool. And Special K.”

  Conner took the joint. “My favorite cereal,” he said.

  Shelby laughed. “Ketamine. We call it Special K. Then, there’s GHB. It’s a lot like E.”

  Kelly took the joint from Conner. “I heard GHB was dangerous.”

  “No,“ Shelby said. “It’s fun.” She drained her wine glass and held it out as Conner refilled it. “There was like this one kid that died. I didn’t know him, but I was there that night. A huge rave out at Big Rock.”

  “You go to those?” Conner asked.

  “Yeah. All my friends do.”

  “What are they like?”

  “A bunch of people. Cool music. Drugs and alcohol. Everything that’s fun.”

  “How many show up?” Kelly asked.

  “I went to one out in the desert, near Palm Springs. A massive group. They say four thousand. Maybe more.”

  “Four thousand? Where were the cops?” Conner asked.

  “They did a couple of fly-bys in helicopters, but they like didn’t bother us. We weren’t like really breaking any laws.”

  “Drugs? Alcohol? Aren’t those illega
l in LA?” Conner said.

  “Yeah. But nobody really cares.”

  Kelly extended the joint toward her.

  “I’m like totally mangled already,” Shelby said as she pinched the roach between her nails. “But what the hell.”

  “How do you find out about them?” Kelly asked. “The raves.”

  “Word of mouth. Fliers. Now they’re on the web.” Shelby took a toke and handed off the weed to Conner. She exhaled the smoke skyward. “Somebody’ll get a place, either out in the desert or up by Big Bear in the mountains. Sometimes a warehouse over in San Bernardino. They’ll set up a generator, a bunch of turntables and speakers for the music, and people will show up. Weed. E. Special K. Shrooms. Everybody gets ripped. Has a good time.”

  “Shrooms?” Kelly said.

  “Mushrooms,” Shelby said. “Very trippy.”

  Conner took a final hit from the joint and tossed the roach into the lake. “I think I’ll stick to weed and alcohol,” he said.

  Kelly stood and peeled her shirt over her head, exposing her small firm breasts. “I’m going swimming.” She stepped out of her jeans.

  “It’s cold,” Conner said.

  Clad in only black thong panties, Kelly walked into the water. “It is cold,” she said, but continued out until the water was waist deep. She stretched out and swam several strokes into the lake and then turned, treading water. “Come on in, you guys.”

  Conner stripped off his shirt and jeans and jogged into the water.

  Maybe it was the weed. Or the wine. Or the thin air. But, Shelby sensed none of her usual modesty. She pulled off her shirt and jeans and protected only by her sheer white panties, waded into the frigid water, which seemed much colder than the water in her secret pond above her mother’s inn. “My God, it’s freezing.”

  “Come on,” Kelly said. “It’s better after you’re all the way in.”

  Shelby swam to where they were. They formed a circle, holding on to each other, treading water, giggling.

  *

  Sitting on a rock, high, near the tree line, he watched the three teenagers frolic in the water. They seemed young and happy, without a care in the world. He munched on a piece of hard cheese, a chunk of stale bread, and apple slices, sipping water from a plastic bottle.