Walleye Junction

by Karin Salvalaggio

  Photo taken over Memorial Day weekend when Dot and the kids were away in Helena visiting family. I’m convinced Peter took the photo and he and Lucy spent at least two nights together up at the house, but I need more than this to prove he was supplying Lucy with drugs. Given the large stash of drugs found when she died, I’m convinced she was dealing on his behalf. Unsavory to consider, but very likely that he was supplying her with drugs for her personal use in exchange for sex. Lucy was an addict. I know from experience that she would have done just about anything for a fix. Must talk to Dot.

  18

  Gina slid onto the empty bar stool next to Macy. She was wearing a pair of slacks, a blouse, and a jean jacket. It was the first time in years that Macy had seen her out of uniform. Gina pushed her glasses up on her nose and picked up the wine menu.

  “After spending the day in Missoula chasing down Kyle’s friends I could really use a drink. Fancy ordering a bottle of red to share?”

  “Don’t be so negative. Missoula is nice.”

  “Oh, I’ve got no issues with Missoula, but I wasn’t in town. I was out in the hills with the rednecks. Kyle Miller runs in some interesting circles.” Gina flipped the wine menu over and traced her finger along the list of wines on offer. “I’ve spoken to the friends he was with the night Philip Long was murdered. Their stories line up.”

  “Anything make you doubt they were telling the truth?” asked Macy.

  “No, it all checked out.”

  “How long has Kyle known them?”

  “They met through some weekend retreat set up by Kyle’s church last year.”

  “Criminal records?”

  “One served two years for beating his wife. Another has convictions for dealing. Nothing recent. They’re all born-again Christians.” Gina put the menu down and took off her glasses. “Kyle was born on the wrong side of the tracks. Hanging out with deadbeats must come naturally to him.”

  “I get the impression he has aspirations to rise above all that,” said Macy.

  Gina waved at the bartender to get his attention.

  “You may want to hold off on a whole bottle,” said Macy “I just got word that that rave Kristina has been planning is kicking off tonight somewhere in the Flathead Valley. The tech guys are tracking her social media activity. Once a phone number is posted they’ll call in for the rave’s location.”

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky and find Sean tonight. So far he and Kristina have been inseparable.” Gina swiveled her bar stool around and had a quick look at the barroom. “I’m starting to see why Kristina’s raves are so popular. Friday evenings in Walleye are pretty dead.”

  The bartender placed a pair of martinis in front of Gina and Macy and told them it was compliments of the gentleman sitting at the corner table. They both turned. Ryan Marshall tipped his large-brimmed cowboy hat in their direction.

  Macy tried to keep a straight face. “Gina, it appears we have an admirer.”

  “What’s with the hat?” asked Gina.

  “I think he’s trying to blend in with the locals.”

  “It’s not working.”

  “Should we go say hello?”

  Gina picked up her glass. “One drink isn’t going to hurt. It’s going to be hours before we find out where that party is.”

  “Just don’t get sucked in,” said Macy. “My friend Ryan is a hangover waiting to happen.”

  * * *

  The heavily rutted track turned sharply to the right and within seconds dipped down into a dense pine forest. The headlights caught tree trunks and little else. It was pitch-black outside.

  Macy checked the coordinates. “According to the GPS we’re not even on a marked road.”

  “Maybe we should double back,” said Gina. “We may have missed a turn.”

  Macy pointed out the front window. “There, through the trees. Are those lights?”

  The road dead-ended at a sagging chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. Gina killed the headlights.

  “What is this place?” asked Gina.

  They looked out over a mile of broken tarmac. Shrubs and grasses grew from the cracks. The rusted hulk of a twin-engine airplane was tipped on its side. One of its wings was snapped in two.

  “It’s an abandoned airfield,” said Macy, shutting the door and heading over to the fence for a better look.

  The airplane hangar had been transformed into a nightclub. The big doors were open and people crowded into the floodlit interior. A sound system was positioned on a flatbed truck that had been parked in the middle of the building. Cars and pickup trucks were scattered across the runway. It looked as if some people were staying the night. Tents had been erected on a grassy area near the perimeter fence.

  Gina squinted her eyes. “Looks like a few hundred people, but hard to tell how many are inside. I wonder how much she’s charging per head.”

  “The tech people didn’t say.”

  “We need to get in there and have a closer look,” said Gina.

  Macy moved along the perimeter. “There’s a break in the fence up ahead.”

  The music was deafening. The ground beneath their feet vibrated. The airfield’s gated entrance was to the north of the hangar. A line of cars waited to get in. Macy pointed to a bumper sticker on a pickup truck that was parked nearby—NO BETTER HIGH THAN A WALLEYE HIGH. Even though Gina was right next to her, Macy had to shout.

  “What happened to the bumper stickers that said my child is an honor student?” said Macy.

  Gina craned her neck to get a better look. “God this makes me feel old. There are more people here than I realized. How many, would you say?”

  “I’d say close to a thousand.” Macy fiddled with the keypad on her phone. There was hardly any signal. “We’d better give Lou a call.”

  “That’s a big crowd. I imagine we’ll need more than just Lou.”

  “He’s going to have to handle this carefully,” said Macy. “Someone could get hurt if the police come in too heavy-handed.”

  “People will get hurt no matter what we do. Those kids look like they’re tanked up on more than just warm keg beer. I’ll go back to the car and radio it in. If you spot Sean or Kristina, come find me.”

  Two girls emerged from the hangar and staggered toward where Macy was hiding. Oblivious to the cold night air, they only wore tiny denim shorts and crop tops. Every few steps they doubled over and went into hysterics.

  “I’m going to pee my pants if you don’t stop making me laugh.”

  The shorter girl grabbed her friend’s hand and dragged her toward some shrubs growing at the base of the chain-link fence.

  “Let’s go over there. No one will see us.”

  “As long as there aren’t any snakes.”

  “Or bears.”

  “Or perverts.”

  They laughed again.

  “Justin is so messed up. They carried him off somewhere.”

  “He’s such an idiot. Ket is nasty.”

  “Got any more Molly?”

  “That depends.” Another laugh. “Got any more money?”

  Macy watched them walk away, their tiny shorts disappearing up their backsides. They couldn’t have been more than sixteen. She turned in time to see Gina moving along the fence. She was barely visible beneath the overhanging tree branches. She squatted down next to Macy.

  “Lou agrees that the first priority will be to keep these kids safe,” said Gina. “Events like this are pretty rare up this way. They’re still learning how to deal with them.”

  “By the time they’ve figured it out, kids will be doing something else.”

  “The youth of today—”

  “Are no worse than the youth of yesterday.”

  “You speak the truth. I was a nightmare.” Gina checked the time. “How do you want to do this? Soft touch or not, when the cops show up those kids will scatter. If Kristina and Sean are in that crowd we’ll lose them.”

  “I’m going to head over and see if I can find them.”

&nbs
p; “You’re just going to walk in there?”

  “I’m counting on them being too wasted to notice me,” said Macy.

  Gina gestured to some low windows running along the western wall of the hangar. The side door was ajar. A man stood outside smoking a cigarette.

  “That guy standing by the doors looks like security,” said Gina. “There will be more where he came from.”

  “I know,” Macy said, tugging her hair out of its band and pulling it down around her face. She scowled like a teenager for Gina’s benefit. “I’ll do my best to blend in, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll run like hell.”

  * * *

  A group of youths in their late teens were gathered around a pickup truck. A petite girl with dark hair sat on the shoulders of the tallest boy. She had her eyes closed and was swaying back and forth to the music. Stripes of neon green and pink paint glowed on her cheeks. One of the boys caught sight of Macy and stepped into her path. Macy stumbled on purpose and laughed. Keeping her eyes focused on the middle distance, she pushed him aside and kept walking toward the hangar.

  He asked her name.

  Macy waved him off, but he followed her anyway.

  “I’m looking for my friends,” she said.

  Warm breath smelling of whiskey and cigarettes was right up against her ear.

  “Maybe I can help,” he said. “Tell me their names.”

  Macy took a chance. “Xtina and Sean.”

  “You’re not going to find them in there.” He pointed toward the cluster of tents and took hold of her arm. “That’s where you want to go. I’ll take you.”

  Macy looked over at the tents. A few glowed in the dark. She didn’t think Kristina was the type to hide away in a tent when there was a party going on.

  “Do you even know them?” asked Macy.

  “You’re just going to have to trust me,” he said, pulling her along.

  “I’ll find them on my own,” she said, yanking her arm away. “Let go of me.”

  He threw her up against a nearby car and pinned her down.

  “You’re going nowhere,” he said.

  Macy’s knee came up like a piston, hitting him hard in the groin. He cried out as he doubled over. She was tempted to pull out her firearm but kneed him in the side of the head instead.

  “I don’t have time for your bullshit,” said Macy, taking a handful of his hair and twisting his head around so she could get a better look at him. “I’m looking for a girl with bleach-blond hair with black tips. Tell me where to find her or get the fuck out of my way.”

  He glared at her. “That fucking hurt.”

  “I’ll do worse if you don’t tell me what I need to know.”

  “Around back behind the stage. There was a girl who looked like that in the VIP area.”

  Macy leaned in closer. “I know what you’re up to. Fuck with any of the girls here and I’ll come find you.”

  Macy headed for the stage. Strobe lights pulsed above the sea of dancers and music pumped out of speakers the size of refrigerators. A DJ wearing headphones stood in a booth that sat on the back of a flatbed truck that was surrounded by a low barrier. Macy kept to the edge of the dance floor, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Kristina, figuring she’d stand out more than Sean. Glow sticks and face paint aside, most of the girls looked like your average Flathead Valley teenagers.

  Macy dodged a group of wasted youth who were clinging to anything that would keep them upright. One toppled to the floor, taking his friends down with him. Elation was soon followed by panic. They grabbed the legs of other dancers as they tried to get up. More fell into the pit. Macy pulled a girl free. She wrapped her arms around Macy’s neck and kissed her on the cheek before staggering away. Two boys rolled around in the chaos pummeling each other with their fists, oblivious to the fact that they were crushing anyone who was stuck beneath them. The crowd closed in, and Macy was swept off her feet as a pair of arms locked around her from behind.

  By the time she recognized the smell of whiskey and cigarettes it was too late. The boy she’d encountered outside was back. He shoved Macy up against the barrier and pulled up her shirt with one hand while tugging at the waistline of her jeans with the other. She reached over her head and dug her thumbs deep into his eye sockets before twisting around and throwing several punches. The third one was a direct hit. His head snapped back and he dropped like a stone. Macy gave him a final shove and watched as he disappeared into the crowd.

  * * *

  Yards of dank plastic sheeting hung from a latticework of scaffolding that had been erected to block off an area at the rear of the hangar. She pulled it to the side and stepped over the metal frame and yards of thick power cables. Flathead Valley’s version of a VIP section was no more than a couple of trestle tables covered with booze and a few dozen beanbag chairs thrown onto the floor.

  It was difficult to see anything clearly under the fast-pulsing lights. Most of the kids were crowded around the bar area mixing drinks in large plastic cups. To the right, a set of double doors was propped open with a chair. Outside there was a floodlit area adjacent to the gated entrance to the airfield. She’d counted two security guards so far.

  Macy spotted Kristina in an office located at the rear of the hangar. She was pacing back and forth, smoking a cigarette, in front of a window that faced the building’s interior. She stopped to gaze out onto the crowd gathered around the trestle tables. She looked as if she’d been lifted straight from the pages of a graphic novel. Her bleached hair was piled high on her head and dark makeup outlined her eyes. Her lips appeared to be painted black. Macy had never seen anyone like her before. For a few seconds she was transfixed.

  The girl next to Macy threw her arm sideways and the contents of her cup soaked the front of Macy’s jacket. She looked Macy in the face and burst out laughing.

  “Sorry, Mom.”

  “Go home,” Macy said, pushing past her. “It’s past your bedtime.”

  * * *

  Macy double-checked that the safety was on before sweeping into the office with her gun drawn. She kicked the door shut behind her.

  “Police,” she yelled. “Put your hands up where I can see them.”

  Kristina stood on the opposite side of a large metal desk, leaning out a window that was a few feet away from the airport’s perimeter fence. She flicked her half-finished cigarette outside before turning to face Macy. She didn’t look alarmed. She looked bored. Her hands hovered between up and down like she was unable to commit to either of the two. She spoke with a distinct accent, but her diction was spot on.

  “Why are you pointing a gun at me?” said Kristina. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “Keep your hands where I can see them. I need to see some ID.”

  Kristina shook her head.

  “Suit yourself,” said Macy. “I’m still going to arrest you.”

  Kristina leaned back against the window frame and took a quick peek outside. It looked like she was deciding whether she should make a run for it.

  Macy raised the gun higher. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “You cops are such fascists. Kids should be able to have a good time. We’re not hurting anyone.”

  Macy ran her eyes over Kristina’s features. The dyed hair and thick makeup couldn’t hide everything. Kristina had put in some miles.

  “Hate to break it to you, but you’re no kid,” said Macy. “I’m guessing you’re older than I am.”

  “That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. When was the last time you had a good time, Detective Greeley?” Kristina’s tone was withering. “I’m guessing it’s been at least a decade.”

  “How do you know my name?”

  “I’m old like you. I read the papers.”

  “Then you know I’m looking for your friend Sean Spencer in connection with Philip Long’s kidnapping and murder.”

  “I haven’t seen Sean in weeks.”

  “You were with him yesterday. You posted a picture online.” />
  A slight smile. “Yesterday was throwback Thursday.”

  “Kristina, quit bullshitting me. Sean is only nineteen. He’s already lost his mother and stepfather. He stands to lose much more if he doesn’t come forward soon.”

  “You really don’t have a clue what’s going on,” said Kristina.

  “Enlighten me.”

  “Sean wasn’t involved in Philip Long’s murder.”

  “That’s for the authorities to decide.”

  “We sent you the files from the story Long was working on. It’s all there in black and white. We can’t help it if you’re incompetent.”

  “Kristina, we’re in the middle of a major investigation. You don’t seem to realize how many tips we receive from the public over the course of a day. We can’t cover everything. Your e-mail could have been much clearer. Why didn’t you tell us from the beginning that the files were Philip Long’s?” Macy’s words came out in a rush. “Who gave the files to you? Was it Carla?”

  They both glanced at the back window facing the perimeter fence. A long line of patrol cars was heading up the access road with their emergency lights on.

  “We need to know what happened at that house where Long was being held captive,” said Macy. “I’m thinking that Carla contacted Sean and gave him the files. Sean has to give us everything. We need more evidence if we’re going to make a case.”

  “You’ll have to work with what you have,” said Kristina. “The memory stick Carla used was corrupted. We salvaged what we could.”

  “Why won’t Sean come in and talk to us?”

  “I know how things work in this country,” said Kristina. “Sean is a poor kid with no family connections. You’ll twist the facts and he’ll end up getting the blame. I won’t let you do that to him.”

  “That’s not how I do things. I’d never let that happen.”

  “This is bigger than you. The pharmaceutical companies and doctors are behind what happened. It’s a government conspiracy.”