The Straight Crimes

by Matt Juhl

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah well, that’s just people being ignorant. Anyway, you probably never heard anything about me ‘cause after Gail passed away, they started forgetting I was straight. It was like her death erased it all from their memories. Not to say I don’t get funny looks from time to time, but for most part, I’m just the kooky old man who feeds the town when they can’t afford to buy vegetables.”

  “Was it just as hard being straight back then as it is today?”

  “Are you kidding me? It was a hell of a lot worse...ain’t like today. Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and seeing people rubbing their chins, trying to figure you out ‘cause you offered to hold a door for a lady? Do you know how terrible it was going to a movie and wanting to hold her hand, but being too afraid of getting beat up afterwards? Shit, I couldn’t even go to the prom with her, or I would’ve been taken out back and shot. Everywhere we went, Gail and I pretended we were just friends.”

  “I know how you feel.”

  “Yep, that was the way of the world back then."

  “At least it’s gotten a little better.”

  “True, it’s a little more common now. Back when we were young, there weren’t any straight people around here we knew of. Until I met your father and heard about his lady friend, I thought Gail and I were alone.”

  “You’re talking about his affair with the woman?”

  “Sure, if you wanna call it that. Patrick knew about Gail and I, so I suppose coming over made him feel more comfortable. He was miserable with your daddy and wanted to leave. He loved you very much, but was afraid of what Jett may do to you guys if he tried to take you with.”

  Nik nodded in agreement.

  “Patrick was in a lot of pain. The last time I saw him, he said he was tired of living the lie. It wasn’t long after that he took off with his girlfriend.”

  “Do you know who she was?”

  “Patrick never told me her name. He said she was really worried about people finding out. I’m normally a little nosy, but I didn’t pry about that.”

  “My dad says she stole him away from our family.”

  “That’s not how I see it.”

  “I know. I think she saved him.”

  “He’s lucky to have a son that sees it that way.”

  “My father isn’t the only straight person in our family.” Nik pointed to himself. “Having that in common makes it easier for me to understand how he must’ve felt.”

  Bill smiled.

  “I just wish he would’ve said goodbye before he left. I haven’t seen him in a year.”

  “I know you’re sad, but I assure you that Patrick’s hurting just as much.” He took a long drag on his inhaler and coughed. “The man loved you more than anything. You have to believe that.”

  “As much as it sucks, I understand why he did it. I just thought I’d hear from him by now.”

  “You really haven’t at all?”

  “Not once.”

  “Like I said, he was petrified of your dad’s fury.”

  “Sure, but I think enough time’s passed that he could make some kind of effort to reach me without my dad being any wiser.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Do you know where they are?”

  "Yeah, I think so. Oh cripe what was the name of that town? Shit I've been there before too. Place is about forty minutes north of here, quiet little community.” After a couple seconds, his eyes lit up. “Port Vista, that’s it. We've only driven through a few times up on our way to Traverse City.” Bill took another breath on his inhaler. “He wrote me once or twice, but I haven’t heard from him in about a year myself. I might still have one of his letters somewhere around the house, just not sure where.”

  “Do you think he’s still in Port Vista?”

  “It’s hard to say, son. They were awfully concerned about their privacy. His girlfriend’s fairly wealthy. She likes to travel and sail around the world. So who knows, they may be long gone.”

  “Can I get his address from you?”

  “He asked me not to tell anyone where he is. Hell I don’t think he even wrote the address on the letters he sent.” Bill stopped and took note of Nik’s sadness. “I’ll tell you what, if I can find it, I’ll give it to you, but under one condition.”

  “Sure, what?”

  “You can’t tell Jett where they are.”

  “I won’t. Trust me, I’ll take it to my grave.”

  "You’re a good boy. Stop by sometime and I'll look for it." Bill fumbled for his inhaler again.

  "Why do you keep using that?”

  "I’ve got such terrible asthma that I can't go anywhere without this damn thing." He looked down the hall and then back at his watch. “I wonder what’s taking Leland so long filing that paperwork.”

  “Oh please, what’s the rush? The man hates me. He wants me to rot in here as long as I can.”

  “Nah, he was just mad you took a swing at him.”

  “Bull.”

  “You got Leland figured all wrong. He’s the reason you’re getting out.”

  “Yeah right.”

  “No, really. He’s the one who called me this morning to tell me your daddy hadn’t shown up yet. He asked me to come get you. And he’s dropping the assault charges.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “Not at all.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Nik was blown away.

  “On the outside, Leland acts all tough, but deep down he’s just a big softie.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Nik leaned back and thought a moment. “It must’ve been ‘cause of the conversation we had earlier. Everything I said about losing Harper must’ve hit him.”

  “Losing Harper?”

  “I tried telling him that I was acting crazy because Harper died in the fire, and they wouldn’t let me get to her. So it must’ve struck—”

  “Wait, you’re confused.”

  “About what?”

  “Faye Jones is the only one who died in the fire. Harper’s alive.”

  “What?”

  “She wasn’t even home the night it happened.”

  Nik’s faced turned pale, as if he’d seen a ghost. “But there was a blonde-haired woman standing by the squad car that told me Harper died. The lady said she was the first person they pulled out of the house.”

  “You know how many rumors were flying around that night? It was so chaotic that half those people wouldn’t have been able to empty piss out of a boot. Faye was the only person in the house.”

  Nik leapt to his feet and pressed his excited face to the harsh steel of his holding cell. “Pops, you’re positive she’s alive?”

  “Yep, saw her yesterday with my own two eyes at Faye’s memorial service.”

  “I can’t believe it.” Emotions overwhelmed his racing mind. Tears streamed down his cheeks as life jumped back into his vacant glare. “Did you tell her I was looking for her?”

  “No, I assumed you were at that funeral. That church was so packed that I swear the whole town was there. I couldn’t even get close enough to share my condolences.”

  “Oh Pops.” He reached through the bars and pulled Old Man Winston by his tattered t-shirt and squeezed him. “She’s alive. I can’t believe it.”

  He returned the embrace. “I thought you knew, son. Shit, you’ve probably been going out of your damn mind.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ve just gotta get outta here. I need to see her right now.”

  “I’ll go light a fire under Leland’s ass.”

  “Do you have any idea where she and her mom are staying?

  “Oh, Harper ain’t with her mama. She’s staying with someone else.”

  “What? Where’s Mindi?”

  “She’s gone, disappeared right before the fire. She and Faye had a big battle in their front yard then she took off. I know it ain’t the nicest thing to come outta my mouth, but I say good riddance. God, that Mindi is an awful human being.”

  “O
h my God.”

  “I think there’s a lot more to the story we don’t know. Gage and I were talking to Faye’s co-worker, Kitty McDermott, at the funeral. Just before she died, Faye threw both Harper and Mindi out on account of Mindi’s drug use. It’s such a crying shame—the woman just can’t kick the needle.”

  He began to panic. “So where’s Harper?”

  “Kitty said one of her girlfriends invited her to stay at her place.”

  “A girlfriend? That doesn’t make any sense. Harper doesn’t have any friends, just me.”

  “Well she’s got at least one. Kitty said her name, but I can’t remember. Cripe, it didn’t seem that important to me at the time.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll track down Kitty and ask her.” Nik pursed his lips. “Damn it, why won’t Leland hurry up?”

  “I’ll be right back, just calm down. I’m gonna get you outta here.”

  “I’m coming, Harper,” Nik whispered. “I’ve just gotta figure out where the hell you are.”

  TWELVE

  …“Oh c’mon Faye-Faye, it ain’t that bad.” Mindi sprinted after her sister.

  Faye threw the plastic bag in her face. “Excuse me, used needles?”

  “I swear I don’t know how all those got there. I’ve only been usin’ one—” she closed her mouth. “That ain’t so important.”

  “This ain’t about me. We’re talking about how stupid and ungrateful you are.”

  “You’re gettin’ bent outta shape over nothin’. It was just one lil’ fix, sissy, that’s it. I swear, it won’t happen again.”

  Faye tore through her front door, hoisted a suitcase full of Mindi’s soiled laundry over her head, and launched it into her front yard. “I’m sick of this. You knew the expectations—you blew it.”

  “Please, you can’t throw us out. We ain’t got no place to go.” Mindi leaned against the doorframe.

  “How could I’ve been so blind? I’ve seen it in your face this whole time, that same sunken glaze that’s always been there. You’re a filthy liar.”

  “All right, so I slipped. Gimme one more chance. I swear I can do it this time.”

  “Out.”

  “Faye-Faye,” she whined.

  “Out, now.”

  “C’mon sissy.”

  “Get the hell outta my house.” Faye violently tugged on Mindi’s arm and gritted her teeth in rage.

  “Owe, that hurt.”

  “Stop embarrassing yourself and leave.”

  “I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

  “Don’t make me move you.”

  “Faye, listen—”

  “Are you gonna get outta my way or not?”

  “Stop, just hear me out—”

  “I’m not asking nicely again.” Faye pulled harder.

  “Let me explain.”

  “C’mon, this is ridiculous, I can’t even believe—”

  “God damn it, would you just listen for one minute?”

  “No. Now get the hell out of the way.”

  As Faye clenched her sister’s shoulders, Mindi held a strong grip onto the door frame.

  “Move!” Faye shouted. She lunged at Mindi and pulled her to the ground.

  “You frickin’ psycho, get off me!”

  Faye grabbed hold of Mindi’s ankles, pulling her resistant body off the porch and onto the poorly neglected front yard.

  “Let me go!”

  “Stop screaming,” Faye ordered.

  “You can’t do this. This is Ma’s house. You ain’t got no business treatin’ me like a child.”

  “This is my house.”

  “No it ain’t—”

  Faye reached for the orange garden hose, pointed the handle, and blasted her sister in the mouth.

  Mindi let out a blood curdling scream and lifted her hands in front of her face. “Stop!”

  “Are you done running that sassy mouth of yours?”

  “Yes. Shit, stop sprayin’ me!”

  Faye dropped the hose, wiped her mouth, and sighed.

  Mindi rang the wetness out of her shirt. Then she tackled Faye to the ground. “You bitch!”

  “Get off!”

  “Don’t feel so good does it, sissy?”

  “Mindi Sue!”

  She grabbed onto Faye’s hands and stared her in the eyes. “I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

  “Yes you are.”

  “Are you deaf? I already told you, we ain’t got no place to go. What the hell am I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t care. That ain’t my problem anymore. Now get the hell off me.”

  “Not ‘til you change your mind.”

  Faye frowned. “That ain’t happening.”

  “Then I ain’t movin’.”

  She yanked on Mindi’s mousy hair and crawled away.

  “Owe!” she yelped. Then she grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in Faye’s face.

  Suddenly, Gage came behind the women, hoisted Mindi into the air, and threw her down on her bony behind.

  “Don’t touch me!”

  “You’re outta control.”

  “Get outta here. This don’t concern you. It’s between me and Faye.”

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “I kicked her ass outta my house, but she won’t leave.”

  He looked back at the desperate woman. “It’s time for you to go.”

  Mindi jumped in Gage’s face. “You’re just as dumb as that queer Old Man you’re workin’ for. Well I’ve got news for you, I ain’t afraid of some steroid-filled farm boy.”

  “Oh yeah?” he asked. “Prove it.”

  She rolled up her sleeves and spat in his face.

  “What the hell’s the matter with you?” Faye pushed Mindi out of the way. “I’m so sorry, Gage. You all right?”

  He ignored Faye, wiping the saliva from his face. “You’re a frickin’ coward. C’mon, let’s see what you’ve got.”

  “I’m real scared.”

  “That’s enough.” Faye shook Gage’s hand. “You’re a real sweetheart, coming over here when we’ve hardly even met, but I don’t need any help. I can handle my sister—been doing it my whole life.”

  “Stop talking ‘bout me like I ain’t here.”

  “Shut your mouth.”

  “Outta my way, Faye-Faye. If this guy wants a fight, then that’s what I’m gonna give him.”

  “If I was you, I’d watch it, lady.”

  “Stop!” Harper ordered from the front door. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous y’all sound?”

  “Pookie, get back in the house before I come after you.”

  “Mama, give it up already.”

  “I said get back inside.”

  Harper dropped the suitcases on the porch and threw her hand on her hip. “You’re actin’ like a big ole’ baby.”

  “You ought to listen to your daughter.” Gage smirked.

  “I ain’t takin’ no more crap from you, farm boy.” Mindi pushed Faye out of the way and tackled Gage to the ground.

  Faye crawled through the dead grass and rocks until her hands were on Mindi’s back. “Get off him. You’re done!”

  “Screw you.” She turned and punched Faye in the mouth.

  “Mama!” Harper begged.

  Mindi pointed her shaking finger at Faye and whispered in a raspy tone, “You gonna make me leave? Fine, I’m goin’, but I ain’t got a sister no more. You’re dead to me, Faye.”

  “Mama, no!” Harper bawled, watching Mindi turn around and claw Gage’s face…

  Harper tossed and turned, whimpering to herself while she stirred in her new, luxurious bed.

  “Harper?”

  “Mama…” she muttered.

  “Harper, c’mon...” Traci feverishly tugged on her body.

  “Mama!” she yelled and sat straight up.

  “Harper?”

  “What?”

  “You were screaming. Are you all right?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Were you having that dream again?”<
br />
  “Yeah, I can’t get that afternoon outta my mind.”

  “The way you described it to me over the phone was frightening. That’s why I came and picked you up that day as quickly as I could.” Traci leaned over her and flipped the switch to her designer lamp. Then she pushed Harper’s wavy hair out of her face and scooted beside her on the bed.

  Harper began to cry. “God, she’s really gone. I’m never gonna see her again.”

  “Oh sweetie.” Traci wrapped her arms around Harper. “I know how badly it hurts. Just cry it out—that’s the best thing you can do, just get it out.”

  “Auntie was so good. How could someone kill her?”

  “It makes me sick to my stomach. I know the deep-cutting pain you’re feeling. It’s the same hurt I feel when I think about my mother drowning in the lake.”

  “I wish I could make it stop. I miss her so much I can hardly breathe.” Harper rested her head against Traci’s shoulder. “I just want her back.”

  “I know, sweetie.”

  “I hate Mama. This is all her fault. If she hadn’t pissed Auntie off, we would’ve been there and none of this would’ve happened...or it could’ve been me that died in that fire instead of her.”

  “Don’t talk like that. Faye would want you to live your life and make the most of it. I know she loved you deeply by all the stories you’ve told me. It’d break her heart to hear you say such vulgarity.”

  “I just feel so alone.”

  “You’re not. I’m right here, remember?”

  “I know, but right now I need Nik.”

  “Well he’s outta town at his uncle’s house for a few more days, but you can count on me—”

  “He won’t be back soon enough. I should’ve got his Uncle Robbie’s phone number so I could call and hear his voice. Nik doesn’t have any idea what’s going on here or how badly I need him!”

  Growing exasperated, Traci took a deep breath. “I know your mind’s overwrought, but I’m really trying my hardest to ease your pain.”

  Harper wiped her tear-soaked eyes. “I know. I appreciate you lettin’ me stay here. I’m just a mess right now. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. All I can think about is how badly I miss Aunt Faye and Nik.”

  Before Traci could respond, the low, rich tone of her doorbell cut through the awkwardness. However, she ignored it. “Anyway, what were you saying?”