Impatiently, River stood up. “Okay, cut the suspense routine. I showed you my drawing; now it’s your turn to explain why it’s freaking you the fuck out!”
Jinxsy took a seat in Arielle’s chair. “Tell them, Jess.”
“Okay, well, while Jinxsy was looking at the refurbished chairs, and you guys were looking on the stage, I was playing crazy woman with my camera. Riv, right after you said you heard someone crying, you said that you could see the guy. Well, at that same time, a moment after I clicked the shutter release, I thought I might have seen someone, too.”
River looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah, but in a fraction of a second, I couldn’t be sure of anything. I didn’t want to stop and see what I’d taken because I was afraid I’d miss something even if I stopped for fifteen seconds to fiddle with my camera. So I just kept snapping away.”
Larsen was curious. “How come you didn’t say anything?”
“Like I said, Lars, I wasn’t sure if it was anything at all, or if just being there on a ghost-hunting mission made me feel like I had. I was afraid that if I spoke up, it might influence someone else, you know?”
Biting his tongue, Larsen looked guilty. “I know exactly what you mean. The power of suggestion is … um …”
Comically, River raised his eyebrows. “Powerful?”
Everyone laughed, but a second later, the mood was serious again. Larsen continued talking. “Yeah, right. Powerful. Anyway, yesterday, like River told you, I was in the theater and saw this guy. He didn’t speak to me, but he was telling me, sort of telepathically, that he needed help. He looked so desperate. Then he just disappeared. Today, when I was going to the light booth, I thought I heard that wailing again. But unlike yesterday, I didn’t see him. If I had been positive that I really heard someone, I would have spoken up. Just like you, Jess, I didn’t want to bias anyone else’s perception. So I kept quiet.”
Jessie looked at Jinxsy, who responded with a go-ahead nod. “Okay, boys, so here’s the thing. Jinxsy and I were just at my place looking at all of the photos I took. At first, I couldn’t find anything unusual, but then I found a few of the stage photos that had distinctly different light patterns from the others. They looked like streaks. I imported them into Photoshop, then I changed them into black and white, adjusted the levels, played with the hue, saturation, and contrast, and, well, that changed everything. Here, take a look.”
Jessie reached into her back pocket and handed the boys a piece of paper that had been folded in four. Upon seeing it, River looked animated, while Larsen appeared dizzy.
“See, Riv? See, Lars? The guy in the drawing is the same one in the photo. It’s very washed-out looking, but you can see without a doubt it’s the same guy.”
“Wow, Jess. Freakin’ amazing! Hell, I’m freakin’ amazing, too. I drew the dude dead on.” River looked at Larsen, expecting him to make a wisecrack about River’s lack of humility, but Larsen looked as if he were frozen in place.
Jinxsy stood up and began pacing the room. “So, as you can see, we’ve got a match. Now we just have to put our heads together and figure out who this guy is.”
Larsen’s eyes focused on Jinxsy, while his body remained motionless.
Noticing, Jinxsy sat down again. “That won’t be necessary. Will it, Larsen? You know exactly who this guy is, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“C’mon, dude. Tell us.”
“Now that I’ve seen your drawing, Riv, and your photo, Jessie, there’s no question who it is. I look at the guy’s photos every day. I live in his house with his mother. That’s Kathryn’s son. That’s Peter Winterstrom.”
“Man, Lars, how come you didn’t mention this guy before?”
“Riv, you already know that I’m living at her home and that she had a gay son who died when he was fifteen. I didn’t want to go into any more detail out of respect for Kathryn. I didn’t see the need to repeat it. The poor lady has been grieving for forty years.”
Jinxsy looked incredulous. “Do you know how he died?”
Uncomfortably, Larsen looked around. “I’ll tell you the little bit I know, but we have to make a pact that nobody repeats anything. Riv, you can’t share this with Gina or anyone else, and Jessie and Jinxsy, you can only discuss it with one another. At least for now. Is that a deal?”
Everyone agreed to Larsen’s terms in unison.
“Well, all I know is that Peter was gay and loved the theater. Unlike me, he had this beautiful baritone voice, a boyfriend he was madly in love with, and a mother and a father who were very accepting. But Peter’s boyfriend’s family was even worse than my mom. Way worse. His dad threatened them both all the time, so Peter’s dad told him only to see each other in secret.
“Kathryn said that the boyfriend’s father staged an accident to kill Peter and his own son. Only his son lived, and Peter died. At the time it happened, everyone thought it was an accident. I’m not really sure if Kathryn and her husband did, but years later, Kathryn said she found out for sure Peter had been murdered. She never talks about the details. It hurts her too much, and she doesn’t want to be a downer. She still misses him like crazy.”
“Damn, dude. Maybe the guy wants to see his mother. She sure would like to see him. Maybe we should take her to the theater, and then he can go into the light, like Jinxsy’s dad, Tommy, did.”
“No, Riv. It’s not that simple. We’re not going to do anything at all until we know a whole lot more. Telling Kathryn that her son is a ghost in the theater could kill her. I’m not doing that, and you’re not either. You guys have to trust me. I know her better than any of you do.”
Jinxsy held up a hand to calm Larsen. “It’s okay. We’re not saying a word to anyone. Not even Arielle. What we are going to do is put together a reconnaissance mission to find out as much as we can. Then, we’ll go from there. Larsen, since you live with Kathryn and know her, you have the final say. We’re not going to ever do anything without your permission. And that’s a promise.”
“Thanks, Jinxsy.” Larsen looked at River and Jessie for their assurances, too.
“Promise, dude. Everything the Jinxster said.”
Jessie nodded. “Promise. Now, let’s figure out what to do.”
Larsen looked pensive. “I’ll tell you all this: the only way that I’ll know for sure what to do is to make contact with Peter. If he wants to see his mother, I’ll arrange it.”
`*`*`*`
“Well, this is a nice surprise! I’ve got four of my favorite people together in my living room at once. Is there a special occasion I’ve forgotten about?”
Jessie got up and gave her mother a hug as Muggins ran in behind Arielle and greeted everyone individually. “Hey, Mom, you’ve been bugging us to come see the theater, so when we ran into one another here, we thought today was a perfect time to go see it. Jinxsy and I already had the day set aside for taking photos around town, so it all worked out.”
Jinxsy jumped up from Arielle’s usual seat and motioned for her to sit down, which she did. Jinxsy took a seat on the couch next to Larsen. Muggins had finished greeting everyone and went into the kitchen to get a drink of water.
“I hope you’re not upset, Mrs. D. I hadn’t planned to give the grand tour in your place. Sorry. Don’t worry, though; I turned off the lights and locked up the theater before we left.”
“No problem, Larsen. I would’ve loved to have been there with all of you, but I am just happy my kids finally paid the poor theater a visit. Tell me, what did you think? River? You first.”
“It’s dope, Mom. What a transformation so far.”
“We’re getting there. Gabe assures me we’ll be done by January eleventh, which you all know is the date of the grand opening and talent competition. Jess?”
“I think that you are putting your heart and soul into this theater, and that’s why it’s every bit as beautiful as you are.”
“Aw, Jess. That’s so sweet.”
“Hey, Mom, sounds like
she wants something, doesn’t it?”
“My daughter just gave me the most amazing compliment, and we’ll leave it at that. Love you, too, Riv. Smart-ass. I wonder where you get that from. Oh, yeah. Mars. So, Jinxsy, it’s your theater! Are you pleased with what you saw?”
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to manage this project. It was just meant to be. Can’t wait to tell Eve tonight when I have dinner with her. She might come by tomorrow if she can.”
Muggins came back from the kitchen and jumped in Arielle’s lap with a thud. “Oh, Muggins, you do love me, don’t you, boy?”
“Hey, Mrs. D, how did things go in Palm Springs? I thought you said you were going back to the theater after you met your friend.”
“I had the best time! My friend, Virginia Barnett, was telling me some of the most hysterical stories about running a theater. I hope none of them ever happen to me. But it was wonderful. I was so happy to see her again, and she gave me some really valuable information. I was going to go back to the theater, but when my hunky husband called and said he was getting off work early, I changed my mind. I need a nap, a shower, and a romantic dinner much more than a few more hours in the trailer.”
“Ha ha. Keep going, Mom. What do you need after that?”
Arielle smiled. “None of your business, that’s what.”
Although he was making a joke about his parents’ sex life, he couldn’t help but flash back to the night he and Gina came so close to being together. They’d talked about it since and enjoyed telling one another their secret fantasies. But Gina wanted to wait until she knew it was right without having to think about it. And River knew it would be way better for both of them without any regrets.
“Sorry, Mom. Old habits die hard.”
Arielle laughed. “Well, now that you have a girlfriend, maybe I should … never mind. I don’t want to know. I absolutely do not want to know. Just be careful.”
River turned a lighter shade of crimson as Arielle quickly shifted the focus from her love life to his own.
“So, Mom, what else is new?”
Arielle scratched Muggins on his neck and gave him a kiss. “Go to your bed, boy. Mama needs a break, okay?”
The dog jumped off her lap and began walking away. He stopped, turned to Arielle as if to protest, then kept on walking until he reached his bed and curled up on it.
“Okay, now that I’m no longer pinned down by my canine son, I have some news.” Arielle looked directly at Larsen. “I spoke to Lisa a while ago. She and Josh are working on the promo trailer late this afternoon. They’re going to finish up tonight, and on Monday morning, the file will go off to the station. The first airing will be Monday night at 7:17 on the sister station. It’s the one that airs a lot of family and women’s programming.”
Larsen was stunned. “So it’s true; I’m making my national TV debut on Monday night.”
“You so are, Lars. And I thought maybe you and Kathryn would like to come to dinner; we can all watch together. I can’t cook for everyone now with my schedule, but we’ll order pizza, and I’ll make a big salad. It wouldn’t be the same without you and Kathryn.”
“When I talk to her tonight, I’ll ask. I’m sure she’ll be up for it.”
“Jinxsy, will you be able to make it?”
“I don’t have to be in class this week until Tuesday afternoon. So, yes. And I’ll bring Eve and Madeleine if that’s okay.”
“Wonderful. I haven’t seen your mother or your grandmother in quite a while.”
Jinxsy smiled. “It will be great for all of us to be together.”
Arielle smiled but looked distracted. “Lars, you haven’t had any problem with Jax or any of his friends, have you? I just want to make sure they’re not hanging out at the theater trying to bother you. It’s been on my mind ever since I saw that kid.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Mrs. D. I think I saw him the other day. I’m pretty sure he’s just someone from the neighborhood. I found out that Jax works at a gym after school. Anyway, Jax looks nothing like that kid.”
Arielle smiled. “Well, that’s a relief!”
Chapter 20
“Are you nervous about your television debut tonight?”
Larsen turned around in his chair to answer Arielle. “Yeah, I guess I am, but more than nerves, I feel like I’m in a dream. My life changed so much for the better since I met your family and Kathryn. I’ve still got some pretty big problems, especially where my mom is concerned, but I am kind of amazed when I think about how things turned around for me. I know a whole lot of kids are out there feeling like life is gonna suck forever. I wish I could tell them all not to give up hope.”
Arielle grabbed a couple of folders and filed them in the drawer to her right. “You know, Lars, I think one day you’ll get a chance to help others just by being who you are and living a good life. I think you’re pretty fabulous to even be thinking about other people right now. By the way, Kathryn is coming with you tonight, isn’t she?”
“Oh, yeah. I guess River told you she wasn’t feeling well. When I got home on Saturday, she had a fever. She stayed in bed most of the weekend, but by last night, she was doing much better. This morning she told me she was back to her old self.”
“Great. I look forward to seeing her. Do you know where Gabe is? When you were out walking Muggins a little while ago, his private line rang three times. Every time I picked it up, someone hung up on me. I hope there’s no problem with any of his kids. I tried calling his cell, but it went straight to voicemail. Maybe that’s why they were calling the landline. I was going to tell him when he came back to the trailer, but I’m thinking you should go into the theater and let him know in case it’s important. I get the feeling someone is anxious to speak with him.”
Larsen jumped out of his chair and had his hand on the trailer door within seconds. “Sure, I’ll go right now. I’ll tell him.”
Arielle blinked her eyes in astonishment. “You’re a great worker, Lars, but I’ve never seen you move that fast. You look like a film that’s been sped up!”
Larsen realized that his desperation to get into the theater again was showing. “Oh, yeah, I guess I’m a little wired. I’m just really nervous about tonight. Apparently more than I thought.”
`*`*`*`
As he hurried to the back door of the theater, he wished that he had taken Muggins, but he couldn’t think of any excuse for the dog to accompany him just to deliver a message. He felt an odd chill in the air. The sky was getting darker every day, and even though it was only four-thirty, it looked and felt later.
Seeing Raphael standing by his blue truck, Larsen knew he was done for the day and hoped the other two men had left as well.
Larsen found Gabe in the main hall of the theater, inspecting the latest seat delivery. “We’ve only got seventy more seats to put in, Larsen. Then we’re ready for a full house. SRO. Do you know what that means?”
“Sure. Standing room only.”
“Right. I forgot you know your theater lingo. You here for any particular reason, or did you just want to see today’s progress?”
“Actually, Mrs. D sent me. When I was walking the dog, your private line rang three times.”
Gabe looked nervous. “Okay. So, is that all that happened? The phone rang three times?”
“Well, not really. Mrs. D kept picking up, and someone was hanging up on her.”
“Bastards. Son of a …”
Larsen tried to pretend he hadn’t heard Gabe’s mumbled response. “Yeah, so, um, she was worried that since your cell phone went to voicemail that your kids might be trying to reach you.”
Reaching into his pocket, Gabe pulled out two phones. “Between you and me, Larsen, I’ve got two phones. One is just for my kids. I’m here twenty-four / seven for them. This one is for business, and sometimes when people are fucking with me, I need to turn it off. No need to repeat anything I’ve said.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“Good. I�
�m going outside to make a call or two. Then I’m going into town to run an errand. I’ll be back in about a half hour to lock up. You let Arielle know that.”
As Gabe walked away mumbling expletives under his breath, Larsen looked around, then slowly walked toward the stage. The closer he got, the colder he became. His nerves were so rattled that when he heard “Tonight” playing softly, coming from the back of the theater, he thought his ears were deceiving him. As he exhaled, he noticed he could see his breath. “Peter? My name is Larsen Davis. Are you here, Peter Winterstrom?”
The air got colder and the music louder, but Larsen couldn’t see anyone.
“Don’t be afraid, Peter. I live with your mom, Kathryn. She took me in because my own mother bullies me for being homosexual. They call it being gay now. I hope you don’t mind I’ve been living in your room.”
There was no response. After about a minute, Larsen noticed that Peter’s outline was forming on stage. “I can almost see you. I want to help you. I know you’re in a lot of pain.”
Slowly, the features on Peter’s face began to fill in. Larsen watched in wonder. “Can you tell me how I can help you?”
Peter raised an arm, as if he were reaching out, and the music began to subside. Larsen could now see Peter’s face clearly enough to know that he had been crying. “You haven’t been crying for forty years, have you?”
Larsen understood that Peter was saying yes, and it made his heart hurt in a way he had never experienced before. “Your mother has never stopped missing you. She told me that she’s been looking for your star in the sky.”
Hearing that, Peter collapsed to the ground and appeared to be burying his face in his hands. Suddenly, his sobs were audible as they grew in intensity.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Do you want me to bring your mother here? I’m sure she’d—”
“Yo, Larsen. You still in here?”
Larsen turned to see Gabe, red-faced, back in the theater. “Left my goddamn wallet on one of the seats. What’s wrong with you?”
Desert Star Page 18