“That’s carnival glass. I picked it up at Tanja's Antiques. I use local talent when I can.”
Nodding, Katie added, “I saw a small piece in Drift Away with three random holes. I pictured it with pretty flowers tucked inside.”
Maggie raised her eyebrows, appreciating the young woman’s creativity. “Nice idea. I'll take a look. Are you here on vacation?”
“No. This is an emergency stop.”
Ahh, Maggie thought, this must be the woman Don mentioned last night. Maggie could talk a mile a minute, but she was smart enough to know when to be quiet. She waited and was rewarded with a detailed answer.
“My truck broke down and is at Gino’s. I’m coolin’ my jets until it’s fixed.”
Maggie poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Katie as though they were old friends. “Been through a rough time I take it?”
“An understatement, to be sure.” Katie sipped the coffee, not even aware she’d taken the cup. “I recently ended a bad marriage. I was heading to Florida. But now? The repairs on the truck? I’m not sure what I’m going to do.” Katie’s face turned red. “Sorry. I’m blathering, aren’t I?”
“Seems to me you need someone to talk to, right? Small towns are good for that. People got a way of listening.”
Katie shrugged.
“You’re at a crossroads and never saw it coming.” Maggie took a big sip of coffee, eyeing Katie over the top of her cup. “You’re staying at the cabin on Shore Drive?”
Shocked, Katie stepped back, sloshing her drink. She licked coffee off her hand and asked, “How’d you know that?”
Maggie laughed. “Connelly rentals. I’m Maggie Connelly. Don’s my husband. See? That’s a small town for you.”
“Don’s wife?” Katie squinted at Maggie, seeing the fine wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Katie adjusted her initial estimate of Maggie’s age and put it closer to fifty. Katie handed back the cup. “Thanks for the listening ear and the coffee. I made instant this morning, and it may have been the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever had.”
Maggie smiled. “Stop in anytime--” She cocked her head, waiting for a name.
“I’m Anne. Annie to my friends.” If Katie hesitated just a bit, she couldn’t help it. Lying about something so ingrained as your name wasn’t easy.
“Well, Annie, I hope to see you again.” Maggie wondered if the girl would end up staying. If so, Maggie would find a way to introduce Annie to her son, Nick. Maggie sensed strength beneath the shadows she’d seen in the woman’s eyes.
As Maggie watched Annie walk away, her face tugged at Maggie’s memory. She felt sure she’d seen her somewhere before. That girl's hurting, no doubt.
Slightly shaken that Maggie knew more than she should, Katie kept walking. Annie. Annie. Annie, she repeated in her head, trying to get more accustomed to the name.
At 4 p.m, Jack called the police station and asked for Sgt. Hopkins. "Is the summary report ready?"
“We’re still working on the details. It's going to be a few days yet "
Jack’s boss, Barry, knocked on the office door. Jack waved him in and finished his conversation with Hopkins. “So, you’re saying I may not get the police report ‘til Thursday?”
“‘Fraid so. We’ll call you as soon as it’s completed. “ Hopkins ended the call without saying goodbye.
Jack let out a long sigh.
Barry closed the door. “You look awful.”
“I know. I can’t sleep, can’t eat.” Jack scrubbed at his face. “I have so many unanswered questions.”
“I can understand that. You still want to finish out your week?”
Jack nodded. “Absolutely. I’d go crazy with nothing to do.” He pictured himself in the closet the night before, surrounded by pieces of Katie’s clothing. “I need to stay busy.”
Jack watched the news and fielded phone calls. The first was from Mrs. Donohue, who offered to bring him dinner, which Jack naturally refused. No way is she coming over here.
The second was from his mother. “Your father and I saw the broadcast this morning, Jack. I ’m so sorry. We didn’t know Katie well, but she was always sweet and sincere.” Sylvia Werner paused. “We told the police that when they questioned us on Saturday. I hated to admit we’d only met her a few times.”
Jack rolled his eyes and balled his fists. Here was the censoring he was used to; his mother’s not so subtle way of telling him he’d not handled the relationship well. He poured himself a drink and unplugged the phone.
Katie did a happy dance when the fire sputtered to life. The kindling and wadded up receipts had helped. She made a tuna sandwich and fiddled with the dials on an ancient radio in the living room. Her disappearance barely made the broadcast.
Tired and anxious about her circumstances, she sat on the cabin’s porch and watched the night descend. The woods grew darker and deeper. It was less frightening now that she was more familiar with the area.
A tiny curve of a moon, climbed through the tops of the trees, working its way upward until it held a tenuous place in the vast, dark sky. Katie understood the feeling.
Chapter 46
On Wednesday, Katie fixed herself a leisurely breakfast, grateful not to be in a rush. Afterward, she wandered the trail around the cabin. She wished for a good cup of coffee but soon forgot the desire as she watched the sun caress the tops of the trees with gold-tipped fingers.
Back at the cabin, she eased off her new boots, cringing at the raw blisters on the back of each heel. Between yesterday and today, she guessed she’d walked five or six miles. She slipped on tennis shoes and limped to the General Store. The old bell over the door tinkled again. Skinny Tom made eye contact. “Morning, can I help you?”
“Good morning. Band-Aids?”
“Left-hand side, toward the back.”
The group of old men gathered around a scarred table in the corner, couldn’t resist the draw of a possible story. One of the retirees called out a question, “You stayin’ out at the Connelly’s cabins?” He was the oldest and obviously used to taking charge.
“How’d you know?” Katie’s shocked face delighted the group.
Skinny Tom answered, “The whole town’s got the dirt on you and your truck. We’ve had all kinds of reports: Gino, Don, Maggie. Even Issac mentioned you, and he ain’t got two words to say--ever.”
“You by yourself?” another retiree asked while tugging on his overalls.
It was a seemingly innocent question, but Katie understood they were fishing for information. She decided to lay some groundwork and see if it triggered any recognition. I could be stuck here. “Hmm. How should I answer?” She wiggled her left hand in the air, showing a bare ring finger, “I recently ended my marriage and was heading to Florida to start over. The truck has messed up my plans.”
“Well now, ya might like it here. We got some fine young men, too.” The last and youngest of the men eased his bulk back in his chair. “My son, Blake, comes to mind.”
Katie shook her head. “I’m not interested in finding a young man, or woman either, for the record.” Taking in the table of old-timers, she added, “No, I think experience is better--someone who's been around the block and understands how to treat a woman.” Her wink had the three old men sitting taller.
Skinny Tom flicked his ever-present towel at the group, as though brushing away an annoying fly. “You old geezers wouldn't know what to do. Now me, on the other hand…”
His statement had the old men sharing surprised looks and whispering among themselves.
“Can’t believe Tom said that.”
“He ain't looked at another woman since Martha died.”
“Yep, been what? Eight years?”
Tom blushed, and Katie gave him a wink too. She paid for the Band-aids and left the store. She'd drawn attention, but not too much. No one had put the pieces together.
She called Gino’s and left a message. As she headed back to the cabin, her mind was in a whirl. Get real, Katie. There’s not enough mo
ney to go to Florida. Even if you get there, find a place, and an immediate job, there’ll be no paycheck for at least two weeks. It could be a month before you can get an apartment. Her breath hitched.
Leaning against a tree, she let loose the dam inside. She bent at the waist, with her hair hanging down, and sobbed. “I can’t go back. I won’t go back.”
Swiping at her tears, she angled toward the water. As she walked, she considered the pros and cons of staying in Bluff Creek. It’s probably cheaper. It’s not far enough from Jack. I’ve already met people. I need more reconnaissance. With the last fact in front of her, she decided she’d have lunch at Tipsy McQue’s. Who knows? Maybe they’re hiring.
Later, when Katie entered the restaurant, she was assaulted by sound; muted conversations, glasses clinking, and music. The dark, paneled walls were covered with pictures of Cork, Guinness, and The Republic of Ireland football team. She took a corner seat at the bar.
“You the girl stranded in town?” the server asked as she polished a long, smooth bar.
Katie nodded and studied the menu quietly.
Picking up the sad vibe from the girl, the bartender offered up a joke, “So this giraffe walks into a bar,”
Katie looked up. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes. I’m telling you a joke.”
“Oh.”
“So, this giraffe walks into a bar. Why the long face, the bartender asked?”
Katie smiled.
“Get it? Giraffe? Long face? Okay, here’s another one. A woman and a duck walk into a bar. The bartender says, ‘Where’d you get the pig?’ The woman says, ‘That’s not a pig, that’s a duck.’ The bartender says--”
Katie provided the punchline with a tentative smile. “I know, I was talking to the duck.”
The bartender grinned, impressed the girl knew the joke.
The two women high-fived one another and shared a laugh. God, when’s the last time I told a joke? Katie felt her world tilt back to center.
The woman smiled at Katie. “Heard about your truck. That sucks.”
Katie nodded once and rolled her eyes.
“I’m Colleen, by the way.” She worked her way down the bar, filling orders and making small talk.
Katie ordered a sandwich and a drink, taking in the flow of the restaurant.
Colleen never stopped moving. Even her close-cropped, red hair stood at attention, ready to take off in any direction. She spat out sarcasm as easily as chewing gum and kept her co-workers laughing.
Giggling as Colleen sent yet another insult zinging across the bar toward some poor waitress named Lorraine, Katie sensed she’d made a friend.
“You come back and see us,” Colleen called out as Katie paid her bill.
“Be careful what you wish for,” Katie replied, earning a quick smile from Colleen.
While Katie was at Tipsy’s, Jack called the police station again.
“We might be done late tomorrow,” Darrow said, “You want me to call you?”
Darrow was more pleasant, but Jack still hated him.
Aunt Susan called Jack asking about Katie, “I wish I’d sensed something, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Jack agreed, keeping his thoughts to himself. If I’d have sensed something, the little bitch would never have left the house.
Vicki, Jack’s personal trainer, called too. Hers was a much more interesting conversation as she offered to do anything to help. Jack pictured her sculpted body. I could use a physical release. It’d been days, and he needed to feel better. He made arrangements to meet her that night.
Katie walked through town again. Talk to me, Cassie. What should I do? Katie peeked in the windows of Tanja’s Antiques and waved at Maggie, who was watering her flower boxes. Can I live here? Will Jack find me?
She resisted the Blue-Sky Market, knowing she’d buy something else she couldn’t afford. She headed to the cabin, hoping to calm her mind with a book. After re-reading the same page for the third time, she tossed it aside. The questions refused to be silent.
Katie’s phone rang—the first call she’d received. Panic had her hands trembling. What if it’s Jack? The idea didn’t make sense, but she couldn’t help herself. “Hello?” she whispered.
“Ms. Morrison?”
Thank God. Gino. “Yes, this is Annie.”
“We’ll be done with your truck later today. I’ll drive it out to the cabins since you’ve got no transportation. Six o’clock sound good?”
“Perfect. Thank you so much!”
“Don’t thank me yet. You still gotta hell of a bill to pay.” Gino Chuckled, “Came in at one-thousand-twenty-six dollars and forty-seven cents --pretty much where I said.”
Lower, actually. Nice man. Nice town. I could have ended up in worse places.
As Jack walked in the door, the phone rang. His dad was on the line, and Jack wondered briefly how long it had been since they’d had a conversation.
“Are you all right, Jack?”
It was ironic that Katie’s disappearance had them talking. They’d barely had a conversation since the night Jack had demanded his Grandmother's ring for Katie.
“Your mother wants to know if you’d like to come to dinner sometime this weekend?”
“We haven’t had dinner together in years. I think the time has come and gone.” Jack found one clean glass and gulped water.
Fred waited a few seconds before responding, “You’re probably right. We wanted to tell you we’re sorry.” Fred put little emotion into his statement.
“Sorry Katie’s gone,” Jack snapped, “or sorry we don’t have any kind of family?”
“Goodnight, son.” Fred Werner ended the call.
Jack flung his glass across the kitchen and watched it shatter against the wall. He grabbed his keys, anxious to connect with Vicki.
Gino rattled down the lane and pulled up in front of Katie’s cabin. Gino’s son, Vinny, followed behind in a primer-coated car. Standing on the cabin porch, Gino handed over receipts, warranties, and the keys to Katie’s truck. She, in turn, carefully counted out cash.
“Should be good as new. You can get yourself back on the road, huh?”
Katie tilted her head. “We’ll see. You ate up my funds, Gino. Florida’s probably out of the picture now.”
“You thinkin’ of staying, or goin’ back home?”
“I’m never going back. Might be Bluff Creek’s got a new resident.”
“You hear that, Vinny?” Gino yelled toward the car, “She might be stayin’.” He shook Katie’s hand. “Good Luck, whatever you decide.”
Katie climbed in the truck and headed to the McDonalds by the highway. There, she could get full Wi-Fi. For the first time in six days, her disappearance wasn’t mentioned. With no sordid details, the story was no longer interesting.
Katie returned to the cabin and sat on the porch. Staring at the woods, she wished she had someone to talk with. The temperature dropped, and she ran inside to snag a blanket off the couch. Hunched in the porch rocker, she worried she’d left too many clues.
As tree frogs warmed up their voices for their nightly serenade, she remembered a quote from Desmond Tutu, “Hope is being able to see the light, despite all of the darkness.” She snuggled deeper in the chair, hoping Bluff Creek would be her light in the darkness.
Chapter 47
Katie woke up ready to take the next step. She went back to the General Store to buy food for the next few days and gather more information. Her reservation for the cabin was almost expired, and she may not have anywhere to stay. Remembering the blanket and pillow she’d purchased during one of her shopping trips, she felt marginally better. I can sleep in the truck if necessary.
She walked her bag of groceries over to the old men gathered around the table and quirked her eyebrow at the partially finished jigsaw puzzle. “Seems to me ya’ll meet here daily and have been for a while.”
“I’m Jarrod,” The oldest one pointed at his chest in case there was any confusion. His bald head wa
s as wrinkled as his face and permanently tanned. “Jarrod Jones. I used to do maintenance at the resort.”
A second man held out a pudgy hand. “I’m Craig Struthers. County Sheriff for twenty-five years.”
Katie winced at his profession and forced herself to shake his hand, “I’m Annie.”
Not to be outdone, the third retiree piped up, “I’m Thaddeus James Lucas. Thad to my friends. Retired mechanic. That your Dodge Dakota out there?”
Katie nodded. “Yep. Fixed up and running again.”
“Well now, you need anything--” Thad trailed off as Skinny Tom inserted himself between Katie and the table.
“How long ya here?” Skinny Tom asked, bringing Katie’s attention back to him.
“It depends. I’m a bit stuck, thanks to the truck, but I love this little town. The people are wonderful.” She smiled fully into his face, making Tom blush. She leaned around him to include the retirees. “All of them. I even had a fun conversation with Colleen at Tipsy McQue’s. Maybe I should stay.”
Their tongues tripped over one another.
“What?”
“You thinking of moving here?”
“Do you work?”
“I need a job immediately,” Katie answered. “And a place to rent. Someday, I’d like to open a store here.”
Her statement settled it as far as they were concerned--a young woman, having trouble and wanting to move to their town? Their brains could be seen going into high gear.
“Circle K is hiring,” Thad offered.
“She can’t work there! Crazy people coming in at all hours,” Craig admonished.
“How about the resort? I’ve still got some pull there.” Jarrod tugged on his overalls.
“Really? Maybe I’ll check it out. I was sort of thinking about serving food. Is Joe’s Shack hiring?”
They laughed at her question, “Joe? You can’t work for him.”
“He’s mean as a snake. Besides, his wife, Linda, helps him out, and they’re always hiring nieces and nephews. Keeping it in the family.”
There Was a Crooked Man: A Psychological Thriller Page 23