“You're just nosy,” Colleen yelled out from behind the bar.
“So, okay, I’m nosy. What’s all the yelling about?”
Blake grabbed Tanja’s hand again. “Tanja has agreed to accompany me on a date night.”
“And Annie is going with me!” Nick tried to grab Katie’s hand, but she slid out of reach.
Katie pulled Tanja aside. “Fill me in! What should I wear?”
Jack circled businesses along the Blue route and headed towards his car. He patted his jacket pockets, ensuring he had his fake business cards and plenty of pictures of Katie.
Nick and Blake picked up Tanja and Katie and headed toward Rock of Ages. As the foursome pulled into the parking lot, the red neon sign blinked on and off, and music pulsed through the air.
Finding a corner booth, they squeezed together, ordering a pizza and a pitcher of beer. They yelled to be heard over the band, and Katie howled with laughter as Tanja, Blake, and Nick took turns telling stories about the others. “You did not steal your teacher’s car!” She stared at Tanja, unconvinced her friend had been so rebellious.
They shuffled around the dance floor and tried teaching Katie the ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ dance. Tanja and Blake had obviously been dance partners before, but Katie was befuddled by the side-to-side movements, kicking and clapping. She kept going the wrong direction, and the harder she worked, the harder she failed. Nick was relentless. “No, Annie! Left, then right, then you touch your heel.”
Katie collapsed on his chest, gasping for air and crying from laughing so hard. “My face hurts,” she announced as she slid back into the booth.
“You need some work, girlfriend. Haven’t you ever been out dancing?” Tanja asked.
Katie shook her head no. Their shocked expressions had her offering a quick explanation. “Dinner parties, but no dancing.” She gulped beer to end the conversation.
The band called “Open-mic,” and Blake stood up and preened.
Katie was shocked. “You’re not going up there, are you?”
“My public awaits.”
Nick thumped his friend on the back. “You go, buddy.”
Blake borrowed the lead guitar and spun into a fast riff. He danced and twisted, his jet black hair shining in the lights. Tanja pointed at Blake moving across the stage. “Man’s got some moves. I may have to consider this more closely.”
Katie snorted.
Five minutes later, Blake called Nick up on stage. “Come on, man. The drummer says he needs a break. Get up here and help me out. Folks, give the man a hand.” The crowd, who’d had enough beer to applaud anything, enthusiastically clapped and yelled.
Katie watched in amazement as Nick stood up, took off his long-sleeved shirt, and strode toward the drum set, wearing snug-fitting jeans and a simple white t-shirt.
Tanja then let out a whistle. “Look at that ass!”
Blake raised his eyebrows, and Tanja sent him an air kiss.
Blake played fast and furious on the electric guitar, and Nick smacked every drum and cymbal with a fair degree of talent.
“Who knew?” Katie yelled across the noise to Tanja. Who knew I’d be on a double date having a great time?
Afterward, Nick walked her to the back-alley door. “I’ll wait here until I see your lights come on upstairs.” He wanted to kiss her badly but decided it was too soon.
“Thank you for a nice night.” Katie smiled as she locked the supply door and hurried up the stairs. She waved to Nick from her tiny kitchen window. Humming to herself, she practiced the Cotton Eyed-Joe in the living room and didn’t think about Jack once.
Chapter 57
The following Thursday, Nick dropped by his mom’s shop and picked out a bouquet.
“Don’t move too fast, Nicky,” Maggie warned.
He sent her a cheeky grin and headed toward the General Store, where the retirees were placing bets on whether Katie would go out with Nick.
“I got five dollars that says no,” Craig proclaimed. “If she’s smart, she’ll choose Blake.”
“You’re prejudiced because Blake’s your son.” Jarrod tugged on his overalls. “Nicky’s the one showing up all the time.”
Thad agreed with Jarrod, enjoying Craig’s scowl.
Skinny Tom smacked the table with his towel. “You’ll all lose. You know she’s only got eyes for me.” He sauntered off, leaving them to argue.
Oblivious to the wagers, Nick climbed the stairs to Katie’s apartment. When she answered the door, he held out the cluster of flowers. “Wanna take a walk with me by the creek?”
Katie stuck her face down in the bouquet to smell them. “What are these? I’ve never seen anything like them.”
“The big white one is Queen Anne’s Lace.”
Katie gestured Nick inside. He didn’t take the invitation lightly and moved forward.
“And these?” She pointed to the bright red berries and tiny clusters of white flowers.
“Pond Berry and dropwort.”
“You brought me Dropwort?” She crinkled her forehead but felt her heart shift a tiny bit, even as her brain sent out a warning, Don’t get involved again.
Nick rushed to explain, “They’re pretty on the inside. The berry has the most amazing arrangement of seeds.” He broke one open. “See? It looks like a star. You can’t judge a thing by its name, Annie.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek.
His words had her wincing at her own lies. Tell him the truth, her conscience screamed. Katie squashed the voice of reason. “Let’s take that walk.”
They ambled along Fancy Bluff Creek, and Nick gave non-stop commentary on every bird, tree, and flower they passed. It was a pleasant hour, and one Katie realized had not required her to look perfect, or offer witty banter, or provide sexual quid pro quo.
On the way back to town, Nick pulled a crumbled flier out of his jacket and handed it to Katie.
“What’s this?” She asked.
“Most of us are at a loss once the season dies down. So, we show a matinee on the third Saturday of the month. Wanna go?”
Katie stayed non-committal for a week, wrestling with her lies and dreams. She wanted it all—the town, the new life, even Nick.
She thought through the years after her parents died, the years of living with Jack, and yearned for a true companion—someone she could lean on, confide in, love. But what if the truth comes out?
Jack spent his evenings visiting restaurants, motels, and car lots along the western Blue transit route. He passed out dozens of business cards and asked about Katie at each stop. One man found Jack’s relentless activity suspicious and called the police.
On Friday, Officer Darrow read the phone message and went to find Hopkins. “Some guy--probably Jack—has been handing out cards listing himself as Greg Landis, P. I, and asking about Kathryn Werner.”
“What are you talking about?” Hopkins sipped his coffee and then glared at the contents inside his cup. “God, this is worse than normal.” He wiped his lips free of the taste.
Darrow rattled a piece of paper in the air. “Got a call from a Bryce McDermit out near Tremont Park. He manages A.J.’s Auto Mart. He claims this Greg Landis went from business to business two nights in a row. He was showing pictures of a young woman—Bryce said it looked like Kathryn Werner from TV—anyway, he got suspicious because it was in the evening, and this guy made like eight stops in a row. The investigator was not only asking if anyone had seen her but whether she bought a car, got a ride, etc. I think it’s Jack.”
“There’s nothing wrong with Jack looking for his wife.”
Darrow rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but Jack’s probably not just looking.”
Hopkins nodded. “Maybe we oughta check in on ol’ Jack.”
When Jack pulled in his driveway, after work, a police cruiser slid in behind his car. Jack squinted at the rear-view mirror. Now what?
Officers Darrow and Hopkins got out of their car, and Jack groaned. Composing himself, he stepped out of his car and took the offens
ive, “Officers Darrow, Hopkins. To what do I owe this honor?” He brushed at his dress pants and forced a smile.
“Hey, Jack,” Darrow returned the greeting.
Hopkins stayed silent and watched Jack shake a cigarette out of a mostly empty pack. He looks like shit.
“Do you have any news about Katie?” Jack asked, blowing out smoke like a professional.
“No, but we heard some rumors about a private investigator asking questions about her. You know anything about that?”
Jack shrugged. “No. Why would someone do that?”
Hopkins jumped on the response, “Good question. You didn’t hire anyone?”
“No, I haven’t.” Jack caught himself shuffling his feet and stopped abruptly.
“Well, we were in the area and thought we’d run it past you,” Darrow smoothed. “Gives us a chance to check in on you. It’s been what? Five weeks, right?”
“A person can start to get a little desperate,” Hopkins added.
"I'm over it. Like you said, it's been five weeks."
“If we hear anything, we’ll let you know,” Darrow stated.
Hopkins gave a veiled warning, “Don’t do anything foolish.”
Jack watched them drive away and decided to lay low for a week. He didn’t want the police interfering with his plans for finding Katie.
Katie took a chance and joined the throng at the high school auditorium for the matinee, Jaws. People arrived in groups, juggling bags of popcorn and candy. She watched a family corral their two younger children, and an elderly couple shuffle past carrying matching seat cushions. Nick and Maggie spied her and yelled in unison, “Annie!” They motioned her over to their seats. Katie was greeted several times as she made her way across the aisles. Those she didn’t know, Maggie introduced her to immediately. “This is Annie, she’s going to open a store here!”
Katie fell in love with the entire town that day.
Chapter 58
Nick dropped by Tipsy’s on Sunday night. He leaned on the bar, casually talking to Colleen and Mark before turning toward Katie. “Hey, Annie. Wanna go see The Conjuring, with me? It’s older, but the Brunswick Theatre is showing it for the Halloween season.”
“Hey, Romeo, make a date on your own time,” Colleen jibed.
Nick ignored Colleen. “What do ya say, Annie?”
Katie made faces at him but didn’t answer.
“It’s just a movie,” Nick persisted.
Katie bustled around the bar, pushing stools in. “I’ve got a busy weekend.”
“We can go on Thursday. You don’t work on Friday morning, right? If I show up a little late on Friday, it’ll be okay. I know the boss.” Nick grinned and tried to grab Katie’s hand.
She pulled away and kept cleaning.
“Pllleeeaaaseee,” Nick pleaded.
“Damn, man, stop!” Mark teased. “Now, all the girls will expect me to beg.”
Colleen flung a lemon slice at Mark. “First, ya gotta get a girl to look at ya, Mark.”
“Ha-ha. You’re funny. I might have two or three girlfriends you don’t know about.”
“In this town?” Colleen raised her eyebrows and shook her head sadly. “Everybody knows everything. Just like we know Annie’s gonna go to the movie, aren’t ya, A Chara?”
“I will if it will make ya’ll shut up!”
A triumphant Nick fist-bumped Mark. “I’ll pick you up at 6:00,” he yelled over his shoulder and hurried out before Annie changed her mind.
“Looks like you got a date, princess.” Colleen winked. “You still have to clean the bathrooms here though,” She handed over a spray bottle of Clorox and a clean towel.
Katie snatched them out of Colleen's hands, muttering about “…ungrateful. …supposed to be my friend…why do I always have to clean the damn bathrooms, anyway?”
Nick was on time Thursday night, smiling and joking. Katie was a nervous wreck, alternately talking too fast or falling into silence. Idiot. Going on a date, she chastised herself.
Once they were settled and the movie began, Nick realized Annie was the real entertainment. Her pupils dilated, and her mouth hung open. She tossed popcorn into her mouth as fast as humanly possible and gestured wildly. As the movie reached its crescendo, she threw what was left of her popcorn at the screen.
Nick teased her afterward, “You’re a big scaredy-cat.”
Katie punched him lightly in the arm and bundled into his car. “I’m never going to go see another scary film again.”
“Let’s get a pizza,” Nick suggested.
Katie’s conscience had her asking to go home instead.
Nick walked her to the back door of the General Store. I will not settle for a handshake and a smile this time, he told himself.
Under the pale security light, Nick gathered Katie close and kissed her lightly. His hands rubbed up and down her arms, and he leaned in closer, wanting to taste every inch of her soft, full lips. When they opened for him, he felt his heartbeat accelerate. Ahh. Yes. This is much better. Nick could feel the heat in his groin. Easy there, big fella, she’s likely to bolt.
On cue, Nick felt Annie tense and pull away. Shit. I knew it. He forced himself to put his hands in his pockets.
“I’ll wait here until I see the light go on upstairs.”
Katie tilted her head, surprised he was letting her go. Jack wouldn’t. She leaned in and kissed Nick one more time, then hurried upstairs to her apartment. As was the new habit, she waved from the kitchen window and watched him drive away.
Another car slowed and pulled into the alley. Katie’s heart hitched. Jack. She ran for the bedroom window and unfurled her ladder, listening for the storage door to open or footsteps on the stairs. With her head partially out the window, she watched the car drive through the alley and make a left. Not Jack, after all.
I need to practice again, to be sure. Keys in her pocket, she backed out of the window and descended as fast as she dared. Her weight made the ladder crash into the building several times. Her breath whooshed out, but she made herself keep going. Once on the ground, she ran for her truck, hitting the key fob as she reached the driver’s door. She closed her eyes. It works. I’ll be alright.
Later, she lay in bed, visualizing each of her new friends. You’ve lied to every single one of them, Katie. Sleep was a long time coming.
Colleen asked for details on Friday. “How’d the movie night go with Nick?”
“It was fine,” Katie answered and carried glasses to the kitchen.
When she came back out to the bar, Colleen tried again, “Come on! Have pity. I haven’t had sex in over a year, give me something juicy! Tell me about your night.”
Katie shrugged. “I told you it was fine.”
Colleen texted Tanja to ask if she’d heard anything.
Nope. Got nothing. We should gang up on her.
Nick called and texted Annie over the next few days, but she ignored his messages, too.
Chapter 59
Colleen rushed to close up Tipsy’s. “Hurry, Annie! Tanja’s got margaritas!”
“I know!” Katie replied, sloshing the mop bucket in her haste.
They were slated to meet Tanja and Maggie to decorate Tanja’s store for the holidays, a.k.a. Girl's Night Out. Unbeknownst to Katie, it was also an intervention. She’d been too quiet the last week, and the girls were determined to figure out what the hell was going on.
Having been without a night out with girls for years, Katie was beside herself, yanking Colleen toward Tanja’s store. “I thought you were in a hurry!”
They burst through the door and were met by Tanja holding a pitcher and Maggie extending two glasses. “Finally! We’ve been waitin’ for you two to get here.”
Colleen leaned in and wiped the salt from Maggie’s top lip. “Liar.”
Maggie had the good grace to blush, but Tanja laughed it off. “We had to taste them to make sure they weren’t poisonous.”
“And?” Katie asked, “What’s the verdict?”
/> “They’re fantastic!”
“See, Annie. I told you they’d start without us. Bitches.” Colleen tucked her elbow through Katie’s. “They got no sympathy for us workin’ girls.”
Tanja ignored the barb and poured margaritas all around. “Here’s to the girls, working and otherwise!”
Glasses clinked, and Katie took in a mouthful. Licking salt off her own lips, she asked for an explanation. “So, what are we
doing here tonight?” She held up her glass, “Besides the obvious?”
“We’re decorating for the holidays. It’s big business.”
“Thanksgiving?” Katie asked, and Maggie and Tanja laughed.
“No, Christmas, silly girl.”
Katie gaped at them. “Christmas? That’s two months away!”
“True, but it’s the motherlode.” Tanja beckoned Katie over to a corner near the door. “This is what’s left of Halloween for the next week.” A small table held a few Halloween items and a 50% Off sign. Tanja then pivoted to point toward a carved, cherry sideboard table, where a dozen fall florals were displayed in antique silver and glass vases. “That’s it for Thanksgiving. The rest of the store,” Tanja twirled once, “is all about Christmas!”
Katie spun toward Maggie. “Is this true? Do you skip past Thanksgiving, too?”
Maggie nodded. “It’s all about sales, Annie. You need to understand if you’re gonna open a store. We push Halloween—last week in September and three weeks in October.”
Tanja nodded and made a face at Colleen, who was pouring herself another drink.
“Then, you do a week or so for Thanksgiving and go right into Christmas.” Maggie leaned toward Colleen and offered up her glass to be topped off too. “If someone orders a Thanksgiving display from me, I immediately offer them something for Christmas.”
Tanja pulled Katie to the storeroom where a dozen large totes sat, each one marked Christmas. “See?’ She switched on the store stereo, and “I Wish You a Merry Christmas” poured from the speakers.
There Was a Crooked Man: A Psychological Thriller Page 29