by Vella, Wendy
“No, and quite catchy really, all that alliteration.”
“But it’s not funny, is it? Because whoever lost that femur has a body somewhere on the mountain, and we need to find him,” Joe said in a somber tone.
“Yeah, we do, and a femur is not something you lose like your keys, bud.” Fin dropped down to greet Benjamin, Joe’s son. Giving him a loud sloppy kiss, he received a gruff little chuckle.
One week ago, Fin had been hiking on Phil, one of the mountains, and come across human remains. Since that day, the news had got out and he’d been inundated with questions about the discovery. The Gazette printed the ‘Fin Finds A Femur’ piece yesterday, and he’d been getting hassled ever since.
“You got enough clothes on him? Seriously, bud, he looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy in that outfit. It’s amazing he can bend in the middle,” Fin said, taking in the all-in-one puffy butter-yellow suit the little man had on.
“It’s cold, and his mother would slay me alive if he came back less than toasty warm,” Joe said. “So if it’s not the bone that’s bugging you, tell me what’s going on.”
Fin stood. “Did you know Maggs was back in town?”
The shock on his friend’s face told him he didn’t. “The hell you say?” The shock turned into a big smile. “Looking forward to seeing our girl, I have to admit. I missed her.”
“I just saw her.”
“Yeah. How’d she look?”
“Different… I think.”
“You think?”
“Something seemed off.” Fin shrugged
“Off how?”
Fin thought about that. How was she different? “Like she’s lost her sparkle.”
“She just arrived back and has likely been traveling a while. My guess is that would be enough to dull anyone’s sparkle.”
“Whatever, but my point here is she looks different, Joe, and is acting weird.”
“How long did you talk to her to come to this realization, Dr. Phil?” Joe bent to tweak Benjamin’s hat down over his ears.
Parents, Fin had noted, were always doing that. They saw stuff too. He’d always thought Joe unobservant, but he could spot if his kids or wife needed him a mile off.
“Not long, but I know I’m right.”
“It’s been two years. It’s likely she’s changed some, and let’s be honest, Maggs always had a little weird in her—as we all do. So maybe that’s just come out more?”
“That makes no sense, bud.”
“And you do with all that sparkle talk?”
“True.” Fin looked down the road again even though he knew Maggie was gone.
“You always come back weird after a brush with your dad. Maybe it’ll take her a while to settle too.”
“I do not!” Fin felt the tightening inside his chest he always got at the mention of his father.
“So do. And you always do something totally out of character before you return.”
“Buying a Harley Davidson is not weird or out of character. You know I always wanted one.”
“And no one knows that more than me, but the point here is—”
“By all means, don’t let me stop you getting to the point.”
“Is that you told me you were saving to buy Ted’s land before you left.”
Fin had visited his sister a month ago, and his father had been there. The man made him irrational; there was no other word for it.
“Whatever, and I have the money for the land sorted. Not sure how it turned around to me when we were talking about Maggs.”
Joe made a humming noise in his throat as he pushed the buggy back and forth. “That whole terrorist thing must have been terrifying. I imagine that rocked her. Maggs just needs time to settle back in, Fin. She’s lived a different life for a while. She’ll be grabbing your ass before you know it.”
Maggs had been involved in an incident in London, unharmed but shaken. Fin had read about it, and it had left him cold how close she’d come to being badly injured or killed.
“Maybe, but don’t you think it’s odd she’s back and none of us knew she was coming?”
“Bailey doesn’t know, and that’s weird. But maybe she wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Yeah, that could be it, and she said as much.” But Fin didn’t think so. Something felt off, and it wasn’t good.
“Mind you, Bailey said she lost contact with her six months ago suddenly. She’s called her a few times, and Maggs never picked up. She left a shouty all-capitals message when she texted her, and Maggs replied saying she was okay, just busy.”
“But Bailey didn’t buy that?”
“She felt something was off, but didn’t know what,” Joe said, pulling out his cell phone.
“It’s rude to talk on your phone while conversing with someone.”
“You’re not someone.” Joe waved his words away. “Hey, sweetheart, Fin said he saw Maggs, she’s back.” Joe then held the phone away as his wife shrieked. “Yes, my thoughts exactly,” he said. “All good, love you.” Joe pocketed his phone.
“You always say that to each other. Doesn’t it get old?” Fin said.
“Not if you mean it, and I love you too. So if you need the reassurance, I’ll tack it on to our conversations going forward.”
“Ha ha.”
“This thing with Maggs really bothered you, Fin. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. It’s just a feeling.”
“Plus, there’s that thing you two have.” Joe undid the bag he had hanging on the back of the pushchair and opened it.
“What thing? There is no thing.”
“Totally is a thing,” Joe handed a cookie shaped like a teddy bear to Benjamin. Fin held out his hand and got one too.
“Whatever, and you’re wrong. Me and the crazy redhead just like to spar with each other,” Fin added, trying not to think about how good she’d felt pressed against him earlier.
“I’m heading to Tea Total. Want to come?”
“I was going home to sleep, but sure, it’s not like you’ve got any other friends.” Fin fell in beside Joe.
“True that, and you’ve been away for a few days. I missed you.”
“You’re not going to cry, are you? I hate that shit, and it’s unmanly.”
“Crying is not unmanly. It shows you’re in touch with your feelings,” Joe said.
“Bailey told you that; no way did you come to that conclusion on your own.”
“How’s the family?” Joe asked casually, knowing damn well it was a subject Fin loathed.
“Alive.” Fin looked around him for someone, anyone, he could speak with to distract Joe.
“Gotcha, still a no-go. But when you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”
“Nothing to talk about. My dad’s an asshole, as I’ve told you; my sister and her kids aren’t. End of story.”
“Sure as shit doesn’t sound like nothing to me. Haven’t you got a half sister too? Younger, from what I remember you told me one drunken night.”
“Mallory. She’s ten.”
“Yeah? Is your stepmom young then?”
“She’s thirty-five, as you know because I told you that also in my drunken stupor. And my dad’s fifty, in case we’re rehashing that too.”
“They sure do make you touchy.”
“Whereas your dear daddy is all roses and happiness, and you just love bringing him into conversation.”
“I’m reconciled.” Joe smiled. A wide one that flashed his teeth.
“Dickhead,” Fin muttered. In fact, Joe’s father was a drunken loser who’d nearly caused serious harm to Bailey and the Trainer family.
“I’ll keep talking about your family, Fin. You need to be more open about them. Plus, that little girl carries your blood, bud. One day she just may need her big, butt-ugly brother.”
“No, she won’t, and we barely know each other.” His family was a big pool of angst in his gut, so he tried not to think about them.
This town was all he needed. Ryker had emb
raced Fin when he’d needed embracing. He’d come here because nowhere else was working after his mother’s death. That, and the fact the man beside him lived here.
Fin had tried to go home, but it had been a disaster. Too much water and pain under the bridge there, so he’d followed Joe, the friend he’d met when his father had sent him away to straighten him out on a ranch.
Joe Trainer had been like Fin. Wild, destructive, and needing a purpose. They’d found it there. Then when it was over, he’d been lost again. Coming to Ryker Falls had changed that. Here he’d found his passion and his people.
Chapter Three
“Hey there, Mrs. Longkovsky. Nice eyelashes,” Fin said to the woman who wore more makeup than all the others in this town combined. Age undetermined, Mrs. L, as they called her, had a lined face that sucked lipstick up in the cracks. She owned a store in town that sold touristy stuff. Her Christmas sweaters were legendary. Today’s had Santa’s butt hanging out of a chimney with flashing lights on the front. Her shop window was crammed with decorations and knickknacks. In fact, it had so much stuff, he couldn’t see where one item started and the other finished.
“Just had them done. Why aren’t you both wearing your sweaters?”
“It’s in the wash, Ella puked on it,” Joe said quickly. “Where’s yours, Fin?” Joe smirked.
“I took it home to show my family, then left it there. I need to buy another one, Mrs. L,” he said, shooting his friend a smug look because he’d countered with ease.
“You come on in then, and I’ll get you sorted right now,” replied Mrs. L. Then blinked her glittery fake lashes so quickly, Fin was sure he felt the draft.
“I will tomorrow, Mrs. L. I need to eat something; I haven’t had time today.”
“To eat?”
Fin nodded, smiling sweetly.
“Well now, that’s just foolish, boy. You need your strength to do that job of yours. I’ll make up some of my meatloaf and get it to you tomorrow.”
“I’d be grateful. Cooking is not something I have time for.”
“Completely understandable.” She patted his hand. “You have important work to do.”
“I do important work,” Joe said, eyes narrowed as he looked at Fin.
“You run a bar,” Mrs. L said. “Fin keeps us safe.”
“I do what I can for the citizens of this town, Mrs. L.”
Joe made a choking sound.
“Oh, would you look at that boy. Hello, sweetie.” She bent to tickle Benjamin’s cheek.
The child withstood it, but he wasn’t happy about being touched by the painted lady.
“See you, Mrs. L. We’re heading to Tea Total,” Joe said. “It’s too cold out here for him.”
“Of course it is. You get along now, and you be sure to let me know who that femur belongs to.”
“That woman gets more outrageous every time I see her,” Fin muttered. “She says femur like it’s a lost wallet, and I’m just going to stumble across someone missing a thigh bone and go, hey, I think I have what you misplaced.”
“You know that shit is gonna wear thin one day, right? The seniors in this town are going to see through your pathetic, ‘I work harder than anyone else in town to keep you safe’ routine.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Fin dug his hands deep in his pocket and came out with a roll of mints.
“You’ve been conning them for years. I’ve seen the dishes of food that arrive on your doorstep, ranger boy. It’s a scam, is what it is, and you should be ashamed of yourself.” Joe took the mint Fin offered him.
“I can’t help it if the town’s seniors love me more than you.”
“You’re a suck-up,” Joe muttered.
“Move it, boys!”
Fin turned at the words to find Mr. Goldhirsh on a bike heading for him. He mounted the curb and came to a stop in front of Tea Total, dismounting to lean his bike on the window.
“What the actual fuck is he doing?” Fin whispered to Joe.
“He hurt his leg. The doctor said he needed to take it easy.”
“Well, I have a spare femur if he needs one.”
Joe snorted.
“So this is him taking it easy?” Fin moved back, and other cyclists passed, stopping beside Mr. Goldhirsh.
“Hey there, Mr. Goldhirsh. Nice spandex,” Fin greeted the man. He wore a shirt with the words Ryker Wheelies on the front. Black, with green writing. He had a blue helmet, and on top was a flashing red light. Around his face was a red bandana, and he looked like a really cheerful bank robber. “Traded in your running shoes?”
“Change is a good thing, boy.”
Frederick Goldhirsh was the most fanatically fit person Fin knew. Older by many years, he never stopped and let the grass grow under his feet. The man had more energy than the average five-year-old. Married to Joe’s aunt Jess, he was a well-respected member of the Ryker Falls community.
“These are my cycling buddies,” Mr. Goldhirsh said.
“Already you have cycling buddies?”
“What can I say, people like me.” Mr. Goldhirsh flashed his white teeth. “This is B-Rocca, H-man, Mikey, AP, and Dazza.”
“He’s serious with those names?” Fin said out of the side of his mouth.
“Yup. They all came for dinner at the ranch last night after their cycle. Great bunch of guys, if a little obsessed about things like group sets and FTP.”
“I almost don’t want to know.”
“FTP stands for functional threshold power, apparently,” Joe added.
“Of course it does.” Fin shook his head.
They were in their fifties and up from what he could make out and looked as fit as Mr. Goldhirsh but came in different shapes. Fin shook hands as he was introduced. They had the same look in their eyes as Mr. Goldhirsh, that spark healthy people tended to carry about with them.
“My tire pressure is not right. You guys go and order, I’ll be there soon,” someone said. Fin thought it was B-Rocca but couldn’t be sure.
“Need any help?” Fin asked.
“They’re pretty protective of their bikes, Fin. You go on inside now and get out of the cold,” Mr. Goldhirsh said like it was Fin who was heading toward seventy. “They don’t let just anyone tinker with their toys.”
“Did that sound kinky to you?” he asked Joe.
“More than.”
Pushing open the door to Tea Total, Fin took a deep breath and inhaled coffee and baking. Warmth settled around him like his favorite blanket.
The place was owned by the Robbins sisters, Miss Marla and Miss Sara. They’d taught most of the kids in this town at school and could still put them in their place when required. In business with them was their niece, Mandy. The place had been extended recently to include another room for selling books and more tables. There was a kids’ corner, and Mandy or whoever was handy read them books every few days.
“Oh my, look at that sight.” Fin smiled as Miss Marla tottered forward in heels. They were rarely without them unless exercising or there was ice on the streets, and even then they could manage it. The sisters had gray hair and dressed each day like the queen was paying a call. In fact, he’d never seen them look anything but classy.
“She’s not talking about us. It’s the cycling men. Clearly, she has a thing for spandex,” Joe said. He then pushed the stroller to the side and lifted his son out.
“I’m not sure if I’m insulted or pleased.” Fin took the boy from his daddy. Miss Marla hurried to seat the cyclists, and Fin tried not to be put out that he wasn’t getting that attention. “Clearly we’re losing our edge.”
“Hey, Fin, you doing okay? I heard about what you found up on the mountain.”
Mandy Robbins was behind the coffee machine. Her brown hair pulled back in a tail, she wore a dress in deep emerald green. Her brown eyes were smiling. She did that a lot these days, and he had to say it suited her. Once, she’d been shy and timid, scared of her own shadow, but no more.
“Thanks, Mandy, I’m doi
ng okay. Where’s that loser you date?”
“Jealousy is ugly in a man, especially as I have something you want.” Ted Hosking appeared through a door. The man owned the tourist lodge in town. He and Mandy were a couple, and both of them had changed because of it. Ted had softened, at least with Mandy, and she’d got stronger.
He was a man who wore power well. Big, strong, he was one of the shrewdest businessmen Fin knew.
“True that. So, your hair looks good, Ted.”
He laughed. “I said I’d sell you that land. No need to grovel, Fin Finds A Femur.”
Ted was cutting up some of the Falls Lodge land, and Fin was buying a piece. He’d build his home there, and then his roots would be bound to this place.
“Not you too,” Fin muttered.
“I’m sure in, say, ten years, that will get old.” Ted slapped him on the back.
“Maggie’s back,” Joe said.
“What? When?” Mandy stepped out from behind the counter. “No one knew she was coming, did they?”
“Bailey didn’t know.”
“Weird,” Ted said, slipping his hand around Mandy’s waist. He then leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Really weird,” Fin added. “She looked off too.”
“Off how?”
“Just off,” he said to Mandy.
“She’s just arrived, so maybe she was tired?” Mandy frowned.
“Sure, I guess.”
“Sit; we’ll bring coffee.”
“And scones. You got any lemon and blueberry ones?” Joe asked.
“I have to serve them too?” Ted looked disgusted.
“They are paying customers.” Mandy patted his cheek, and the look on his friend’s face made him gag.
“You are so whipped.” Fin walked away, disgusted.
“And you’re jealous.”
True that.
“Find any more bones?”
“Day’s young, Ted.”
“So, Fin, you want to come out for a spin with us?” Mr. Goldhirsh said. He and his buddies were seated at the next table. “It would be a good distraction after what you found.”
When hell freezes over.