“I just got here myself,” Ivy replied.
“Ross and I were just counting down days until Brant returns,” Devon remarked.
“Tyler’s that bad, huh?” Tony asked.
“He’s just not much of an artist. His work needs some help,” she replied then drew a deep breath and groaned, rethinking her last comment. “His new wax woman looks like a streetwalker.”
Tony laughed at the comment. They saw Dorothy pushing Chelsea in her wheelchair not far from them. All four briefly stared.
Ross immediately returned to his lunch although with less enthusiasm. “Someone should keep Dorothy away from makeup as well.”
Devon, Ivy, and Tony all stared a moment longer. Chelsea wore bright colored lipstick, dark eyeshadow, and an excessive amount of blush. She was dressed in a brightly colored, flowered shirt with large, fake pearls around her neck. Dorothy pushed her daughter toward them and paused.
“Nice day for a picnic lunch,” Dorothy announced while smiling pleasantly despite all she’d been through in recent days.
All four nodded.
She then turned her attention to Tony. “The funeral was lovely,” Dorothy announced then fidgeted. “I’m sure Jamie would appreciate what you’d done. She looked, uh, peaceful.”
“Thank you.”
Devon found herself staring at Chelsea, who was only a few feet from her. The makeup and bows in her hair were hideous. Chelsea looked more like a clown than a young woman. She had once been the most beautiful girl in town. Her long blonde hair was now cropped to shoulder length, which was probably more manageable for her poor mother, but there was no reason to treat the young woman like some porcelain doll. Since Chelsea had been two grades ahead of Devon in school, she didn’t know her all that well. However, she did remember she was as smart as she was beautiful.
As Devon stared at the girl who could do little more than stare hypnotically at nothing in particular, Devon wondered if there was anything left of Chelsea inside her non-functioning shell of a body. Devon finally looked away and no longer felt like eating. Dorothy bid them an enjoyable lunch then pushed Chelsea along the walkway across the park.
Devon watched them leave and shook her head, feeling almost enraged. “Why does she insist on doing that?” she scoffed under her breath, surprising her friends.
“Doing what?” Tony asked.
“Dress her like a rag doll with all that makeup,” Devon muttered and set her salad aside. “It’s so disrespectful to that poor girl.”
“Hard to believe she was once the most beautiful girl in town,” Ross remarked and seemed to have less enthusiasm for his sandwich.
“Chelsea?” Tony asked with surprise.
“Oh, yeah. Before her accident, she was a raving beauty,” Ross announced and sank into thought with fondness. “I remember every boy in school chased after her.” He then eyed his friends and turned slightly serious. “Of course, I was a grade below her. I knew I never stood a shot, but in our few encounters, she was always nice to me.”
“I remember hearing about Dorothy’s rage over her wanting to date,” Ivy added and shook her head. “Dorothy and Chelsea got into some terrible fights. If there ever was a man-hater, it’s Dorothy.”
“For such a god-fearing woman,” Devon muttered.
“Chelsea and Jamie got into it a good number of times too,” Ross interjected. “Jamie was working her way to becoming a slut even back then.”
“Devon and I were in the same grade as Jamie. She was always stealing someone’s boyfriend,” Ivy scoffed with annoyance. “That’s why Tamara hated her so much. I heard she slept with almost all of Tamara’s boyfriends after we graduated high school.”
“I seemed to have missed a lot not growing up here,” Tony remarked while eying his friends. “Not to change the subject, but what actually happened to Chelsea?”
“She’d fallen off the bridge near the resorts back when it was all woodland,” Devon informed him. “A lot of kids hung out around there after school.”
“It was a big time date spot back then,” Ross reported then cast a look at Devon. “But she didn’t fall; she was pushed.”
“Not the stranger theory again,” Ivy groaned then shook her head. She turned on the bench to face Ross where he sat on the grass near them. “It was never proven she was pushed from the bridge by the man who murdered Christine.”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t suicide like some claimed,” Ross boldly announced. “Chelsea was an attractive young lady. She had everything to live for. She did not try to kill herself.”
“Doesn’t always mean anything,” Ivy boldly interrupted. “Being pretty and popular doesn’t mean she wasn’t depressed. If she had wanted to date and her overly religious, manhating mother was against it that could cause some serious issues.”
“They found someone else’s blood on her shirt. Although it was never publicly reported, I think Sheriff Carter has forensic proof that it was Christine’s blood,” Ross announced with annoyance, prepared to fight the issue to the death. “She also had scrapes on her arms and legs from sticker bushes.”
“Yeah, she fell from a bridge,” Ivy insisted, defending her theory. “Of course she had scrapes. There were rocks everywhere.”
“They were sticker bush scrapes on her arms and legs,” Ross insisted defensively. “You don’t get sticker bush scrapes from rocks. There were, however, sticker bushes in the woods where they found Christine’s body. Ergo, she witnessed the murder, and the killer chased her to keep her quiet. When he had the opportunity, he pushed her off the bridge.”
“Ipso facto. I’ve gotten sticker bush scratches without being chased by a killer,” Ivy announced.
Devon groaned and rubbed her temple, having heard her friends argue their cases many times before. Tony eyed Devon with surprise. She made a face and shook her head, having no way of ending their debate.
Tony finally looked at Ivy and Ross. “Okay, kids, fight nice,” he scolded. “Going all Latin cliché isn’t going to solve anything.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Thursday night at the tavern was meant to be ladies’ night, although most women avoided the bar. On the night when mixed drinks were half priced for women, which was meant to drive in more female customers, male patrons arrived in flocks to socialize with the women. The stench of desperation from the swarm of men essentially chased most of the women away. Now, Thursdays were just sad and depressing, leaving only the hardcore drinkers. Joe sat at the bar in his usual spot while Stan hovered over him with little better to do.
“I can’t believe Paula’s gone,” Stan remarked while sadly shaking his head then appeared curious. “Did they find the guy who did it?”
Joe straightened and avoided looking at his bartender friend. “No, not yet,” he remarked. “Sheriff Carter couldn’t find his ass if it was on fire.” He then eyed Stan. “I’ll find the guy though. I intend to find him and make him pay.”
“Well, if you need a hand with that, let me know,” Stan announced and straightened. “Your sister was my friend too.”
“I may just take you up on that,” Joe remarked and offered a strange smirk.
Stan sighed and looked around while frowning. “Place just isn’t the same without Paula. Our only lady on ladies’ night.”
Joe glanced at the clock on the wall. It was quarter to midnight. He didn’t even finish his beer when he stood and placed some money on the counter. Stan gave him a strange look.
“What? You’re leaving already?” Stan asked with surprise.
“I have business to attend to,” Joe informed him, showing little emotion.
“Business? At midnight?” Stan asked while appearing curious. “What sort of business would you have at midnight?”
Joe grinned and raised his brows. “The slightly shady sort of business” he announced.
“The kind I best not know about, huh?” Stan remarked with a curious look.
“Yeah, that kind,” Joe remarked. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sta
n.”
Stan grinned and chuckled. “Yeah, see you tomorrow,” he announced. “Good luck. Let me know if you need to borrow my car and a shovel.”
Joe chuckled then left the tavern. He glanced at his watch and then hurried onto the back road in the direction of his house. It was possibly the first time he was making the return journey sober, allowing him to walk a little faster. He turned down his private drive and made the long trek toward his house at the end of the dirt driveway. A car’s headlights seemed to appear mysteriously behind him. As he turned, dismayed by the closeness and sudden appearance of the headlights, the red sports car’s engine revved and the bright headlights gained on him at an amazing rate. Joe’s eyes widened in horror as he attempted to leap out of the car’s path.
The car clipped him, sending him flying across the dirt driveway. Joe rolled several times then lay motionless on the road. The car skidded to a stop, was thrown into reverse, and raced backward. The tires squealed as the car came to a stop alongside him. Joe groaned but was barely conscious. The phantom grabbed him under the arms and heaved him into the trunk of the car. Joe slowly came to, saw the phantom, and immediately lunged for him. The phantom punched him in the face and slammed the trunk shut.
§
Joe woke within the trunk of the sports car and could see the sun rising through a rusted hole near the taillight. He lay on his back and kicked the trunk with both feet, attempting to jar it open. A strange grinding sound startled him. An electric saw blade penetrated the trunk. Joe jumped with surprise.
“Hey, let me out of here,” he cried out. “What the hell are you doing?”
The electric saw stopped after making a triangle cut through the metal. Joe kept his distance while attempting to look out through the small opening. Liquid poured in through the opening. The stench of gasoline was unmistakable as it soaked him before he rolled away from the liquid.
“Christ, man,” Joe yelled while attempting to slip out of his gasoline-soaked shirt. “This isn’t funny! I won’t tell anyone, I swear!”
A brilliant red light appeared near the opening. Joe jerked and slid against the back of the trunk while staring with horror as the flare was dropped through the opening. The gasoline immediately ignited, setting the interior of the trunk and Joe into flames. Outside, the phantom casually walked away from the sports car as smoke wafted from the trunk. Joe’s agonizing screams quickly subsided.
Chapter Thirty-seven
The diner was crowded as it was most Friday evenings during the dinner hour. Most older locals preferred the diner to the more expensive restaurants at the resort area on the other side of town. The younger generation preferred the resort clubs and the food court at the newly constructed mall. Ross and Tony sat at a booth after they’d finished their meal and watched with mounting tension as Marlene set the bill on the table between them. The two men exchanged looks and refused to make a move for the bill.
Marlene returned to the counter as Brant entered. He approached the counter, offered a pleasant smile, and received his ‘to go’ order. Marlene did her best to flirt with the shy, handsome man. Brant attempted to pay his bill and leave but couldn’t seem to complete the transaction as Marlene continued with her obvious seduction scene. She finally accepted his money, allowing Brant to make his escape. Ross and Tony were now locked in a battle of wills as they pushed the food bill across the table in a silent attempt to get the other to pay.
“You’ve gotten free lunches from me all week,” Tony insisted while glaring at his friend. “The least you can do is pay for dinner.”
Finally admitting defeat, Ross dug into his pocket and revealed some bills. “You’re becoming a real nag; you know that?”
Marlene approached their table and smiled while refreshing their coffee. Tony immediately declined before she could pour more into his cup.
“Sheriff Carter was in here earlier,” Marlene informed them. “Karl’s still at large. Something tells me the sheriff doesn’t think he did it,” Marlene announced with disappointment. “I hoped it had been him. I don’t like having an unsolved murder hanging over our town.”
“Yeah, I was rooting for it to be Karl too,” Ross remarked.
“I overheard Sheriff Carter and Deputy Havens discussing the murders,” Marlene informed them. “Supposedly, someone saw Jamie’s car driving on the backroads early Friday morning.”
“That’s right,” Ross remarked. “They never did find her car.” He eyed Tony and Marlene. “That almost proves it was Karl, doesn’t it? He probably stole Jamie’s car and made his getaway.”
“I don’t think so,” Marlene informed him. “It was really weird. Whoever saw Jamie’s car said it was being driven by someone wearing a phantom mask and what they thought to be a purple cape.”
Ross stared at her a moment with some surprise and nearly choked on the words. “As in white mask, burnt faced phantom?”
She nodded then immediately cringed. “Creepy, huh?”
Tony gave Ross a strange look. Ross shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Tony immediately took his cue and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Maybe Joe killed Paula,” Tony suggested. “His sister was friends with Jamie too. There could be motive there, right?”
“That abandoned farmhouse is a long way to go from his house without a car,” Marlene insisted. “They took Joe’s license away after his last drunk driving accident, and he had to sell his car to pay the fines.” She disapprovingly shook her head. “Honestly, Tony, you’re behind on town gossip.”
“My clients don’t gossip much,” he teased.
“Do you ever consider dating live girls?” Marlene asked while raising a clever brow.
“On occasion.”
Ross rolled his eyes. He didn’t seem to like when others were the ones cracking jokes. That was his department.
“How about meeting me for drinks at the tavern after work?” Marlene asked. “I get off at ten.”
Tony appeared surprised by the invitation, fidgeted a moment, and then offered a pleased smile. “I, uh, well, I’d like that.”
Ross stared at both with disbelief.
“Great,” Marlene announced while practically turning giddy. “I’ll meet you there around eleven.”
Marlene turned and walked away with an added spring in her step.
Ross immediately leaned across the table and stared at Tony with near horror. “You made a date with Marlene?” he gasped.
“Yeah, so?” Tony remarked and cast a look after the waitress. “She’s an attractive woman. I don’t know in what universe a woman that attractive would want a guy like me, but I’m not going to turn her down.”
Ross shook his head and leaned back in his seat. “Have you ever asked yourself why a woman that gorgeous is still single?” He leaned across the table, practically lunging for his friend. “Bypassing the fact that Marlene is a bit of a psycho bitch, her overly protective brother is one of those biker guys with tattoos covering half his body,” he informed him. His eyes then widened. “I heard they’re still picking her last boyfriend out of the tread of his hog.”
Tony stared at Ross with his mouth hanging open. “The guy the size of a tank that I’ve seen riding through town? That’s her brother?”
Ross nodded then shook his head. “I’d be willing to bet you a thousand dollars he’ll be at the tavern tonight,” he announced. “And his eyes will be on you and his sister.”
“My first date in months,” Tony groaned. “I should have known it was too good to be true.” He leaned across the table and spoke softly to Ross. “Should I not show up?”
“Are you insane?” Ross practically cried out in a whisper as his eyes widened. “He’ll break you in two if you do that!”
Tony leaned back in his seat and groaned. “So if I go out with her; her brother will kill me, but if I don’t go out with her; her brother will kill me.”
Ross casually nodded. “Yeah, you’re pretty much screwed either way.”
§
Marlene walked out of the diner that night with another waitress. They waved to each other then separated and went to their own cars. Marlene opened her car door and climbed inside. She started the car and fumbled within her purse as the other car pulled away. She removed her lipstick and turned the rearview mirror in her direction. In the mirror, she saw the white phantom mask staring back at her. She gasped and grabbed for the door handle.
A nylon rope circled her neck, and the phantom pulled back on it. Marlene clutched the rope and attempted to pull it free. The owner of the diner could be seen through the window still cleaning the grill. She slammed her hand on the horn to get his attention, but there was no sound! Marlene gasped and struggled against the rope. She finally slumped over the steering wheel out cold. The phantom leaped from the back seat while keeping low to avoid being seen by the cook inside the diner and opened the driver’s side door. He pulled Marlene from the front seat and dragged her into the back seat. The phantom then jumped into the driver’s seat and drove away from the diner.
§
Marlene slowly woke and immediately realized she was tied to an old, wooden chair within a mostly dark, dank basement. The basement was within a home at least one hundred years old. It had a dirt floor, low ceiling, and an old coal stove that hadn’t been used in years. The sole light source was a single light bulb on a chain near the rickety, old stairs. Marlene immediately went into panic mode and attempted to scream through the duct tape across her mouth, but it was no use.
She fought against the duct tape binding her wrists to the arms of the wooden chair but couldn’t free herself. The chair was so old; it creaked with every movement. She stopped struggling a moment and looked down at the old chair. Despite that her ankles were duct taped together, they weren’t bound to the chair. She attempted to stand while picking up the chair, which was attached to her wrists. She teetered a moment then was able to maintain her balance.
Marlene shut her eyes, drew a deep breath, and cast herself and the chair to the dirt floor. One of the wooden legs splintered, although it didn’t break off. She inhaled deeply and again attempted to stand with the chair. She teetered a moment and again caught her balance. A shadow fell over her from the dim light of the sole light bulb near the stairs. She immediately looked in front of her and saw the phantom standing only a few feet before her. She attempted to scream through the duct tape. The phantom pushed her backward with just enough force to knock her into the chair and the chair to the floor. The splintered wooden leg cracked and nearly gave out.
Murder in Wax Page 15
