A Grave End

by Wendy Roberts

  I didn’t want to talk about Katie. She’d brought betrayal to a whole new level. “So if Roscoe killed Alice, where’s the body?”

  “Like I told your friend, that psychic guy, when he came around, I have zero clue where Alice could be, but if I had to guess, he used that sword of his to cut her up into tiny pieces then borrowed a boat and made her fish food that night. Otherwise they would’ve found her.”

  “What’s that about my psychic friend?”

  “That guy, um, Ray. He came and talked to me a couple hours ago too. He gave me a reading and told me I was going to be pregnant with another before the year is out and I called up Jim and told him to book that vasectomy appointment! Ray said you two were working together.”

  “Um. Sure.”

  Just then my phone vibrated in my pocket, and sure enough, it was a message from Ray.

  Let’s compare notes on our case later.

  I didn’t like him calling it our case. It was mine.

  “You okay?” Nat asked. “You look pissed.”

  “Just work stuff.” I folded my arms. “Did Alice have a lot of boyfriends after she split from Roscoe?”

  “Far as I know she never had eyes for anyone else.” She shook her head.

  “Nobody she secretly had the hots for?”

  “Not as far as I know.”

  “Kim mentioned she thought Alice was screwing around...”

  “Ha!” Natalie slapped her knee. “Kim just loves to spread gossip. Nah, I can honestly say I don’t think Alice would ever be the cheating type.”

  I got to my feet then to make my way to the door just as Natalie shrieked and ran across the room to snatch a glass snow globe from the toddler’s hands.

  “No!” She shook her finger in the child’s face and he plopped himself down on the carpet and began to wail. “The older two never got into as much stuff as this one.” She laughed.

  “That’s a nice snow globe.” I nodded at it with my chin. “Looks fragile.” And expensive.

  “You know who gave that to me? Roscoe’s dad. Just out of the blue. He never got me a gift for any of the other babies but he made a point of coming over here when I was pregnant with that one.” She pointed to the wailing toddler. “Kim said the cancer was making him sad he didn’t have any grandbabies.”

  As I put my shoes on, I handed her a business card. “Give me a call if you think of anything at all that relates to Alice and Roscoe, no matter how small, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  I was halfway down the sidewalk to the Jeep when she called after me.

  “Hey, Julie.” I turned around and she said, “You’re looking real good. I’m glad you got out of this godforsaken place.”

  “Thanks. Me too.”

  “What’s wrong?” Tracey asked as I started the car. “You look like you’re ready to punch a wall.”

  I started to say I wasn’t angry but Tracey was my friend and I knew it was written all over my face. I knew she was also unaware that there was already a secret keeping a wedge between us.

  A blurred image scrolled through my head.

  My head was woozy from drink. I must’ve pounded the drinks back fast and furious to feel this bad. I could feel myself slumping over in that dark booth in the Wayland Canteen and I was struggling to remain upright. Someone sat across from me in the booth but their face was a blur of hair and teal-green eyes. I played with the platinum band on my ring finger, turning it round and round on my finger using my thumb. I wanted that ring to remind me to get my ass back home but all it did was remind me of my shame. Suddenly I felt as though I was going to be sick and I got up to use the restroom. I stumbled and the man sitting across from me got up and caught me by the elbow...

  “A few months ago, I went on a bender at Wayland Canteen,” I told Tracey, my voice as low and small as I felt at the admission.

  I slid a sideways glance to see her reaction but she kept her face completely impassive.

  “So you fell off the wagon.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

  “I fell off that wagon, dragged it into the woods, set it on fire and then vomited all over it.” The humiliation of the admission squeezed my heart.

  “It happens.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “So, you start over.”

  “I-I lost my ring that night. The matching band Garrett and I chose on our Whistler getaway last year.”

  She winced. “Jesus...” She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I didn’t even notice you haven’t been wearing it. Did you try—”

  “The bar doesn’t have it. I called there and even stopped in there more than once. So did Garrett. If someone found it, they didn’t turn it in.”

  “How about getting a replacement?”

  “They were one of a kind made by an artist. Even if I got another, it wouldn’t be the same.”

  And the self-contempt washed over me again, my thumb going to the spot the ring should be. I’d found the contact name for the artist who’d sold us the rings. I’d even emailed her and sent a picture of Garrett’s to see if she could do a replacement. She confirmed that she could. She even still had a record of my ring size. All I had to do was send her the payment. But the empty spot on my finger and all the disgrace that came with it was what I deserved. A replacement band would only be cheating. Covering up my screwup. I needed the daily reminder of my shame and hoped it would be enough to stop me from falling again.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Tracey said her voice perky and bright. “You should get a tattoo on your finger. Have them do a tatt of the mountain and waves that were on the ring. That way you never have to worry about losing it because, hey, it would always be with you.”

  “That’s something to think about...” She seemed so proud of the idea that I didn’t want to tell her I’d never in a million years do it. “Anyway, I’m telling you this for another reason. I told you about finding that Smart car in the ditch with that missing young woman in it?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, there’s something I didn’t tell you...” I filled her in on Raymond Hughes and how he’d given me the impromptu reading and known immediately about Wayland and then how he’d sort of convinced me to allow him in on the case to help find Alice.

  “And now you’re angry that he’s actually going around giving people readings when you already told him that was a good idea? I don’t get it.” Tracey held up the rods in her lap. “You have this bizarre supernatural skill that allows you to find the dead using dowsing rods but because this guy has a different kind of talent, you’re blowing him off even though he could be really helpful.”

  I put the Jeep into drive and pulled away from the curb with a sigh. “You’re absolutely right. I’m being an idiot.”

  “I did not say that, but yeah, you kind of are.”

  We laughed together as I drove. A few minutes later I turned the car on to a nearby street. I slowed to allow some kids to cross the street, and Tracey let out a small scream that caused me to jump.

  She was frantically pointing to her lap. The dowsing rods were spinning around in unison and finally came to a stop, pointing to my right. I pulled to the curb and looked over at an old boarded-up house that looked slated for demolition.

  Had I just found Alice Ebert’s body?

  Chapter Six

  I snatched my dowsing rods from Tracey’s lap and climbed out of the car. Her face looked pale until I told her she could just wait in the Jeep.

  “Call the police,” I told her. “Give them this address and tell them I’ve found a body.”

  I walked up the sidewalk and my rods pulled me forward. The house was one of those small two-bedroom homes popular fifty years ago, and by the looks of the exterior it was beyond repair. I was guessing someone planned to bulldoze the place and rebuild. I walked close to the front stoop and the rods pulled me to the right. I
followed them on a crushed rock path around to the back of the house. I was nearing the back door when the rods swung and pointed inside.

  The back door was old, rotted wood that sat slightly askew as if someone put a shoulder to it and not only splintered the doorjamb but took it off the bottom hinges.

  “Okay. This is it.”

  With a deep breath I toed the door open and allowed the daylight to illuminate the kitchen area. The faded linoleum was torn up to expose the plywood beneath, and the room was littered with empty whiskey bottles and crushed beer cans. There was a pungent aroma of decay that nearly knocked me backward. I did take a step back outside then drew in a deep breath and pulled the front of my T-shirt up over my nose to try and block the smell. I walked out of the kitchen and into the first of two small bedrooms. The room was a hoard of soiled clothing and a couple torn sleeping bags in a jumbled heap. Abruptly my brain caught up with what my eyes were noticing. Jutting out from beneath the pile was someone’s arm. The hand had chipped fingernails in bright pink. The skin was grayed and fat flies danced around the hand.

  I stumbled back out of the room and then burst out of the back door. The sound of police sirens was coming close. The officers found me doubled over and vomiting in the back corner of the yard.

  “You found Alice?” one officer demanded.

  I straightened and gave him a nod. Unable to find my voice I just pointed to the back door of the house. I should’ve waited until they had looked inside but I felt lightheaded and weak. I walked to the Jeep and wordlessly climbed into the driver’s seat, tossing my rods on the back seat.

  “You—you found her?” Tracey asked.

  I grabbed a water bottle from the cup holder and drank away the sour taste in my mouth. Before I could find my voice to answer, the cops were approaching the car. I rolled down the windows.

  “Not Alice,” the officer said right off. “Some crackhead who probably OD’d.”

  “Okay.” My voice cracked.

  “Give your statement to my partner and then you’re free to go.”

  The partner turned out to be the officer with the tight ponytail who’d given me a hard time at the community garden. She was all business and fired off questions to me in a rapid succession that made it hard for me to keep up, but finally, after providing all my contact information, I was glad to be headed home.

  We drove in silence for about half an hour.

  “Want me to drive?” Tracey asked.

  “No. I’m good.”

  “You’re not good but—”

  Whatever else she was going to say was interrupted by a call coming in. It was Ray, and I almost sent the call to voice mail but then changed my mind and put him on speaker.

  “Hi, Ray.”

  “I was talking with Roscoe’s sister, Kim, and she said that word around town was that you found a body but it wasn’t Alice?”

  “That’s right. Probably a drug addict OD.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  I didn’t know if he meant it was too bad I didn’t find Alice or he was sad a drug addict had met that fate. Maybe both.

  “I’m headed home now so...”

  “Finished here myself. I was thinking the two of us should get together and compare notes.”

  “I’m really not up for it,” I began, but then Tracey tapped my arm and gave me a nod. I sighed. “Okay, come by my place and we can review what we know.”

  I fired off my address and he said he’d be there in about ninety minutes. I ended the call and gave Tracey a curious look.

  “I just really want a reading,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Ever since Craig and I broke up, I’ve been wondering if I’ll ever meet someone else.”

  I rolled my eyes and then started laughing at the silliness of her manipulation.

  When we got back to my place, I gave Wookie a good ear scratch while Tracey scooped up Fluffy and the cat purred in her arms. It felt good to be home.

  “I’ve gotta get some air. I’m taking Wookie for a run.” I snapped his leash on his collar and we went out the door.

  In Wookie’s favorite park I sent Garrett a text telling him I’d found a body but I was fine.

  As I expected, my phone rang in my hand.

  “Hey, my love, just needed to hear your voice,” he said.

  And I hoped it wasn’t just to hear in my voice if I was sober.

  Wayland. Someone grabbed my elbow and then he whispered in my ear...

  I cleared my throat.

  “I’m good.” I told him about finding the body in a house set for demolition, and how the police said it looked like a drug-addicted squatter who’d most likely overdosed.

  “I’m sure you were hoping it was Alice Ebert. Sorry about that.”

  “Yeah, it would’ve been nice to wrap things up just like that,” I admitted.

  “Are you still with Tracey?”

  “I’m just walking Wookie. Tracey’s back at the house preparing for a psychic reading.”

  “What?” He chuckled and I loved the laughter in his voice. I explained that Ray Hughes was coming over and how he’d been interviewing people about Alice and Roscoe and doing readings.

  “You’ve made up your mind to work with this guy.”

  “He definitely seems to know things. I guess two heads are better than one.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got a partner.”

  “Maybe... I guess he’ll do his thing and I’ll do mine.”

  “You don’t sound happy. You can tell him to go away. You can both work the investigation from your own angle. There are no rules saying you have to work together.”

  “True. But Tracey put it in perspective for me. If I can be a dowser finding bodies, why not let a medium help me out. After all, it’s about finding Alice. Not about me.”

  “Right.” He paused. “I don’t know the guy but I’m guessing you’re okay with him since you invited him to the house?”

  “He seems pretty harmless although a little overenthusiastic.”

  “But Tracey is going to be there too?”

  “Yes.” I gave Wookie a pull so we could start heading back. “She’s probably washing her hands right at this moment preparing for her reading.” The thought made me smile. “I’ll give it a try working with this guy and if it’s not meshing well, I’ll tell him I’m going solo.”

  “That sounds like a good plan.” Garrett made kissing noises into the phone. “I miss you. I’ll call you tonight, sweetheart.”

  Back at the house, Ray’s car was in the driveway and I could see him about to knock on the door.

  “I’m here,” I called out and he turned to offer me a smile. “Sorry, I needed to take my dog for a walk.”

  I unleashed Wookie and the dog walked over and gave Ray a thorough sniff.

  “Hello,” Tracey called out, coming toward us. She smiled and waved a finger in Ray’s face. “Oh my God, I know you!”

  “You’re my grocery girl,” Ray said, sounding surprised. “Sorry, ‘grocery girl’ is probably not the politically correct term, is it? Grocery clerk? Grocery person?” He laughed heartily.

  “You know each other?” I kicked off my shoes and waved Ray to come inside.

  “He’s come through my checkout a few times,” Tracey said. “Did you ever find that special brand of basmati rice you were looking for?”

  He said he hadn’t and they took a seat at the kitchen table. Tracey played host and brought out coffee as well as cheese and crackers.

  “I was just reviewing my notes before I came over.” Ray held up his phone.

  “It’s good that we’re reviewing where we’re at,” I said.

  Wookie came over and placed his rather large head between Ray and Tracey and they both patted and praised him generously.

  “I used to have two rottweilers myself.” He looke
d wistful. “Unfortunately, they’re both gone now. I often think about getting a new one.”

  “I never used to like dogs but Wookie’s special,” Tracey said.

  They began to chat so I interrupted to get them on track.

  “Let’s compare notes.” I pulled out a kitchen chair across from Ray. “Who did you give readings to today?”

  “I think we talked to some of the same people...” He scrolled through his phone. “I did readings of Natalie, Barb, Kim and a couple other classmates. Unfortunately, most of the people I talked to gave me nothing of value. They believe Roscoe is guilty and that he just tossed the body in the ocean. Barb in particular thinks Roscoe did it.”

  “Barb let you do a reading?” I was shocked. “She basically thinks I’m the devil.”

  “Oh I know her well, so...” He shrugged and pushed his glasses up his nose.

  “You seem to know a lot of people,” I remarked.

  “Yeah, it comes in handy.” A mischievous smile crossed Ray’s lips as he put the cup down. “I caught Barb outside the diner on her coffee break and she asked if she could pray with me. Of course I said yes.”

  “That way she’d hold your hands?” I asked.

  “Yup. I’ve got nothing against religion. I was raised pretty religious, but of course her grabbing my hands gave me a chance to read her.”

  “That’s so-o-o sneaky!” Tracey gave him a playful punch in the shoulder and giggled.

  “It was,” he admitted. “It’s not the usual way I like to do business though.”

  “I’m sure you’re forgiven for this one time.” Tracey actually batted her eyelashes at him and he smiled warmly back. Oh my God, they were flirting. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

  “So you gave Barb a reading and...” I made a keep-going gesture with my hands.

  “And, unfortunately, it was much too short for me to zero in on everything...” He cleared his throat. “But I did find out that she fully believes Roscoe is guilty and she thinks Alice deserved what she got.”

  “What?” I sat back in my chair. “Why would a supposedly good Christian woman think a nice young lady like Alice deserved to get killed by her ex-husband over a dog? Over anything for that matter?”