by Lucy Quinn
“Yep. We grow ‘em big around here,” he said with a nod, his blue eyes glinting. “Another camper saw your bear walking through the campground early this morning. He was walking away from a half-eaten bag of veggie chips.” He chuckled. “Have you ever had those things? They’re so bad even the bears won’t eat them.”
Evie snorted out a laugh. “They really are the worst.”
Dora gritted her teeth. “They aren’t that bad.”
“Whatever you say, Dor.” Evie thanked the manager and was still chuckling as Dora followed her and Sunshine back to the VW.
13
After having breakfast in the best kind of greasy spoon, Dora pulled the VW Bus into the small town of Wheatonville on the edge of the foothills. Main street was all of one block long with a small diner, a donut shop, and a general store that sold everything from animal feed to handmade jelly to major appliances. It looked like groceries and other household items would have to come from the big box store on the edge of town.
“This shouldn’t take long,” Evie said, eyeing the rundown and deserted chain steakhouse that looked like it had gone out of business years ago. “It’s kind of depressing.”
Dora made a left turn at the high school. “It looks just like every other small town that isn’t propped up with some sort of industry. I bet it used to be a logging town before they moved on.”
“Maybe.” Evie chewed on her bottom lip. The scenery was gorgeous with the rolling golden hills, but the infrastructure was run down. Though plenty of residents seemed to take pride in their homes with manicured yards, flowers, and cheery decorative flags waving from their flag polls. “Looks like a nice community here.”
“It’s not the beach, but it has its own charm,” Dora agreed as she jerked the bus to a stop at the high school. There were some cars, but the parking lot wasn’t full.
“Do you think summer school is in session?” Evie asked. After reading the journal and realizing that Matt was a football player, they were looking for the football coach to see what information he had about Matt. Considering it was summer, finding the football coach at the high school had been a longshot at best. But if staff was around, someone might be able to at least point them in the right direction.
“Probably. Come on. Let’s see what we can find out.”
With Sunshine trotting at her side, Evie felt a familiar rush of excitement as she entered the halls of the school. She’d loved high school. Or at least what she could remember of it, anyway. She’d been a cheerleader, on the dance team, student social coordinator, on the prom committee, and even the yearbook committee. She’d loved it all and often thought that if she’d had the discipline to stick to college, she would’ve been one heck of a sorority sister.
“This way,” Evie insisted as she headed down the open hallway.
“Where are you headed, and how do you know where you’re going?” Dora asked, taking long strides to keep up with Evie’s fast pace.
“All high schools are pretty much the same,” she called back.
“We’re going to the office to get the scoop on where to find the football coach.”
“Wouldn’t the athletic department be more efficient?”
“Oh, Dor.” Evie stopped in front of the office door and gave her friend a patient smile. “You have so much to learn.”
Dora rolled her eyes at her.
“Just watch me work my magic.” She smirked and pulled the door open. With Sunshine still on her heels, Evie marched up to the counter where a young woman who couldn’t be older than nineteen was busy sorting papers. “Hello.”
The woman popped a bubble with her bubblegum before looking up. “Registration isn’t for another month.”
Evie glanced down at herself and then back at the woman, both slightly flattered and annoyed. “Do you really think I look like a student? I mean, I know I’m hip and all, but—”
“Hip?” The young woman cackled. “Maybe you should study the urban dictionary a little more.”
It was Evie’s turn to roll her eyes. “Why? It’s not like I’m trying to relive my youth or anything.”
The office worker scanned Evie from head to toe, taking in her pink curls and her short shorts and formfitting t-shirt. The look on her face said she didn’t believe Evie for a second. Judgy much? “You definitely look like the best dressed senior of your graduating class twenty-five years ago.”
“Twenty-five years ago?” Evie practically shouted. She was livid that the office worker was being so rude. Everyone from the janitor to the class president had loved her back in high school. She didn’t think she’d changed that much. Had she? “Just how old do you think I am?” she asked softly.
“Old enough to be here ranting about your child and whatever his or her desires are.” The woman leaned back into the chair, clearly waiting for Evie to deny the existence of her make-believe children.
Evie took a deep breath, settling herself. She wanted nothing more than to see that smirk melt off the young woman’s face. She had no idea why this office worker had such a chip on her shoulder, but Evie didn’t need to fight with her. She needed to charm her.
“Ev—” Dora started.
“Hi, Pam,” Evie said, cutting her friend off and holding her hand out to the woman after glancing at her name tag. “I’m Daisy McClintock. And I’m here to talk to the football coach about my son. You see, he and I just moved here from Texas, and if we hadn’t been transferred here, he’d be ranked in the top three QBs in state. I need to know what the coach is planning so we can work on his conditioning.”
Pam swallowed, clearly impressed. She looked Evie and Dora over, her attitude melting as if having a football-star son made Evie a C-list celebrity. “Top three. Wow, Coach is going to lose his mind when he finds out this bit of information.”
Evie noted Dora’s mouth hanging open and held back a snicker as she smiled sweetly at Pam. “So, if you could just let us know where we might find him or how to get in touch with him, I’d be grateful.”
The receptionist tapped away at the computer for a second and then frowned. “He’s not here today, but he’ll be back tomorrow to teach a class. If you come in at lunch time—”
“Oh, no. This isn’t good.” Evie frowned and made a pained expression. “Tomorrow is really bad for me. I have to go out of town for a work thing and won’t be back for a few weeks at least. My son and I both want to make sure he’s up to speed for when the season starts. Is there any way you could get the coach to call me? Or if you have his number…”
Pam gave her a sympathetic smile. “I completely understand. Let me just see if I can track him down.”
Evie preened. “Thanks. You’re a peach.”
Dora chuckled behind her, and Evie was glad her friend was amused. Just because they were on the run, that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a little fun along the way.
“Coach?” Pam said into the phone. “I have a mother here at the office. She’s looking for input for on son’s conditioning before football season starts. He’s a transfer. Apparently really good. But she’s short on time and was wondering if you have time to chat with her today.” She gave Evie a reassuring smile as she scribbled something down on a piece of paper. “Got it. I’ll let her know.”
After Pam set the phone down, she handed the paper to Evie. “He’s helping out at the Roasted Pig on the edge of town. It’s his sister’s joint. Just head down the highway, and when you get to the third light, it’s on the left. You can’t miss it.”
“Wonderful.” Evie clasped both of her hands around Pam’s and forced a wide smile. “I really appreciate this.”
Dora cleared her throat, and both women turned their attention to her. Moving closer to the counter, Dora held out her phone with the picture of Matt on the screen. “I was wondering if you recognized this man. He did us a favor last week when our bus broke down, and I really wanted to thank him and compensate him for his time. Unfortunately, we never got his last name, so I haven’t been able to look h
im up.”
Pam squinted at the phone and then shook her head. “Sorry. Can’t say I do. What was his first name?”
“Matt,” Dora said.
Pam just shrugged and shook her head again. “Nope. Nothing. Maybe he was just passing through. Wheatonville isn’t that big. If he lived here, I’m pretty sure I’d at least recognize him.”
“Thanks anyway,” Dora said.
“Sure thing,” she called after them as they exited the office.
They were silent as they made their way out of the school and into the parking lot. As soon as they reached the bus, a large orange cat darted toward them and started rubbing its head against Sunshine. The small dog immediately flopped down onto her back and put her paws in the air, loving the attention.
“Are you watching this spectacle?” Dora asked Evie.
Evie started to laugh. “It’s just unreal how much action she’s getting here. What it is about California? Are all the animals on ecstasy or something? They can’t keep their paws off her.”
The orange cat started to lick Sunshine’s face and purr as if he were in heaven.
“Okay. Enough of that. Shoo, kitty. Sunshine, time to go,” Evie ordered.
The pair ignored Evie and continued to love on each other. Dora laughed. “Your dog is a liberated woman.”
“No kidding.” Evie rolled her eyes, gently pushed the cat away, and scooped Sunshine up in her arms. “Time to go. You’ll have to get your groove on later, little dog.”
Once they were back in the bus, Sunshine pressed her face to the window and let out a little whine as she made puppy dog eyes at the cat.
“Drama queen,” Evie muttered.
14
“I have a question,” Dora said as she stepped on the gas and turned left into the parking lot of the Roasted Pig.
“Yeah?” Evie asked, peering at the brightly painted structure. It was done in fiery red and had a mural of a large barbeque smoker on one side of the building.
“How come you didn’t ask Pam right off about Matt?” Dora parked the bus near the front door. There were a few cars in the parking lot, but it was still early, just after ten a.m. Obviously the lunch crowd hadn’t shown up yet.
“She seemed way too young to know him. Also, contrary.” Evie shrugged. “I just thought we’d be better off talking to the coach and wanted to make the story good.”
Dora had to admit she was good at that. “Makes sense. You were awesome, as usual, back there.”
Evie flashed her friend a smile. “You’re great, too. Remember that lap dance you gave back in Pensacola? Or the naked poetry reading in New Orleans? When you get into character, you go all out. What I did was easy.”
“You’re always thinking on your feet. I admire that about you.” Dora’s heart was full as her friend’s expression softened. Evie paused and gave Dora a tight hug.
“You’re the best, Dor. Thanks for that.”
“Anytime.”
The door swung open with a loud squeak as Dora pulled it. Evie glanced inside the dimly lit restaurant, glanced down at Sunshine, and then picked her up into her arms.
“Sorry. No pets. Unless your dog is a service animal,” the hostess said.
“She is. She helps me with my anxiety,” Evie said, cuddling the dog close to her chest.
Dora inwardly cringed. She didn’t like the idea of using the service animal angle. “Do you have tables outside?”
“Yep. This way.” The hostess grabbed two menus and took off before either could ask about the coach.
Dora and Evie exchanged a glance but quickly followed the woman. As she seated them at a red picnic table on the patio, she pulled a pad from her back pocket and dislodged a pencil from her haphazard bun. “Something to drink?”
“A Bloody Mary if you have it,” Evie said.
The hostess nodded and wrote it down.
“Just water for me,” Dora said. “And can you tell the owner’s brother, the football coach, that we’re here to see him? He should be expecting us.”
“Coach Johnson?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
“As long as Coach Johnson is the high school football coach, then yes,” Dora confirmed with a firm nod. She didn’t know why the hostess seemed so surprised two women were asking for him, but she imagined it was because he was married or something. “We’re here to discuss her son’s training for the next season,” Dora added as she pointed at Evie. No need for the hostess to be speculating on why two thirty-something women were there to talk to the coach.
“Right.” She tucked her pencil back into her bun and retreated back into the restaurant.
Evie opened the menu. “So… pulled pork sandwich or ribs?”
Dora blinked at her. “How can you be hungry? We just ate breakfast like an hour ago.”
“But it’s barbeque, Dor! We haven’t had good barbeque since we left Pensacola.”
“Okay, but it better get you through to dinner because we can’t afford four meals a day.” Dora turned her head just as a large man who had the build of a linebacker walked out onto the patio. He stood there for a moment until his eyes fixated on Evie. Then a pleased smile claimed his lips as he moved toward them.
“You must be the ladies who were looking for me,” he said, sitting down next to Evie before either of them confirmed his statement.
“Coach Johnson?” Dora asked, just to make sure.
“That’s me,” he said in response to Dora, but he was staring at Evie as he asked, “And who are you two pretty ladies?”
“Hi, Coach Johnson,” Evie said, batting her eyes at him. “It was nice of you to make time to meet with us.”
“It’s entirely my pleasure. Now, tell me about this boy of yours. Pam said something about a star quarterback.”
Dora swallowed a groan. Great. They’d started out the meeting with a lie. She just hoped he wasn’t too annoyed when he found out they’d played Pam.
“Oh, actually…” Evie grimaced. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid we might’ve fibbed a little.”
The coach raised one skeptical eyebrow. “Fibbed? Why?”
“We’re on a time crunch, and it was important we met with you today. I kinda made up that story because I wasn’t sure Pam was going to give us the time of day otherwise.” Evie leaned ever so slightly into him the way she always did when she was giving a man her full-court press. “Honestly, Coach, I’m not all that sorry, because otherwise we wouldn’t have ended up at this wonderful barbeque joint sharing this table with a sweet, handsome man such as yourself.”
The man beamed, and Dora could’ve sworn she saw emoji hearts flashing in his eyes when he said, “Call me Tom.” Dora was both impressed with her friend’s moves and slightly embarrassed for the man. He’d fallen hook, line, and sinker for Evie in less than a minute flat.
Evie worked it as she batted her eyelashes again and touched his arm. “Tom it is.”
“I’m happy to be of help. What do you need? A tour of the town? Lunch?” His smile turned almost predatory as he added, “Someone to dance with at the local honkytonk tonight?”
“Aren’t you sweet,” Evie said, giving Dora a side-eye look, indicating it was time to jump in.
“Actually, we’re here to try to find out some information about a former football player of yours.” Dora held her phone out once again, flashing him Matt’s picture.
Tom Johnson peered at the picture. When he looked up, he said, “That’s Young. Man, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that kid. What’s he been up to?”
“Young? Is that his last name?” Evie asked.
“Sure. Kyle Young.” The coach was all smiles as he recalled his former player. “He was the best tight end I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching. Great kid, too. Good attitude. It was all but certain he’d end up with a full ride scholarship right up until he hurt his knee.” Johnson’s smile vanished. “Tough break, really. I’m not sure where he ended up.” His brow furrowed. “What kind of information do you need? I’m not sure I’ll be
much help. I haven’t seen him since his senior year.”
Dora and Evie’s gazes met as the waitress arrived with their drinks. It was the moment of truth. Dora didn’t want to have to deliver the unfortunate news of Kyle’s demise, but the man needed to know. He deserved to know because it was obvious he cared for the kid he’d coached. Dora cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Tom, but Matt—I mean Kyle passed away a few weeks ago.”
The coach’s eyes went wide and then turned sad as he asked, “What happened? Drugs?”
Dora blinked. They’d never considered the drug angle. Surely Windy would’ve known if he’d been involved in that sort of thing, right? Something harder than pot anyway. “Um, no. Did he have a problem with them?”
“No. Like I said, he was a good kid.”
“The report is calling it a rock-climbing accident, but the facts don’t add up,” Dora said. “We suspect foul play, but don’t have much to go on other than a hunch.”
“Rock climbing accident? What happened? Did a rope break or something?”
Evie shook her head. “No. There weren’t any ropes found at the scene. That’s one of the reasons we’re suspicious. He wasn’t even wearing proper footwear.”
Coach Johnson’s expression turned stormy. “Who could possibly want Kyle dead? He was the kind of guy people liked.”
“That’s what we’re here to try to find out,” Dora said gently, understanding that the man was in pain. She didn’t want to push him too much, but it wasn’t like they could give him time to digest the news. They needed to keep investigating and find out what happened to Kyle as soon as possible. “Do you know if Kyle has any family around here?”
The coach shook his head. “No. It was just him and his Mom, and they moved not long after graduation. At least that’s what he said they were going to do when I asked what his college plans were. He said he was still considering his options.”
Darn it, Dora thought as she lifted her glass of water to take a sip. That wasn’t helpful at all. But they at least got Matt’s real name.
