Something in the Dark

by Pamela Cowan

“Take the weather. It’s lousy, that’s for sure. Too hot or too cold and no rain but, hey, that’s great. I hate rain. Half the year I can ski. Half the year I can tan. Plus, you kind of feel closer to your neighbors when you’ve all sat through a week of no power, because the snow has knocked down trees and power lines, and everybody gets together to share candles and batteries. Sometimes it turns into a big party, all lit up with kerosene lamps and someone usually has a guitar, and it’s just a lot of fun.”

  The waitress interrupted Austin’s enthusiastic account of power outages by clearing their plates and bringing them the desert menu. They each chose the chocolate cake and ice cream.

  “I’ve talked long enough,” Austin said, after the waitress left. “Tell me about this ranch you’re going to buy?”

  “You sure you want to hear about all that?”

  “Positive.”

  So Blake told her about the kind of land he was looking for, the breed of cattle and the lineage he wanted them to have. He casually included his hopes of finding a wife and the family he hoped would come along in time.

  “It sounds great,” said Austin. “So different from my childhood. We moved so much, and we didn’t have any relatives to speak of. Mom and Dad were both only children. I think there’s a great aunt somewhere, but that’s the sum total of my family.”

  “It must have been tough, never being able to put down roots,” said Blake.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t know anything else, and I did get to experience lots of different places and people. After Dad retired I just kept up the tradition. I’d live somewhere for around a year and then move somewhere else. This is the longest I’ve ever stayed anywhere. I’ve been here almost five years. It seems sort of strange, and sometimes I start thinking about what it might be like somewhere else. Then I realize how nice it is to see people I know once in a while. You know, just run into someone on the street or in a store and know their name and where they live and what they do.

  “It seems very odd to me that some people have known the same people their whole life. How wonderful it must be to have a great big old family home. To have children going to the same school you once attended. You know, to have traditions. You must think I’m very old- fashioned.”

  “No. Not at all. Traditions and family are the most important things in the world. Why do you think I’m being so careful about the ranch I buy? It has to be perfect because I intend to live on it and die on it, and I want to pass it on to my children someday.”

  The waitress brought their desert and Austin found that her appetite had come back. As before, Blake’s wishes seemed to reverberate in tandem with her own plans and goals, her own dreams.

  She thought about Mark. He was so easy to be with. He made her laugh but, well, he was her therapist, and that was that. Surely his business ethics would not allow him to pursue a relationship with her.

  Blake, on the other hand, was not only available, he was as close to the picture she carried in her head of the ideal man as she could imagine. He was masculine, but not insensitive or unable to share his feelings. Most importantly, he seemed sincere about wanting to sink deep roots in the very place that was the first place she’d ever called home. She’d be an idiot to ignore all that, just because of some silly infatuation with Mark.

  Chapter 24

  After dinner Blake drove Austin back to the parking lot of the Dolphin, where she’d left her truck. It was late. The night’s darkness was barely constrained by the cones of lamplight in the parking lot. Blake’s presence seemed able to keep the surrounding dark from her thoughts. She only noticed it peripherally as she stood by the truck and let him kiss her goodnight.

  It was a quick kiss, just a light pressing of his lips to hers. Austin’s face grew hot with shame as she remembered her reaction to him at the house. Obviously she had misread the situation. She was just lucky he hadn’t decided she was a total waste of his time.

  Blake saved her from making another embarrassing apology by mentioning that he had an early meeting scheduled with his realtor. He waited while she started her truck, then climbed back into his small rental car and drove away.

  As Austin headed for home, the prospect of another night alone, of facing the darkness and her empty life, filled her thoughts. She allowed herself a rare moment of bitterness and discontent, dwelling on the unfairness of her phobia and the way it had complicated her life. Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them away, then forced herself to think of more substantive things, like hiring new employees and ways to make payroll. The distraction helped.

  Once home, Austin pulled off her boots and headed for the kitchen to get a glass of water. The phone rang just as she walked past it, the sudden noise making her jump.

  “Hello?”

  “Austin, hey, it’s Will.”

  “Will?”

  “Yes, it’s me. Are you surprised? You sound sort of out of breath.”

  She ignored that and demanded, “Where the hell are you? Why did you take off? Do you know what everyone thinks? What I started to think?”

  “I’m sorry, Austin. I’m really sorry. I guess I just got scared.”

  “So, where are you hiding now? Another empty truck?”

  “No, I’m home.” Austin was sure she heard a note of glee in his voice as he delivered this bombshell. “I’m at my father’s place.”

  “What!”

  “I know. Kind of blows my mind too. After I left I couldn’t decide what to do. I thought about turning myself in. I thought about running. Instead I walked down to the highway, thinking I’d hitch a ride out of town. After about five miles I thought I was going to freeze to death, just curl up in a ditch and hope someone found my body in the spring so they could tell my father. Then I got to thinking about him, about how afraid I was of him, and I didn’t know why really. After all, he’s not sub-human or anything. He doesn’t have that much power over me. I mean, I left and got a job and took care of myself for several years. So what if I had to go to jail for a while for stealing his stupid car. At least then it would be over.

  "Well, the next car that came by stopped. It was a medical supply salesman going all the way to Sacramento. It was like a sign or something. Once I got to Sacramento I called my dad and he was actually home, on Thanksgiving break. That was like another sign. Anyway, he came and picked me up.”

  “Will, that’s great.”

  “Yeah. It was pretty cool. Turned out he never called the cops on me either. He said he was ranting about it, and maybe that’s where Rosie got the idea, but he didn’t do it. So all this time I’ve been hiding out for nothing. Funny, huh?”

  “A real riot,” Austin said dryly. “What about the police here in Spruce? You’re still running from the scene of a murder, for all they know.”

  “Nah, my dad’s attorneys called them this morning. I have to write something up about what I saw, and I might have to come up there if there are more questions or a trial or something, but for now I’m not even a suspect, especially since I was here when your brother got attacked. They think it’s the same person, you know. I mean, they think whoever killed Bunny probably attacked you and your brother too.”

  “Do they? I think so too, but the police haven’t talked to me about their theories. Seems strange that you know more than me, given that I’m right here and you’re there.”

  “Well, being a senator’s son does have its perks.”

  “I suppose. Well, I guess you won’t be coming back then. It’ll be hard to find someone to replace you.”

  “Replace me? That’ll be impossible.”

  Austin laughed politely, though she didn’t feel the least bit amused. “You take care of yourself,” she told him. “Call once in a while, so I know you’re doing all right.”

  “I will,” he promised. “And you watch out. Until they find the nut job who’s doing this, you could be in danger.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Austin hung up the phone and got her glass of water. As she turned bac
k to the kitchen, a movement beyond the living room window caught her eye. Usually Austin kept the living room curtains, all the curtains, tightly drawn at night. Tonight, however, she had come home late from her dinner with Blake and hadn’t thought of it. The living room lights reflected back from the windows, which acted more like mirrors. Austin wondered if what she’d seen hadn’t just been her own reflection. That was probably it. No reason to look out there.

  Setting the glass of water down hard enough to make some of its contents slosh across her hand, Austin walked quickly across the living room and drew the curtains across the wide picture window. Despite the bright yard light at the end of the driveway, she knew that the darkness was fighting to get in. It stood beneath the trees and was woven within the branches of the shrubs in the yard. Even the grass, each individual stem, cast its own knife-thin blade of darkness.

  Once the living room curtains were drawn, Austin moved to close the blinds over the kitchen window and then methodically closed the curtains across every window. As she did, she turned on every light in the house.

  Once she was finished, she felt better. She took small sips of water, concentrating on the sensation of swallowing. She had learned this narrowing of focus from one of her counselors. It usually helped, and this time was no exception. Her hands began to steady and her pulse slowed. She took a deep breath that seemed to reach to the bottom of her lungs. Once she felt the last vestiges of panic subside, she made herself walk to the picture window. Taking another deep breath, she took up the edge of the curtain and slowly moved it aside. Nothing happened. She brought her face slowly to the glass, straining to see past her reflection to the yard beyond.

  With her face pressed against the window, she was able to see into the yard. Nothing stirred. The yard light gleamed against the edges of the juniper rail fence around the front of the house, and bits of mica in the sidewalk winked like miniature stars. She tried to remember what she had seen: a bright flash of silver, the impression of something moving past? It didn’t make sense. She pulled the curtain back in place.

  Chapter 25

  In the morning Austin decided she was glad that she was going to open the nursery. Having work to occupy her mind would hopefully stop her overactive imagination.

  She made a quick call to Josh’s, to make sure he was still available to work at the nursery and to let him know she was going to pick him up. Josh’s father answered, and promised to roust him from his warm bed and make sure he was ready when she arrived.

  Finally, she called Muncie. Not to ask for his help, or even to pester him again about how he was doing, but to tell him about Will’s phone call. She got his voicemail again. Annoyed, she left a message telling him all that Will had said and warning him to be careful of anyone he saw, since obviously Will was not the person to be wary of.

  Eager to get to work and share Will’s call with everyone, Austin filled her thermos, grabbed an apple from a fruit bowl on the kitchen table, and hurried out.

  Instead of turning left and toward town she turned right and headed around the gentle curve that led around the hill behind her house. Halfway up the hill she turned into the private drive that led to Josh’s house. It took her between fields dotted with sheep and into the circular driveway in front of the house. Josh was standing on the wide front porch in a gray plaid jacket and a pulled-down black knit cap. He bounded down the stairs and Austin, glad she didn’t have to climb out into the cold, leaned over and unlocked the passenger door. On the way, she told Josh she expected it would be a quiet day. She would take it slowly and teach him something about the usual routines.

  Her expectations proved to be wrong. Word had gotten out about the murder of Bunny and the attack on Muncie. But instead of keeping customers away, it seemed to attract them. They wandered through the store and out to the back lot, where yellow tape, still crisscrossed over the potting shed door, fluttered in the breeze. Most of her customers talked openly with Austin, asking questions and offering theories. A popular one was that Will was the murderer. Austin used the opportunity to spread word of his innocence.

  At noon Janice came in during a long lunch break. She volunteered to stay and help for as long as she could and she also promised to help more during Christmas break. At present she was a little too busy to be much help. Her class had taken a large role in the holiday productions and there were rehearsals and practices. Austin felt terrible that Janice was apologizing for not being able to take on what was, after all, Austin’s responsibility.

  Muncie appeared soon after Janice left and asked Austin if she’d had time for lunch yet. Busy ringing up a purchase, she shook her head and said, “There is no way in the world I’ve got time for lunch unless I order a pizza or something. Of course, you might want to play big brother and run downtown and buy me a burger or three?”

  “I suppose I can do that. I got your message, by the way.”

  “And? What do you think?”

  “I don’t buy it. I think the little creep did it, and his dad is covering his ass. I’ll be back with your lunch in a few.”

  The grapevine would be twining through town at the speed of sound, thought Austin, looking at the pleased expressions on the faces of the customers who’d overheard. It was a good thing that Will was safely in California and it wasn’t the eighteen hundreds, or surely her customers would have had Will tried and hung by nightfall.

  Muncie returned just long enough to drop off a bag with burgers and fries. He said he had a lot of work to do at The Lake House. “The electricians are there today,” he reassured Austin, seeing the stricken look on her face. “I won’t be alone.”

  Austin nodded her reluctant acceptance. After all, they did have to get on with their lives. Still, she couldn’t help but send a silent prayer of safety after him.

  At four, her regular work day over, Janice showed up again and jumped right in to help. She was everywhere, helping customers take plants down from overhead, hauling bags of potting soil, sweeping up spills, handing out cups of coffee. Her curly red hair and bright green sweater moved in a blur, as she practically ran to fulfill the customer’s needs. What made her especially popular was her willingness to share the experience of being one of the first to see Bunny’s body.

  At six twenty-five, after the last straggler had been politely asked to leave and the doors were closed and locked, Austin, Janice, and Josh found seats and settled wearily into them.

  “Janice, you were fantastic,” said Austin. I’ve never seen anyone work so hard. “If you were a man I’d marry you.”

  “If I was a man I wouldn’t work that hard.”

  “I think I’ll go out back and grab a smoke,” said Josh. “It doesn’t feel safe in here.” He got up, stretched and headed for the back.

  “Josh,” Austin said anxiously.

  “Yeah?”

  “Would you mind going out front instead?” She gestured toward the front lot, where he would be plainly in sight through the sliding glass doors.

  He hesitated a moment and then nodded. “Sure.” Austin sighed as he stepped outside and leaned against the tailgate of her truck in full view.

  “That was an incredible day,” said Janice, rolling her shoulders and then her head. “I can’t believe you do this all the time. I’m all kinks and knots.”

  Stress lessening, Austin undid the bun at the back of her head and combed her long hair with her fingers.

  “Well, it’s going to stay like this until I can hire someone. You said you’d think about it. Anyone come to mind?”

  “Actually yes, my friend, Shellie. She works at Century 21 Real Estate and is looking for something part time for the winter,” offered Janice. “Real estate is real slow right now, and I know she could use the money. She has something like seven kids and her husband’s totally worthless. Well, except for making babies, I guess.”

  “Tell her to call me.”

  “I will. So, how are you? Are you still seeing Mark?” Janice asked.

  “I am. He’s grea
t.”

  “And sexy,” added Janice.

  “Incredibly sexy,” agreed Austin. “You ever notice how he smells, like pine needles and snow or something?”

  “Oh boy.”

  “Hey, I’m supposed to fall for my therapist, right?”

  “How should I know? I’m not a nut case.”

  Austin took a red velvet bow from a stack of them near the box she was sitting on and threw it at Janice. It flew about half the short distance before flopping to the floor.

  “Well, that was pathetic,” Janice said gleefully.

  Austin laughed. “I’m really glad you’re my friend.”

  “Don’t go getting weird on me now.”

  “I’m not. I just wanted you to know. Also, how about loaning me a few dollars. There’s this absolutely sweet pair of shoes at Claire’s. I’ve just got to have.”

  “Did you just use the word ‘sweet’ to describe a pair of shoes?” asked Janice. “I think I’m going to be sick. Plus, I actually fell for that whole, ‘I’m so glad you’re my friend’ garbage. It was all a setup.”

  “It was.”

  “Well, how about falling for one of mine?” asked Janice.

  “Depends on what it is.”

  “Remember me telling you about the Christmas play my class is putting on?”

  “Did you just end a sentence with a preposition, school teacher?”

  “Let me fix that. Remember me telling you about the Christmas play my class is putting on, bitch?”

  “Better. What kind of Christmas play? A baby Jesus kind of thing?”

  “No, it’s more diverse than that. We’re going to have a parade of cultures with kids dressed in costumes representing different beliefs.”

  “That sounds slightly more interesting.”

  “The word is progressive. Anyway, the play is next month. They’re giving me use of the gym, which sounds good but it’s a lot of space to decorate. You want to help?”

  “Sure, it sounds like fun,” said Austin

  “Just remember, you’re the one who said fun, not me.”