by Brett Baker
Chapter 29
When I woke the next morning, I noticed sunshine peering through the curtains and falling on the floor to my left. As is often the case when presented with the option of sleeping for a long time, I turned out to be much more tired than I anticipated. I didn’t expect to sleep through the night, but I remembered nothing after closing my eyes, so I needed the rest. Despite my long sleep, I knew that I hadn’t missed any intruders. My body wouldn’t let me sleep through the sound of strangers entering the room, and sauntering around, so I knew no one had come into the room. I pulled myself out from under the bed, and saw the doll still there, uninterrupted. I cursed at the prospect of having to spend another night under the bed, but formulated a plan for the day right away.
Three hours later I parked my car in my favorite space at the Oswalt homestead, and walked toward the front door. Whether Dirk would greet me with a loaded gun and pent up aggression remained an active question in my mind, but I blocked the thought as I knocked on the door. I had no idea what I’d say when he answered the door, but I felt confident that I’d think of something.
I’d just lifted my hand to knock again when I heard a muffled voice call out, “Hang on, I’m almost there.” I put my hand down and waited for the door to open. To my surprise – somewhat because I forgot he existed, but mostly because I expected to see his father – Cooper Oswalt opened the door. He didn’t wear a shirt, and his sweaty chest and breathing implied that I’d interrupted his workout.
“Did you come to work out with me?” he asked. “I knew you couldn’t stay away. It took longer than I thought though. But now that you see me in the middle of my workout, why don’t you just skip the workout and meet me in the shower.”
“Do you ever have success talking to women like that?” I asked.
“Of course. If it didn’t work, I wouldn’t do it. Don’t think just because you’re too much of a prude to recognize a good time that every other woman is, too.”
“How about insulting women?” I asked. “Does that work well for you, too?”
“Are you going to tell me why you’re here, or do you just want to criticize every word that comes out of my mouth? Just so you know, I love a woman who knows when to shut up. Women who talk too much is a definite turnoff.”
“Lucky for both of us I’m trying to keep you turned off, so looks like I’m succeeding. I’m not here to see you, believe it or not. Is your dad home?”
“What’s this about?” he asked, his tone lacking its flirtatiousness and becoming serious. I guessed I wasn’t the first person to arrive on his doorstep and ask to see his father.
“I’ve just got some questions for him.”
“I figured that. Questions about what?”
“His business. We talked before and I wanted to gain some clarity on a few things.”
“You talked to him before? When?”
“We’ve talked a couple of times. I came here yesterday and we had a nice chat. Short, but nice. He gets quite defensive. He doesn’t seem as personable as you. Is that true?”
“What did you talk about?” he asked, ignoring my question.
“I already told you. His business.”
“You want to know about logging and real estate? You don’t strike me as someone who cares about such things.”
“I have a variety of interests,” I said. “Actually, now I think about it, maybe I can just talk to you. It’s possible you’ve gleaned a little bit of knowledge from him just from being around. I don’t think my questions are too advanced. It might concern things you know about.”
“Is that your way of talking yourself into my house? If you like me you can just tell me so.”
“Never mind,” I said. I turned around and started to leave. Before I got back down to the sidewalk Cooper came out the door.
“No, no. Come back. I’m just kidding. It was a joke. Let’s go inside and talk. I’ll help if I can.”
I stopped and walked back up to the porch. “Perhaps no one has ever told you this, but it’s a lesson that will serve you well throughout your life. Not every woman you encounter is going to want you. I’m sure a certain type of woman will be attracted to you, and some of them will fall for your charm. But don’t assume that’s the case. And if a woman does fall for your particular brand of charm, it’s probably a good idea to run the other way. She’s not the kind of woman you want.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond, and instead walked past him and into the house. I walked past Dirk’s office, peering inside just to make sure he wasn’t there, and then sat at the kitchen counter. Cooper closed the front door and joined me.
“Can I get you a drink?” he asked.
“No, thank you,” I said. He poured himself a glass of water, which surprised me since I’d assumed he meant an alcoholic drink. He seemed like the sort of guy to begin drinking in the morning.
“What do you know about my dad’s business? How are you involved?”
“I don’t know much about his business, and I don’t much care, either. I have some very specific concerns. What do you know about his business?”
“I’m not sure I know much more than you,” he said. “It’s not at all interesting to me. I think he’d like for me to get involved. His dad started the company and I think he hopes he can leave it to me someday, but it’s not really my thing.”
“What is your thing?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
“I don’t know. I’m waiting for something to strike me. I’m still young. I’m in no hurry. I’ve got time to figure it out.”
“It doesn’t hurt to have a dad who can support you for a while,” I said
He shrugged as if the thought had never occurred to him.
“What are your specific concerns?” he asked.
“What do you know about county road 342?”
Cooper looked at me with the blankest stare I’d ever seen. “Should I know something about it? Is it a road around here?”
“Yeah. Just east of Cross City.”
“Never heard of it.”
I stood up, and said, “You know what, let’s not waste our time. I suspect you’re not going to be able to help. Just let your dad know that I’m looking for him. I suspect he can figure out how to get in touch with me.”
“I think you’re right,” Cooper said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay. We should get to know each other.”
“You’re persistent. I’ll give you that.” Cooper smiled, and I rolled my eyes. I got up from the chair and as I walked toward the front door I said, “I know you’re not interested in his business, but if he goes away he’s going to need someone to run it for him. It’s a good opportunity for you. And it may be sooner than you think. Give it some thought.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cooper called.
“Which part?” I asked.
“The part about him going away. What do you mean by that? Where’s he going?”
Cooper spoke with a seriousness that I’d never heard from him before. He walked toward me, and I stopped and turned around. For the first time it seemed like I was seeing the authentic Cooper, not the Cooper trying to put on a show.
“I’m not sure what he’s up to. And I don’t mean to alarm you, but there’s some shady stuff going on. I haven’t figured out if he’s involved yet or not.”
“What shady stuff?”
“Are you sure you want to get involved with this?” I asked. “You already said it’s not your thing, and you’re probably better off knowing nothing about it. If you mix business with family, sometimes the results are messy. I’d hate for you to put yourself in a situation where you have to choose between doing what’s right and protecting your father.”
“What shady stuff?” Cooper said, as if he hadn’t heard anything I’d just said.
“He bought some land through a front company a few years ago. Then the county built a road that bisected that land. It’s a road to nowhere. It shoots off of highway 19, straight as an ar
row for miles, and then just stops. No development. No ocean access. No connection with other roads. Just a straight ribbon of asphalt.”
“Maybe they’re thinking long-term,” Cooper said. “There’s nothing there now, but now that the road’s there maybe they’ll develop it. Gotta start somewhere.”
“That’s true,” I said. “And if it were just the road, then maybe I’d accept that explanation. But when I went there to check it out, I came across some sort of warehouse building.”
“So they are developing it already?”
“I don’t think it’s development. It’s set back from the road, through the forest. The road that leads to it is winding, and there’s no electricity to the building. It doesn’t seem like development so much as a hideaway. That’s what I want to ask your dad about. What’s he hiding?”
Cooper nodded, his furrowed brow revealing a depth of thought that surprised me. “That does seem unusual. I don’t know anything about it. I wish I could help.”
“Maybe you can talk to him about it?”
“Yeah, I can do that,” Cooper said, his voice thick with excitement. He sounded like a child who’d just been given a very important task. He seemed eager to help, as if looking forward to the reward of positive reinforcement to follow. “He’ll be home tonight, I’m sure. I’ll ask him about it. Why don’t you give me your number and I’ll give you a call after I talk to him?”
“Let’s meet tomorrow,” I said. I had no intention of giving Cooper the ability to contact me whenever he wished. “Maybe we can go to Miller’s? I know you like that place. I assume we can talk there without anyone bothering us?”
“Yeah, no one there will give me a hard time. Noon?”
“Sure, that will work.”
I walked toward the front door once again, and Cooper followed behind. I expected him to make one last pass at me before I left, but instead his voice took on the sound of hopeful optimism. “I should be able to get some answers for you. If I start asking questions I’m sure he’ll tell me anything that I want to know. I’ve never shown an interest in what he does before, so if I talk to him about it he’s going to be excited.”
“Thanks. Anything you can tell me will be helpful.”
“Who are you anyway?”
“Mia Mathis. I’m sure I’ve told you that.”
“I don’t think so. I wouldn’t forget a name like that. Or a face like that.”
“It’s always just under the surface, isn’t it? The revolting macho attitude.”
“You say revolting, but I happen to know a fair number of women who love it.”
“Count those women, and then subtract that number from the number of women in the world and you’ll know how many women hate it.” Cooper opened his mouth as if he intended to say something, but then took a deep breath and shrugged, as if he had no response. “See you at Miller’s tomorrow at noon.”
“Yes, you will,” Cooper said.
I left the house and walked to my car. I’d hoped to ask questions of Dirk on my own, but having Cooper ask them for me might aid my plan even more. As I pulled away I felt bad for the dressing down that I knew Dirk would give Cooper later that night, but I appreciated his willingness to help.
Chapter 30
Cooper spent the rest of the day anticipating the conversation with his father that evening. He considered calling him, or even going to his office, but if the things I said were true, then he knew that the conversation with his father would be contentious. Although his father had always intimidated him, Cooper felt like he had the upper hand this time. For the first time in his life he knew something that his father didn’t know that he knew. Cooper hadn’t expressed an interest in Dirk’s business, so when he asked Dirk about 342 and the warehouse, he expected to catch him off guard.
Most nights Cooper left the house before Dirk got home from work. They’d never seen eye-to-eye, but things had become even worse in recent years, so Cooper knew he’d have a better night if he didn’t have to see his dad. With a combo like Cooper and Dirk, it’s difficult to say who’s most responsible for the tension in their relationship. There’s plenty of responsibility to go around.
But armed with the information that I gave him, and facing the prospect of a combative conversation in which he’d have the upper hand, Cooper didn’t even think of leaving the house. He counted the hours until his dad arrived, and when the time came near, he sat in a chair in Dirk’s office and waited.
He saw Dirk’s headlights coming up the driveway, stood up, and raced to the front door. Dirk pulled into the garage, and a moment later emerged and walked up to the front door. Cooper retreated back into Dirk’s office, sat back down, and put his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers, as if resting without a care in the world.
Dirk had been surprised to see Cooper’s car still parked outside. He’d become used to coming home to an empty house, and had grown to like it. The divorce years earlier had been hard on him, but over time he began to value his independence, and until Cooper gained some sort of direction in his life, Dirk was more than happy to keep his distance. As he walked through the door he hoped that one of Cooper’s friends had picked him up, and the house would be empty. But as he walked past his office, he discovered that wasn’t so.
“What are you doing?” he asked Cooper, who had leaned back in the chair in which he sat. “I’ve told you to stay out of my office. I’m going to have to get a lock for this door.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t touch anything. I’ve just been hanging out and waiting for you to get home.”
“Why? Aren’t you going out tonight?” Dirk asked, hoping for an answer in the affirmative.
“I’ve got some questions for you,” Cooper said, ignoring Dirk’s question about his plans for the night.
Dirk walked past Cooper, and sat behind the desk. Cooper spun the chair around so he was facing his father. He put his feet up on the desk, and shot a fake smile toward Dirk.
“Get your feet down,” Dirk said. “This isn’t a damn saloon. Show some respect.” Cooper did as requested, and then sat up in his chair. “What are these pressing questions that you just couldn’t wait to ask me? It must be quite important if you’ve decided not to go out.”
“What’s county road 342?” Cooper asked.
Dirk’s expression changed from one of annoyance to anger. He tilted his head to the left, and sighed while trying to decide whether to end the conversation right there, or devise a nonsense answer that would satisfy Cooper.
“What do you mean ‘what is it?’ It’s a road. A county road. The name says it all, doesn’t it.”
“Where does it lead?”
“It’s just off of highway 19, and then runs south.”
“So it goes to the gulf?” Cooper asked.
“I guess so,” Dirk said. “Why do you ask? Who the hell cares where it goes?”
“It seems like it goes nowhere.”
“Roads go somewhere. That’s what makes them roads. These are the questions you waited all day to ask me? Where does a road go? Why don’t you get in your car and see where the road goes?”
“I did.”
“And what did you find out?”
“342 seems to go nowhere.”
“I don’t have time for this,” Dirk said, standing up. “I’ve got work to do.”
“What about the building in the woods? What’s that for? It seems hidden.”
Dirk stopped in his tracks, and turned around. “What building in the woods?”
“Off of 342. It’s like a warehouse, but it’s empty. And it doesn’t look like there’s any electricity there. You own that land, don’t you? What’s the warehouse for?”
“Why are you asking me about this? What difference does it make to you? You’re not interested in the business anyway. You’re more concerned about spending my money and taking advantage of everything that I provide. That seems more your style.”
“Someone came to see you today, and when you weren’t here, she
started asking me about it. And as she asked me questions I figured it might be helpful if I began to learn the business a bit. After all, you’re not going to be around forever. You could go away at any time.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I could go away at any time?”
“I don’t know. It just means that no one’s here forever. If you’re not going to run things, then I should know what I’m doing.”
“Who came to see me? What was her name?”
“Mia Mathis.”
“Mia Mathis? She came here?” Cooper nodded. “Today?” He nodded again. “What did she say?”
“She asked about 342 and the warehouse. She thought I might know something about it, but since I don’t know anything I told her I’d ask you.”
“It’s none of her damn business,” Dirk yelled. “And, frankly, it’s none of your business, either. When I’m ready to teach you about the company, I’ll let you know. Until then, stop talking about my business with every woman you’re trying to sleep with.”
“I’m not trying to sleep with her,” Cooper said. As soon as he finished speaking he knew that such a claim seemed absurd. “That’s not why she came to talk to me.”
“Of course that’s not why she’s talking to you. But that’s why you’re talking to me. You’re trying to get me to tell you something that you can bring back to her. And, frankly, it’s a shitty thing to do, Cooper. Don’t betray your family just for some woman.”
“I’m not betraying anyone,” Cooper said. “I didn’t think it’d be that big of a deal. But the fact that you’re making such a big deal about it tells me that Mia has a right to be concerned. You seem awfully defensive about it.”
“I’m defensive about being hounded by my son because he can’t control his feelings for some woman just because she’s attractive. If you think I’m going to let you anywhere near this business, you’re sorely mistaken.”
