I took control, I fought the good fight.
Nobody can take that away from me.
So, you can sit back and ride your raindrop
To wherever it may fall.
Or saddle up like me and Fly the Rain,
Have no regrets at all.
**********
“He’s gonna be okay,” said E. Z.
Sondra closed her car door and locked it. “Who?”
“Edsel. The mechanic.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I passed you on the road today, and decided to turn around and follow you.”
Sondra got in her face. “Why would you do that?”
“Just curious.”
“Well, just remember the old saying, Honey: curiosity killed the cat.”
E. Z. just stared at her.
“So, stay out of my business.” Sondra walked off, toward the entrance of Billy-Eye’s.
16 - THE PARTY
By the time Greg and Cynthia made it back to The Biscuit, Norma was nearly finished bagging up all the presents.
“I’m sorry we missed your party,” said Greg.
“Yeah, well I figured you’d find some way to weasel out of it,” said Ralph.
“Ralph! They had to check on Edsel,” said Norma. “How’s he doing?”
“Pretty well—considering,” said Greg.
“He’s going to be in a lot of pain for a few weeks,” said Cynthia.
“So, he won’t be able to work for a while,” said Norma.
“Knowing Uncle Ed, this is probably the only way he would ever take some time off,” said Greg. “Too bad he can’t enjoy it.”
“What does he need time off for?” said Ralph. “All he cares about is tinkering around with those old cars. It’s his whole life.”
Greg didn’t appreciate his dad’s attitude toward Edsel. But he had a point. Edsel probably loved working on cars as much as Greg enjoyed teaching music and directing choirs.
He thought about the satisfaction of hearing a student finally play a piece with accuracy and feeling. And how he could be moved to tears by a beautiful choral performance. Maybe that was how Uncle Ed felt when he got an engine tuned up just right. The purr of a well-tuned engine might be the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to his ears.
“Uncle Ed’s a great guy,” said Greg.
“Yeah, yeah, I know—he’s wonderful,” said Ralph.
“Well, you’re a pretty good guy yourself.” Greg didn’t know where that came from.
Ralph looked surprised, then irritated. “Yeah, right.”
Cynthia gave Greg a look that said ‘keep going—you’re on the right track.’
“No, I mean it,” said Greg. “I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but you worked really hard to provide for our family. I know you were disappointed when I quit my job at the shipyard after only two weeks. I hated that place. But then I thought about how you worked out there every day for over thirty years. I don’t know how you did it.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” said Ralph.
“Well, anyway, I just wanted to thank you for that,” said Greg.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Cynthia spoke up. “So, did everybody enjoy the party?”
“Oh, yes, definitely,” said Norma. “Although, I had to help Ralph blow out the candles.”
“I could have done it,” growled Ralph. “You didn’t give me much of a chance.”
“I knew it was going to take a lot of breath to do it,” she said.
“Honey, you’re always saying I’m full of hot air,” said Ralph, “and then when I had the chance to prove it, you wouldn’t let me. That’s just like you, though—always butting in.”
“Well, sure,” said Norma, “you probably could have done it yourself…but there were just so many candles.”
“Alright, Miss Smartie-pants.”
“I had to go to three different stores to get all those candles.” Norma snickered.
“I’m gonna get your candles,” said Ralph grabbing for her arm, and barely missing it as she jumped back.
Greg couldn’t believe it. Ralph had nearly smiled. He was glad to see that his dad was finally happy. Maybe he’d been happy for a long time. Greg might know if he had bothered to stay in touch.
**********
“Angie?”
She dropped her magazine on the floor and jumped up from the chair. “Hi, Edsel. How do you feel?”
“Like a Cadillac fell on my chest.”
She laughed.
Edsel started to laugh—then he felt a twinge in his chest. He winced and grabbed his ribcage, which only served to exacerbate the pain.
“That must really hurt,” she said.
“You ain’t trickin’.”
Trick was Edsel’s standard curse word substitute. She had not heard it in a while. “But the doctor says you’re going to be fine. He said it would take a few weeks for the pain to completely go away.”
“Thanks for saving my life.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just glad I happened to walk over to the shop when I did.”
“You must have gotten there right after. You came over to make sure I was getting dressed for the party, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’m sorry I made us miss it. What about Greg? Did he and Cynthia go?”
“They tried to catch the end of it. They were up here for quite a while.”
“So, I made them miss it too. I really feel bad about that. I was hoping it would be a chance for Greg and Ralph to get some things off their chests.”
“I know. But it wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”
Edsel had a odd look on his face.
“Edsel?”
“No, it wasn’t an accident. Somebody released the jack on purpose.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yeah. I heard them walk in, but at first I thought it was you. So, I called out, but nobody answered. I was about to roll out from under the car when it suddenly fell on top of me. The oil pan slammed right into my chest. And those ’77 Coupe De Ville’s weigh over 4,000 pounds. The pain was excruciating. And I could barely breathe. Then I guess I just passed out.”
“When I found you there—I thought you were dead.” A tear dripped down her face. “Then, when I saw that you were still alive, I was afraid you had gone into a coma.”
“A coma? Nah, that’s just in the movies.” Edsel hadn’t seen Angie cry in a long time. And she never cried because of him—it was always because of Clifford. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“What? You didn’t make me sad. I’m happy.” Tears ran down both checks. “Can’t you see?” She smiled.
Maybe this was the right time to tell her how he felt about her.
“But we’ve got to figure out who did this to you,” she said.
“How are we going to do that? I didn’t see them.”
“You couldn’t even see their legs or their feet?”
“I could have. I didn’t even look, because I really thought it was you. Even when you didn’t answer I figured you were just trying to get me to come out from under the car.”
“I think I might know who did it,” she said.
“Who?”
“Remember those two women from that band—the ones who were trying to get me to hire them to play at the restaurant?”
“The ones I ran off?”
“Yes. One of them was here earlier. Greg and Cynthia and I had gone for coffee while we were waiting for you to be moved to your room. And when we got here the nurse told us a young woman with long black hair had been standing beside your bed when she walked in. Then we realized that we had just passed that woman at the elevator.”
“Really? The tall blonde did look kinda mean. But the short black-haired woman seemed sort of innocent.” He paused. “So, you really think she’s the one who dropped the car on me? And then came here to—”
“—I don’t know. But I’m not going to be comfortable leaving you alone unti
l whoever did this is caught.”
Angie took his hand in hers.
There will never be a better time, thought Edsel. “Angie? I need to tell you something.”
“Okay. Is this the same something you were about to tell me last night after dinner?”
“Yes. And I’m just gonna say it.”
Angie was not about to interrupt.
“I love you, Angie.”
“I know, Edsel. I love you too.” She reached down and gently brushed his hair back with her hand. “I’ve always loved you.”
“No. You don’t understand. Not that kind of love. Not a best-friends kind of love. Angie, I want to take you in my arms and kiss you—on the lips. I want to take off all your clothes and make love to you. I want to go to bed with you every night and wake up with you every morning. And I want to do it every day for the rest of my life.”
Angie’s tears were beginning to flow freely again.
He went on. “But if you run out of here screaming at the top of your lungs, I’ll understand. I just had to finally say it.”
She sniffled. “Oh, Edsel. I love you too—and not just as friends. I want you to take my clothes off and make love to me. I want to be in your bed every night.”
“Oh, God, Angie.” He took her hands in his.
“I listened to my dad. I did whatever he wanted me to do because I knew I was all he had. And it was my fault that my mother died.”
“That’s not true, Angie.”
“Yes, it is. I took his wife away from him the day I was born. So, it was my job to make sure he was happy.”
“It wasn’t your fault that your mother died.”
“I know that now. But when I was a teenager it was different. I couldn’t stand to disappoint him. He was so upset with me when he found out I had been secretly dating you.”
“I know—I was such an ogre.”
“No, you weren’t. Not at all. But you were 26, and I was only 18.”
“Well, he didn’t have to break us up forever. I would have waited for you.” He looked into her beautiful, caring eyes. “What am I saying? I did wait for you.”
“Oh, Edsel.” Not today, but soon, Angie would have to tell Edsel her long-held secret. And she knew that after he’d heard the story, he might not want her in his life at all—even as a friend.
17 - ORANGE PUKE
Greg had talked to a waitress at The Biscuit and found out that the house band at Billy-Eye’s, Orange Puke, would be performing two one-hour sets: one at 7:00, the other at 10:00. He and Cynthia decided to go back to their hotel and relax for a while and then go out for nice dinner. Then they would go to Billy-Eye’s between sets, and have a talk with the band member who had visited Edsel’s hospital room. They had agreed to spend another night in Orange and take Monday off from their jobs.
“Gee, they need a bigger parking lot,” said Greg.
“There’s a car pulling out,” said Cynthia.
Greg drove up to the open slot, parked the car, and killed the engine.
“What are going to say to her?” said Cynthia. “You’re not gonna just come right out and ask her if she tried to kill Edsel, are you?”
“No. I’ll be more subtle than that.”
“Maybe I should talk to her.”
“Why don’t we just play it by ear,” said Greg.
Greg paid the admission charge at the door, and the young female employee handed each of them a soft drink cup.
“You get free drinks all night, as long as you keep your cup.” She had repeated that phrase hundreds of times over the past three nights.
Greg and Cynthia quickly realized that they were the only adults in the building—other than the Buttards and the band.
“There they are,” said Greg, pointing.
The band members were sitting at a long table signing autographs.
“Look at that line,” said Cynthia. “This is going to take a while.”
Greg noticed the arcade room and pointed it out to Cynthia. “Hey, how about a game of Galaga?”
“Sure. But then I want to play Ms. Pac Man.”
“It’s a deal—if they even have those old games.”
They did—and they only cost a quarter.
Every so often between games Greg would go out to check the line. At 9:40, the last kid got his coke cup signed and the band members began to get up from their chairs.
“Excuse me,” said Greg.
E. Z. turned to face him. Craig had made name tags for each of the women to wear while they were signing autographs. Greg noted the name on her tag: E. Z. Bender.
“Hi, E. Z.” said Greg. “I’m Greg Tenorly and this is my wife, Cynthia.”
E. Z. nodded.
“We passed you in the hallway at the hospital this afternoon, and we were just wondering—“
Sondra overheard the conversation and quickly stepped in. “—I’m afraid this will have to wait. We’re back on stage in less than twenty minutes and we need that much time to talk about a few things.”
“Like what?” said Boomer.
Sondra gave her a dirty look. “Like why your D string was flat all the way through the last song.”
“What? No, it wasn’t.”
“Let’s go—now!” Sondra grabbed E. Z. by the arm and pulled her away from Greg and Cynthia.
“That was interesting,” said Cynthia.
“What?”
“Sondra didn’t want E. Z. talking to us. I wonder why?”
“I’ll bet she was the other woman Angie was telling us about. The two of them had a run-in with Edsel in Angie’s office. We need to talk to both of them. But we’ll have to wait. How about another game of—“
“—Centipede. Let’s switch to Centipede.”
“Okay.”
“You know, this place is for kids—not adults.”
Greg and Cynthia turned around.
“Hi. I’m Craig Buttard.”
Greg introduced himself and Cynthia and they shook hands.
“We’re from out of town,” said Greg. “But I grew up here in Orange. And this afternoon we were over at The Biscuit and we heard about this place. The waitress told us you’ve got a talented and unusual band. And I’m a music guy. I teach private lessons and directed a church choir. So, we just thought it would be fun to drop in and see what all the fuss is about.”
Craig smiled. “Well, that’s fine. No problem. It’s just that we don’t like to have a lot of adults milling around in here. It makes the kids uncomfortable.”
Cynthia wondered what these kids were doing that they didn’t want their parents to see. Then she noticed a young teen couple standing in the middle of the dance floor trying their best to lick each others’ tonsils.
“Where did you find this band?” said Greg.
“They’re brand new. They formed the band just this week—to get this job. One of the things we wanted was a band with a local-sounding name. Orange Puke was not exactly what we had in mind. But the kids love them. Have you heard about their… gimmick?”
“No. What gimmick?” said Greg.
Craig grinned broadly. “I’ll just let it be a surprise. Don’t miss the last song.” He walked away.
“What do you suppose they do?” said Greg. “Pull a rabbit out of a hat?”
“Look at that,” said Cynthia. The young couple was still in lip-lock.
“Better here than in the back seat of a car I guess.”
“What are you talking about? That boy’s not old enough to drive.”
He took a second look. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“I think we need to follow that girl home and tell her mother what she’s been doing up here.”
“Okay, settle down. We’ve got to stay focused. One or both of those women in the band tried to kill Edsel.”
“Maybe we should just call the police and tell them what we know. Let them handle it, Sweetie.”
“But that’s the problem. We don’t really know anything. If we can just talk to them, maybe they�
�ll let something slip.”
“Sondra isn’t going to let us talk to E. Z.,” said Cynthia.
“Then we’ll divide and conquer. You take Sondra and I’ll take E. Z.”
“How about if you take Sondra and I take E. Z.?”
“Okay. I don’t care. We’ll stay back here in the shadows, and maybe they’ll think we left. Then we’ll try to catch them off guard.”
Greg and Cynthia forgot all about the arcade. They refilled their coke cups and waited for Orange Puke to play.
It was nearly 11:00 PM when the band started playing “Puking My Guts Out (All Over You).”
“This must be the last song—the one with the gimmick,” said Greg.
“Why do you say that?” said Cynthia.
“Look at how the kids are crowding the stage. Everybody’s trying to get as close as possible.”
“What do think is going to happen?”
Greg shrugged.
At the end of the song, the three guitarists slung their guitars to their backs and stepped to the edge of the stage. They tilted their heads back in unison and then jerked them back down. The girls and even some of the boys screamed. The three women barfed all over the crowd.
Greg and Cynthia were alarmed and confused.
The women spewed a steady, powerful stream of slimy orange goo. The crowd of kids quickly dispersed. Then they started laughing wildly and shouting “Orange Puke!” “Orange Puke!” “Orange Puke!”
The drummer stood. Then all four band members took a long slow bow.
The crowd whistled and cheered and the women took another bow.
Cynthia saw a girl licking her arm—as though it were an orange Popsicle. A boy tried to steal a lick, but she swatted him on the head and pushed him away.
“This is crazy,” said Greg.
“You never know what kids will go for,” said Cynthia.
“Let’s just stay back for a while. Hopefully at some point E. Z. and Sondra will separate. Then we’ll strike.”
After a few minutes, Sondra walked by, heading for the exit. She was alone.
“I’ll catch her in the parking lot,” said Greg.
“Okay. I’ll stay in here and talk to E. Z.”
Greg followed Sondra at a distance. Just before she reached her car, Boomer Hertz ran past him and caught Sondra unlocking the door.
Greg Tenorly Suspense Series Boxed Set Page 68
