I'm So Sure (2009)

by Jenny B. Jones

  “Let’s go.”

  Luke knocks on the door of apartment 15B. A middle-aged man with three days’ worth of stubble answers.

  “For the last time, I don’t want any Avon.”

  I turn my head and laugh into my coat. Luke selling Skin-SoSoft. That’s a good one.

  I nudge Luke out of the way and step into the light. “Mr. Smith?”

  “Yeah?”

  “We go to Truman High School. We were in the neighborhood and wanted to see Victoria.”

  “Make it snappy. CSI is coming on.” He holds the door open. “Victoria! You got company!” He stomps down a small hall and shuts himself in another room.

  When Victoria joins us in the living room, she wears a confused face. “Do I know you?”

  “Hey, Victoria.” I’m not really sure how to begin. “Um . . .”

  “We’re from Truman High. We work for the paper and wanted to ask you a few questions.” Luke takes her elbow and the two settle onto a worn couch. “There’s been a lot of rumors about the junior class funds being stolen, and we want to make sure you are accurately portrayed in this story and your side is heard.”

  I was going to go with “We work with the FBI, and we need information. Don’t make us haul you downtown.” Whatever.

  Luke opens his mouth to fire off the first question, but I jump in ahead of him. Dude is not going to steal my case here. “Victoria, we’d like you to go back to that day you cashed the check and tell us about that moment from the time the car pulled up until the time it drove away.”

  She twists a piece of brown hair around her finger. “I’ve already told the police all this.”

  I paste on my kindest smile. “Can you tell us what Anna Deason looked like that day? Can you describe the person who presented the check? The driver?”

  Her twirling finger stops. “It’s all pretty foggy in my head now. Thanks for stopping by, but—”

  Luke rests his hand briefly on Victoria’s. “I know you’ve fielded a lot of questions. I can’t imagine how stressful that’s been for you.”

  Victoria’s bottom lip puckers as she nods. “I ate a whole jar of peanut butter yesterday.”

  Hey, nothing wrong with that.

  “Did you get a good look at Anna that afternoon?” Luke drapes an arm over the back of the couch.

  “I—I thought I did.”

  “Was it an African-American girl? Can you say that for sure?”

  I sit with my mute button on while Luke works his magic.

  “Yes, I’m pretty sure. But it’s hard to tell with our cameras. We see the driver’s side clearly, but the passenger side can be kinda dark.”

  A small white dog lumbers into the room and rubs against Luke’s leg.

  “Oh, what a great dog. It’s beautiful.” Luke pets the wheezing mongrel, who sports random bald spots and looks like it’s three barks away from keeling over. “What’s your name?”

  Victoria giggles and picks up her dog. “This is Maggie.”

  “Maggie, you’re pretty cute. How long have you had the dog?”

  I watch Luke turn on the charm and Victoria light up like the Las Vegas strip. I search the floor for a newspaper or magazine. Maybe there’s a crossword or something I could do while these two totally ignore me.

  “I’ve had Maggie since I was in first grade. She doesn’t have a yard here, so she’s mad at me.” More giggling. More petting of the geriatric dog.

  “Had you been planning on moving in with your dad?” Luke asks.

  Victoria’s hand stills on the dog. “Um . . . n–no. I guess not. I mean yeah, sorta.” She sniffs and blinks out a tear. “It just kind of happened. My boyfriend broke up with me, and the bank fired me. I needed to leave town.”

  I try to move in with a question, but Luke holds up his hand. His voice is smooth as jazz. “You wanted to leave town or you had to leave town? Was anyone pressuring you?”

  Victoria stares into Luke’s blue sky eyes. The moment hangs there.

  “I want my TV back! I’m missing CSI!”

  She jerks her head as if waking from a trance. “It’s my dad’s TV night. Thanks for stopping by.”

  Luke stands and puts his hand on Victoria’s back. “If you can think of anything else, please contact me.” He gives her a card. “Sometimes stress does funny things. It’s not uncommon to take a step back from the event and get a clearer picture. If that happens, if there’s something you want to tell us—anything—I’d love to talk to you.”

  In the parking lot, Luke opens my door for me, and I flop my body into the seat and fume.

  “I heard that sigh,” he says, as he buckles.

  “I’d love to talk to you.” I clutch his arm. “Oh, Victoria, I can’t imagine how stressful this has been for you!”

  Luke starts the 4Runner. “Well, your interrogation tactics obviously weren’t working.”

  “Her dad watches CSI. I thought she’d be used to it!” I roll my eyes until I fear they’ll pop out the back side. “And it’s a good thing her dad came out because you were seconds away from laying a big, wet sloppy kiss on that mutt.”

  He turns on a John Mayer CD. “Admit it, you needed my help tonight.”

  “I need your help like I need mono. Like I need zits on picture day.”

  A slow piano melody melts from the speakers, and John Mayer sings a husky song about love.

  The entire tune finishes before Luke speaks again. “What do you think of Victoria?”

  I exhale loudly and watch the barren trees lining the road. “I think she’s hiding something.”

  “Me too.” He taps his fingers on the steering wheel in time to the music. “I can ask around and find out who the boyfriend is. Might be useful information.”

  “Don’t bother. I’ll find out myself.” But I know he’s already got a plan brewing in that overly smart brain of his. “Hey, do you know you’ve made two wrong turns?”

  Luke glances in the rearview. “Don’t panic, but I think we’re being followed.” He hangs a stiff right. “Yep, we’ve definitely got company.”

  “Is it a cop?” I try to make out the vehicle behind us but can’t see anything but headlights. “Maybe we should pull over.”

  He snorts. “Don’t you watch horror movies? That’s the last thing we want to do.”

  I say a quick, silent prayer and curl my fingers into the seat. Lord, it would be supercool if I didn’t die tonight.

  “Here it comes.” Luke speeds up.

  The headlights grow more intense as the car moves closer until it’s beside us on the two-lane road.

  I turn to get a good look at the vehicle. Four-door sedan. Heavily tinted. Can’t see inside.

  The car’s engine roars, drowning out the sound of my heart pounding.

  Time moves in slow motion. One second I’m checking out the car. The next I hear metal on metal, and I’m thrown into the door. The side of my head hits the window.

  The sedan pounds into us again. Tires screech. The 4Runner swerves. Luke fights for control of the vehicle as it weaves left and right. A scream works its way up my throat. Help us, God.

  Luke jerks the steering wheel to the right, and we sail into a ditch. Grass hits the underside of the SUV, and finally we stop—an inch away from a fence post.

  The sedan races out of sight.

  “Are you okay?” Luke throws off his seat belt. He flips the interior light, and his eyes and hands are all over me. “Bella?”

  My body shakes like I’m chilled. My heart is lodged in my throat.

  Luke’s hands frame my face. “Bella, talk to me. Where are you hurt?” His fingers move across my cheek, my neck, my arms, my—“Hey!” I slap him away. “Save it for Taylor!”

  He leans back some and breathes a sigh full of relief. “So no injuries?”

  “There’s a distinct possibility I wet my pants.”

  His lips curl into a small smile. “You’re gonna have a bruise here.” He touches my forehead with feather-light fingertips.

 
; “What about you?” I ask. “Are you all right? ” He had to have felt the brunt of the impact.

  Luke nods. “I had the steering wheel to hang on to.” His eyes assess me again before he starts up the SUV and slowly backs up and steers us out of the ditch. “Did you see the driver?”

  “No. Too dark. Did you ID the car?”

  He shakes his head. “I couldn’t even tell what color it was. Not a light-colored vehicle. That’s all I know. I was just focused on keeping us on the road.”

  “You did a great job.” I slouch deeper into my seat, letting some of the tension go.

  His hand reaches out and rubs my arm. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  My hand rests over his, and I nod my head. Our eyes meet and hold. I feel my pulse accelerating for reasons having nothing to do with the wreck.

  Luke’s phone rings, and I’m snapped back to reality. Hero’s syndrome. That’s all it is. The guy saved us tonight, and I’m just feeling gooshy inside because of it.

  Luke checks the display, silences the phone, then rests it on the console. I glance down at the name. Taylor.

  I look up and find Luke watching me out of the corner of his eye. “I’ll call her later.”

  “She’s a cute girl,” I say, for lack of anything significant to add. “Hope there’s not trouble in nerd paradise.”

  His laugh is brief. “Not at all. Speaking of paradise, how’s your ex? Hunter, is it?”

  I chew on my lip and scan my brain for a snappy comeback. A poison dart of a barb. “He’s fine.” Seeing my life flash before my eyes has somehow robbed me of anything remotely smart. “We’ve had some great discussions about God lately.” Why am I telling him this?

  “Do you think God would want you to be romantically involved with someone who cheated on you?”

  I eye my purse and envision myself whacking Luke in the head with it. But it would knock him out, and I’m too wired to drive. “I think I read somewhere we were supposed to forgive.” My voice is ice. “I could be wrong. Sometimes I get my Bible mixed up with my Seventeen.”

  “Yeah, there’s forgiveness and friendship, then there’s stupidity in hooking up with the guy who didn’t even respect you enough to be faithful the first time. And with your best friend, right?”

  I rub the tender spot on my head. “Thanks for the morality lesson, Mr. Judgmental.” Like I’m even considering getting back together with Hunter. At least, I’m mostly not. Pretty much not. More than likely not considering it. “Hunter needs a friend right now. And I’m going to be that friend no matter what happened a few months ago.”

  “I guess it makes for good TV.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Luke frowns behind his glasses. “I don’t know.”

  The next ten minutes pass in silence. When I can’t take it anymore, I voice the thought that’s been running laps in my head. “Are we agreed this wasn’t a coincidence?”

  I hear Luke’s deep exhale. “We’ll see what the police have to say.”

  “But what do you think?”

  His gaze is wary. “I think someone wants us to mind our own business.”

  chapter thirteen

  Though my mom wanted to keep me on lockdown this morning, I convinced her I was okay enough to go to school. And with finals next week, I really can’t afford to miss a single class.

  During lunch I search the parking lot for cars that have some dents and extra paint, but only find one possibility. Call it a gut feeling, but I don’t really think Mrs. Brunstickle, the eighty-one-year-old janitor, is our prime suspect.

  Grateful my Bug starts, I follow Luke to the police department after school, where we give our statements and file a report.

  “Where are you off to?” Luke opens the door to his 4Runner, and it creaks in protest.

  “Pancho’s Mexican Villa.”

  He lifts a brow. “Do you have a lead you’re not telling me about?”

  “No.” I feel my cheeks flame. “A job interview.” I shut myself in the car before he has a chance to retort.

  The owner called and left a message a few hours ago, saying he’d reviewed my application and liked what he saw. I guess listing “I Heart Salsa” as a qualification was a good move.

  I park the Bug and take in Pancho’s in all of its glory. Thumbing its nose at the principles of architecture and curb appeal, the restaurant is shaped in the form of a sombrero. It sits directly across the street from the Wiener Palace, and word is the competition between the two eateries is fierce.

  The door jangles as I enter the building. “Welcome to Pancho’s Mexican Villa,” three workers call out. They don’t look up from whatever it is they’re doing, and if they got any less excited, I’d think they were unconscious.

  “Um . . . thanks.” I approach the one most likely to have a pulse. “I’m here to speak to the owner. Is he here?”

  The girl rolls her eyes. “Manny’s always here.” From beneath her red poncho, she lifts her hand and points to the office. “In there.”

  “Qué pasa?” a deep voice bellows when I knock on the door.

  I ease into the room and blink. “Manny?” I had expected a man of Latin descent. We have a decent-sized Hispanic population in Truman, so surely the owner of the sole Mexican joint in town would not look like a lower-class Jersey boy with a beer gut and gold chains.

  “Wassup?” He holds out a fist, and I hesitantly bump mine to it. “You must be Bella Kirkwood, right?”

  I think I might want to be somebody else. “Er, yes.”

  “I’m Manny Labowskie. Come on. Let me show you around.” He stands up, and I get the full view of the ensemble. Shiny navy running suit, jacket zipped a quarter of the way down. Hairy chest in lieu of a shirt. A thick rope chain hangs around his neck like a memento from a rap star’s garage sale. His high-tops squeak as we tour the restaurant.

  “Now when people come in the door, you gotta say, ‘Welcome to Pancho’s Mexican Villa!’” He scratches his extended belly and grins. Capped teeth smile back at me. “Go ahead, give it a try.”

  “Now?”

  “Sure!” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “I can tell a lot about a person by the way they call out the Pancho greeting. Let’s hear it.”

  I nervously scan the room. Besides the workers, there’re only two customers, and luckily I don’t know either of them. So far, my reputation is safe. But as soon as I get my own sombrero and poncho, I can kiss it good-bye.

  I cup my hand around my mouth. “Welcome to Pancho’s Mexican Villa.” I sound like a ticked-off cheerleader.

  Manny slaps me on the back, nearly sending me to the other side of the room. “Good stuff, Kirkwood. That was sheer poetry. Now let’s visit the kitchen.”

  I follow him behind the counter. “Shouldn’t those guys have gloves on?” I point to two high schoolers who are elbow deep in refried beans.

  Manny’s eyes go all shifty. “Um, right. Definitely. Junior! Chris! If I see you without gloves again, you’re, like, fired. What do I tell you about the gloves?”

  The two guys exchange confused looks. “That we only had to use them if we saw someone with a health department badge?”

  Manny erupts in laughter. “Oh, those kidders. Those nuts.” He smacks one on the back of the head, sending a sombrero into a vat of salsa.

  “Now, Kirkwood, my life’s work is to make the best taco in the whole town of Truman.”

  Shouldn’t be too hard since this is the only place that even offers tacos.

  “We make them good, and we make them fast. You have about ten seconds for each taco.”

  Yikes. “That’s pretty fast.”

  Manny covers his heart with a big, hairy hand. “Do you believe in the Lord, Kirkwood?”

  I nod.

  “The town of Truman is my mission field. And I’m reaching the people . . . one taco at a time.”

  “Touching.” I think somebody’s eaten too many pinto beans. “You do understand this is temporary and for the Truman High Tribune?�
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  Manny’s gold-ringed hand waves away this idea. “People don’t stay here long anyway. I’ll take what I can get.”

  Thirty minutes later, I’ve been shown how to operate the two main assembly lines—the burrito and the taco. I’ve learned the order of operation and exactly how much of each ingredient should go into the food. I think I’ve got it.

  “Well, what do you think? Are you ready to join the Pancho’s Mexican Villa team? We only pay minimum wage, but unlike the Wiener Palace, I can offer you all the chips you can eat.”

  “I was hoping for a little more.”

  “Fine. Half off queso.”

  “I’ll take it.”

  “Muy bien!” Manny spits on a finger and rubs a spot of dirt off his Nikes. “That means very good. You should probably write that down. You don’t know when I’ll just bust out the Spanish on you. Now, come with me.”

  He leads me back to his office and squishes a giant sombrero on my head and drapes me in a poncho marked XL. “Can you start immediately?”

  “I guess. I’ll need to call my mom.” I try to adjust the shapeless poncho, but it’s no use. I’m tall, but it still hangs long and offends every fashionable bone in my body.

  “I can tell you are just what I need for a very special job. Not anyone can do it, but I trust you with it.” He pats his heart again. “I feel like I know you already, and the Lord has spoken to me and said, ‘Manno’—that’s what he calls me—‘Manno, this is just the right person for the job.’ Are you ready for that special assignment, Kirkwood?”

  I bob my head weakly, knowing doom is about to rear its ugly head.

  Manny slides a giant sandwich board over my coat. I readjust my hat and look down. Pancho’s for Your Luncho. Wieners Give You Gas.

  “Clever.”

  Manny winks. “I know, right?”

  Three minutes and seven seconds later, I’m planted by the side of the road, waving a giant taco and wondering what my chances are for an apocalypse.

  “Hey!” Budge yells from across the street. “What are you doing?”

  “Ruining my odds for ever getting a date!”

  He storms over to where I stand guard, his giant Aladdin pants swishing in the brisk wind. “My boss sent me out here. She’s warned Manny about that stupid sign.”