By this time, he saw up ahead, a building sitting by itself. It seemed to be an old house but behind it there was a kind of large shed or barn. A quaint wooden sign hung by a large door. “The Gunk Hole.”
“Guess I’m here,” he muttered to himself. He went to the door, opened it and went in. It was dark inside and as his eyes adjusted, he saw a young hostess smiling at him. “By yourself, or are you waiting for your party?” she asked.
“It’s just me. Got a small table?” he smiled back at the hostess. She led him into a large open room with tables in front of a small stage. He pulled out a rustic wooden chair and sat down. When the waitress arrived, he gave her an order for a beer and took the menu she offered him.
Might as well eat. He was suddenly very hungry. The meals had names seldom or never seen in Texas: Maine Lobster Bounty Basket, Nantucket Flounder, Bournemouth's Best Fish and Chips, and so on.
He told the waitress he’d start with Nachos in honor of Texas and then go to the Bournemouth Fish and Chips. She laughed and went off. He thought he should have asked her what time the musical entertainment started. It was 7:30 so he thought it might be soon. As he was thinking this, the group walked up to the stage and began tuning their instruments. The girl from Boston, Colleen, was there adjusting the microphone. She then plucked her fiddle and grinned at the two men behind her who had a guitar and flute plus some other instruments that were in cases.
Colleen saw him in the crowd and came over. “Super! You made it. I hope you enjoy our show tonight. It might evoke some memories.”
He was puzzled now. “Memories? I’ve never been here before. Have I heard you play anywhere? I don’t recall it if I did.”
“Well, we’ll see, won’t we?” She smiled and walked away.
The waitress brought his food and he ordered another beer to go with the Nachos. He waved at Colleen to see if she wanted a snack, but she shook her head and sat on a stool on the stage.
He was starting on the fish and chips when they began to play, softly. It was an Irish tune, he believed. The flute and violin sang together and he enjoyed the harmony. There was sadness and joy in the same song. Colleen always said that was a very Irish thing. He started. Why had he said that? Since he had just met Colleen not long ago, how would he know what she always said.? He must be thinking of another woman. He shook his head. Maybe cut myself off with this beer. Maybe I’m drinking too much. Again he caught himself. Drinking too much? Not likely. Derek was cool and could hold his liquor. The song ended and he looked around at the customers enjoying themselves. There was applause for the band. He clapped, too, enthusiastically. No doubt about it, they were good musicians.
The band played another song, this time a lively, toe-tapping tune. Then there was a pause and Colleen came over to his table. She eyed his plate. “I see you’re done with the fish and chips. How was it?”
“Good, very fresh,” he said, wondering why she was acting like a waitress. She pulled out a chair and sat. “So, how would you like to join us on the stage and sing?”
“Hey, wait a minute,” he said, outwardly alarmed. “I wasn’t expecting that.” But was there a part of him that had not only expected it, but was looking forward to performing?
“All right. What were you going to play?”
Colleen named a song that was familiar to him. It was a crossover type of song. Not exactly Country Western, not exactly Irish folk music and not exactly popular music. He liked the song and had sung it successfully many times.
“OK, let’s do it.”
He got up and followed Colleen to the stage. The band played an introduction and the customers quieted, seeing someone new standing there. He began to sing and the musicians played a nice background accompaniment. They were really good. When the song was over, the audience clapped loudly.
Colleen whispered, “See, they really like you.”
Derek grinned and went back to his table.
He sat there through the evening, keeping an eye on how many beers he’d had, which was a new sensation for him. Usually he just drank until he was dragged out, collapsed, got into a fight, or was asked to leave. For some reason, he didn’t want to start out this way here. There might be a job in it for him, and when looking for a new job, he was careful not to overindulge.
Sure enough, when the evening was over, the tall red haired man who played the guitar approached him, holding out a hand.
“Derek, is it? I’m Sean McCarthy. I recall we met a couple of nights ago at McCormick’s. I enjoyed your participation tonight. Would you be looking for a job, now, by any chance?”
“Guess Colleen must have told you about me,” Derek said. “I’ll need something if I’m going to survive here. What are you suggesting?”
“Well, Colleen thought you might work as one of us and we’d split what we get. We play in some of the local pubs and also we do weddings and events. We keep pretty busy but none of us are getting rich. We all have other jobs.”
“Why would you want me? You seem to do fine on your own.”
“Colleen sometimes wants to take days off and right now, she’s the only singer we have. It would help to have someone else to fill out the group.”
“I thought you guys were very good, so I’d be honored to join you. When do I start?”
“Tomorrow, we play at the Blue Whale. It’s in the next town over but you can catch a ride with one of us. Here, I’ll give you my card with my cell phone number. Call and we’ll let you know when you’ll be picked up and who will do it.”
“Wow, that’s great. I really need the money.”
“Well, don’t expect to get rich, but we do OK. But remember, now, it’s only for a short time. The lads are going back to Ireland soon. And I’ll have to go up to Boston.”
“Thanks again. Any help is appreciated.” He saw Colleen coming over and grinned at her. “And thanks to you. I know I might have to find another job like the rest of you guys. It’s expensive living here in the Northeast. But this is going to save my hide.”
“Well, you’re welcome. Want to walk along with me? I’m staying with a girlfriend a few blocks away from you so it’s on your way, so to speak.”
“I’d be glad to, Ma’am.” He offered an arm. Colleen took it, swinging a violin case from her other hand. They exited into the night. It was still fine and clear and looking up, Derek noticed that the stars shone bright. The air still had that tang, that feeling that something good was about to happen.
“It’s different here, isn’t it?” he said to Colleen as they tramped along the sidewalk.
“Yes, it is. We are surrounded by the sea on all sides. You can’t hear it from here, but it’s out there. The air always seems so clear to me. Maybe I imagine it, but you’re right, there’s something about this place. I love coming down here from Boston.”
“So, where are all these places you perform? The summer season has ended. Will there be anybody left here?”
“We travel up and down the area from the Cape to Boston, wherever we find a job.” You’d be surprised how many people there are here now. Fall is a popular season on the Cape. It’s the Fall Foliage season in New England. A lot of restaurants close down for part of the time, but there 's still some action. Of course, the Winter after the holidays is pretty slow. I’m going to be teaching music then and you’ll probably need to find something to do because, as Sean says, the band has to break up. Some of the men aren’t permanent residents.”
“I’ll get something. I’ve survived so far.” They had turned the corner into the darker side street where she was staying and he suddenly stopped and turned her to face him. He felt her lean towards him and he gently kissed her. Then his arms went around her more tightly. There was something about her that was familiar, that nagged at his memory. He broke the embrace and held her at arm’s length.
“Have we ever….”
She stared at him, her eyes dark in the few rays of light that penetrated the darkness. “Have we ever what?”
“I
don’t know. There’s something about you that is familiar.” He breathed in the scent of her hair.
She pulled away from him. “Listen, I’m going in. I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow. Sean will call you, probably.”
He watched her go, a look of puzzlement on his face, then turned to go to his own house.
CHAPTER 13
Lee placed a folder of papers on the seat beside her and started the car. As she drove, she thought about how she’d had to run around to get her records. The lawyer’s office had helped her expedite everything, though. It was amazing what could be done when you were powerful. So she was now taking everything to the school along with a card she’d filled out that stated she would like to take statistics and anatomy. She thought she’d have to start slowly, and build up to more. Next semester, she’d try to carry a full load of courses. Of course, that is if she did well with these. She thought it was one thing to dream about being a nurse, but it was a whole other thing when she had to prove she could do it. Which was probably the point, wasn’t it? But, she considered, if I can deal with all kinds of customers at the restaurant and keep my sanity, maybe I’ll be able to handle school.
She pulled into the parking lot of the school and got out. It was a community college that sprawled over several acres. The parking lots were huge as almost everyone had to come by car. And they were always almost full to capacity anytime she had come here. She was on the outskirts of one really big lot. Another car pulled in and took the last remaining spot a few spaces down. The end of the building was fairly close but she would have a good walk to get to the main entrance. She took a few minutes to gather all her stuff together and make sure she had everything. She was nervous. Could she really do it? She peered into the rear view mirror and applied a little lip gloss.
“Just get out and go in,” she admonished herself. Funny when you had to put into action a long held dream. It wasn’t the same as the rosy scene she envisioned. This was real!
She opened the door and got out. The smell of refuse hit her nose. There must be a garbage pickup at this point, which was near the entrance road, and just off the kitchen entrance, because there was a large dumpster here. She glimpsed movement in her peripheral vision and swung around. Lee hoped there weren’t any rats creeping around the dumpster. She hated them, having seen a few in bad restaurants.
She turned and locked her car, then looked anxiously back at the dumpster. People should be careful about putting stuff in and not throw their garbage on the ground behind it. There was a pile of orange fuzzy fabric or something there, old shoes, and so forth that she hadn’t noticed before. She looked again and went a little closer. There was a hat there too, and brown cloth like pants. She suddenly had a sick feeling that these items were all related, as in the outfit someone would wear. Closer still, she confirmed that the outline was of someone crumpled up in a heap, in a shape no living person would assume. She couldn’t see a face so there was no telling if someone had just collapsed there. But she’d seen something like that orange cloth before. Closer and closer she inched. She stuck a hand out and grabbed the brim of the cap and pulled it towards her. Hair was revealed, brown curly hair, wet with a sticky substance. She grasped hold of the hair and turned the head. Red, it was so red. Blood ran down the side of the face, Jay’s face, half covered by his orange scarf. She screamed and felt the world going dark. But she would not let herself sink down beside the corpse. It could only be a corpse with that terrible wound, but she pulled herself together and felt the carotid artery just to be sure. There was no pulse. She began to run, stumbling and crying. A campus security car cruised by her.
“Ma’am, are you all right?” The guard stared at her, his gaze traveling to her red stained hand. “Did you get hurt?”
She began to laugh, hysterically. “Me? I’m not hurt. He’s hurt. He’s dead.” Then she sank to her knees.
She was examined by the nurse in the school office after the security guard took here there. Lying back in a chair, she explained to the police that she had just arrived at the college. “Where is my folder with my papers? I must have dropped them.”
“We have them. They’re evidence now. They were lying by the body.”
“Evidence? I have to submit my papers to enter school. I need them.”
“Well, Ma’am, we can’t give them back to you just yet.”
Lee clenched her hands. “I guess you have to do what you have to do.”
The patrolman said, “I’ll ask the detective if you can get them back.”
“I brought them with me. They have nothing to do with Jay.”
The patrolman’s eyes locked on hers. “Jay? You know this guy?”
“Well, yes, I do. He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
“This is another matter altogether. The detective will want you to come down to the station so you can make a statement and answer questions. We’d better go there now.”
He took her arm and assisted her to stand. She was woozy but able to walk. She looked back at the nurse. “I’ll have to come back to register. Can you let them know I’ll come back?” The nurse looked at her with an anxious expression. “I’ll have to let the dean know, of course.”
Lee felt she was in a nightmare. It just didn’t seem real to her. The drab walls of the police station, the detective’s questions. When she was left alone for a few minutes, she put her head down on her arms on the scarred table, then jerked up again. “Stevie! I’ve got to let Andrea know where I am!”
The door opened again and Bill Whiton walked in, as if in answer to her question. He looked at her distraught face. “I’ve called Andrea. She’ll pick up Stevie if you’re not there. She says, don’t worry.’”
He sat down across from her. “So what’s going on, Lee? How did you come to be the one who discovered the body?”
He was the same pleasant man she’d met at Andrea’s but there was a steely look in his eyes.
She went over her story again. “I guess it looks bad, doesn’t it? I can’t understand what Jay was doing there. But I was remembering that a car pulled in just after I did. Was he stalking me? And who killed him?”
“Well, I have the report you made. The thing that seems to be in your favor is that he was stabbed but we haven’t found a weapon. They’re searching the dumpster for it now. If they don’t find anything, you’re free to go. But as usual, don’t leave town without notifying us.”
“Are you looking into who might have done it?”
“We’d hoped you might be able to help us there.”
“The thing is, Bill, now that I’m looking back, I realize that I didn’t know anything about Jay before I met him. I thought he was the nicest guy. He always treated me so well. If I asked him about something that happened in the past, he’d always laugh and say it was a long story. If I pressed him, he’d say when there was time, he’d tell me more. I guess I was just a dope that swallowed the line he fed me.”
Bill looked at her, his eyes softening a little. “You’re not the suspicious kind, Lee. Guys like Jay look for nice, trusting women like you to work their cons on. It’s not your fault. Usually, they don’t get stabbed in parking lots, though. They’re pretty good at running away to save their hides.”
A policeman came into the room and spoke to Bill in a low voice, then left. Bill stood up. “They found nothing in the dumpster, Lee, or your car. Your clothes are clean. Nothing to implicate you in a stabbing. I’ll drive you back to your car and you can go from there. I’ll also get them to release your papers. They’ll probably keep the folder, though.”
Lee stared at him. “Nothing to implicate me? So are you saying I’m a suspect, Bill?”
The detective looked at her without expression. “I’m sorry, Lee. At this point, we suspect everyone who has had anything to do with Jay. You were also on the scene and you could be said to have a motive. But you didn't have a weapon.”
Lee got to her feet, and followed the patrolman out. She was stunned by the thought.
When
Lee was dropped off at the school, she avoided the area of the dumpster which was now circled by a yellow police tape, and hurried into the building, clutching the loose papers Bill had given her. It was late in the day, but she managed to get to the admissions office and get her registration accomplished. When she came out, she found her car parked near the door. The security guard had given her the keys.
Driving home, she felt exhausted. She needed to do something about picking up some waitressing work again, too. She’d call and ask them to put her on the restaurant roster again tomorrow. That $10,000 must be kept in case something happened. Today proved that you never knew when disaster could strike.
Avoiding Jay was no longer a factor so maybe she could go back to her apartment. She’d call the landlord to find out. She hadn’t been able to get back to it to take all of her possessions out. It would be a relief to know that things might return to normal again. If she didn’t get arrested for murder, that is. Who could have killed Jay? She hoped it was something in his past that had nothing to do with her. It was strange, though that all this should have happened when they got the news about the inheritance. It gave her a bad feeling.
CHAPTER 14
Cassie hung up the phone and stood staring at the wall. Her roommate came into the living room and asked. “What’s up, Cass?”
Cassie turned slowly around. “My sister. She was almost arrested.”
“What? How did that happen?”
Cassie sat down in a chair. She felt slightly faint. “She found the body of her ex-boyfriend, that’s how.”
“Holy crap!”
“Yes, you might say that.” She put a hand to her head. A slight headache had started. First all the excitement about the will, then getting ready for school, then getting Dad ready. Now this.
“You look as white as a snowy owl.”(Her roommate worked for the Park System as a naturalist.) “Let me get you a cup of tea.”
Cassie said, gratefully, “Thanks, Alice.” She leaned back and closed her eyes.
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