Mississippi Blues

by D'Ann Lindun

  With her face wreathed in smiles, she jumped up and hugged him. “Hey. It’s been a long time.”

  “Too long.” He stepped back a bit and looked at her. “You look good. Love agrees with you.”

  She laughed. “It sure does. What about you? Anyone special in your life?”

  “No.” He changed the subject. He glanced around, but saw nothing any different than on his last visit. The stench of perm solution was a little less pungent. “Summer not here?”

  She shook her head. “No. She had to run some errands.”

  He leaned on her counter. “Got a minute?”

  “Sure. What’s up?” She twisted her engagement ring. Something was making her nervous.

  “I’m trying to help Summer whether she believes it or not. The Chief is organizing a manhunt. If I don’t find Jace first, he’s going to get hurt or killed. Did Summer tell you if Jace made it home?”

  “I haven’t heard, Trey.” Her slanted eyes met his straight on and he knew she spoke the truth. “Maybe he ran for the gulf.”

  “Anything’s possible.” He changed the subject. “I’m wondering if you know anything about a girl named Candy who runs with my sister. Some of the kids call her Candy-Can.”

  Lilah shrugged. “Not really. I was with Jody one night and we stopped in at Mugs-n-Jugs to look for some dude he wanted to talk to. I had a drink while I waited.”

  “And?” Trey prompted.

  She played with the end of her corn rows. “I noticed two girls there who looked too young to hang out in that place. I mentioned it to Jody and he said he’d run them out. By the time he got around to it, they had disappeared. He said one was named Candy.”

  “And the other was?” He knew. Lindy.

  Lilah confirmed his suspicions. “Your sister.”

  Horror filled Trey at the thought of his little sister in that kind of place. If she knew her way around a bar like that, she wasn’t the sweet innocent she should’ve been.

  “I didn’t recognize Lindy at first. Her hair’s real dark, a bad dye job. She also had on a ton of makeup and extremely tight clothes.” This from the woman who didn’t wear anything unless it was at least two sizes too small. He shuddered.

  “Do you know anything about Candy?” He wondered what hold this girl had on Lindy. Why would his sister dump friends like Mary-Gray and Becca for someone like Candy?

  Lilah studied her two-inch nails. “No. But I’ve heard her mama has one of those massage parlors down on the river. I wouldn’t know for sure.”

  He hated to press her. Women in Juliet weren’t supposed to know about the whores who lived on the riverbanks in a row of rundown shacks called Shantytown. A gentleman didn’t bring them up in front of a lady. Somehow, they all seemed to know, however. “Do you know what her mother’s last name is?”

  “Jolene — no — Carlene, I think is her first. Jody might know more. Why all the questions?” She looked up from her hair.

  “Lindy didn’t come home last night. I’m worried about her. I think this Candy might have a lead.” He smiled and she relaxed. “Thanks, Lilah. When will Summer be in?”

  “Leave it alone, Trey. Her mama wigged out when she heard you were at their place. The past is over and done. Leave things where they fell.”

  “I’ll keep your advice in mind.” Idly, he lifted a hairbrush and studied it. He had no intention of trying to revive he and Summer’s relationship. When the Chief caught Jace and sent him back to Angola, the Hill women would be angrier than ever with his family.

  Lilah apparently didn’t believe him. “What’s the point in it? Stir up her mama and your daddy and everyone in between again? Surely you haven’t forgotten how much hurt got spread around the last time your two families were together.”

  “I haven’t forgotten.” The past was going to bury him alive. He also remembered how good it had felt to make love to Summer.

  Lilah reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’ll both get hurt if you don’t keep your distance.”

  “I plan on it. Tell her if she knows anything about her brother’s whereabouts, she’d be smart to tell him to turn himself in. Right now, I’ve got to find my sister before she gets herself into something she can’t get out of. I think I’ll look up this Carlene and talk to her. Thanks for your help. Let’s have dinner soon, okay?”

  “It’s a date. I’ll even bring a friend and we’ll double.” She winked at him. “I know a lot of ladies who’d line up to go out with you.”

  “I’ll call to make plans, but forget the blind date thing, okay?” Romance was the last thing on his mind. He just wasn’t interested in anyone. Except the one woman who didn’t want him.

  She nodded, stretching up to kiss his cheek. “For now.”

  He went out the door knowing he’d turn down any woman she suggested.

  • • •

  Summer came out of the supply room, feeling guilty. “Is Trey gone?”

  “Yeah.” Lilah gave her a long look. “I didn’t like lying to him.”

  “I’m sorry. I take it his sister’s not home?” Summer glanced at herself in one of the mirrors. “What’s your schedule like? I’m thinking about some pink strands. They’d make me look younger.”

  “Pink? Not. He asked a lot of questions about that tramp down on the river and her kid.” She turned to her booth and began disinfecting combs. “I couldn’t tell him much.”

  “Lindy probably stayed at a friend’s house.” Summer picked up a broom and swept around her station. Her mind wasn’t fully on the conversation. She couldn’t get the image of Jace appearing in her house last night out of her mind. “Nothing about Jace?”

  “Just told me to tell you if you know where he is to tell him to turn himself in.” Lilah’s eyes sharpened. “You don’t, do you?”

  Summer held her gaze. She’d lie to the devil himself to protect Jace. “No.”

  “Good. The Chief’s organizing a manhunt. If you do know something, you better tell Jody. Jace might get hurt.” Lilah’s eyes filled with compassion. “Better prison than dead.”

  “Where’d Trey go?”

  Lilah made an uncertain motion with her hands.

  “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Not sure of her destination, Summer left the shop.

  She spotted Trey’s car at the little convenience store on the corner across from Miller’s Feed. He came out of the store carrying a giant-sized coke and a paper bag. Wearing a simple gray T-shirt, Levi’s, and Nikes he looked good, really good. She couldn’t look away from him. As he came alongside, he noticed her. “Summer. What’re you doing here?”

  She said the first thing that came to mind. “I need to talk to you. It might be important.”

  “I’m kinda in a hurry. I’m still looking for Lindy.” He hid his expression behind a pair of sunglasses marked Serengetti on the corner of the lenses. Expensive.

  “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” She looked around. “But not here.”

  He motioned toward his car. “Jump in. Ride with me and tell me about it.”

  She hesitated a fraction of a second. What the heck? There were worse things than going for a short ride with Trey. She ignored the tiny flutters in her stomach. This was just a chance to ask about the Chief’s plans, nothing more. “Okay. Let me pull around the side of the building and park out of the way.”

  When she jumped out of her own car, he stood beside the passenger side of the Mustang, holding the door open. With a quick glance around to see that no one saw her, she climbed in and he closed the door behind her. Trey came round and got in. Johnny Lang blared out of the radio. Trey’s voice was deeper and raspier than the singer’s. With a smile, he turned the sound low. “Sorry.”

  “I like that CD,” she said, to cover her sudden confusion.

&n
bsp; “You know it? All the guys back in Kabul listened to it.”

  “Uh-huh.” She nodded. Her mind raced, trying to find a way to ask her questions. “We have it at the shop.”

  “I figured you more for a country music listener.” He checked traffic and pulled out on the street heading out of town. “That’s what you used to like. Reba, Garth, Vince.”

  “I love country,” she said, “but I also like blues, old rock, a little pop.”

  “Did you find me to talk about music?” He glanced at her. “Although I like the subject well enough, I find it a bit odd that you told me to get lost, then look me up to discuss the merits of blues over rock. So what is it you really want?”

  A little taken aback at his tone, Summer said, “I could care less what kind of music you like. It’s not really important to me what you think of what I listen to on the radio. What I wanted to talk about has nothing to do with either. This is about Lindy. Kind of.”

  “What about her?” He shot a piercing look at her. “Did you hear from Jace?”

  “No.” Summer glanced out the window. They had left Juliet behind, entered the forest. A canopy of moss-covered oaks shaded the highway. During the day the road was dim, during the night it was frightening, stuff of Sleepy Hollow legend. She shivered a bit. Maybe the shadows would hide her face enough that he couldn’t tell she was lying. “Nothing from Jace. I heard the Chief is going to send all his men on a manhunt. Is it true?”

  “Is that what you had to ask me?” He sucked Coke through his straw.

  “Yes,” she admitted. “I knew you’d tell me the truth. There’s no one else to ask … ”

  “And when you know the details will you contact Jace and warn him?” His gaze was sharp. And penetrating.

  She took a deep breath. “I told you, I don’t know where Jace is. But, yes, if I did I’d urge him to run away.”

  He didn’t answer. “What does this have to do with Lindy?”

  “That’s just it. You tell me.” Summer picked at her peeling manicure.

  For a long moment, he didn’t answer, Johnny Lang’s words filling the car. “It’s true. The Chief called for a full-scale search about an hour ago. We have substantial reason to believe Jace has Lindy.”

  “What?” Her head spun. “Are you insane?”

  “It’s true. I couldn’t buy it either at first. But he’s been writing threatening letters from prison. The coincidence is too great to ignore. He’s out, she’s missing.” He sounded sad.

  “I don’t believe you.” Summer stared straight ahead. If she as much as glanced his direction she would either punch him or burst into tears. She knew he hated Jace, but she hadn’t known how much. Until now.

  “I can hardly take it in myself, but I saw the letters with my own eyes.” He wasn’t lying. In her heart and in her gut she knew it. She’d seen how much her brother had changed with her own eyes. “Where are we going?” Dread filled her. If the posse found Jace and he didn’t turn himself in, they’d shoot. She moaned.

  “I’m trying to find Lindy before anyone else does. A woman named Carlene lives out here. Her daughter pals around with Lindy. Someone told me they live out here on the river. I have a general idea of the location, but not exact.” He sounded as grim as she felt.

  A tiny flicker of hope lit. Maybe they could stop the massacre she felt certain was coming. “Will they tell you anything?”

  “I’m going to persuade them it would be in their best interest to fill me in.”

  She stole a glance at him. Noting his perfect profile, she thought most women would tell him anything he asked with minimum effort on his part. She amended her question. “With me along?”

  “I don’t know. Guess there’s only one way to find out.” He glanced at her, his gaze intense. “Lives are counting on it.”

  “I’ll stay out of sight.” She’d do anything to ensure her brother’s safety.

  “No. You’re coming with me.” He turned on a dirt road that led deep into the woods. Rough, deep ruts made driving nearly impossible. Pulling under a large pine tree, he turned off the car. “Guess we’ll have to walk from here. I don’t want to tear up my shocks.”

  “How far do you think we’ll have to go?” She glanced around and shivered.

  “I’m not sure. The river can’t be far from here.” He appraised her outfit, a plain white T-shirt, short jean skirt and thick-soled tennies. “I have some bug spray in the trunk. You’d better cover yourself with it.”

  Together, they got out and he locked the car. Then he opened the trunk and retrieved the promised spray. He held it up and said, “Turn around. I’ll get your back.”

  Doing as he asked, Summer turned away, holding her hair up on her head.

  • • •

  Trey’s gaze locked on her long, slender neck. He wondered what she’d do if instead of spraying her with the cold, sticky mist she expected, he touched her there with the tip of his tongue. Probably slap his face.

  “Are you going to spray me or not?” she asked impatiently.

  “Yeah.” To his own ears, his voice sounded rough. He lifted the bottle. Just as his finger depressed the button, a blast rocked the air around them. He grabbed Summer around the waist and jerked her to the ground shielding her body with his.

  As the sound died away, he looked around. A woman, wearing a man’s fedora, with a shotgun in her hands stepped into the clearing.

  “Who are you? And what the hell are you doing shooting that thing?” Trey’s voice vibrated with anger. She seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Too worried, he didn’t dwell on it.

  “A better question is who are you and what’re you doin’ on my property?” The woman came closer and spat on the ground. “Never mind. I see what you’re up to. If you want to screw, do it on your own time.”

  Trey rolled off Summer, stood, and helped her to her feet.

  Summer, brushing off her clothes, hissed like an indignant kitten. “We were doing no such thing.”

  Trey took her hand and gave it a warning squeeze. “We actually came out here looking for someone. Do you know Carlene Carter?”

  “Maybe.” The woman gave his crotch a lewd stare and licked her full lips. “From the looks of what you’re packing, I’d be glad to take care of you. If you’re looking for a threesome, that could be arranged too. I help lots of young men fulfill their potential.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Trey saw Summer’s cheeks go bright red. He spoke before she lost her temper. “Thanks, but I just need to ask some questions. Are you Carlene?”

  The woman settled on a large stump and lowered her gun. Her fedora tipped back on her head and a mass of curly red mane fell around a pretty face. She wore little makeup and fewer clothes. One strap of her silky, lime green negligee fell off her shoulder exposing most of a freckled breast. She made no move to pull up the offending strap. “Yep, but I ain’t much for talkin’. What do you want to know? Prices vary dependin’ on what ya want. The nastier ya get, the pricier I get. But if your girl just wanted to watch … ”

  Summer made a disgusted noise beside him.

  He ignored the comment about money, hoping Carlene would tell him something if she thought he wanted more than information. Although Summer kind of foiled his plan. “I’m looking for a girl. Your daughter, I think. Candy?”

  “What do you want with my kid? She’s a bit young yet for anything kinky. Plus, I know a hell of a lot more than she does.” Carlene fiddled with the low neckline of the negligee, pulling it even lower exposing a large, dark brown nipple.

  “That’s disgusting,” Summer muttered.

  Trey squeezed her hand, warning her. He tensed, but kept his tone level. “I think my sister’s in danger. Your daughter might know something that can help me.”

  Carlene waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, a
nd made no move to cover herself. “Naw. Candy don’t know nothin’.”

  He smiled at her. “Would you allow me to ask for myself?”

  “You a narc?” She looked ready to jump and run like a deer.

  “No. I’m Trey Bouché.” Although he hated using his name to gain access, he knew his dad was aware of the river women and their camp. He left them alone as long as they kept a low profile and minded their own business.

  “Chief Sam’s kid? Hells bells. Never thought your daddy would let you and me come face-to-face. He’s okay. Leaves us in peace anyway.” Carlene stood up and motioned for them to follow her. She finally pulled her top over her bare breast. “All right. C’mon.”

  “This is crazy,” Summer muttered as they trailed behind Carlene through the forest.

  After several minutes of winding through the dense stand of trees, they came upon a row of small shacks on stilts partially submerged in the edge of the slow-moving river. A cluster of shanties sat together in a line along the banks. Carlene stopped and faced them. “Wait here. I’ll send Candy out.”

  While they waited, Trey looked around. Summer studied the ground as if she wished it would swallow her whole. Like every red-blooded male in Juliet, Trey knew of the mysterious women who lived here. At present, none were in sight. All the huts seemed to be well maintained, none of the outsides were messy. A brightly colored quilt hung over the edge of one railing. Behind another, a clothesline held satiny underthings. A primitive village with no electricity or running water, the little town had a certain charm.

  Like every boy over the edge of ten in Juliet, he’d heard the rumors, the stories, and the legends about the women here who made their living by selling sex. His senior year he’d passed on the annual tradition of spending the last night of school with one of them. He hadn’t wanted anything to do with the sleazy ritual.

  Maybe because he was the Chief’s son, he knew the women made money the only way they knew how, that they survived the best they could — on their backs. Even then, he hadn’t wanted to be part of it.

  He was a normal all-American boy and he’d wanted sex as bad as the next guy, but the only woman he’d ever wanted stood beside him. From the time he figured out what sex was all about, she was the girl he dreamed about. No other girl ever caught and held his imagination the way she did.