The Vagrant

by J Scaddon

Jake and Joel were walked to the gate of the school house. They kissed their mother and ran off inside to be with their friends. Even around the school there was a buzz of energy, which was a result of the recent murders. People talked and stressed about the dire situation. There was a lot of faith in Sheriff Glick and his men, but there was also grave concern as to why there had been no break in the investigation. No one was critical of the police, but everyone was terrified of the stranger in their midst. After waving her children off, Ida made her way onto Main Street in order to tend to her obligations for the day. Her first priority was to locate Sheriff Glick, or one of his men. As she passed by the body repair shop she drew a few glances. She was an attractive woman and had her fair share of admirers, but none took interest quite like Red, one of the mechanics.

  “Good morning, Mam….I mean, Ida,” said Red as she brushed by him.

  “Good morning, Red,” she replied with a delicate smile. She had brushed past him on purpose. It had been several years since she was widowed and she was feeling lonely. Her two boys kept her busy and happy, but she still missed the company of someone her own age.

  “It’s a fine morning!” called out Red.

  Ida turned back briefly and offered another teasing smile.

  “Listen, Red,” said Gus, who popped up over his shoulder. “Why don’t you go over and talk to her? I mean, you just stand there like a lost puppy whenever she walks past and then you sulk for the rest of the day. Watching you is really having a detrimental effect to my health. The doctor says I shouldn’t be having sugary sweet things around me. It’s bad for my blood sugar. You’re making it worse.”

  “What can I say to her? What if she says no?”

  “If she says no then you can sulk for a while and then get over it. At this rate, I will be going to an early grave just watching you. What if she says yes? Have you ever considered that? Sure, she is older than you and a widow with two boys to feed. If that is fine by you then stop being a dummy and speak to the lady. That’s what I did when I met Marjorie.”

  “So you asked and she said yes?”

  “Not quite, Red my boy. I asked, she said no. I asked, she said no. When no one else in the town wanted her hand in marriage she settled for me. I asked sixty four times before I got my yes. She is a darling woman aint she Red?”

  “Not really, Gus. You hate her don’t you?”

  “Hate is a strong word. I can’t abide being in her presence, that is true. I also don’t like the thought of her in any which way. But she’s my gal.”

  Red sighed as he watched the fair Mrs Van de Veld saunter down the street, peering into the shop windows and gracefully waving to those that passed her by. “Okay,” said Red. “I’ll speak to her. But don’t push me. I need to build myself up to it.”

  As Ida walked along the sidewalk, she noticed a man waving at her from the other side of the street. It was Dylan. He was standing outside the car dealership, which was now his new place of work. He was dressed in a suit, which was something rather novel. Ida was an elegant woman, but her brother did not share her sense of style. His shirt was untucked and his tie was askew. It was still the smartest that Ida had ever seen him. She thought how proud her mother would have been to see him that way.

  Main Street was no more than a wide dirt path that ran down between old fashioned boardwalks and wooden-built shops and cafes. A small area had been modernised with concrete sidewalks and a brick-built hotel. The hotel had only three rooms which were always vacant. There was still an old west feel to Monroe. The locals certainly had the mind-set that nothing was broken and so nothing needed fixing. Of course, new facilities like a cinema and laundry were welcomed and quickly erected by the only builder in town. Everyone in the town knew each other well. They had all grown up together. Friendships were strongly forged and old disputes rumbled on, gaining pace with every year that passed. It could take a long time to make it from one end of Main Street to another as someone like Ida would be stopped by everyone she met. Nothing happened quickly in Monroe. No-one had any need for haste and no one cared for a rush. That is except for the investigation into the serial killer that now frequented their usually safe part of the world.

  Ida spotted Deputy Jeb as he strode out of Dana’s diner. In one hand he held a cup of coffee and in the other he held a pastry. One of his many breakfast breaks that morning.

  “Deputy Jeb?” said Ida. “Have you got a moment? It’s about the vagrant.”

  Jeb’s interest was caught. “Yes of course, Mrs Van de Veld.”

  “Jeb!”

  “Sorry, Ida. The sheriff likes us to be professional and formal. What can I do for you?”

  “My boys have seen him.”

  “Seen who now? The vagrant?”

  “He was in our back yard yesterday. He spoke to the kids and I think he stayed in my barn as one of my horses had been let out and one of those metal trays that you cook on was found in the barn. I don’t own one of those.”

  “What did he look like? Your boys might be the first to have seen him.”

  “Skinny, red shirt, grey pants and a hat with flaps. No age I’m afraid. To my kids anyone between the ages of twenty to eighty looks the same. They are all just adults as far as they are concerned.”

  “I understand,” said Deputy Jeb. “You said a hat with flaps. What, like a deerstalker?”

  Ida shrugged her shoulders. All she knew was that he had a hat with flaps on it. She could add no more information. Deputy Jeb was eager to get over to the house and follow up the lead. It was the only lead they had had.

  “Mind if I go for a snoop around your property?” said Jeb.

  “Help yourself. Hopefully you will find something, but at the very least your presence might scare him away from my property for good.” She leant in close to whisper. “It sounds bad for me to want him to move on as I know that someone else with have him on their property, but I have to consider my boys first.”

  Deputy Jeb quickly finished his pastry and clambered into his patrol car. Ida carried on her walk through Main Street. She was looking to pick up some groceries and also stop for a casual lunch. The tension around the town was showing. There were fewer smiling faces that day. Certainly there was no other topic of conversation than what had happened to the Birch family the day before. Ida tried to avoid it as much as she could as the whole drama was coming a bit too close to home for her. She would be happy to hear what Jeb had found out before she returned back to her residence that day. As she walked past a boutique, a summery frock caught her eye and she stopped to look it over. It was perfectly suited to her tastes and she pondered briefly, considering if she needed a new dress or not. As she peered in through the shop front a large figure loomed behind. The figure stood motionless. It lifted a large hand and placed it down upon Ida’s shoulder.