Evil Heights, Book III: Lost and Found

by Michael Swanson

  In a flash, that must have surely taken Phoebe by surprise, Lee reached down into himself and sprinted all out and instantly was right up on her. She tried dodging, cutting left then right, then right again, but couldn't shake him. Digging her heels in and bending low she came to a surprisingly quick stop and made him miss. Still, Lee was but a heartbeat off, and before she could take a backward step to get away, he had her by the waist and both of them tumbled to the ground.

  She was soft in his grasp; this definitely wasn't anything like tackling Ronnie. He had her, and he wasn't going to let go. They rolled over and over through the scraggly grass. He wasn't even aware he was laughing as loudly and as crazily as she was.

  They came to a stop with Phoebe on top, her face only inches from his. Up this close he could almost count her freckles, and, oh, there was that fresh, light smell of baby powder. A few strands of her hair had pulled free from her pigtails and were caught at the edge of her mouth. And her eyes, they were wild, literally flashing with the excitement. Pulling back, she held him down, straddling across his legs and pinning his shoulders with her hands. A daring plan flew into his head. In just a moment he was going to pitch her over, hold her down, and kiss her.

  An impact, completely unexpected, crushed Phoebe down on top of him. It was Patty. She had run over from the barrel and piled on. In but a few seconds, Evie added herself to the mound. From below, Lee was acutely aware of Phoebe and the pressure of her body against his. It was the first time he'd been on the bottom of a pile-on that he could remember not looking forward to everyone getting off of him.

  "What in the Sam Hell is all this damn screamin'?” Lee heard come from somewhere behind.

  Phoebe's bright smile dried up right before Lee's eyes.

  "Uncle Boyd,” she whispered.

  "Don't y'all morons know we've got babies in there tryin’ to sleep!"

  Patty slid off of Phoebe's back taking Evie with her. Phoebe in turn, rolled off of Lee and quickly got up, brushing grass from her legs and arms.

  "Sorry, Uncle Boyd. We was just playin'."

  Lee sat up and looked over at the man in the doorway. He'd never really seen Boyd up close before.

  "Goddamnit, Phoebe,” he spat. “I don't think you've got the sense God gave a turnip. Out here rollin’ around in the dirt with some boy. I wonder what the hell your mama would say if she was to see you carryin’ on out here like you was."

  "We weren't doin’ nuthin',” Lee heard her accent change to match Uncle Boyd's. “We was just playin’ tag is all."

  Uncle Boyd glared at Lee with a nasty scowl. “Yeah, I've seen tag before."

  Lee got up, brushing off grass and dirt from his own arms and legs. Standing this close to the skinny man in the threadbare, dingy undershirt, he realized Uncle Boyd wasn't really any bigger than he was.

  He stepped over and offered his hand. “Sorry,” Lee almost said “Sir” but bit his tongue. “I'm Lee, Lee Coombs, from across the road."

  Uncle Boyd looked him up and down, but didn't shake his hand. “Yeah, I know who you are. I seen you comin’ ‘round. You've been moonin’ after Phoebe here like a damn dog. Shit,” he spat on the ground. “Don't you think I know what you're after, boy? Do I look ignorant?"

  Lee put his hand down. He would have loved to answer Uncle Boyd's question.

  Uncle Boyd shifted his eyes to Phoebe. “This here's a helluva big ass kid to be foolin’ ‘round with. He don't look to be your age.” He looked back to Lee. “Hell, are you still in high school?"

  Lee nodded. He didn't see any point in busting Boyd's bubble by telling him he'd just be a freshman in the fall. Everything about Boyd rubbed him the wrong way. Up close, the man's eyes were yellow and watery, and Lee could see that he suffered terribly from acne; his face was all pitted and red. Lee stood his ground, returning glare for glare. And he was sizing it up in his mind what he'd do if Uncle Boyd were foolish enough to press the issue.

  It was Uncle Boyd who blinked and turned away. “Phoebe, you get yer ass inside, y'hear?” he spat. “I'm pretty sure there's a shitty diaper waitin’ in there that's got your name on it."

  "Where's Aunt Darlene?” she asked. “I ain't been outside ten minutes all week, Uncle Boyd."

  "Darlene's doin’ some who-knows damn female shit in the bathroom,” Uncle Boyd came back. “Hell, how should I know what she's doin'. But I do know the babies is cryin’ and it stinks in there. And I know I sure as hell ain't gonna be the one who cleans it up."

  "I guess I'll have to be goin’ in,” Phoebe exhaled mightly. “I'll see you around though, huh?"

  Lee glared at Uncle Boyd. He really wanted the guy to know exactly what he was thinking. Even though Uncle Boyd was at least five or six years older than Lee he wasn't about to stand down. Uncle Boyd was scrawny, one of those little guys with a hollow, bony chest and no arms at all. Even the dregs of the goatee-like beard on his chin made him look weak. Last summer Lee had practiced and practiced on every judo move his dad had taught him. And he'd begun lifting weights, too. There was an older boy, Jimmy Leonard, Lee some times ran around with. Jimmy's dad was a fireman, and they had all kinds of weights and almost a whole gym in their garage. Ronnie hadn't been interested at all, but Lee had gotten hooked and had spent hours and hours over there with Jimmy. Unfortunately, Jimmy's dad had found a better job up north, and they moved away from Lenoir late last fall. But for more than four months Lee and Jimmy had really pushed each other, sweating and straining in the stifling heat of that tiny garage. Timed with a lucky growth spurt, the effort had really paid off for the first time that Saturday afternoon behind the movie theater when he'd surprised Jeff.

  For a moment, Lee allowed himself to imagine what Uncle Boyd would say to the guys at work if they ever found out he'd had his butt kicked by a kid who wasn't even technically in high school yet. He wasn't about to back down if Uncle Boyd decided to press any issue. And the thought of him bullying Phoebe really did almost set him off.

  But, when Boyd wouldn't even let Lee catch his eye, preferring to stare off anywhere else, Lee sensed Uncle Boyd was one of those guy who found his courage in the bottle, and even then, only felt brave when picking on women.

  He gave up trying to catch Boyd's eye and looked back to Phoebe saying, “You just let me know when you're free, and we'll go do something. Okay?"

  "Come on, Phoebe,” Uncle Boyd said, all traces of his earlier belligerence having vanished. “Your Aunt Darlene needs your help."

  "In a minute,” she shot back. “Just give me one darn minute to say goodbye, will you?"

  "Come on, Evie.” Uncle Boyd switched his attention to his daughter, snatching her by the hand. “Git yer little hiney back in the house. Damn skeeters out here'll suck ya’ dry.” Opening up the screen door, he pulled at Evie who planted her feet and shrieked as she was dragged inside. Then, once behind the screen door, Uncle Boyd finally gave Lee a quick, sharp glance then disappeared into the gloom. Somewhere inside, mixed with sound of the T.V. and Evie throwing her tantrum, both tiny babies were exercising their lungs in unison, each one crying in the space when the other took a breath, like some kind of a shrieking team. The odor that drifted out through the door into the fresh evening air was rank and stale. Lee figured it must be absolute hell in there.

  "I'm sorry about Uncle Boyd.” Phoebe smiled weakly. “I told you he was an asshole."

  "Don't worry about it,” Lee shrugged. “But if he goes to lay a hand on you,” Lee gave Phoebe his most serious look, “you tell me, okay?"

  Phoebe couldn't hide the glow that came over her. She even seemed to stand taller as she gave Lee her limp-wristed shove. “I can take care of myself."

  "I know. I know,” Lee replied, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed by the look Phoebe was giving him. “But all the same. You let me know."

  "It was fun meetin’ you,” Patty broke in, her face still all flushed from the fun. She held her hand out to Phoebe who shook it, arcing their arms up and down as high as Patty could reach. If Patty wa
s smiling before, she was absolutely beaming when Phoebe broke it off.

  "It was fun meeting you too, Patty,” Phoebe replied. She knelt down and expertly straightened Patty's shirt and smoothed back her hair. Then she got back to her feet tucking a few strands of her own hair back behind her ear. “We'll have to play again real soon, okay?"

  "Promise!” Patty beamed.

  "Promise,” Phoebe beamed back.

  Phoebe looked back to Lee. “You know, I'd still like to do that float trip we talked about."

  "How ‘bout Saturday?” In his eagerness he'd momentarily forgotten about working at Art's.

  Phoebe shook her head. “I can't. If I went out this Saturday Uncle Boyd would pitch a hissy fit."

  "Sunday,” Lee fired back.

  "We'll have to see.” Phoebe had the handle to the screen door in her hand. The babies seemed to be crying even louder, a tag team of tears. “Come by early Sunday morning. If Uncle Boyd's still drunk I think I can get away for a few hours."

  "How early?” Lee pressed.

  Phoebe's grin came back. She caught Lee's eyes for only a spilt second and then looked away giggling, “I don't know. Early as you like."

  Patty was intently watching both participants in the conversation, her head moving back and forth from one to the other.

  Phoebe finally raised her eyes and caught his stare. “You know you did catch me again,” she winked and then added, “I guess I owe you another one, don't I?"

  Patty was all eyes and ears. “Owe him what?"

  Phoebe reached down and tousled Patty's hair.

  "Damn it Phoebe, git yer ass in here!” rang out from inside.

  A pained look passed across her face, and Phoebe slumped against the screen door.

  Patty looked as though she had just decided something. “You know, Lee,” she blurted out. “You were right."

  Phoebe, probably fretting about Uncle Boyd, looked momentarily confused. “Lee was right about what?"

  Patty stood up straight, striking that same expression as she had when she'd dropped the line about saying ain't. Mustering all the considerable charm of a six-year-old she chimed out with, “Lee said you were real pretty. And I think he's right."

  Phoebe smiled and reached down to squeeze Patty's chin, then looked back to Lee. “I've got to be goin’ in now. I'll see ya'll.” She stepped in and put her face to the screen, offering a quick, “I hope I'll see you Sunday.” Then she disappeared.

  Lee and Patty walked together back across the lawn crossing over Seminole Road and up their drive.

  "Thanks, squirt,” he said.

  She had a hold of his hand, swinging back and forth. “For what?"

  "Saying those nice things to Phoebe."

  "But she is pretty."

  "Yeah, I know,” Lee replied. “But a brother is allowed to say thanks when he wants to, can't he?"

  Patty smirked her Maggie-like smirk. “You can say whatever you want just so long as you don't say ain't."

  They arrived at the porch steps and Patty stopped, jerking away her hand. “You know, Lee, I wouldn't mind it if Phoebe wanted be your girlfriend. She's nice."

  "You wouldn't, huh?” Lee grinned again. “I don't think I'd mind it either."

  "Her Uncle Boyd, though...” Patty shook her head.

  Lee nodded.

  Patty's nefarious grin flashed back, a carbon copy of her dad's and Lee's. “You know what kids in school call a man that looks like him?"

  Lee shook his head. “What?"

  She broke out laughing. “Pizza face!"

  CHAPTER FOUR: PSYCHO

  Laughing, they came up the stairs together and once inside, Lee closed and latched the screen door's hook, then went down the hall and turned on the attic fan. As soon as he had twisted the timer knob the slatted vents in the hall ceiling opened up mechanically as the powerful motor turned the blades, sucking up the hot air inside and drawing in the cool air from outside. Lee came back into the living room just as Patty was turning on the television.

  "I'm going to get a glass of ice water. You want one, Squirt?"

  Patty nodded.

  "What'll we watch tonight?” Lee called out from the kitchen. He opened the Frigidare's little freezer and slapped a metal ice cube tray with his palm breaking it free from the frost. With it sticking to his fingertips he carried it over to the sink and put it under the faucet, turning it over to run water over the bottom. When the water hit the frosty metal the whole thing crackled sharply sounding as though something delicate and spidery was breaking inside. Once the frost was gone, he turned it over and placed it down on the counter. With a sharp tug at the handle in the center the cubes broke free. Dumping all the cubes in the glasses, he then refilled the tray with water and put it back on top in the freezer. He learned long ago, woe be to anyone who made ice and then didn't refill the ice cube tray, just another of one of Maggie's little pet peeves.

  Lee came back in, glasses in hand and put Patty's water down on top of a magazine on the coffee table. He lay down on the couch using the armrest for a pillow, setting his glass down on the floor. The only thing left to do was to kick off his Keds and peel each sock off using his big toes.

  Patty had the Donna Reed show on. It must have just started. Beautiful, blonde Donna was fretting about an upcoming dinner party. She was in a terrible predicament as she had just found out she had more guests coming than chairs at her table.

  "Hey Squirt, I get dibs on what to watch next,” Lee said. “Remember, Bat Masterson comes on at 9:30."

  Lee much preferred Westerns over the family shows, and there were certainly enough of them on T.V. these days. Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, Johnny Yuma, and Maverick were just a few. Patty and Maggie enjoyed the family programs like Ozzie and Harriet, The Real McCoys, Leave it to Beaver, and the Danny Thomas Show. His dad didn't watch too much T.V., but when he did, he was partial to adventure series and thrillers like Checkmate, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and 77 Sunset Strip. Since with their new antenna, they could pick up all three networks affiliates and the local PBS station, having four channels they could actually watch was almost overwhelming.

  As Donna Reed was standing in her doorway, at last bidding her guests goodbye, the credits were scrolling up the screen, and evening had settled into night. Through the picture window the light blue sky had turned to a velvety black, and with the darkness the bugs had arrived, pattering up against the big pane glass window and climbing up the screen door.

  Lee got up. Stretching out as he walked, he ambled over to the front door. As always, since last Saturday night he kept his eyes peeled for the glass eye. Though he had looked and looked, it was as though the thing had simply disappeared. He was acutely aware Maggie had every intention of making good on her threat to throw it away if she came across it first. But, he was positive she hadn't found it, as she would have made a big thing of letting him know if she had. The funny thing was he had a strong intuition it definitely was right here. The phrase, “Hiding in plain sight,” came to mind, repeating over and over in his head like a catchy jingle, every time he began to look.

  A couple of years back, the tooth fairy had left him a quarter, and he had been so excited he'd dropped it on the floor in his room. The coin had hit the rug and rolled off under his bed. Lee had looked and looked, even crawling under the bed, but couldn't find it. Finally, becoming determined as much as frustrated, he'd moved everything in his room, piece by piece, piling up the mattress, box spring, bed frame, sheets, clothes, toys, everything into one corner, but still nothing. He eventually found the quarter a couple of days later clear across the room, in a corner behind the door, leaning upright against the baseboard. A silvery chip out of the wood had served as perfect camouflage, working with the poor light to render the coin almost invisible. The memory of that search was part of the reason why he was sure, deep down, the eye was here somewhere. He couldn't see it, but he was positive, wherever it was, it could see him.

  When he got to t
he door he stood for a moment squarely in the breeze created by the attic fan. That thing could really suck. The cooler evening air whipped past his legs and ears almost as though he were running. Leaning with his right arm against the doorframe, he reached out with his left and turned on the porch light. At the very instant he flipped the switch, the T.V. let loose with a loud, crackling burst of static, and the image of Donna waving goodbye flickered away leaving just static and hissing snow.

  Patty whirled about. “Hey, what'd ya do?"

  Lee turned around and looked at the screen. “I don't know. I didn't do anything.” Just to check, he turned the switch off and on, hoping the screen would return to normal, but no such luck.

  Lee flipped the switch up and down rapidly; all it did was flash the outside light on and off.

  "I don't know, Squirt.” He slip-slided back around to the couch, squeaking his bare feet on Maggie's highly polished floor, “Did you do something?"

  Patty shook her head. “Wasn't me! I didn't touch it. It happened when you turned on the light."

  Lee's stomach sank. There couldn't be anything worse than a problem with their new T.V. set. He came over and knelt down on the rug, which extended from under the coffee table to just in front of the television. “You sure you didn't change the channel?"

  "I'm telling you I didn't touch it.” She defiantly scrunched Lucky Pup up under her arm. “In a minute I was gonna let you change it over to your stupid ol’ Bat Masterson."

  "Maybe it was the station?” Lee offered optimistically. “Maybe they had a problem?"

  Lee reached out to touch the tuning knob. Just as his finger was about to come into contact with the knob a spark arced out, shocking his fingertip exactly like a static charge on a cold winter's day. Instantly the screen popped back to normal.