by Elicia Hyder
She nodded. “Yeah. You about done with that beer? I’m almost finished.”
Steven’s new 4x4 truck was parked in the lot next to his Chevelle. Knowing his job at the auto body shop barely paid enough to cover their rent she had, unfortunately, asked him how he could afford another vehicle. His answer was ‘some side work’ and a wink. She knew then that he didn’t mean oil changes.
She shook the snow out of her hair when she settled in the passenger’s seat. “Why did you leave the Chevelle here?” she asked.
He put his truck in reverse. “Didn’t want to risk putting it in a ditch,” he replied.
She raised an eyebrow. “But my car is OK to put in a ditch?”
He nodded and laughed. “It’s not a Chevelle, babe.”
She reached across the cab and slapped him on the arm. “Jerk,” she said.
He tugged on her pant leg. “Slide over here.”
Obediently, she slid into the middle seat beside him and fastened her seatbelt. “You’re being very weird tonight, Mr. Drake.”
He leaned over and kissed her lips. “What can I say? I’m in love.”
She laughed as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Pssshhh, whatever.”
· · ·
Snow always had a crippling effect on the entire town of Emerson. It was two days before the bar opened back up, and Journey returned to work on Sunday.
Kara showed up at lunchtime and took a seat at the bar. “Slow day, huh?” she asked, looking around at the empty restaurant.
“Yeah. I’ve had two tables in two hours, including you.” Journey pointed at her. “I expect a damn good tip.”
Kara sipped her water. “What did you do yesterday?”
“Slept. You?”
“Justin and I went sledding at Mom’s,” she said.
Journey nodded. “Nice.”
“Anything new with you?” Kara asked.
Journey leaned against the bar. “Nah. Other than Steven has been really freaking sweet to me lately. It’s creepy.”
Kara laughed. “Your boyfriend being sweet shouldn’t be creepy. It should be normal.”
“He even came and drove me home in the snowstorm the other night to make sure I was safe,” Journey added.
Kara made a puppy dog face. “Aw, that is sweet. I didn’t think he had it in him.”
Journey laughed. “I didn’t either.”
“It’s probably a good thing that he did,” Kara said. “A lot of bad accidents happened that night.”
Journey shrugged with indifference. “I don’t watch the news.”
Kara crossed her arms on the counter. “Oh, so you haven’t heard about that 4-wheeler accident? It was so sad. These two girls were on a 4-wheeler, that went off the road. It flipped, and the girl on the back broke her neck and died.”
Journey made a sour face. “That’s awful. How old was she?”
“Like sixteen,” Kara answered.
Journey shook her head. “That’s sad. Right here at Christmas time too.”
“And, they were sisters,” Kara said.
Journey poked out her bottom lip. “Oh, man.”
Kara just nodded. “Speaking of sisters… have you talked to Elena?”
“No,” Journey replied. “But she should be coming into town soon for Christmas.”
“Are you going to see your parents?”
“Nope.” Journey was anxious to change the subject. “We should hang out more. I really miss you.”
Kara tilted her head and smiled. “I miss you too.”
“And Marcus,” Journey added. “I haven’t seen him since he graduated from the police academy.”
“He misses you too,” Kara said. “He asks about you every time I see him. You should go over there sometime.”
Journey nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
The 4-wheeler accident certainly was all over the news. Over the next few days, Journey saw the story at least six times, and she never turned on the television at home. It was because of the publicity that Journey knew exactly who the young brunette was that showed up at her front door four days later. Julie Kennedy was dressed in a simple black dress and flat shoes. Her eyes were puffy and smudged with mascara. Journey curiously opened her front door to the timid young woman.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
The girl looked carefully around. “Is Steven home?”
Journey was surprised. “Uh, yeah. Come on in.”
Julie carefully stepped through the door. “Thanks.”
Journey ushered her into the living room. “You’re Julie, right?”
Julie pushed her hair behind her ears and nodded. “Yeah.”
Journey was unsure how to adequately say anything else. Julie had been driving the 4-wheeler when her sister, Marci, had died. Obviously, she had just come from the funeral. “I’m really… really sorry for all you’re going through,” Journey finally offered, stumbling over almost every syllable. “I’m Journey. Steven’s girlfriend.”
Julie nodded. “I know who you are. It’s nice to meet you.”
Journey motioned toward the hallway. “He’s in the shower. I’ll tell him you’re here.”
Julie sniffed “Thank you."
Journey walked into their bathroom. “Hey,” she called out as she closed the door behind her.
Steven pulled back the shower curtain. “What?”
“You know the two sisters in that 4-wheeler accident?” she asked.
“I heard something about it on the news. Why?”
“That girl Julie is sitting on our couch,” Journey said. “She’s asking for you.”
Steven looked away for a moment. “Oh yeah. Can you do me a big favor?”
Journey’s eyes were wide.
“I know you hate this shit, but she’s looking for some weed. I’ve got a small bag in my sock drawer. Can you give it to her? Just tell her it’s on the house… you know, ‘cause of everything,” he said.
Journey was confused. “Do you know this girl?”
“Just business, babe,” he replied and pulled the curtain closed.
Journey walked out of the bathroom and retrieved the stash from his sock drawer. She carried it back to the living room where Julie was still quietly waiting with her hands in her lap. She stood up as Journey approached holding out the bag. “He said to give this to you and to tell you not to worry about it. It’s on him,” Journey said.
Julie opened her mouth to say something but, apparently, changed her mind and closed it. She accepted the bag. “Uh, thanks. I really appreciate it.”
Journey stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Sure. I hope things get better.”
“Yeah,” Julie mumbled. She turned to leave, and Journey walked with her to the front door. She stopped before leaving and turned back around. “Can you please ask Steven to call me?”
Journey found it an odd request. “Sure. Does he have your number?”
She just nodded.
“No problem,” Journey said.
Julie gave half of a polite smile. “Thanks,” she said and walked out.
Journey waited at the door and watched her car disappear down the driveway.
“Did you take care of it?” Steven asked, buttoning his jeans as he walked into the room. He hadn’t put on a shirt, and Journey noticed he was running out of skin on his upper body for any more tattoos.
“Yeah. She wants you to call her.”
“K,” he answered, pulling his wet black hair into a short ponytail.
He walked toward the kitchen, but Journey stayed frozen in her place. “That was really freaking weird,” she said.
He shrugged and pulled open the refrigerator door. “People like to get high when they’re sad. I don’t see what the big deal is.”
Journey let out a deep breath. “I guess it’s just because it's sooo sad, and it’s been all over the news, and then bam!, she’s on our couch.”
He shrugged again and took a big gulp of milk out of the half-gallon jug. “Small town,” he sa
id after he swallowed.
“I wonder why she wants you to call her,” Journey said.
Steven laughed as he closed the refrigerator. He came into the living room and slipped his hand behind her head. “Let it go, babe,” he said and kissed her lips.
· · ·
Journey was at work on Monday night when Julie walked in the front door. She looked lost and like she hadn’t slept in days. Journey was certain that she probably hadn’t. Several people turned to stare at her. Journey walked over, approaching her cautiously. “Hey Julie,” she said.
“Hey,” Julie replied nervously.
“Are you here to eat?”
Julie shook her head. “No. I’m really sorry to bother you. Do you know where I can find Steven? I went by your house again, and no one was home.” She was wringing her cold hands.
Journey really had no idea where her boyfriend was. “He worked today, but he usually gets off at four. I have no clue where he was headed tonight. I’m sorry. Want me to give him a message?”
“Just ask him to call me, please,” she said, turning to leave.
Something about her demeanor caught Journey’s attention, but she wasn’t sure what it was. “Is something wrong?” Journey asked.
Tears slipped down Julie’s cheeks as she glanced back at Journey. “Yeah. Everything.”
Steven was already in bed watching television when Journey got home that night. She walked into their bedroom and dropped her purse and keys on the dresser.
“Hey. How was work?” he asked.
She groaned. “Slow.” She unbuttoned her uniform and deposited it on the floor. “Oh, did that girl, Julie, get ahold of you?”
He changed the channel on the TV. “Yeah, she’s been blowing up my phone all day. I talked to her a couple of hours ago.”
“She came to the bar looking for you,” Journey said. She pulled on Steven’s discarded t-shirt to sleep in.
“Yeah, she had just left there when I talked to her. That chick has lost it,” he said, shaking his head.
Journey nodded and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. “I’m sure she has. Hell, I would too. What did she want so bad from you?” she asked before she stuck her toothbrush in her mouth.
“Freaking pills, man,” he said. “She sounded crazy though, and I told her no. She needs help. Bad. Like, the kind of help that I sure as hell can’t give her.”
Journey finished brushing and rinsed out her mouth. She went back to the bedroom and pulled the covers back before sliding in next to him. “Were you worried that she might O.D.?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I didn’t want it on my head if that’s what she had in mind. I’m telling you, she was out of her head. I’m surprised she’s not been back over here.”
Journey was cold, so she cuddled up next to him and tangled her feet with his. He yelped and jerked his feet away. “Your feet are like ice blocks!”
“For supposedly being such a bad ass, you’re a pretty big sissy,” she teased.
“What’d you call me?” he asked, raising his voice a little.
She smirked at him. “A sissy. What are you gonna do about it?”
He threw the remote on the floor and rolled over on her, tickling her sides. “Take it back,” he demanded.
“Sissy,” she repeated, laughing.
“Take it back!”
“Sissy!” she screamed.
They wrestled till they were both panting. He finally pinned her down and began kissing her. As soon as he got the t-shirt off over her head, their doorbell rang. He collapsed on top of her in frustration. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he groaned.
Journey laughed. “You called it.”
He pushed himself up, and the doorbell rang again. “I hate crazy chicks,” he grumbled.
Journey decided she had better go with him, so she got up and pulled on the first pieces of clothing her fingers found on the floor.
There was a loud pounding at the door that caused Steven to freeze. “That’s not the girl,” he said, zipping up his pants. “That’s the cops. Do you have anything on you?”
“I’ve got a gram in my nightstand,” she answered.
“Is that it?” he asked a little desperately.
“Yeah,” she answered.
He pointed to the bathroom. “Flush it. Now.”
She was surprised. “You don’t have any?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m clean.”
· · ·
Marcus had heard the call come over dispatch about sending someone to Journey’s address. He quickly volunteered to take the call. He couldn’t believe he was getting ready to question her about a disappearance. He rapped his fist on the door again and heard Steven yell, “I’m coming!”
A moment later, Steven wrenched the door open wearing just a pair of torn blue jeans. He was smoothing out his hair with his hands.
Curtis Martin, Marcus’s partner, spoke first. “Steven Drake?”
“Yeah,” Steven answered.
Marcus took half a step forward and looked at his partner. “I’ve got this,” he said.
Curtis nodded.
Marcus turned to Steven. “Hey Steve. We need to talk to you and Journey. Is she here?”
Journey stepped out of the hallway in an oversized t-shirt and jeans. She offered him a small wave, and he returned a slight nod. He knew he had to be professional.
“What’s this about?” Steven asked.
Marcus looked back at him. “Can we come in?”
“Do you have a warrant?” Steven asked quickly.
Journey slapped him on the side. “Of course you can,” she said, pulling the door open further.
Marcus caught Steven’s angered expression. He looked at him, and finally Steven stepped out of his way.
Journey nervously nibbled on a fingernail. “What’s going on, Marcus?”
Marcus pulled out a pad of paper from his shirt pocket. “Do either of you know Julie Kennedy?”
Journey shrugged her shoulders. “Steven knows her a little bit, and I just met her a few days ago when she stopped by here."
Steven cast her a menacing scowl that Marcus immediately noted.
“How do you know her?” Marcus asked, looking at Steven.
Steven folded his arms across his chest. “She’s a client,” he said. All three of them looked up with surprise. A thin smile spread across Steven’s lips. “I change the oil in her car every 3,000 miles.”
Marcus almost laughed.
Journey sat down on their sofa. “Is something wrong?”
Marcus shifted on his feet. “She’s missing and, as far as we can tell, Steven was the last person to talk to her on the phone, and you were the last to speak to her in person.”
Journey swallowed hard. “I think she might be suicidal, Marcus. You’ve got to find her.”
He nodded. “I’m hoping you both can help us do that.”
Steven spoke up. “We don’t have to tell you anything.”
Marcus leaned toward him. “Why wouldn’t you? We are looking for an unstable, missing kid.”
“Because it’s not my damn job,” Steven snapped.
Journey reached toward him, but his eyes widened with a silent warning. He shook his head slowly, not breaking eye contact with her.
Marcus could tell she was deeply concerned, and he wondered how much she really knew about her boyfriend’s involvement. He knew her well enough to know that if she could help him find a suicidal girl, she would. However, Steven was doing everything short of duct-taping her mouth closed.
“Steven, I’m going to need you to step outside with me,” Marcus finally said. He looked at Journey. Her eyes were wide with concern. “I’m going to let you talk to my partner. This won’t take long.”
Marcus followed Steven out onto the front porch. “Are you arresting me?” he asked.
“No. I just want to talk to you,” Marcus answered. “How well do you know Julie Kennedy? And don’t give me a bullshit answer that you would
give your girlfriend.”
Steven leaned against the porch rail. “I already told you. I met her at the shop. Her whole family comes there. I don’t see her out much.”
Marcus could tell from Steven’s demeanor that he was probably telling the truth. “When was the last time you saw her?”
Steven thought for a moment. “Maybe a week and a half ago. I ran into her at the mall.”
Marcus pointed back inside. “But I know she was just here a few days ago.”
Steven sighed. “Just because she stopped by doesn’t mean I saw her. I was in the shower. Ask Journey.”
“And what did she say to you on the phone today?”
Steven was losing the little bit of patience he had. “All I can tell you is that girl was out of her damn mind on the phone.”
“What do you mean by that?” Marcus asked, scribbling in his notebook.
“She was really upset about her sister, and she just kept saying she wanted to make the pain stop,” Steven said.
Marcus slowly cast his gaze back at Steven. It was unbelievable how much he hated the guy. “And why would she want to talk to her mechanic so badly? Are you moonlighting as a therapist now?”
Steven shrugged. “I guess I’m just a good go-to guy,” he answered with a smirk.
Marcus wanted to permanently remove Steven’s smart ass mouth from his face.
“Did she give you any idea where she was going?”
Steven shook his head. “She didn’t say a word about it.”
Marcus studied Steven’s face for a moment. “Where were you on Friday night last week? The night that it snowed?”
Steven shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I was at Barry’s Bar with Journey, waiting for her to get off work so I could drive her home,” he answered.
“What time did she get off?”
Steven thought for a moment. “Around midnight.”
Marcus made a note to ask Journey the same question and then snapped his notebook closed. “I appreciate it. I hope that if you hear from her, you will call immediately,” he said, handing Steven a business card with the police station information on it.
“Yeah,” Steven agreed, flicking the card in his fingertips.
Marcus looked inside to see if Curtis and Journey were finished talking. They were.
