Asher

by Piper Davenport

  “He expected you to come back? Does your dad know you at all?” I asked.

  “He knows who he wants me to be.”

  It was the type of answer I expected from Dylan. My bestie wasn’t exactly a pushover, but she was anti-drama and anti-conflict to the point of sacrificing her own wants to appease others. I used to argue with her about it, but now I understood her easy nature better, so I focused my energy on making sure nobody took advantage of her.

  “So is bipolar Dylan going to come out?” I asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “No, it’s not like that. I just...I might get a little more hickish.”

  I gasped. “Oh God, there’s another level?”

  “Ha-ha,” she deadpanned.

  A little after eight we crested a hill, revealing a valley of lights. “This is Lakeview?” I asked. When Dylan nodded, I said, “Looks bigger than you described.”

  “It’s spread out. A lot of farms and ranches.”

  “So what do people do for fun here?” I asked.

  She shrugged. “During winter, people ski. In the summer there’s the community pool, fishing, hang gliding...”

  “Hang gliding?” I asked.

  “Yep. We’re kinda famous for it...something about the winds and the elevation. They jump from that mountain, right there.” She pointed to the dark shape behind the town.

  “Did you ever go hang gliding?” I asked.

  “It’s expensive. We couldn’t afford it. Besides, Dad would have flipped had I tried.”

  “But you wanted to jump off a mountain while wearing a giant kite?” I asked.

  “Spend enough time here, you’ll want to jump too.” Dylan grimaced. “With or without the giant kite.”

  Any trace of excitement Dylan had shown earlier was gone. Despite everything she’d gone through, she was usually a glass-is-half-full type person. When life kicked her in the teeth, she learned how to make a mouth guard. But the strained look on her face told me how difficult this trip was for her. Alarmed, I asked, “What’s the real reason you left this place?”

  “Everyone knows everyone here, and gossiping comes as natural as breathing, I swear.”

  “Everyone has to deal with gossips,” I replied. My mother’s inner circle was full of the biggest gossips I’d ever met. Seriously, those women needed a hobby.

  Dylan nodded. “I get that. I just...did I ever tell you about Toby?”

  I shook my head. “Not that I can remember.”

  “I never really fit in here, so I kinda kept to myself. Then in fifth grade there was this group of girls headed up by Brandy Standke, and they were brutal. They teased me for being such a goody two shoes. I got sick of it and skipped school one day to prove them wrong. Turns out an unpopular boy by the name of Toby Lewis chose that day for his pre-teen act of rebellion as well. Toby and I weren’t close, but Brandy and her crew spread the rumor that he and I were sleeping together, and we took the day off so his mom could drive me to Klamath to get an abortion.”

  I gasped. “But you were only in fifth grade! Had you even started your period yet?”

  “Nope. They didn’t care about things like facts or science. Neither did anyone who helped them spread the rumor. It was bad, Addie. That’s when I started researching ways to get out of here and came across the boarding school in Portland.”

  Dylan and I had met in sixth grade, when she transferred to my school as a scholarship student.

  “Aw, buddy. That sounds awful. Brandy is...was such a douchebag...but female.”

  “Yeah,” Dylan chuckled. “She’s a...a douche-hag.”

  “Ohmigod, that’s perfect!” I laughed. “What are the odds we’ll run into her?”

  “There’s two thousand people in town. If she’s still here, the odds are pretty good.”

  “I’ve got your back. If she starts anything, I will deal with her, and she’ll wish she’d never been born.”

  Dylan gave me the first real smile since we’d started this road trip. “I’m not sure that makes me feel better.”

  “You’re smiling and your knuckles have lost their white pallor.” I shifted in my seat. “It absolutely makes you feel better.”

  We passed a bizarre welcome sign, a giant wooden cowboy holding a pistol in the air. The lettering at his feet read “Tallest town in Oregon.”

  “Welcome to Lakeview,” Dylan said. “Weird. Those train tracks are new.”

  “Train tracks aren’t exactly unusual, Dylan.”

  “Here, they are. Amtrak doesn’t even come out here. We have some train tracks behind the school, but they aren’t used anymore. The old station was turned into a house.”

  Well maybe that was strange to Dylan, but no more so than the mostly deserted road that never got any wider than two lanes. Beyond the sign was a residential district full of older homes. Slowing, we pulled into the driveway of what looked like a rundown church. “What’s this?”

  “The newest inn.”

  “Huh?” I asked, leaning forward to get a better look out the windshield.

  “This is the fanciest place to stay in Lakeview, Addie. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I’m totally fine. I was just clarifying.”

  “Hm-mmm,” Dylan mumbled.

  I forced my snobbishness away, certain the place was clean, which was the most important thing at the moment. Once Dylan parked the car, I plastered on a big smile and climbed out.

  “Let’s leave the luggage until we’re checked in,” Dylan suggested.

  “Of course,” I said. “Why would we take it?”

  Dylan stalled. “Um, Addie, we’re going to have to drag your fifty-two bags up to the room, so we should probably find out where said room is before we do that.”

  I gaped at her. “We have to take it to our room?”

  “Yes. Who else would?”

  “Um...hello...the bellhop maybe?”

  Dylan bent over and started to laugh hysterically. I realized I might have to admit I was a little out of my depth here. “Oh, bite me, Dylan. Let’s just check in.”

  I followed my bestie monster (bonster...mestie) into the ho...motel and was delighted to discover they took credit cards. For a minute, I was nervous I was going to have to plop down cash and pay by the hour. Dylan pulled her wallet out of her purse, but I shook my head. “Business expense. I’ve got this.”

  I was glad she didn’t even attempt to argue. I was too tired to fight. And I was suddenly depressed again. Luckily, I’d brought a case of my favorite wine just in case I needed to drink myself to sleep. I knew I’d need something to force me into a comatose state, because the weight on my chest was killing me. I missed Jake. A lot.

  “Here’s your card,” the reception clerk said, and slid it across the desk.

  “Thanks, ah”—I glanced at her name tag—“Molly.”

  “No problem. You have adjoining rooms. Just go right out that door, hang a left, and you’ll be the third and fourth room on the ground floor. Enjoy your stay.”

  “Hey, what’s with the train tracks?” Dylan asked.

  Molly looked Dylan over. “I know you. You’re Chad James’s kid, right?”

  Dylan shuffled her feet.

  “Yeah, I remember you. I used to be Molly Burns. My little brother Nolan was in your grade.”

  Dylan nodded. “I remember Nolan. How is he?”

  “He married Jessica Lentz, and they popped out a couple of kids before she got all messed up on meth and cheated on him with the electrician. They divorced a few months ago.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “Yeah. And did you hear about Beth Ludaker? She’s on meth, too, and—”

  “Actually, we just drove down from Portland and I’m exhausted. We’ll have to catch up later,” Dylan said, shuffling me toward the door.

  “Will you know everyone here?” I asked.

  “Most likely.” She groaned. “And they will all want to fill me in on the latest gossip and let me know who the newest meth-heads are. She never did a
nswer my question about the train tracks, but I am not going back in there.”

  We walked back to the car and drove around to the rooms, parking directly in front of my door. I backed in and we easily wheeled (no dragging necessary) my bags inside. Granted, Dylan had to help me, but she did it with very little complaining. Almost.

  “Exactly why do you need so many bags?” she asked for the umpteenth time.

  I opened my smallest bag and pulled out my blue light. “I’ll show you.” I clicked on the light and ran it over the top of the motel comforter.

  Dylan gasped. “What is that?”

  “That my dear friend, is a copious amount of bodily fluids.”

  “What kind of bodily fluids?”

  “Does it matter?” I asked as I stripped the bed.

  Dylan made a gagging sound. “Oh, that is so gross.”

  Throwing the motel bedding in the corner, I opened my largest suitcase. “This is why I have to bring so many bags.”

  I pulled out sheets and one of my down comforters, remaking the bed the way Yolanda had taught me. Even though we had maids, my nanny had insisted I learn how to do it so I could at least act like a functioning member of society.

  My mother had had an absolute shit fit, but I was proud I’d learned a domestic skill and felt bad that Yolanda had been at the end of my mother’s nastiness. From that moment on, I made Yolanda promise to keep teaching me and vowed I’d keep it between us. As silly as it was, she and I grew closer after that, which made her disappearance even more devastating.

  “Seriously, Addie, that was something I could have gone my whole life without knowing. Now how do you expect me to go into my own room and sleep under a comforter full of...of copious amounts of unknown body fluids?” Dylan asked.

  “Why do you think I brought that one?” I nodded toward the bag I’d set by the adjoining room doors.

  “Really? You brought bedding for me too?”

  I nodded. “Of course.”

  “Have I told you lately that I love you?” she sang as she wheeled the suitcase into her room.

  “No singing!” I snapped, and grinned at Dylan’s giggle. “When can we start drinking?”

  “Now,” Dylan returned. “Shoot, I was ready to break into that case two towns back.”

  “Good answer.” I grabbed the case of wine and pulled out a bottle. “Where’s the opener?”

  “Oh, on my keychain.” Dylan walked back into my room and handed me her keys and I opened the wine.

  “I guess plastic cups will have to do. I didn’t want to risk breaking glass.”

  “Only you would even think of bringing wine glasses.”

  I shrugged and handed her a cup. “Class is class, baby.”

  We sat on my freshly-made bed and sipped wine as we looked over the room.

  “What year do you think that television is from?” I asked.

  Dylan eyeballed it. “Currently I’m more concerned with whether or not there are body fluids on it. Is it weird that I want to use that handy-dandy light to check every inch of surface in our rooms?”

  I pointed at the light. “Have at it.”

  “But at the same time, I’m terrified I may never be able to sleep in a hotel room again.”

  “Oh honey, this is not a hotel,” I assured her.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes.” I beamed her a smile. “You mean I’m rubbing off on you. It’s a good thing. Sanitizing wipes are in that bag.”

  She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You’re my favorite.”

  “I’m aware.” I poured myself more wine.

  Dylan watched me, her eyebrows creeping up her forehead. “How are you, Addie?”

  The combination of wine, exhaustion, and her concern hit me harder than I expected. I blinked back tears. “Good.”

  “Liar.”

  “Totes.” I sighed. “My heart feels like it’s been smashed into a thousand tiny pieces.”

  “Love sucks.”

  “Ohmigod, it totally does,” I agreed. “I’ve heard nothing from him. I thought he’d come to his senses and at least try to win me back.”

  “I’m sorry, Addie. I thought so, too. Jake seems like such an intelligent guy. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually. He must be as stubborn as you are.”

  I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but I didn’t have it in me to pretend it was working. “It is what it is.” I shrugged. “I have never been here before so I’m not entirely sure how I’m supposed react...or feel, for that matter.”

  “Just feel how you feel, buddy. There’s no right or wrong.”

  “What about reactions? Is it overkill to want to hurt him as much as he hurt me?”

  Dylan chuckled. “To want to, no...to do it, yes, probably. Especially since he’s a cop and all. Might be difficult to hide that body.”

  “Damn.”

  “But it’s not entirely out of the question,” Dylan added. “I should get a passport first, though, just in case.”

  I forced a smile. “Sounds like a good plan.”

  She hugged me again. “Tomorrow we’re gonna go find the asshat stealing from old people. And when we catch him or her, I’m sure I could be persuaded to look away while you take a few sucker punches to make you feel better.”

  This time I did smile. People who stole from the elderly were right up there with cheaters in my book. “You’re my favorite, too.”

  Dylan gave me one last hug before she left. I changed into pajamas then crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep.

  Dylan

  I AWOKE EARLY the next morning and stared at my phone for a good fifteen minutes before making the call I’d been dreading since yesterday. It was way too early to call him, but in Lakeview, news traveled like a raging STD. Last night Molly had probably called one of my cousins, who called their parents, who called my dad, who was sleeping off a hangover before he dragged himself out of bed and drove over to harass me for not telling him I was coming.

  He answered on the fourth ring, sounding hung-over and irritated. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about waking him up.

  “’Mornin’, Dad,” I said, forcing a smile into my voice.

  “Oh, hey, sweetie. I heard you were in town. Are you on your way over?”

  “No.” I swallowed, wondering why my throat was so dry. I reached for the plastic cup sitting on my nightstand, but stopped just shy of downing the last sip of wine before breakfast. I would not let Dad or this town turn me into his clone. Disgusted with my momentary lapse in willpower, I plunged ahead. “We’re not going to be here long and we have a packed schedule, and—”

  “Why are you at the new motel? You should have stayed at the house.”

  No, we shouldn’t have, and for so many reasons. “It was late, and Addie’s with me, and we didn’t want to put you out. Since we’re here to investigate we’re gonna be coming and going pretty irregularly and—” And grade A bullshit kept spewing from my mouth.

  “Your room is exactly as you left it, but I’ll get the bedding all washed and ready and you can stay here tonight. I’ll call the family and we’ll put together a barbecue. Dakota will be so excited to hear you’re back. He keeps asking about you and I’ve been telling him you’re—”

  “Whoa there,” I said, knowing I had to put the kibosh on his rambling before he came for my suitcases. “Addie and I are staying in the motel. We are here to work, Dad. No barbecue. And for the love of all that is holy, please do not tell Dakota I’m here to see him.”

  “He’s never gotten over you, Dylan.”

  I resisted the urge to bash my head against the wall, but only barely. “I have to get to work, Dad. I’ll talk to you later,” I said before disconnecting. I hadn’t seen my father in a couple of years, but I still wasn’t ready to play nice. I knew I’d have to see him before I left town, but planned to keep that visit as short and sweet as possible.

  While Addison slept, I took advantage of the motel’s free breakfast and grabbed a cup
of awful black coffee. True to his word, Jake had sent a link that led to a bunch of mug shots. I went through the pictures three times, recognizing one of the Spiders who’d attacked Candy. I didn’t see the other one, though. I sent Jake a message and let him know I’d have Addison scroll through the photos as soon as she woke up. Then I made some phone calls and jotted down notes about who all we needed to see at the nursing home. By the time Addison joined the land of the living, I had a full-fledged plan for finding our jewelry thief and getting the hell out of Dodge. We got Addison fed and caffeinated as she did her own mug shot perusal, landing on the same familiar face I had. She stopped on another photo and we both studied it but couldn’t be certain that was the second Spider we’d seen in the parking lot. I texted Jake to let him know, and then we were on our way.

  At Addison’s insistence, I drove her through the town, showing her the Chinese restaurant I’d taken my first job in, the community swimming pool where I’d spent the majority of my summers, and the old ballet studio my mom used to take me to for lessons.

  “I still can’t believe you were in ballet,” Addison said with a laugh.

  “Yeah, Mom was bound and determined to make me into her little dancing princess. You should have seen the pink, ruffled dresses she used to put me in.” It had been fifteen years since my mom’s death, and I expected thinking about her to hurt—like it always had—but it didn’t. Instead, I felt numb inside.

  “The Polar Bear?” Addison asked, pointing at a little ice cream shop.

  More memories flooded me. “My little league team used to go there for treats after games. Whenever we won, the coach would even buy dip sticks and cookie dough cones for everyone.” I stared at the spot I used to stand in, usually alone, while the rest of my team crowded around the tables. It had felt like miles between us, but the entire area couldn’t have been more than ten feet.

  “Is it how you remember it?” Addison asked, watching me. “The town, I mean.”

  “It’s smaller. Everything is: the buildings, the mountains, the streets, even the sky seems smaller than I remember. The prison is new, but I guess they had to put in something after the sawmills all went belly up. A few of the buildings have different names on them, but for the most part it’s the same.” I shook my head, knowing I wasn’t being entirely truthful. “It feels different, though. Unreal. I have these memories, but they feel like they happened to someone else. Like it was in a movie I watched or some game I played.”