Paper Alley, page 10
It had all the trappings of an old Spaghetti Western. Lee sat tall in the saddle. The brim of his Stetson cast a shadow over his face. His body moved in sync with the horse. He was a natural. Lee looked as if he had been born on the horse. It was a scene out of the Gary Cooper era.
Dan stood up in anticipation of greeting Lee, but Lee’s posture didn’t indicate he saw Dan. Lee’s head tilted downward as if watching the road in front of the mare. Dan thought Lee must have been aware of him because he continued past the point where he should have turned to go to the big oak out back. Lee didn’t raise his head until he reached the porch steps where Dan stood.
“Howdy.”
“Hi, Lee, evening ride? I was a little concerned when I got here and didn’t see you.”
“Concerned? What for? I left Buck here to watch over things whilst I checked my traps before closing up shop. Ain’t nothin’ bad happened, did it?”
“Well, no, not anything I’m aware of.”
“What kin I do for you, Dan? You need some fishin’ bait?”
“No, I just wanted to talk to you a little.”
“We already talked, I’m thinkin’.”
“We did. Since then I have had some new questions turn up.”
“There ain’t no percentage in me givin’ out answers, Dan. ‘Unless the questions are ’bout fishin’ or maybe trappin’.”
“Well, let’s call this fishing.”
“You know, a fella can get his self kilt askin’ the wrong questions. There are dangerous people living in these parts.”
Lee’s right hand let go of the reins, reaching for a handle protruding from beneath his duster. He was quick, producing a relic single-shot black powder pistol. It all happened too fast for Dan to process, but Lee kicked the mare in the ribs and in a flash was at the edge of the parking lot, leaning off the side of the mare with shooting arm at full extent. There was a puff of smoke, a crack of thunder, then flames, as a burning ball ripped into the dry weeds. The weeds crackled to life, fanned by a breeze. Dan stood speechless, slack-jawed.
Lee dismounted with the ease of a man half his age. He removed his duster to beat out the burning grass. With the flames out, Lee tossed his duster over his shoulder, restored the pistol to his belt, and held the mare’s reins as he walked back toward Dan.
“Dang vermin, they carry a virus, turns a horse’s brain to mush.”
“Vermin?”
“Possum. Ugliest critter alive, they get into the horse’s feed and crap. The virus don’t hurt the opossum, but it eats a horse’s brain. Sad to watch, I tell ya.”
“Did you get him? I didn’t even see him.”
“Git ’im? The lead ball took off his head, and the fire cooked him. I don’t miss. I’ll bury his charred remains later so’s nothing gits sick feedin’ on him. Just goes to show you some sayings are wrong. That bird got an early start on the night, but he didn’t get the worm. They’re night critters, you know.”
“Yes, I know. It was amazing. How in the world did you see him in this dimming light?”
“It comes of knowin’ good huntin’ practices. Never expect to see what you’re huntin’ for. Just watch for movements where you shouldn’t expect ’em. Keep in mind the size of your game. I didn’t see the possum. I saw the weeds move. It had to be a small critter, a coon, a skunk, a cat, or possum. My head was processin’ what it could be on my way to it. It was fifty-fifty to be somethin’ I would kill. I don’t never shoot cats or skunk.”
Lee spit juice and inspected his pistol.
“Can we talk, Lee? Seriously, I need to talk to you.”
“See the road over there?”
“Yes, I drove in on it.”
“Yeah, well, did you know this road has tremendous historical significance?”
“No, I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t think you would. Its historical significance is meaningful to us locals, and you ain’t local, Dan. You’re wantin’ quick answers. You want a clear shot at your game. Well, just watch the weeds and be ready. If you live here a while, the answers might come to you, but then again, they may not, not even if you live to be a hundred. Now, I ain’t knowed too many successful noisy hunters, and asking questions makes noise.”
“Lee, I want answers to things having an impact on my family. I’m not wanting to know anybody else’s business.”
“Mr. Winslow, let me tell you how small towns work. There are people in these parts who are in their eighties and still hold grudges for grievances on the elementary school playground. Things move slow here, and ain’t nobody going to appreciate you tryin’ to hurry nothin’ up.”
“Lee, just answer me this. Do you know a fellow named John McKenzie?”
Lee spit tobacco juice into the parking lot dust. He tied the mare to one of the porch posts and took out a handkerchief to blow his nose.
Dan broke into an uncontrollable dry cough lasting several seconds. He took a swig of water.
“Sounds like you might be getting a bug.”
“Maybe allergies.”
Lee studied Dan for a moment.
“I know John . . . matter of fact, we were best friends when we were young’uns. We did a lot of crawfish huntin’ together. It was all afore bein’ smart mattered. As we got older, I guess ole John saw I wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. He’s a real smart man, John is. Good guy, just ain’t got no time for a fella like me no more. We were the three musketeers, McDonath, McKenzie, and me. Inseparable we were.”
“He stopped to see me, wanted to look around the house. He said his father built it.”
“Yep, right he did. John’s father was a worker. Smart too, probably even smarter than John.”
“John said he died in an accident.”
“He called it an accident?”
“Well, no, he didn’t exactly. What happened to him? Do you know anything about the incident?”
“Didn’t think he’d call it no accident. I know it happened so long ago ain’t nothin’ ‘bout it matters now. Can’t change it no matter how much you talk ’bout it. I think we’re done talkin’, Dan.”
Lee stepped up onto the porch, opened the door to the store, then stopped, turning once more toward Dan.
“Do yourself a favor, Dan. Sell the house and move away. It ain’t healthy if you’re goin’ to be diggin’ ’round these parts. Word is going to spread. We ain’t talked a-tall, you hear me? Now, I gotta be gittin’ closed up. I’ll be riding home in the dark sure enough.”
“Trust me, Lee. I won’t even mention this meeting to my wife. Just so you know. A lot of things are public record and official reports. I just wanted to get your perspective. I know he was found in the Stony by three boys, one of whom was his son.”
“There’s the written record, and then there’s the truth. Don’t put too much stock in what you read. We did find Big Jim, though. I told you the Stony is dangerous. Mr. Winslow, you be careful. The road can be treacherous. Come on, Buck, git inside.”
The door shut, leaving Dan standing alone in the parking lot. The sun setting, the light of day fading, Dan got in his car and headed down Lee’s historical road. He liked Lee and knew he was no fool.
At the library, he’d read old newspaper articles about Stony Grove. He’d read Big Jim McKenzie’s obituary, but it didn’t say much. The time spent in the courthouse offered more insight. It became obvious, most of the land in the area was titled to three families. Two of the families owned large tracts of open land. The third name held title to half the homes in town and one large piece of undeveloped property. Dan studied the town’s demographics and maps. Stony Grove had been founded on Revolutionary War land grants. The two families with the largest land holdings dated back to the time of the Revolution, the Stratton and Haines families. The map of the town indicated half the original layout of the town had been fulfilled. Streets ended in cul-de-sacs, and the original maps showed dotted lines and parcels sitting empty.
ELEVEN
Julie dumped her coffee into a travel mug, capped it, and grabbed her book bag. Everyone else had already left the house, so she checked the doors and took a quick look around the kitchen to see if all the appliances were off. She’d be late if she didn’t hustle. Two minutes later she was heading up the driveway. Where the driveway crested onto the street, her car leveled out, giving Julie a panoramic view of the yard across the street. A young male, probably a college student, stood exposed, urinating on the grass. His hands rested on his hips. Julie threw the shifter into park. Her time as a supervisor in the military kicked into action.
Her words released in fury as she emerged from her car. “What do you think you’re doing? You have no right to urinate in public in this neighborhood.”
“Ah, come on, lady, don’t act like you haven’t ever seen one of these before.”
“You’re disgusting! What if a child was with me? Think of someone besides yourself.”
“Ah, lady, get a life,” he said, pulling up his zipper.
“Get a life?! Why, you . . .” All Julie could think of was that she had lived twice as long as this punk, been around the world, and served her country with honor. This slimeball was telling her to get a life. She wanted to scream. The student turned to walk back toward his house. It was Val Wentreck’s house, a student rental.
“Hold on, bucko, what you just did was commit indecent exposure. There are laws against it. I’m calling the police. What’s your name?”
“Kiss off, lady.”
“What? What’s your name?”
“Are you for real? I’m not telling you my name.” He let out a chuckle.
“I’m sure the police can get the names of everyone who lives in that house.”
He disappeared into the student rental and slammed the door.
Julie stood in the middle of the street somewhere between furious and flabbergasted. She couldn’t move; she felt violated. That mutant can’t be a college student.
Mary stepped out of her front door and walked toward Julie. “Julie, are you all right? Julie?” Mary looked concerned.
Julie didn’t respond. Her ears were ringing, and her head was pounding. Gathering her thoughts, she concluded it had been a deliberate act. I leave for school every morning, at the same time. What were the chances this guy knows my schedule? After all, he lives directly across the street from me. Yes, this was a planned act, but why? Her thoughts both scared and infuriated her so much, she didn’t even see Mary standing near her.
“Julie, are you all right?”
This time Julie turned toward Mary. “No, Mary. I’m a far distance from being all right.”
“Well, I saw the entire thing. These college kids have nerve.”
“I’m calling the police.”
Mary’s look turned disapproving. “Oh, Julie, let it go. They’re just stupid kids. They’ll graduate and move on. It’s the way it is, the way it has always been, doesn’t mean anything.”
“Mary, what if a child sees something like this. Sorry, but it just isn’t right. I’m reporting it.”
“Julie, nothing will come of it. The police aren’t going to do anything.”
“It’s indecent exposure, he broke the law. I think it was deliberate. I leave home at the same time every day. He wanted me to see him.”
“That’s a serious charge to put on a kid. This is a teacher’s college. A charge of that nature could ruin the kid’s life. He won’t get a clearance with those charges. It’s a moral offense.”
“Mary, do you think someone like him should be a teacher? Would you want him to be your daughter’s teacher? If nothing else, it proves he’s too stupid to be teaching children.”
“No, but I hate to make trouble. You’re a pretty woman, Julie. Boys do stupid things to get the attention of pretty women.”
Julie looked at Mary, dumbfounded by what she was hearing. It was just plain stupid. They walked into Julie’s front yard. Julie decided to skip class. She was in no mood to sit in a room with a bunch of students of the caliber of the jerk she had just confronted and listen to a self-absorbed professor touting his progressive agenda.
“Julie, I also want to tell you, we’re moving.”
“You’re moving? Why?”
“Ed told me last night, he’s tired of the house. He says he wants out. He says he’s going to spread the word down at the firehouse. He said a couple of the guys have told him if he ever wants to get rid of the house to let them know.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you, Mary? I mean, this isn’t something you and Ed are talking about; it’s a done deal.”
“Ed doesn’t talk about doing things. He just tells me he’s doing it. I have to go. I shouldn’t have come over. Ed would be mad if he knew.”
Julie didn’t even bother to say good-bye to Mary. She watched Mary trot back to her house, then turned her attention back to the student rental across the street. She called in a report to the police, then sat down on her porch to wait for an officer to appear. The street looked peaceful now, not a soul on it. A light breeze ruffled a shrub near the walk. Other than the wind, all was still. Winter was in the air. As she looked toward Mary’s house, a chill gripped her. She wondered what the new people would be like. She hoped Ed would sell the house to a young couple. It would be nice to have some young children on the street, once the college kids were made to act like future leaders, which they are supposedly learning to be.
A police cruiser drifted up the street, stopping in front of the Winslows’ home. A lone officer stepped out, adjusting his holster and belt. It was Pete Peterson, she was sure. He looked around the area and then walked over to Julie on the front porch. Julie flashed back to the image of Peterson’s knee in Zane’s back, his pistol pointed at his head. Yes, it was the same officer who had responded to her call about the intruder, the intruder who had turned out to be her son. Julie flashed back to the day, the embarrassment of the moment and the joy Peterson took in it.
The town had two police officers, and she had already embarrassed herself in front of both. Suddenly, she lost confidence in her decision to place the call to the police. There was no sign of a smirk on the officer’s face, but Julie sensed it. She knew he would be amused by her new complaint. Julie wanted to crawl into the house and draw the drapes shut. Mary’s words buzzed in her head: Nothing will come of it. Why couldn’t it have been Officer Monroe? Her chances would have been better with Monroe.
“Good morning, Mrs. Winslow. The dispatcher reported trouble on the street. What can I do for you?” Julie looked at his name tag. Yep, Pete Peterson. The officer’s grin confirmed Julie’s intuition.
She forced herself to stand her ground and respond. “The house across the street is a student rental. This morning one of the tenants exposed himself out on the front lawn. I would like him charged with indecent exposure.”
“That’s a serious accusation, Mrs. Winslow. Are sure you want to pursue it?”
“Yes, I want to pursue it!” Julie felt her control crumbling.
“Well, I didn’t witness it, so I may need evidence. Did you take any pictures?” Officer Peterson smiled.
“No!” Pictures—sure, I’m going to take pictures of . . . Julie took a deep breath. She had made the call; now she needed to keep her head about her.
“Well, ma’am, don’t be offended.” Peterson turned Julie’s anxiety on her. “Lots of people have security cameras these days. I’m suggesting you might have caught him on yours or maybe your neighbor has one.”
“We don’t have any security cameras.”
“Well, did you get a good look at the perpetrator? Do you think you could recognize him if you saw him again?” The officer’s smirk sickened Julie. He was enjoying himself at her expense once again, and it added to her disgust of him. She refrained from responding.
“Well then, were there any other witnesses?”
“Yes, my neighbor Mary saw the whole thing. She lives in the house across the driveway.”
“Mrs. Winslow, why don’t you go inside? I’ll go talk to Mary and to the student across the street. Do you know the student’s name?”
“No.”
“After I talk to everyone, I’ll come back to talk to you.”
“Thank you.” Julie disappeared into the house and stood at the window to watch as the officer knocked on the door of the student rental.
The door to the student rental opened, and Officer Peterson went inside. Julie moved to her kitchen to pour a cup of coffee. She heated it in the microwave, then stood at the living room window to watch for Officer Peterson to depart the house. She went to sip her coffee, but it was gone, and Peterson was still inside the house across the street. She set her empty cup on the windowsill. She swayed back and forth, her arms folded across her chest. A glance at her wristwatch marked the time. It had been twenty minutes since the officer went inside.
Then she saw Peterson emerge. He was laughing. He was laughing. Julie saw the offender step into the doorway. They shook hands, and the officer motioned with his hand as if blowing off a question from the offender. Great, Julie thought, they look like buddies talking about football or something. The officer and the offender continued to talk and laugh. Peterson’s breath was visible in the crisp air. Julie walked out onto her porch and slammed herself down onto the porch swing. She was furious. She wanted to give Dan a call but controlled herself. She sat down on the porch swing to wait. Peterson walked away as the offender stepped back into the house.
Julie expected Peterson would head toward Mary’s house, but instead he approached Julie. He strolled, looking up and down the street. There was no one else on the street, no vehicles or pedestrians. He began an exaggerated swagger, presumably meant to agitate her. She calmed herself with deep breaths and closed her eyes until she could hear the first porch step creak under his foot.
“Mrs. Winslow, I think I have resolved this matter.”
“You do? How did you resolve it?”
