“Now that Nate’s out of the way.”
“Guy must have rocks in his head, dumping her like that. We’re all itching to put it to her, and he’s got it made, and he throws it all away. Just ’cause he’s got his shorts in a knot over killing a damn troll.”
“Yeah,” Jeremy said.
He thought: That’s not why at all. But hell if I’m going to spill it.
The truth was his secret, his edge, and his alone.
Nobody gets to tell Tanya about the banjo girl but me.
“Are we meeting tonight?” he asked.
“Yup. Sure as shootin’, Duke. Same time, same place.”
That’s too long to wait, he thought. Much too long. I have to tell her now.
Thirty-three
“Look who we’ve got here,” Joan said. She didn’t sound very happy to see the boys.
Dave stayed at her side as they crossed the boardwalk toward the pair. Both kids had corn dogs and were munching and talking while they strolled along. Joan stepped in front of them. They looked startled at first, then came up with nervous smiles.
“How are you fellows doing?” she asked.
“Reckon I’m all in one piece,” said the kid in the cowboy hat. The side of his head was bandaged. He wore a skimpy swimsuit and no shirt, as if he were showing off the wounds on his torso. The cuts looked a little raw, and a lot like the one Dave had seen that morning in the mirror. “I sure want to thank you,” the kid told Joan. He glanced at Dave. “You too. I was about two steps short of the ol’ stewpot.”
“Glad we could help,” Joan said.
“How’s the ear?” Dave asked, trying to remember the guy’s name.
“Well, he’s stitched on good and tight.”
“You really took care of that guy,” the other kid said. Wayne. Something Wayne. He looked in pretty good shape except for the faint shadow of a bruise on his forehead. “No kidding. The way you got him in the chin, looked like you were going for a field goal.”
Joan’s face went red. Dave knew it wasn’t a glow of embarrassed pride. “I’m just glad things worked out,” she said.
“So, what’s the story on Chingachgook and his pal?” asked the one whose ear had been taken off. “They cooling their heels in the hoosegow?”
“They’re both in custody.” Dave said. “One’s still in the hospital.”
“Hope it’s the one tried to gobble my ear.”
“It is,” Dave said.
“Man, I just bet,” Wayne said, looking at Joan with awe in his eyes. “I thought he was a goner, the way you nailed him. That was really cool.”
“There was nothing cool about it.” She turned to the other kid and glared at him. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt any worse than you were, but you were asking for trouble and you got it. And you got a lot of people hurt, including an innocent bystander and my partner. So you’d better watch your step, buddy. You cause any more trouble around here, I’ll be on you like wet on rain.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, looking stunned and guilty. Dave suspected that the look was a sham. “I’m sorry.”
She glanced at Dave. “Let’s go.”
He stayed beside her as she hurried away.
“Couple of shitheads,” she muttered.
“Well, they got hurt pretty good for their trouble.”
“I think the Wayne kid enjoyed it. He stripped the shirt right off that one gal. Probably got in some feelies.”
“Two against one, and they were both bigger than him.”
Joan smiled. “You on his side?”
“He had to defend himself. Even if they were girls. Some are tough.”
“Yeah? Think so?”
“I know of one, for sure.”
“She’s bigger than you too. But you’ve got prettier legs.”
Dave looked down to compare. “I’d say it’s even.”
She patted his rump.
“Watch it, partner. None of that.”
“Forgot myself.”
“Not that I don’t appreciate it. When you get to my place, you can do it to your heart’s desire.”
“What time do you want me?”
“How’s six?”
“How about seven? I’ll need some time to take a bath and get my costume together.”
The costume. They hadn’t discussed her plan since early morning. Dave had been hoping the whole idea might just evaporate, but he supposed he had known, all along, there wasn’t much chance of that. Once Joan had made her mind up about something…
You wouldn’t want it any other way, he told himself. Suppose she had been happy to wash her hands of Gloria? Said the bitch got what she deserved, it’s none of our business, forget about her and let’s have a ball? You’d think she was a heartless jerk.
It’s her heart making her do this.
Making her take such a risk.
She sure doesn’t want to come back here after the place closes. She’s probably more scared than me. But she isn’t going to back out.
Heart and guts.
“Let’s wear vests,” he said.
Joan gave him an amused frown. “Who’s going to be shooting at us?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Those things cramp my style, and we’ve got no reason to think the trollers go around with guns.”
“I’d wager they carry knives, at least. I’d rather catch the next blade in Kevlar.”
She met his eyes. And nodded. “I’d rather you did too. Okay, we’ll go with the vests.”
“How about the rest of your ensemble?” he asked.
“Violins, a clarinet…”
“No brass,” he added. “You’ve got too much of that already. But have you decided what you’ll wear?”
“In addition to the vest? I don’t know.”
“You haven’t got a closet full of filthy rags?”
“Maybe we could roll a bag lady.”
“I could stop by Gloria’s and pick up her stuff for you.”
The cheerful, mischievous look vanished from her face. “Wouldn’t fit.”
“The tights might be a little snug…”
“God, I’m not gonna wear Gloria’s tights. Or anything else. They’re hers. And they’ve been pawed by the creep who…took them off her.”
Joan’s words jammed images into Dave’s head of Gloria on her back, struggling and screaming as rough hands ripped at the clothes.
“Besides,” Joan said, “if I wore her stuff, it might destroy evidence.”
“Yeah.”
Evidence. The hairs of a stranger. Maybe blood. Maybe semen. Dave hadn’t noticed anything like that, but the crime-scene guys were experts. The smallest trace…
“Are you all right?”
“Thinking about evidence.”
“I’m sorry. I should’t have mentioned it.”
“No, you’re right. I made a mistake touching her stuff in the first place.”
“That’s how you figured out…”
“Yeah. That too. Exactly. Just like I said, a mistake. If I’d kept my hands off her things, we wouldn’t be any the wiser. We wouldn’t be doing this tonight.”
“Shame I can’t get her in stereo,” Cowboy said, cupping a hand behind his bandaged ear.
“She’s pretty good, isn’t she?”
The banjo girl was standing near the long line in front of the Hurricane, tapping her foot as she pounded out “The Rock Island Line.” Wearing what she was, she didn’t look like a bum anymore. Jeremy liked her dress. It was short, showing off her slender legs, and the weight of the banjo pulled it tight against her breasts.
She’s still no Tanya, Jeremy thought.
How could a guy like Nate go for her, when he already had Tanya? It didn’t make sense.
Unless it might be something about the way she seemed kind of innocent and mysterious.
Innocent. Sure. Jeremy remembered how she’d snapped at him Wednesday night. She’s a bitch, he thought. And tough as nails. Probably about as innocent as
a whore.
I’ve gotta tell Tanya about her!
Why did Cowboy have to show up and get in the way?
Jeremy felt as if time were running out, as if his chance would be lost forever if he didn’t get in touch with Tanya soon.
The banjo went silent. Cowboy clapped, as did several people waiting in the line for the roller coaster, and others who had stopped on the boardwalk to listen.
“Reckon I wouldn’t mind plucking her strings.”
You’d have to stand in line behind Nate, Jeremy thought. “I wouldn’t kick her out of bed either,” he said.
She strummed a lively tune on the banjo and started to sing.
I had me a guy and he lived in the bog
With an old .44 and a one-eyed dog.
The dog was mean, and so was he,
But they weren’t near half as mean as me.
Jeremy felt a hand clutch his shoulder. “Hang on, buddy,” Cowboy said. “I’ve gotta take me a whiz.”
“See you later.”
He watched Cowboy push slowly through the crowd. Then he hurried in the opposite direction.
Finally!
By the time he reached the pay phone near the main entrance, he figured Cowboy had probably finished in the john.
Won’t know where to find me, though. Might not even bother to look.
Trembling, he swung the directory toward him on its chain. He flicked through the pages. Ashland. Only three Ashlands. Two were Ronald Ashland, D.C. He remembered that Shiner had said Tanya’s father was a chiropractor. One entry was for the father’s office on Grove, but the other showed a street address on Avion.
Muttering the phone number that went with the Avion listing, Jeremy picked up the handset, dropped a quarter into the slot, and dialed.
The ringing sounded faint, muffled by the noises of the crowd and rides and calliope music. He pressed the phone hard against his right ear and jammed a finger into his other.
That helped.
He heard the ringing more clearly.
God, he thought, I’m actually calling Tanya. The beat of his heart quickened, and he could feel it awakening his headache. The plastic handset felt wet and slippery.
Maybe she’s not home.
He almost hoped she wasn’t.
What am I doing?
Lovers in blood. Loyalty. You’ve gotta prove yourself. You want her, don’t you?
Yes!
“Hello?” A female voice.
“Hi. Tanya?”
“Just a moment, I’ll call her to the phone.”
Must’ve been her mother. Went to get her. She’s home!
Jeremy looked around and scanned the crowd. So far, no Cowboy.
Come on, Tanya. Come on!
“She’ll be right along,” said the mother’s voice.
“I’ve got it, Mom.” Tanya’s voice. Jeremy heard the other phone click down.
“Hi,” he said. His heart pounded. His head pulsed with pain. “It’s Jeremy. Duke.”
“How are you doing? Have you heard we’ll be meeting tonight?”
“Yeah. Cowboy told me.”
“You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“Sure! The thing is, I’ve gotta tell you something. It’s about Nate.”
“Rotten bastard.”
“Yeah, he sure is. But the thing is, I saw him this morning. He was at a motel. With a girl.”
Tanya said nothing.
“I’m sorry,” Jeremy said after a few moments of listening to the silence. “I just thought I oughta tell you.”
Tanya mumbled something.
“What? I didn’t hear that.”
“Who was she?”
“I don’t know her name. She’s that girl who’s been playing banjo on the boardwalk. Maybe you’ve seen her. She’s sort of skinny. Real short blond hair like a guy’s. She’s eighteen or twenty, I guess. She plays for money. People toss it into her banjo case. She’s here right now, over by the Hurricane.”
“I’ve seen her around.”
“Well, Nate was in a motel room with her. I don’t know if they spent the night, but he came out at around ten this morning. I just happened to be walking by when I saw him. He didn’t see me, though. So anyway, I waited around in a restaurant for about an hour and kept my eye on the room to find out who he’d been with. I mean, after last night, I didn’t think it was you, you know? And it was that girl who plays the banjo. She finally came out and I followed her over here to Funland. So anyway, maybe she’s why he…you know, acted weird and split last night.”
“Had her stashed in a motel.”
“Yeah.”
“The dirty prick.”
“He sure is,” Jeremy said. “Man, he must be crazy, dumping you for a goddamn troll. She’s not even close to being as pretty as you. Nobody is.”
“Thanks. You’re a good guy.”
His heart seemed to swell. In spite of his raging headache, he felt a glow of pride and hope. “I just thought you oughta know about it. I mean, after last night…we’re lovers in blood.”
“That’s right. And you did the right thing, telling me about this. I owe you.” She went silent again.
She owes me. Does this mean I proved myself? Yeah. Probably. God!
“Is Cowboy with you?” she asked.
“Not right now. I got away from him to call you.”
“Does he know about any of this?”
“No. I kept it quiet. I didn’t tell anyone. I figured nobody oughta know except you. I mean, it’s sort of a personal thing, and…”
“That’s good. Don’t tell anyone. This is our secret, just you and me. You said she’s still there on the boardwalk?”
“Yeah. Singing a bunch of stupid songs.”
“Okay. Will you do me a favor?”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Keep an eye on her. Follow her if you can. I want to know where we can get our hands on her tonight.”
“I don’t have a car.”
“That’s okay. Just do the best you can. And give me a call when you find out something.”
“I will.”
“Good. Good man. We’ll get together later. Just you and me.”
Thirty-four
It was a very long afternoon. Robin tried to lose herself in the music, and often went for several minutes without thinking of Nate. The tunes with lyrics were the best for that; she had to focus on the words. But between numbers and when she played those that didn’t require singing, her mind lingered on him.
She felt comfortable and full and glowing. And excited and a little nervous when she wondered what would happen next.
There’s no reason to worry, she told herself again and again. The Big Thing was already taken care of. It wouldn’t be hanging over their heads, making them nervous and awkward. They’d be free to enjoy themselves…
If five o’clock ever arrives.
Sometimes she ached to be with him. When the ache got very bad, she took breaks and went into the arcade, and just the sight of Nate was enough to soothe the longing. They talked and she followed him around, enjoying his friendly manner with the customers. Most of the kids treated him like an old pal. He passed out coins, showed newcomers the basics of some of the games, and insisted that Robin play Space Invaders and Jet Assault and Super Mario Brothers. But she never stayed long, for she didn’t want him to think she was taking advantage of the situation.
The best time had been their lunch break. They picked up pizza slices and Pepsis at one of the stands, and ate in the back room. “My home away from home,” he’d called it, and Robin had commented that it looked more like a sporting-goods store. A desk cluttered with paperwork stood in the center of the small room, but in the corners were volleyballs, running shoes, and a Frisbee. Several swimsuits, towels, a face mask and snorkel, a sweatshirt, and a wet suit hung from hooks. Propped against one wall was a surfboard.
“Will you teach me to surf sometime?” she’d asked.
For just a moment his eyes looked bleak
. Robin wondered if he’d had a bad experience surfing. Maybe a friend had drowned or something. But the look passed quickly. He nodded while he chewed his pizza. “Sure thing. I’ll turn you into a California girl.”
“Like, rad, man.”
And when they finished eating, he leaned back against the door to prevent anyone from barging in. Robin leaned against him. They held each other and kissed for a long time.
She wished she were in his arms right now.
It must be almost five, she thought as she played her Beach Boys medley. The last time she’d asked someone the time, it had been four-thirty-five. That seemed like an hour ago.
Time may fly when you’re having a good time, but it creeps when you’re waiting.
She segued from “Surfin’ USA” into “California Girls.” And smiled at the reaction. Whenever she went into that one, her audience went wild, cheering and clapping. It had been that way since her arrival at Funland. She picked and strummed, thumb plucking the drone string, and saw Nate behind a couple of teenage girls who were mouthing the words, waving their arms, and gyrating.
She finished to cheers and applause. People wandered in from the crowd in front of her, from the Ferris-wheel line behind her, tossing money into her banjo case at her feet, several stopping for a moment to offer compliments. She thanked them all, then announced, “That’s it for now, folks.” She heard some moans and protests. Then came more applause, and more people stepped forward with kind words and money.
“You were a hit,” Nate said.
“Went pretty well,” she admitted, crouching down to gather the money. “Didn’t think five o’clock would ever get here, though.”
“Yeah. Same here.”
She passed coins and bills to Nate, then latched her banjo inside the case. They walked to the arcade. In the back room, they counted the money. It came to $48.50. “Not a bad haul,” Nate said. They split it sixty-forty. He gave Robin her portion, then handed her a check.
“What’s this?”
“A week’s advance on your wages.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“If you don’t want it…”
“Well, I didn’t say that, exactly.”
He laughed and kissed her. “Ready to go?”
“I’ve been ready for a while. Like maybe just aeons.”