Double Blind (18 page)

“How do you know?”

“This is a small valley. Not much can hide in here. At worst, it was a bear.”

“OK,” Alyss said. “So it was a bear. I still think it would be better if they didn’t go riding off somewhere and run into it.”

“Trust me. If it’s a bear, it’s more afraid of them than they are of it.”

“Really?” Alyss asked, her wrinkled brow relaxing slightly.

Burt smiled and took her hand in his. “Yes, really. They’ll be OK.”

Alyss looked at Shelby. “OK. But, be careful.”

Shelby gave her a quick hug. “Thanks.”

The three teenagers headed toward the cabana to change. Returning five minutes later, they piled into Conner’s truck and drove off toward the stables.

Alyss looked nervously after them.

Sam leaned over and touched her arm. “Want me to go with them?”

Alyss shook her head, “No. Shelby would have a fit. I’ll be OK.”

“So will they,” Sam said.

Sam kept a watchful eye on Alyss, who seemed to relax as the conversation turned to the weather, politics, movies, and other topics. Sam noticed however that Alyss frequently glanced toward the stables as if hoping Shelby would change her mind and return to the pool.

Burt dominated the conversation with Hollis adding comments here and there. To Sam’s surprise, Niki more than held her own on a variety of subjects. Brains, too. It wasn’t fair. Finally Burt launched into the history of Gold Creek.

Niki stood and stretched. “I’ve heard this story before. I think I’ll see what else Carmelita has to nibble on.” She headed toward the kitchen.

Burt continued his story.

Gold Creek sprouted a hundred and fifty years earlier as a collection of miner’s tents along the creek from which it took its name. Later, several log houses, two saloons, and a hotel appeared, followed by a pair of brothels. Near the turn of the century, Victorian buildings began to replace the log structures and the town became one of the hidden jewels of the Rockies.

Mining reigned supreme until the 1980’s when the price of gold and silver dropped and the cost of mining sky-rocketed, making it cheaper to import these precious commodities than to hammer them from the hard rock. The mines closed, the town staggered, but hung on, transforming itself into a tourist spot for those who wanted quiet, natural beauty and a place to uncoil from the pressures of urban life. Now, according to Burt, it was the best place on Earth to live.

By the time Sam finished her Bud, the conversation turned to the murder of Lloyd Varney.

“Sam saw the murderer,” Burt said.

“You did?” Hollis asked.

Sam explained what had occurred on that night for what seemed like the twentieth time.

“I told her, Billy Bear Wingo’s the only one around here that fits that description,” Burt said.

“And he has the temperament,” Hollis added.

Shelby extracted her foot from the stirrup, swung her leg over Storm’s muscular back, and dismounted. She released the reins and the black stallion wandered over to where his two stable mates were munching grass.

Conner spread out a blanket near the shore of the lake and the three of them sat down. He pulled a bottle of wine from the canvas bag he had brought and looked at Shelby. “This cool with you?”

“Totally. I love wine.”

A wine opener and three plastic glasses appeared next. Conner opened the bottle and poured. “Merlot. I clipped it from dad’s cellar. He’ll never miss it.”

Shelby took a sip. “This is awesome.”

“This is better.” Kelly tugged a plastic baggie from her pocket and opened it. Inside were three neatly rolled joints. “Do you party?” she asked Shelby.

“Totally,” Shelby said.

Kelly fired up the joint and inhaled deeply. She passed it to Shelby.

Shelby took a hit and passed it to Conner. She held the toke, and then exhaled. “I can’t believe you guys actually know Niki Upton. She’s like a mega-model.”

Kelly laughed. “Yeah, Niki’s cool. She and Dad have been together for about four years.”

“What about your mom? What does she think of Niki?” Shelby asked.

“Mom lives in Houston, too. She hates Niki though. I never bring her name up. If I do, Mom goes ballistic.”

“Yeah, I know,” Shelby said. “My Mom’s the same about my Dad’s new girlfriend Tiffany. Hates her.”

“I hope I never get hung up on that jealousy trip,” Kelly said. She took another hit and passed the joint back to Shelby.

Shelby took a deep drag, held it, and as she exhaled said, “You guys are like totally cool. I was beginning to think this place was completely dead.”

Conner laughed. “We always have fun.”

Shelby took another hit and passed the joint to Conner. “What I really like is E.”

Kelly cast a quizzical look. “E?”

“Ecstasy.”

“You’ve done that?” Kelly asked.

“Sure,” Shelby said. “It’s big in LA. I mean like everybody does it.”

“What is it?” Conner asked.

“I don’t know. Something they mix with water or juice or anything. You drink it and fly. Especially if you have a couple of beers with it.”

“Sounds wild,” Kelly said. “Where do you get it?”

“Everywhere. I know a couple of guys at school that always have some. Hell, they come to school sick every day.”

“Sick?”

“You know. Wrecked. Fucked up. Mangled.”

“You guys in California seem to have the wildest lingo for everything,” Kelly said.

 Shelby sipped her wine and giggled. She could feel the marijuana’s effect. “Yeah, E is cool. And Special K.”

Conner took the joint. “My favorite cereal,” he said.

Shelby laughed. “Ketamine. We call it Special K. Then, there’s GHB. It’s a lot like E.”

Kelly took the joint from Conner. “I heard GHB was dangerous.”

“No,“ Shelby said. “It’s fun.” She drained her wine glass and held it out as Conner refilled it. “There was like this one kid that died. I didn’t know him, but I was there that night. A huge rave out at Big Rock.”

“You go to those?” Conner asked.

“Yeah. All my friends do.”

“What are they like?”

“A bunch of people. Cool music. Drugs and alcohol. Everything that’s fun.”

“How many show up?” Kelly asked.

“I went to one out in the desert, near Palm Springs. A massive group. They say four thousand. Maybe more.”

“Four thousand? Where were the cops?” Conner asked.

“They did a couple of fly-bys in helicopters, but they like didn’t bother us. We weren’t like really breaking any laws.”

“Drugs? Alcohol? Aren’t those illegal in LA?” Conner said.

“Yeah. But nobody really cares.”

Kelly extended the joint toward her.

“I’m like totally mangled already,” Shelby said as she pinched the roach between her nails. “But what the hell.”

“How do you find out about them?” Kelly asked. “The raves.”

“Word of mouth. Fliers. Now they’re on the web.” Shelby took a toke and handed off the weed to Conner. She exhaled the smoke skyward. “Somebody’ll get a place, either out in the desert or up by Big Bear in the mountains. Sometimes a warehouse over in San Bernardino. They’ll set up a generator, a bunch of turntables and speakers for the music, and people will show up. Weed. E. Special K. Shrooms. Everybody gets ripped. Has a good time.”

“Shrooms?” Kelly said.

“Mushrooms,” Shelby said. “Very trippy.”

Conner took a final hit from the joint and tossed the roach into the lake. “I think I’ll stick to weed and alcohol,” he said.

Kelly stood and peeled her shirt over her head, exposing her small firm breasts. “I’m going swimming.” She stepped out of her jeans.

“It’s cold,” Conner said.

Clad in only black thong panties, Kelly walked into the water. “It is cold,” she said, but continued out until the water was waist deep. She stretched out and swam several strokes into the lake and then turned, treading water. “Come on in, you guys.”

Conner stripped off his shirt and jeans and jogged into the water.

Maybe it was the weed. Or the wine. Or the thin air. But, Shelby sensed none of her usual modesty. She pulled off her shirt and jeans and protected only by her sheer white panties, waded into the frigid water, which seemed much colder than the water in her secret pond above her mother’s inn. “My God, it’s freezing.”

“Come on,” Kelly said. “It’s better after you’re all the way in.”

Shelby swam to where they were. They formed a circle, holding on to each other, treading water, giggling.

*

Sitting on a rock, high, near the tree line, he watched the three teenagers frolic in the water. They seemed young and happy, without a care in the world. He munched on a piece of hard cheese, a chunk of stale bread, and apple slices, sipping water from a plastic bottle.

As he watched the kids swim and splash water at each other, the germ of a plan sprouted in his mind. He turned it over a few times, liking it more with each cycle.

So, Burt’s son Conner was here, he thought. For how long? A week? A month? A few days would be enough.

He stood, tossed the remnant of the apple away, and wiped its juice from his beard with the back of his hand. After one last look at the kids, he descended into the trees.

Up the stairs, hang a right, third door on the left, Burt had said. But, when Sam entered the room, she was surprised to see, not a bathroom, but a bedroom. Cavernous, with 12-foot ceilings, a massive stone fireplace, a bay window with a sitting area, and a king-sized four-poster bed. Perched on the edge of the bed, Niki looked up as Sam walked in.

Niki had changed out of her bathing suit and now wore a pair of jeans with a black silk blouse that hung open, revealing her deep cleavage. She cocked her head to one side and exhaled a cloud of smoke. A joint dangled between two slender fingers.

“Sorry,” Sam said, backing toward the door. “I was looking for a bathroom.”

“There,” Niki said, nodding toward an open door to Sam’s left, through which Sam saw a raised brown marble tub and an expansive counter with a two sinks.

“No. That’s OK,” Sam said, feeling uncomfortable about invading Niki’s privacy even if Niki showed no concern.

“Want some?” Niki extended the joint toward her.

“You know I’m a cop, don’t you?”

“So? Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.”

“No thanks.”

Niki shrugged. “Go ahead.”

For a moment, Sam thought she was talking about the joint.

Niki nodded toward the bathroom. “Use that one. It’s nicer than the one next door anyway.”

Sam hesitated.

“It’s clean,” Niki said.

“That’s not it,” Sam said. “I don’t want to intrude on your...uh...party.”

Niki stood and walked toward her with that sensuous roll to her hips that only models seemed able to capture. She stood close to Sam. Too close. She trailed the back of her fingers across Sam’s cheek. Sam froze, not sure what to say or do.

“It takes two to party,” Niki said.

Sam was dumbfounded. Speechless.

“You’re very beautiful,” Niki said. She brushed a wayward strand of Sam’s hair away.

Sam stepped back. “Niki, I...uh...what are you doing?”

“Exploring the possibility.”

“I guess I should be flattered,” Sam said. “But, I’m not into girls.”

“Sure you are,” Niki said. “All women are once they try it.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Pity,” Niki said. She returned to the bed and sat down. She rubbed her hand across the satiny spread. “I could use a little diversion about now.”

“A diversion? Is that what you call it?”

“It’s just fun. Nothing serious.”

“I see,” Sam said. Her heart had finally slowed enough that she could breathe, think. “If you like women, what’s your deal with Hollis?”

“He’s good to me.”

“I bet,” Sam said.

“Not like you think,” Niki said. “I pay my own way. I can afford my own vices without Hollis’ help.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...”

“Sure you did. Everyone does. You see an older man with a twenty-two year old woman. It’s a natural conclusion. In fact, we started that way.” She swept her fingers through her hair.

“Oh?”

Niki relit the joint and took another hit. “Sure you won’t have some?”

Sam shook her head.

Niki exhaled and waved the smoke away with one hand. “I was eighteen when we met. I had a stepfather who liked to visit my room. Started when I was all of fourteen.”

“Where was your mother?”

Niki frowned. “Mother? Now, there’s a piece of white trash if there ever was one.” She took another hit. “She knew, but was too weak and too drugged to give a shit. In fact, she encouraged it.”

Sam moved to the foot of the bed and leaned against the bedpost.

Niki continued. “Sometimes another man would join in. Sample the goodies. I think cash changed hands a few times.”

“Your mother prostituted you?”

Niki nodded. “Then, I met Hollis. I was serving drinks, he was buying. I quit on the spot and walked out the door with him. We’ve been together ever since.”

Niki’s casual openness was more than a little unnerving. “What does your mother think about you and Hollis?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I sent her a post card from Paris a week later. Two words. ‘Fuck you’.”

Sam’s first impulse was to go to Niki. Comfort her. But, with Niki’s inclinations, she feared it might be misunderstood. “I’m sorry,” was all she managed to say.

“Don’t be. That’s my story. Everybody has one.” She looked up toward the ceiling and shook her head. “Just think, if it weren’t for Ralph...don’t you just love that name...my step-father, I would still be waiting tables and screwing losers.”

“So, Hollis took you away from all that, so to speak?”

“Exactly. Money and connections always go together. Hollis has both. He hooked me up with a few modeling gigs in Houston and my career just took off. New York, Rome, Paris, you name it.”

“A surrogate father sort of thing, huh?”

“Not really. I love him. And, of course, we have sex. He needs it and I don’t mind.”

“But, you prefer women?”

Niki shrugged. Her blouse fell open further, revealing more of her breasts. “Sure.”