Oblivion (8 page)

“What do you mean?” she asked. Her pretty face filled with unease.

“Did Jace and Cam have a fight recently? How did those two get along?”

Lindsay knew Sheriff Wilson was responsible for all the heat put on Cameron and was defensive of him immediately.

“They were best friends, Sheriff Wilson. He loved Jace. Everybody did. What is this all about?”

Gary sighed and lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly, his steely eyes trained on her face. “Lindsay, his story doesn’t jive. Marnie refuses to talk to us. That’s why I called you in.”

“If you think Cam had anything to do with Jace’s death you’re wrong.”

“Am I? Lindsay, we both know he was the last one to see Jace that day. His story doesn’t add up. What’s more; he just got offered the LHS scholarship. Tell me it doesn’t sound like he had a motive?”

The Little Bend High School scholarship for football passed to Cameron when Jace died. The enviable free ride scholarship was funded by all the business owners in town. It was hardly a secret Cameron was second choice for it. That hardly gave him a motive to murder Jace.

“I think you’re reaching here.”

“I think if you stop seeing what you want to see; you can see where I’m going with this, Lindsay. Nobody saw Cam on Marnie’s porch until after one that day. Where was he for over three hours?”

Lindsay refused to think Cam could do something so awful. “So, because nobody saw him; that means he killed Jace?”

“You tell me? You are a smart girl Lindsay. You knew Jace. Do you really think he would pick up some drifter off Route 4 like they think?”

“No, he wouldn’t have.”

“Alrighty then. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is arrest a seventeen-year old kid for this, but it all points to Cam.”

“I can’t believe he could do that, Sheriff. I’ve known him all my life!”

“That’s why none of you see it,” he said sagely and stubbed out his cigarette. “We have no leads in this case, Lindsay.”

“What does this have to do with me?” she asked finally.

“You’re close with Cam too, right?”

“If you think he would admit something like this to me, think again!” she cried. “I can’t believe you would even accuse him!”

“I’m asking you to hang out with him, look for things with fresh eyes. Can you do that?”

“You are asking me to spy on him?” she queried in disgust. “You don’t have any proof of anything against him; just a feeling?”

“Lindsay, I’ve been a cop over thirty years,” Gary snapped harshly suddenly and sat forward, his eyes intense. “I’ve seen stone cold killers show more emotion than that kid did over his best friend getting killed! Did you know he never showed a bit of remorse when we told him how Jace died? Not a flicker or even a twinge of pain. I know you don’t want to think him capable of it, but he and the Slade girl are hiding something.”

“You’re dragging Marnie into this too?” Lindsay asked in annoyance.

“Marnie had no idea Cam was even at her house until she got there, Lindsay. Don’t you think that’s a little odd considering they broke up over a month ago? She covered for him by saying she must have forgotten when she invited him over, but I could tell she was lying.”

Lindsay felt a sense of icy dread, recalling how Cam had invited her to a party tonight, chiding her over mourning her boyfriend who’d been dead less than a week. She questioned how he could act as if Jace’s murder was no big deal.  

“That doesn’t mean he killed him.”

“It doesn’t mean he didn’t either. The day Jace died he took six hundred dollars out of his account from the ATM machine. He bought you a ring that day. It’s an antique gold, diamond, and ruby ring. It was missing. We found the receipt in his pocket. He had half the money on him and it was gone too. We think Cam stole the ring and the money.”

Lindsay flinched at knowing Jace intended to give her a ring, recalling her ultimatum the night before. It prompted him to leave his brother and find some means to get her to not break up with him. Fresh guilt assailed her to know that had he stayed put waiting for Dougie, he might not have….what?  She couldn’t make herself feel responsible for that.

“You want me to spy on him? So what am I looking for?”

Gary smiled grimly and stubbed out his cigarette. “The ring is missing. We think he has it stashed somewhere. We got denied a warrant to search his room. That’s where you come in.”

“You want me to search his bedroom? And just how do I do that?”

“Cam has to pass all his finals to get the scholarship. Mr. Chase needs a tutor for him. If you were tutoring him; you would have access to his room and could help us find it.”

Lindsay was dismayed at her sudden desire to help. If she found nothing she could remove Cam’s guilt, she realized. Either way, she would put the matter to rest and satisfy her own sudden doubts. His behavior was strange. Cam’s lack of remorse was obvious and bothered her.

“Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll approach guidance when I pick up my assignments tomorrow and sign up for tutoring.”

Gary looked relieved. “Lindsay, never forget how Jace died. If this kid did it, he’s dangerous. Don’t take any risks to yourself. ”

Lindsay stood up and was surprised to find her legs wobbly. “I don’t think I’ll find anything, but I’ll look.”

Garry watched her leave the office and picked up the phone. He called Dan into his office. The younger man entered and sat down.

“She said she’d do it. We’re in.”

“Gary, you realize even if she finds this ring; it doesn’t prove he killed Jace?”

“It’s enough to get him charged,” the Sheriff said and sighed. “We might break him down and get a confession by then. Either way; it’s all we got.”

“I saw Marnie last night,” Dan said and his hazel eyes narrowed. “She’s sticking to her story. She lied and said Cam dumped her after the funeral, not a month ago. Bob said he even saw Cam leaving her place last night.”

“Keep an eye on her and see what she’s up to. We really don’t need her anymore. Lindsay is going to be tutoring Cam and she’ll search the room while she’s there.” 

“There’s something else, Gary,” the young deputy said and grimaced. “She says she’s knocked up.”

“Is it yours?” the older man asked in irritation.

“Hell no, it isn’t mine,” Dan replied hotly. “I always wore protection. She doesn’t know who the father is. Guess who she says it might be?”

“Don’t tell me she’s claiming it’s the Turner kid’s?”

“Yep, Mr. Perfect was banging Marnie behind his little girlfriend’s back.”

“Did Cam and Jace fight over it?”

“No. She said Turner took responsibility whether it was his or not.”

“Did she get the abortion already?”

“No, that’s why she came to see me. She asked me for three hundred dollars. She said Jace was supposed to give her the money and he died before he could. Apparently that was what the money was for that he withdrew that day.”

“You give it to her?” Gary asked and frowned at Dan’s disgusted expression.

“It’s not my problem the little tramp got knocked up, Gary. Besides, she’s over three months along now. It’s a little late for that. She has to have it now.”

Gary didn’t think much of Dan Dooley. He applauded Jace Turner for being man enough to claim responsibility, even if he wasn’t sure it was his. It said a lot about character.

“This whole thing might get ugly if that information gets out.”

“Everybody knows, thanks to Marianne Chase and her big mouth. Marnie tried getting money out of Cam’s dad when Jace didn’t come through. That’s when Cam told his parents it wasn’t his but Turner’s. It’s all over town.”

Gary thought of Lindsay’s reaction to hear her boyfriend got Marnie Slade pregnant and nearly groaned. This wasn’t good at all. The girl didn’t need any more grief and they needed her to spy on Cam. It was obvious Jace Turner had his share of secrets before he died.

“The pregnancy might have been the motive.”

“I don’t think so. Cam knows Marnie’s nothing but a tramp. Trust me he wouldn’t have killed Jace in a jealous rage over Marnie. Besides, Jace wasn’t the only one she was seeing.”

“Let’s hope Lindsay digs something up we can use.”

“You think it’s wise to involve her? What if she tips Cam off we’re looking for the ring? He could get rid of it if he hasn’t already.”

“No, he took it as a memento. He’s not going to part with it.”

Dan rolled his eyes. “You think you got him pegged, don’t you?”

Gary lit another cigarette and smiled. “I would put money on it Chase killed Turner. Look at how much he had to gain?  We sit back and see how all this plays out now. We have to have it wrapped up before Chase leaves town.”

“We don’t have much time. The kid graduates next month.”

~ ~ ~ 

Jace stared up at the moonless sky. He heard loud country music coming from Merrick’s kitchen and grinned despite himself. He would have never taken the man for a redneck. Merrick’s preference for music aside; he was full of information about this new world. Oblivion it was called. No sun, no moon, and no stars greeted him each day. Time passed with agonizing slowness.

His face grew tense. This place wasn’t Hell but close enough in his opinion. The deadheads aside; there were other dangers. Demons were an issue. They wanted the soul he still retained. Merrick said the demons came in many forms and to trust no one. It was his motto. He’d been tied to this place for over forty years after he was murdered by a fellow gang member.

Merrick’s advice was priceless and few. The three rules he drilled into him were followed to a tee that first week. He didn’t have a problem staying away from the deadheads. He didn’t fail to cooperate in Merrick teaching him to survive. What he couldn’t promise is not to try and reach back into his former life to let Lindsay know he was alright.

It was possible, Merrick told him. All he had to do is learn how to project his consciousness. Ripples existed that separated this place from the world. Projection involved using his mind to breech the dimensional fold between life and Oblivion. The rippling membrane was visible and appeared out of nowhere. One only had to walk through it.

He was to find it was not as easy as he thought. He was a fledgling Newbie, as Merrick would say. Besides learning to survive down here; he was expected to defend those like Merrick who guided those like him, saving them from both deadheads and demons alike. That involved guns; he was to learn.

“Hey! Crackerboy! Where are you at, Kid?” Merrick called out. “I hope you like your burger medium well.”

Jace shrugged. The desire to eat was gone since he arrived. It was optional, much like drinking. Using the restroom was no longer necessary either. Sleep was something he missed. He had the hardest time getting used to that. He recalled staying up all night with Lindsay studying for his SAT exam. He didn’t get tired anymore.

The nights blended with the day in this dark place. If not for Merrick marking each hour by his watch, he wouldn’t know what day it was or what time. The slow passing of every day was agonizing, but Merrick insisted he train.

Training involved weapons.  Merrick had an arsenal in the warehouse downstairs. Jace met only one person since he arrived. A Latino woman named Drea came by the third day he was here. She was as tiny as Lindsay but she was tough, dressed in fatigues and her pretty features tightened in disapproval every time she looked at him. Her hair was cut short and she carried a huge pistol on her hip. She knew how to use it too, as he was to learn, when the three of them shot at targets behind the warehouse.

“CrackerJace! Where you at, Boy?”

He came in from the fire escape and joined Merrick in the kitchen. The man seemed to enjoy cooking, even if they no longer had to eat to survive. It was more of a ritual for Merrick than anything else.  The kitchen was filled with the smells of fried cheese and questionable meat. Jace doubted many cows were around Oblivion and didn’t want to ask what Merrick ate in a patty form.

The black man had his fatigue shirt off and wore only a black tank underneath. He had a myriad of tattoos from his time as a gangbanger back in the late seventies.

Merrick handed him a plate and Jace took it. Merrick knew he wouldn’t eat it, but he would sit and watch him, feeling obligated to play out this daily ritual Merrick insisted on. Dinner was one of those things Merrick clung to from his mortal life.

Jace looked around the gourmet kitchen, thinking Merrick lived well here. The warehouse was impenetrable. Deadheads feared Merrick and those like him, but the demons preyed on them all.

They promised a ticket out of Oblivion at a price. The price was the soul. Merrick claimed the demons could restore life, but the demon lied too. He insisted the demon’s sole purpose was to undermine those trapped here in ever evolving to the next level; redemption.

Jace sat at the kitchen table and watched Merrick eat the burger and set his plate down. He knew the man did him the biggest favor by training him to survive down here, but his duty to Lindsay and the kids played with his mind now.

“You got somethin’ on your mind, Kid?” Merrick asked with a knowing look. “You got all quiet on me.”

“You’ve been here forty years, Merrick,” Jace said as he pushed the plate away from him. “Do you ever wonder why?”

The man frowned and took a bite out of his mystery meat patty. He chewed thoughtfully. He wiped his lips and sat back, his brown eyes filled with sudden anger.

“You think I don’t know?”

“If this isn’t Hell; then what is it? You’re stuck here. Drea is stuck here, all the others. I’m trying to understand.”   

Merrick looked annoyed. “All I’m gonna say is that your time here doesn’t depend on the mistakes you made in life, Kid. I wasn’t a good man back then. I killed men. I sold drugs to kids. I even stole from old people. I’m just as surprised I’m not in the basement right now with the other sinners.”

“That’s the point I’m trying to make. None of this makes sense of what I was led to believe of Heaven and Hell.”

“You know your bible, Kid?”

Jace looked uncomfortable. “My ma used to take us to church until she got sick. I know some.”

Merrick tossed the napkin on the plate and sat back and eyed Jace thoughtfully. “You’re trying to find out what you did to be here, am I right?”