Under Currents (11 page)

Aggravated and tired of mosquitoes buzzing him, Frank returned to his car he'd parked a little ways down the road. He’d been almost certain they’d be together tonight with it being Sunday. Saturday and Sunday seemed to be the only nights McGregor was home. Where was he spending his evenings?

I’ll make it my business to find out.

♦♦♦

Scott’s rundown on everything he’d overheard that day kept Julie from sleeping well. Her son was better than a fly on the wall. He always kept his ears open and his nose in other people’s business. Even her mother and Aunt Noreen hadn’t been spared.

Why had her father felt the need to approach Caleb? And the mere fact that her dad had ordered him to stay away had her seeing red. She loved her dad, but she’d live her life the way she saw fit.

Poor Caleb.

The entire world seemed to be against him.

Scott had also confessed to telling Caleb about her date with Frank. Since Caleb knew about her sacrificial date with the devil, she decided to avoid him. She didn’t want to hear a lecture. There’d be no way she could back out without putting Caleb’s head back on the chopping block. He’d stand less of a chance than a Thanksgiving turkey.

Monday morning Julie met with the man from Poplar Bluff Fencing. She selected a ten foot chain-link fence with barbed-wire at the top. This would take a large part of the up-coming summer’s net profit.

Let’s see the son-of-a-bitch get over it.

Julie left her office and headed toward the school to pick up Scott and Ally.

She made the five minute drive and parked in front. The students poured from the building. She waved at Scott and Ally. When they climbed in the van, she asked, “How was school?”

“It’s yucky.” Scott frowned with deep intensity. “I wish summer would get here.”

“You have a few more weeks. And what about you, Ally?”

“Frank came to my class today to talk about being a poe-leeez-man.”

”Policeman, goofy,” Scott corrected.

Julie remembered Frank’s niece, Bonnie was in Ally’s class.

“And how’d that go?”

Her daughter grew quiet.

“Ally, what’s wrong?”

“Mommy, are you going to marry Frank? I want you to marry Caleb.”

“I’m not marrying anyone. Why? What made you think I’m marrying Frank?”

“He told everyone Bonnie was his kinfolk and that I’d be his kid as soon as you married him.”

That stupid shithead has gone too far.

Julie ground her teeth. Nerves jumped in her stomach like hot popcorn kernels on the stove. “I’ll never marry Frank Grear.”

“Good, Mommy cause I don’t like him.”

“Neither do I,” Scott confessed.

Julie wanted to find Frank and beat Scott’s baseball bat over the man’s thick skull. He made her livid. But now wouldn’t be the time to inform him that she had no intentions of marrying him. She’d tell him Saturday night.

♦♦♦

Wednesday evening, a police car followed Caleb.

Shit. Not good.

He caught a glimpse of the driver, and it wasn’t Frank.

Thinking fast, Caleb turned into the library’s lot and parked before escaping inside. On the library’s outer lobby wall, he spotted a phone and called Mr. Higgins and informed him he’d be late and why.

Caleb entered the library, breathing in the musty scent of old books. He walked through the rows of bookcases, pretending to look for a book. He zoned in on a book that interested him—
Roofing for Dummies
. He lifted the large yellow book and thumbed through it.

Adam and his son sat at a table, looking at children’s books.

He wanted to throw his arms around his brother and hug him, but instead, he held back any emotion. “Adam.”

His brother only offered a heavy glare.

“Daddy, do you know that man?”

“No, I don’t. Now let’s finish the book.”

Adam’s son was cute. The boy stared at him for a moment before dropping his gaze back to the book.

Caleb hated he’d spoken. He wished he’d stood to the side and savored a few moments of watching his brother. A brother he still loved very much. Again his brother’s rejection hurt and left him feeling hollow.

At the front counter, Caleb glanced up from the new library card he filled out. The deputy walked in, thumbed through some forms at the front, then left. Caleb remained in the library, took a seat on the opposite side of his brother, and read the first chapter of his book, wanting to make sure the officer wasn't lurking somewhere.

He left but scanned the streets for the policeman. Not seeing him, he cranked up his bike and sped off. A pickup truck stayed behind him for a short time, but he assumed it was a coincidence.

Positive he wasn't being followed, he headed for the hardware store.

Caleb parked and hurried inside. "Sorry, I'm late.”

Mr. Higgins paused at the rear door of the store. “I’d given up on you.”

“I had to make sure I was alone. Obviously, Frank Grear wants to know how I spend my evenings and is having me tailed.”

The old man pushed the door back open. “Because you’re on parole?”

“Not exactly. It’s Grear. He thinks I’m interested in Julie or vice versa.”

“Are you?”

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck before answering. “I like her. But her family hates me, and her reputation would be destroyed. Actually a hippo would stand a better chance of fitting through a straw than I do of being welcomed into her family.”

Mr. Higgins laughed, then gathered his things and left.

While Caleb cleaned and restocked, he thought of Julie. She’d gone somewhere every day. He needed to speak with her about Grear. The week was slipping away from him, and he still hadn't found the time to corner her. She was always gone or with the kids or her father.

Later, he locked up and headed home. Before turning in, he read several more chapters of the roofing book.

Thursday morning, Caleb did what he had every morning. He made his run up the river, killed the engine, and thought about the boating accident that had sent him to prison.

Why can’t I remember?

Relax. Just think about the times you rode in Devin’s boat. Don’t push it.

For just a moment, he remembered laughing and grabbing a beer from Devin’s cooler and a part of their conversation. He closed his eyes and let the scene play out in his mind.

Speedboats zoomed up and down the river swerving around people on brightly colored rafts and inner tubes drifting downstream.

“Come on, Devin. Let me drive,” he begged as he did every time they were in Devin’s speedboat. But this once, Devin’s reply stunned him.

“Sure, but be careful.”

Beyond that one incident, his mind still remained a black hole of missing memories. It was the first time in all the years that an actual scene of that day had surfaced. Maybe others would also.

But then a wave of nausea hit Caleb.

All the memory proved was that he was driving the boat. What if when all his memories returned, it turned out that Devin had told the truth, that he had plowed the boat over the girls?

Damn it!

His entire body tensed at the thought of being guilty. Maybe his mind had blocked the memories, because his conscience couldn’t handle the truth.

Caleb had never completely accepted the blame. He didn’t buy Devin’s account of the incident. Even drunk, he wouldn’t have been so reckless. He’d always assumed Devin had been the one responsible and took advantage of his coma. In prison, he’d given up on proving his innocence.

He tethered his boat, and walked through his backyard. He glanced toward Julie’s driveway. Her van was gone. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was avoiding him.

Despite Mr. Webb's warning, he’d mowed her yard. He wouldn’t ask her to do his laundry because it seemed too personal, kind of intimate. As suspicious as the townspeople were, something so simple could be mistaken as an indicator that sex had transpired between them.

Caleb returned inside and showered. He slipped on clean clothes and headed out the backdoor. As he rolled his bike from the shed, Julie’s van whipped up the driveway. Ally and Scott bounded from the side door and waved.

When he saw Julie, he thought about talking to her, but after giving him a brief wave of the hand, she hurried inside.

Yep, she’s avoiding me.

Apparently, her father had lectured her also.

Actually, it was for the best. Because he’d never be content with just a friendship with her. Caleb fantasized too often about her lips on his, about fondling her breasts, or what her long legs would feel like wrapped around his back. He pushed Julie’s image from his mind.

Not wanting to be late, he sped off to town. While his bike idled at a red light, he read a poster advertising the spring dance. A spurt of acid-like adrenaline shot through his veins at the thought of Frank slow dancing with Julie. The light turned green, and he sped off.

Caleb entered the rear door of the hardware store. More than likely, Mr. Higgins had already locked the front door and put the closed sign up. As he approached the counter, the old man stood at the register, counting his money. Mr. Higgins glanced up at Caleb.

The old man sported a swollen bloody lip and a black eye.

Caleb’s blood boiled. “Mr. Higgins, what happened? Who did this?”

“Let’s just say it’s a warning.”

I’d like to kill Frank Grear.

“They followed me.”

“Seems that way.”

“I tried to be careful.” He recalled the pickup truck behind him. “Crap, they didn’t use a cruiser. Just give me what you owe me, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Nonsense. You’re a good, dependable worker. And you’re honest. I won’t fire you.”

“But, Mr. Higgins, they’ll make good on their threat.”

I can’t let it happen again. They might kill him next time.

“Probably, but I’ll be ready for them. I’ll bring Angel, my .45 Colt with me tomorrow.”

“How will the town react when they learn you’ve hired me? Think about your business.”

“Oh, they’ll curse and swear and refuse to buy anything from me for a while, but after they drive to Poplar Bluff a few times to buy a bolt or screw, they’ll mosey back in.”

“You need to put some ice on your lip.”

“I will when I get home.”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Higgins. Really, I won’t hold it against you if you let me go.”

“Told you, I’m keeping you.”

“Then I quit.” Caleb couldn’t put the old man in such a dangerous position. He didn’t want to be responsible for something else happening.

Mr. Higgins managed a faint smile. “Nonsense, son. Be here tomorrow. Don’t make me come looking for you.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. They won’t catch me with my eyes closed next time. Besides, I don’t like someone telling me what to do.”

All evening, Caleb couldn’t help feeling guilty over Mr. Higgins. The worst part was that he couldn’t do anything about it without being sent back to prison.

And Frank Grear, the son of a bitch responsible, was taking Julie to the spring dance.

♦♦♦

Frank turned to John, who sat at the bar beside him. “I got a room for Saturday night.”

“Think she’ll go willingly?”

Frank shrugged. “She might need a little something to make her more agreeable. Come Sunday morning, I’ll have her purring like a kitten.”

John shook his head. “I don’t know, Frank. You might have a she-cat on your hands. Expect to see her claws.”

“A little Kittie Nip will have her doing anything I want. I plan to mix Xanax with a muscle relaxer and pain pills. I’ll have her so screwed up, she’ll do anything. Maybe even agree to marry me."

John laughed. “God, Frank you don’t have any morals.”

Frank guzzled down his beer. “Morals only get in the way. But I do have a conscience. I’ve always liked Mr. Higgins, but if he won’t fire McGregor, he leaves me no other choice. I’m gonna hate hurting him.”

Chapter Seven

Julie glanced at the clock. She needed to leave. Ally and Scott would be out of school soon. Though they lived far enough from town to ride the bus, she preferred picking them up.

The phone rang, and she grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”

“It’s Frank. What time do I pick you up tomorrow night?”

“You don't. I’m meeting you there. Remember?”

“Damn it, Julie. Come on. Let me pick you up.”

Don't back down.

“No, I told you I wasn’t sure what time I’ll close.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“I’ll meet you there. Take it or leave it.”

“All right. But try not to be too late.”

“I’ll try. I need to run.”

After Julie hung up, a chill ran down her spine. Maybe she should call Frank back and tell him she wasn’t going. No doubt he'd end up drunk and pissed off, then go after Caleb.

Besides, the dance would be in a public place. Her brothers might even attend. At least, he couldn’t push himself on her.

At the school, Ally and Scott hopped in back. She stopped at the store, then made the drive home. Her father’s truck sat in the driveway with his lawnmower sitting in the back.

Hell’s bells. He’s come to mow the yard.

Caleb had already mowed her lawn.

“You kids go in the house and grab a snack. I need to speak with Grandpa.”

He approached wearing a frown. “You still letting McGregor mow your yard?”

“Despite your little talk, it seems he did it anyway.”

“He told you I spoke with him?”

“No, Scott heard you and told me. You know not to say anything around him.”

“I didn’t see him.” He rubbed his chin. “Has Caleb brought his laundry over?”

“No, I doubt he will. He hasn’t spoken to me all week. I came home yesterday and discovered he’d done the yard.”

“I told him I’d mow it.”

“I guess he assumed you forgot.”

“I warned him not to step foot in your yard.”

“And who gave you the right to decide who can come into my yard? I’m a grown woman, Dad. Caleb is more than a just a neighbor, he’s a friend.”