Not far from the base of Suiattle Mountain, tucked away on Upland Road, a weathered, broken-down split-rail fence stood in front of a lone house, wrapped in unpainted bleached-gray cedar siding, and trimmed with sagging wooden gutters. Ordinary by local standards, the Cousins’ house sat near ruin, having lost its battle with neglect, the only echo of its former life was a moss-covered pony-stick rotting at the base of a once grand, big-leaf maple. Twisted with age, the native tree stood trapped in its own futile battle with nearby power lines. The house sat quiet, as if resigned to watch another Halloween pass without celebration.
Inside, Lina fumed at her stepmother’s refusal to allow her to use the family sewing machine. Pushing aside her feelings about Faye, along with all the rest of life’s disappointments, Lina swallowed the blue-and-white capsule with a drink of well water. Then, sitting back in her undergarments in the cramped back room, she finished hand-sewing lace torn from a pillow-cover onto the collar of a party dress she had ‘inherited’ from her mother.
Standing, she pulled the dress over her head and smoothed the front. After picking up a small hand mirror, she tried to view her full-length image. Her figure was petite under the plain, blue-and-white cotton dress that was pinned back at the sides and fancied-up by the trim of ivory lace. Luke’s gonna love this… gonna love me.
Tossing back her auburn hair, she draped the improvised shawl—a simple pale yellow bolt of cloth—over her narrow shoulders and pretended it was a cape of gold. Pinning back her stray hair with a pink plastic clip, she exposed a set of ornate heart-shaped silver earrings dangling from her delicate earlobes. Papa never should a given these to that weasel, Faye.
The earrings had been part of a set belonging to her mother that consisted of the earrings, the lighter in Lina’s purse, and a missing locket—last seen on Holly. Lina smiled, enjoying the way the earrings added a touch of richness to her outfit. Mama promised I could have the set.
Asking her stepmother’s approval to borrow the earrings—or anything else—had been useless from the day the two had met. No matter, Lina smirked to herself, I’ll just keep ‘borrowing’ them when I feel like it.
The jewelry symbolized one of the many bitter arguments that hung between her and her father. If Papa had really loved Mama, he wouldn’t have let that weasel in the house—especially not just two months after Mama disappeared.
Removing the earrings, Lina dropped them out of sight in her small shoulder purse. She took a closer look at her reflection in the mirror. I look like a whore. Rubbing the rouge highlights from her cheeks, she was careful not to disturb the powder covering her scar. The remaining makeup brightened her dull hazel eyes and enhanced her high cheeks and thin lips.
Now I look like Mama. She always did put on pretty.
It was the first time she wore makeup since her date with Chad in early September, when they had gone boondocking with Luke. She had almost enjoyed that night. Chad’s a chicken-shit. He’d be worthless if he weren’t Luke’s best friend. A smile crossed her lips. Puttin’ out that night was worth the free weed he gave me—plus I got to be with Luke.
Tonight for Halloween, she chose to dress as Maid Marian. Having been unable to coerce Luke into joining them so she could consort with her ‘Prince of Thieves,’ she was resigned to being escorted by Chad.
Suddenly, the bedroom door banged open and a short ghost appeared on the threshold.
“There’s the little banshee. What’s Grampa Cecil done to you?”
Transformed into a crude phantom, Jayden busted with energy under a white sheet, crude cutouts for eyes, raspberry jam smeared like blood near his heart, and a circular mouth drawn with black marker. The three-year-old’s single ghostly accessory was a rope tied around his small waist.
“Hurry! Chad and Uncle Kolt’s gonna leave us,” Jayden pleaded, his voice rising with exuberance that only a child on Halloween night could produce.
“Chad don’t dare. He ain’t got no place to go anyway. Tell him I’ll come when I’m damn ready.” Shooing her son away, Lina looked once more at her reflection as Jayden dashed off through the living room, followed by the sound of the front door slamming shut.
“Don’t run in the damn house!” Faye yelled from the kitchen, adding for Lina’s benefit, “You little bastard.”
-- : --
An hour after dark, outside the house she grew up in, Lina sat with Chad in his 1980 Nissan truck with its matte gray, spray-can body paint. Their Halloween outing over, Jayden scampered off with his bag of candy to disappear inside the Cousins’ house. Clambering out of the Nissan’s truck bed, Kolt lumbered behind Jayden and followed a well-worn path to the front door. Despite being sixteen years old, he carried treat bags of his own.
Unwrapping a Smarties sweet tart candy from a handful she had taken from Jayden, Lina put the entire roll in her mouth and worked the sour tarts around with her tongue. “Glad we’re done with that chore,” she said, mumbling around the mouthful.
“Those kids aren’t so bad,” Chad replied with lips stained blue from the jawbreaker he was almost finished sucking. He wore his usual camouflage jacket and ball cap with a large fly-fishing hook and the brightly colored letters ‘Bite Me’ embroidered across the front.
Lina noted his cap sported a small red feather on the side. As if he could ever be like Robin Hood.
“Ah!” Chad exclaimed, brushing his hand across his cheek and dislodging a ladybug, one of the stragglers of the season. Before he was able to usher the insect out the window, it disappeared behind his seat.
“You wanna take the wheel and drive back into town?” he asked, turning to her.
She gave him a look as if he were asking her to ride a rough-hewn log down skid row.
“You know I ain’t got no license,” she said. Don’t need one with you around.
“You could learn. I’ll even let you sit on my lap while you do.” He grinned, patting his thighs.
“That’d cost you more’n a driving lesson.”
When she didn’t say anything else, he put the truck in reverse and backed out of the driveway. “Kolt and Jayden make me wish I could be a kid all over, this time with my real parents.” He accelerated the truck down Upland Road.
“The brat sure knows how to work people for candy,” she said. “Wonder if I should ask someone to check it all?”
“Want me to turn around?” Chad asked, slowing the truck while reaching below his seat. When he pulled out a clear plastic bag of marijuana, she stared at the contents and tried to hide her craving. He passed her the plastic bag and she took it in her slender fingers.
“He’ll be fine,” she said, trying to sound convincing. “Kolt will check it for him.” You know that twit won’t even check his own.
As Chad sped up, she retrieved the kit from her purse, loaded the small metal pipe with a sticky wad of marijuana, and placed it between her lips. Giving the silver relief of the ornate lighter a rub for luck, she bent forward, lit the one-hitter, and let the first thin wisps of smoke curl into her face. Returning the bag to Chad, she lounged in her seat and inhaled deeply. With eyes squinted, she watched the twinkling crystal of a barn light pass outside and waited for the mellow escape. All thoughts of her son dissipated with the rise of pungent smoke.
At the dark intersection with Suiattle River Road and Wa-Wilkin Road, the gray Nissan truck turned right and picked up speed, heading toward Darrington.
Twenty minutes later, Chad and Lina pulled into town from the north where a long row of modest homes passed by on their left; two with for-sale signs ‘price-reduced’ and not one with a porch light on. Across the blacktop, the imposing landmark of the aging First Baptist Church patiently waited for more devotion. In front of the house of worship, a dark reader-board announced a youth bible study as an early alternative to the pagan festivities still under way outside. On either side of the sign, toilet paper draped the old fruit trees.
Within the truck, a small red-dot with black spots appeared on the window beside Lina’s head. Glancing in a daze at the ladybug, she gently reached out and snared it between the cupped palm of her hand and the window. Taking the last hit off her pipe, she pressed her mouth to the edge of her thumb. Hey, Lady, let’s get high together like me and Mama used to do. Exhaling, she engulfed her captive in thick sweet smoke.
Humming, Lina rolled her hand away and the ladybug fell onto its back in her hand. Focusing on the drugged creature’s disoriented battle, she leaned forward and took one of its tiny legs between two polished pink fingernails. Cracking her window, she raised the struggling insect into the opening and tempted it with freedom. Her eyes widened and her heart beat faster as she slowly rolled the hard edge of glass upward and stopped.
The harassed creature was trapped, but unharmed; its mini-battle for freedom captivating her attention. How’s it feel not being in control of your own life? She jerked the window handle. With a barely audible crunch, the ladybug smeared into the black rubber of the window’s weather stripping. Now you know.
“You’re acting kind a weird,” Chad said, noticing her concentration at the window. “What are you doing?”
“Just removing a pest,” she replied. Smiling, she pressed her forehead against the cool glass.
The truck continued forward and Chad turned right at the stop sign in the middle of town. They passed the small family-run grocery where two pirates and a punk—one of which was not dressed up—huddled under the store’s awning to divide their plunder.
At the gravel entrance to the trailer park, Chad turned in. They soon came to rest at the back, in front of a bare-dirt lot on which sat a narrow lime green and white mobile home. One of over a dozen trailers, it stood out for its stained siding, moss-speckled roof, and pitted aluminum door showing the home’s age and neglect. Chad honked the truck’s horn—once long and twice short—while Lina eagerly searched the front of the trailer for signs of Luke. I get to see my Robin Hood after all!
“Sorry, Luke needs me for a job,” Chad said. “He’s trying to collect some cash to buy his… for something. This should be quick.”
“What’s he buying?”
“It’s nothing.”
“If it’s nothing then tell me.”
“He made me promise.”
“Ain’t like telling when it’s your girlfriend. Might make me wanna work off some candy later.”
“Really?” Chad looked at her with glinting eyes. “Promise not to tell Luke or he’ll string me up.” Chad shared Luke’s plans with Lina while they waited.
The thrill of Chad’s news added to her excitement at seeing Luke. Things is really changing. Luke’s gonna get his place back! Probably don’t wanna tell me cuz he plans on surprising me…. She felt the stirrings of real happiness, the first in years that did not come from a high.
“Sweet!” Chad said, misreading her excitement. “This’ll be quick and then you can thank me proper.”
“Give me a good beer while I wait,” she said, testing her new fortune.
After reaching down to the floorboards, Chad passed her one of the bottles he had bought for Luke. Taking the beer, she turned toward the sound of footsteps as Luke strolled up to the side of the truck; he wore all black—black racing jacket, matching black ball cap, worn black jeans, and scuffed black cowboy boots. She rolled down her window and he leaned inside, tossing a pair of black gloves to Chad. When Luke placed his own gloved hands on the sill, Lina pulled back to avoid being struck by the bill of his cap.
“Ready?” Chad asked, slipping the gloves on and looking up at the man, one year his senior.
Chad’s idolizing expression renewed Lina’s annoyance, making her want to slap him. Bad enough Chad takes so much a Luke’s time, but it ain’t like they’s family.
“We’re taking that car,” Luke said pointing to a small, early model, white Honda Accord parked in front of Chad’s truck.
“Whose is it?”
“Nobody’s. It ain’t registered and I don’t got much time before I gotta flip it. That’s why I need you tonight. Now let’s fly.” Luke pulled back from the window.
Grabbing the six-pack of bottled beer, Chad stepped out of the driver’s side and shut his door. When Lina moved to open her own door, Luke blocked it with his fist.
“You ain’t going nowhere,” he said, giving the door a shove that clicked the latch closed again. Looking up in surprise, Lina felt her momentary thrill crumble along with control of her evening.
“I can’t just dump her here,” Chad said.
“This ain’t a threesome,” Luke replied.
“Could be,” Lina offered with a sly smile.
“I tasted your dish and it ain’t worth seconds,” Luke retorted.
“Liar. JD’s proof enough you liked the first course well enough.”
“That boy ain’t proof a nothing, ’cept how easy you are.”
“Want me to prove it?” she asked.
“Want me to call the deputy?” Luke shot back.
Lina’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t.”
“Maybe I just remembered some details about you and our fire.”
Lina sank back in her seat, visibly relaxing. “Go ahead.” I thought he was talking about the other ‘accident’.
“Give it a rest guys,” Chad said. “Why you both always have to bring that shit up?” He looked at Luke. “Maybe I better take her back to the house after all. We can do this another time.”
Shoving away from the door, Luke scowled at Chad. “Shit. Put her in back.”
With a broad smile, Lina swung the door wide and climbed out of the truck. When she turned to close the door, Luke placed his tongue between his teeth and hunched over her back. Sliding his hand down the curve of her hip, he ended with a rough grope between her thighs.
“Make sure you’s a good girl,” he said while she stiffened.
When he released her, she shoved the door closed and turned to face him. The corners of her lips drew up in a doughy smile. Sliding past, she took the opportunity to brush her hip against his crotch, surprised to find him aroused. I knew he still wanted me. And now he’s gonna surprise me with the cabin, too. With a returning sense of control, she sauntered over to the white Honda and jumped in back with her beer bottle in hand.
Witnessing the exchange, Chad marched around the truck and jammed the six-pack of beer into his best friend’s chest. Luke smirked as the two men continued to the car, stopping on opposite sides. Exchanging a brief stare over the roof, like two dogs hiking a leg on the same tree, Luke broke the moment with a carefree grin and held up two beer bottles.
“Want one?” he asked, unabashed.
“You’re a butthead, you know that?” Chad said in exasperation, but nodded. Opening the car door, he dropped onto the passenger seat.
“Toss me your pocket knife,” Luke said, taking his place behind the wheel.
Fishing out an engraved pocketknife from his jeans, Chad handed it to Luke, who opened both beers. Handing one bottle to his friend, Luke set the other between his legs. When the top of a third bottle appeared over the seat-back beside him, he turned and locked eyes with Lina. She held up her own bottle for him to open. With a snort, he tossed the pocketknife into her lap and started the car.
“Where’d you get the knife?” Lina asked, looking at Chad.
“My foster parents said it was my daddy’s, but who knows. They were always making shit up to mess with me. But I still like the knife, cause of that raven design.”
Luke drove them out of the quiet trailer park and turned east on to Seeman Street. Driving carefully through the middle of town to avoid attention, he came to a halt at the four-way stop. Heading north on Sauk Valley Road, he accelerated toward Rockport and all three settled into their seats for the eighteen-mile ride.
Taking out a clear plastic bag from his coat pocket, Chad loaded a small pipe with marijuana before placing it between his lips. Lina reached forward to light Chad’s one-hitter and leaned close to Luke to secretly breathe in his masculine scent.
Sliding his hand into his jacket, Luke fed his own habit with a small Cherry Mountain candy bar. He unwrapped it and threw the sticky packaging out the window where it clung to the outside of the door before being whipped by the passing wind onto the edge of the highway.
“Treat yourself, Maid Marian,” Chad said, tossing the bag with the remaining weed onto the seat beside her. “That’ll put you out for a while.”
“Make sure she’s down for the count. I don’t want her screwing up this job as badly as she screws all the guys in town.”
Ignoring Luke’s comment, Lina’s eyes reflected her surprise at Chad’s generosity. At least my puppy’s good for something.
Her breath quickened as she hurried to light up before Chad could change his mind. Anticipating the high, she began a familiar ritual that had kept her happiness alive for over three years. I could get used to nights like this.
Inhaling the pungent smoke, she held her breath briefly, and then exhaled, followed by a long draw of beer. She sensed the soft black edge of a soothing emptiness encircle her mind. Sinking deeper into her seat, she placed her hand over the curve of her inner thigh and replayed Luke’s earlier attentions.
“What’s the mark tonight, our usual?” Chad asked.
“No, that’ll take forever to get the kind a cash I need. We’re stepping up to bigger fish.”
-- : --
Just past midnight south of Rockport, Chad scrambled into the white Honda and slammed the door behind him while Luke jumped in the driver’s side carrying their meager take.
“Thought you said they were loaded?” Chad panted, out of breath.
“That’s what my buddy said. Wait till I find that asshole.” Tossing everything into the back seat except the 12-year-old Glenlivet whisky bottle, he uncorked the top and took a quick swig.
In back, sprawled face down on the seat, Lina groaned with a raspy throat as the sharp corner of a portable DVD player dug into her back. Rousing, she was too high to place the sudden pain. Like a twin to the scar on the right side of her face, a deep crease marked her left cheek from lying passed-out on the seat. The corner of her mouth was damp with saliva as she raised her throbbing head. Snagged on the vinyl piping, a dangling silver earring pulled loose to fall into the crease of the seat and lie next to Chad’s forgotten pocketknife.
“Ow!” she protested, reaching for her earlobe. When she withdrew her hand, a dot of red marked her fingertip. Weaving semi-upright, she slouched in her seat while a wave of nausea broke behind her crusty eyes. When her head dipped forward, her hair swung loose and her mouth drew up in confusion at the dark streak marring the side of her dress. When did that happen?
“See if they reported us,” Luke snapped as he unclipped a small hand-scanner from his belt and slapped it onto Chad’s thigh. While the two men tried to catch their ragged breath, Chad took the scanner and adjusted the volume. With a crackle, the device began searching the local law enforcement frequencies.
“Goddamn it!” Luke said between clenched teeth.
Raising her eyelids, Lina’s mind flooded with a blur of images from the sudden commotion. Unsteady, she peered out at the empty road ahead before noticing a dark house and flashlights threading crazily through the brush.
Still caught in the middle of an adrenaline rush, Luke started the car and floored the gas. Chad braced himself with a gloved hand on the dash. The Honda roared out of its hiding place as two men broke through a short hedge onto the frontage road that paralleled the Sauk Valley Road.
In pajama bottoms and a v-necked t-shirt, the older man held a flashlight in one hand and a cell phone to his ear in the other. Dressed in jeans and an unbuttoned flannel shirt, the second younger man turned at the sound of the Honda and rushed forward, gripping a flashlight and a gun. He leveled the weapon at the white car as it hurtled southward, toward the relative safety of the neighboring county.
A loud pop reverberated through the valley and the rear window of the Honda shattered onto the back seat around Lina. With a scream, she clutched her left shoulder and folded forward while blood quickly darkened the front of her mother’s party dress.