While the mid-morning sky dropped a constant dust of snow over the Suiattle River valley, incessant banging filled the surrounding forest as Luke hammered his fist on the aluminum door of the trailer. Pausing, he tossed his empty beer bottle onto the trash-heap beside the door. Still carrying a spare of Chad’s key, he refused to use it now that his buddy was free from jail. What if he’s inside getting it on with the crazy one? Like I want that sight haunting me the rest of my life.
“Open up!” Luke yelled, slamming his forearm into the metal door. Stumbling drunkenly over a large, black plastic trash bag beside the steps, he peered through the window on the right. The kitchenette was empty.
“Damn it, Lina!” Stomping to the opposite side of the door, he straddled a second pile of trash and peered through a smaller window in the rear. A shadow darted off the bed into the center of the trailer. There you are!
“Let me in or… or I’m smacking down this goddamn door and you along with it,” he yelled, jumping in front of the door. A second later, the door behind the screen cracked open.
“Where the hell is Chad?” Luke demanded with a red face.
“Why you asking me? He’s your pal,” Lina taunted.
Jerking open the screen, Luke went to place his boot on the lowest step and missed, knocking his shins on the step and cursing. When Lina began to close the door, Luke slammed the heel of his hand into the middle of it. The door shot open in a fast arc and made a thudding sound before reverberating with a metallic racket. To stop it from rebounding, he kicked out his boot and staggered into the cool dim interior.
Leaning against the bathroom door, Lina pressed her right hand over her forehead. Blood trickled between her fingers, down her brow, and followed the curve of her nose.
Seeing she appeared stunned and blinking, he made a grumbling noise. “Didn’t mean to do that, but ya shouldn’t put your head in the way.” Taking her shoulder, he steered her toward the rear of the trailer where she took a seat on the edge of the bed.
“Now where is he?” Luke demanded with alcohol-laden breath.
“Why ain’t you nice like you was,” she whined.
“Quit your yappin’ and just answer.”
“That ain’t no way to treat your lady, less you want me to disappear again.” She leaned forward and blood dripped from her nose onto the linoleum floor.
“What’s that mean?” Luke asked, staring at her as if she spoke a foreign language. She best stop, cuz I ain’t playing games no more. “Why’s my four-wheeler sitting out back? I loaned it to Chad, not you.”
“You almost knocked me out again.”
His eyes narrowed and he took a half step forward. “I’ll show you what knocked out feels like.”
Lina’s eyes softened and her lower lip began to tremble. “Get me a wet washcloth—please?”
The unusual vulnerability in her voice made Luke pause. “Aw hell, I ain’t wasting time on you no more. I need to find my buddy.”
Turning, he tottered into the kitchenette and grabbed a clumped up washcloth lying next to the sink filled with dirty dishes. Holding the crusty cloth with a dark reddish stain down the center under the water faucet, he turned on the tap—no pressure. How the hell am I supposed to wet the damn rag? He began working his mouth, preparing to spit. Instead, he squeezed the rag and released a trickle of sour gray water before carrying it back to Lina. She took it with an expression as if he were offering her something precious. I hate when she looks at me like that—actually reminds me of Holly. While he wiped his hand on his black jeans, she daubed the sour smelling cloth against her forehead, leaving a long red smear of blood streaking the ridge of her nose.
“See, you do remember,” she said in a calm voice.
The sweet metallic scent of blood mixed with the decay from the dishrag made Luke nauseous. Taking a step back, he felt his hair rise, first on his forearms, then at the nape of his neck, and finally tightening at the scalp along his forehead.
“I’ll find Chad myself.” Reaching up, he tousled his own hair to dispel his growing apprehension.
“Chad’s gone,” she said, and then paused as if considering her words. “But I knows where he’ll be New Year’s Eve. I ain’t s’pose to tell, cuz we was planning a surprise for ya.”
“Don’t tell me you two got back together.”
“No! He’s gonna meet me at our cabin.”
“Quit your crazy ranting about the cabin. Ain’t no ‘our’ to it. It belongs to my family, and my old man’s planning to make an offer on the place right after New Year’s. By then I guaran-damn-tee the Renshaws are gonna sell. Then I’m busting out a this shit-hole and finding Holly—like I should a done the moment she left.”
“Fine. Whatever. But alls ya gotta do is meet me and Chad at your cabin right ‘fore midnight on New Year’s Eve.”
“You nuts? That Renshaw prick’ll sure pop a cap in my ass.”
“Never mind him. I’m taking care of the Renshaws. Just be sure you’re there for me this time.”
“Right. I ain’t a loser like you. I already got a date for New Year’s Eve.” Least I would if Holly was here.
“You’ll be there,” Lina said with resolution.