Chapter 14

Daniel fumed as he mopped the floor behind the soda counter. I don’t want anything to do with people like you. The packet bumped against his leg as he worked. It was ridiculous for her to keep using those old headache powders when the new formulation worked so much better.

Hadn’t he seen another prescription in the back room with the Burke name on it?

Daniel stowed the mop and closed the store for the evening. He walked to the back room, unlocked the cabinet and looked over the prescriptions waiting for pickup.

Burke, Raymond. 154 Laurel Street.

Daniel lifted the flask-shaped bottle and rolled it between his fingers. The dark glass obscured the liquid within. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face . . .” The verse floated from the murky depths of his memories.

Daniel ran a thumb across the cap, a cold sweat washing over him. His throat clenched. Doesn’t this ever go away, God? He slipped the bottle and the headache remedy in a bag and dropped them in his pocket.

Maybe some answers could be found on Laurel Street.

Twenty minutes later, Daniel maneuvered his Buick out of the alley to Front Street, remembering his days of playing cops and robbers in the old tunnels below the sidewalks. The passages remained a testimony to the city’s forgotten past, before the downtown was raised to prevent flooding

The automobile’s engine labored up the steep hill. Newer homes lined the best view locations on Cherry Hill, quite a difference from the Hollywood Beach neighborhood where Johnny lived. He turned onto Laurel Street, where a dense grove of oak trees obscured a line of tiny houses.

Daniel pulled the brown bottle from its paper wrapper and checked the house number. The Burke house sat back from the muddy road, in the shade of a spreading maple tree. Only weeds grew in the dim shadows under the giant tree. An old screen door hung crooked on its hinges. The aging Model T sat parked beside the small home.

Daniel shut off the engine as sweat broke out between his shoulders. Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car and closed the door behind him. It’s just a delivery. Hopefully she wouldn’t throw it in his face, again. He swallowed hard and walked up the steps to the front door, clutching the package in front of him.

A short, stocky man with a two-day growth of whiskers answered the door. “We don’t want any.”

Daniel took a step back. “Any what?”

“Whatever it is that you’re selling.”

“Actually”—Daniel lifted the package—“I have a delivery for you from Larson’s Drugs.”

The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s a different story, then.” He opened the door wider. “You ain’t Larson.”

“I’m Daniel Shepherd—his grandson. Are you Mr. Raymond Burke?”

The man stuck out his hand. “Yeah, yeah. Call me Ray. No one calls me Mister. Never took to it.”

Daniel grasped Ray’s hand and shook it. The man’s eyes were red, like he’d been sleeping, and his hand left a hint of moisture on Daniel’s palm. “I’ve met your son and daughter, Mr. Burke. But I haven’t seen you around town.”

Ray took the bag that Daniel offered him. “Well, I work over at the Crown Z Mill. I don’t make it into town much otherwise. Laurie works downtown, so she usually picks up what we need.”

“I’ve seen several of these prescriptions come through for you lately. I hope there’s nothing seriously wrong.” Daniel chose his words carefully.

Laurie’s father shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Well, I hurt my shoulder awhile back at the mill. This eases the muscles and helps me sleep.”

Daniel nodded. “We have some other options, you know. I could have a chat with your doctor. Pierce, isn’t it?”

The man wiped a quick hand across his nose. “I’ve tried some of those other ‘options’ as you call them. This works fine. I’m careful, though. Wouldn’t want to drink too much of it, you know.” A wry grin lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I understand.” Too well. “Your daughter mentioned she’s been having headaches. I put in a sample of a headache remedy I think she ought to try. No charge.”

Ray’s brows pulled together. “Laurie? Headaches? First I’ve heard of it.” He ran a hand over his bristly chin. “Yeah, well her mother always used to have those, too. I guess it makes sense.” He nodded to Daniel. “Free sample you say? Well, I’ll give it to Laurie when she gets home.”

Daniel edged backward, balancing on the edge of the stoop. “I’d better be going. Have a nice evening, Mr. Burke.”

“Thank you. It’s mighty kind of you to run this out to me. It will save Laurie a trip to town in the morning.” The older man clutched the package to his belly.

Daniel turned and headed down the steps.

Laurie Burke stood at the gate, her eyes like giant blue sapphires in the center of a ghost-white face.