DONNIE TURNER

Eric and Donnie finished searching the backyard of Number Six.

“That’s the last one,” Eric said, pinching off a shriveled mum flower in a neglected side bed. “No sign of her.”

“You going to the Garden Memorial program tomorrow?” Donnie asked.

“I guess. I feel bad for Asher having to give a speech, with Iris missing.”

“I can’t believe my wife wants to attend it, after everything that happened to her at the hospital.”

The Circle was empty. Donnie wondered if any of the other searchers were having better luck. In any case, he didn’t want to go back in his house, where that clipping on the fridge would stare at him. He turned to Eric. “I mean, why would Evelyn want to go to a ceremony commemorating the worst time of her life? That’s masochistic, isn’t it?”

Eric nodded but didn’t say anything. Donnie wouldn’t know how to respond to another guy saying that either. They stood by the benches in the Circle. Donnie kicked at the leaves piled at the bench legs.

“Guess I’ve got some more raking to do this weekend,” Eric said, sitting down.

Donnie sat on the facing bench. He’d lived almost next door to Eric and Bea for years, but they’d never socialized beyond the casual conversation. Eric seemed like an okay guy, even if he was pretty tight with Dr. Blum. But Evelyn called Bea a stuck-up bitch. She would be furious if he told Eric anything, even though what happened to her wasn’t her fault, none of it was her fault, but she acted like she was still ashamed.

“I wish I could convince Evelyn not to go to the ceremony,” Donnie said. “Something bad happened to her at that place, and everyone hushed it up. Blum said it would negatively impact their relationships with the medical schools who used the place for clinical rotations. Maybe even affect their state funding.” Donnie made a fist with one hand and slammed it into the palm of the other hand, over and over.

“No wonder you don’t like Asher.”

Donnie rubbed his hands hard across his face. “I have no use for Dr. Blum and neither does Evelyn. When it happened, I wanted to report it to the police, but Evelyn refused. She never really got over it. The strange thing is that she never used to talk about it, but since Iris went missing, she talks about nothing else.”

“So how did she become friends with Iris?”

“At first, I think she just wanted to find out about Dr. Blum, gather dirt about him. Maybe get back at him somehow.” Donnie shook his head. “My wife can be vindictive. But she really liked Iris, and they became friends.” He shook his head again, hard, then stood up. “Life is funny, isn’t it?”

“Let me know if I can do anything. Tomorrow.”

Donnie turned back. “Oh, yeah. Tomorrow will be great fun in my family.”