Authors: Wendy Potocki
She nodded awkwardly, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. Sniffling, she grabbed a napkin and blew her nose.
Composing herself, she patted her eyes dry. Again cool, calm, collected, by the time Bonnie served their meal, she exhibited the demeanor of someone that had it all together. Launching into the story of what had happened in Holybrook woods, she’d almost made it all the way through when Todd stopped her with a question.
“A man?” he asked. “In the middle of the woods? After midnight? And he looked like a skeleton?” He paused as he waited for some kind of explanation.
“Yes, at least I think so,” she replied. “To be honest, I'm not sure of anything. I was pretty zonked out. My head was swimming, and I could have still been dreaming. Does that medicine cause hallucinations?”
“Yes, actually. In a very small percentage of cases, it does, but isn't it more likely someone was wearing a costume? It was Halloween. And it would explain why the fire was tended. That was bothering me. How that damn fire kept going all night. I was a boy scout and had plenty of experience with starting fires, and trying to keep them going. It's not plausible that it would remain ablaze for over ten hours all by its lonesome. ”
“I suppose it could have been somebody from the school.” Immediately suspecting Jeff, he was the type to want to help.
“What are you thinking?” Todd prodded.
“Trying to figure out who it might have been. I told you that I did run into that guy, Jeff ...”
“Yes. You said you insulted him so he'd go away.”
“Yes, but he might have come back ... except for one thing.”
“Which is?”
“That he isn't that good.”
“Come again? Not that good at what? Building fires?”
She chuckled, taking a small bite of her tuna melt.
“No, at dancing. The guy I saw was phenomenal. I mean straight up brilliant. I mean, I know dance and I’ve never seen anything close to what he was doing.”
“I see,” Todd said wiping his mouth with his napkin. He took a few sips of his diet soda. “But are you sure? Just because you haven't seen him dance like that, doesn't mean he can’t.”
“You're wrong!” she blurted out, suddenly conscious of how harsh that sounded. “I'm sorry. I'm really putting my foot in my mouth today. I just meant that in ballet, one step builds upon another. You learn the basics as a child, but those simple movements are what everything else is built on. So when somebody does a tendu, dégagé, or passé, you can see how well they've mastered the foundation. Like a relevé passé eventually turning into a pirouette, if the person doesn't have the underlying mechanics, the turn will be off center or sloppy. Jeff is playing catch-up. He’s a talented late starter, but still working on those basics. Therefore, he isn't anywhere near executing some of those moves. And the height of those jumps! He was leaping off the charts.”
“But we don't know if you actually saw it.”
“No, we don't. I can't be sure, but if it wasn't happening, then I have some imagination. I even thought he touched me. And said my name.”
“You didn't mention that part.”
“I was about to get to it. You see, after I watched awhile, I guess I moaned or something. Anyway, he walked over to me and stroked my face, and said,
'Momento mori
, Melissa.' ”
The conversation in the diner was arrested by the consuming of nourishment. A lull pervaded the space that allowed Melissa's last statement to be heard by all. Scanning the room to see who noticed, most customers sat, happily grazing like cows, paying no attention to the unusual phrase. There was only one person that heeded the call. Manny stood stock still, staring at her with a frosty gaze. Under the severity of his glare, her nerves got the better of her. A blue flame flaring up from the grill dissipated the duel of wills. White fat catching fire, it forced Manny to give in and turn his attention to quelling the blaze. With a swift handling of his huge spatula, he turned the beef over to the other side, suffocating the life out of the potential grease fire.
“Did you see that?” Melissa asked, lowering her voice and forcing Todd to lean into her.
“See what? The fire? Happens all the time. Don't worry. Manny can handle them.”
“No, I mean the way he looked at me. He was one of them.”
“One of who?”
“The Innocents.”
“And you know this how? Don't tell me Zoe again?”
“No, Bonnie. I had a talk with her before you came.”
Todd gave Bonnie a calculated once-over, returning his attention to Melissa, who was waiting for a response.
With finality, he used his napkin, placing it on the table and not in his lap.
“That makes it a little different. Bonnie, huh? Well, maybe there is something to it. I've heard for years about some secret club. And even if I didn't, there are those carvings in the trees. Plus the …”
“Plus the what?”
“You don't want to know.”
“But I do!” she whispered.
He scratched his head, deciding whether he should upset her more than she was already. Usually young girls had a fondness for small animals. And the sacrifices weren't common knowledge. The police department kept them hush-hush. Those types of crimes not publicized, people tended to get hysterical over senseless brutality—especially when it involved beloved pets. Suddenly, every pet running away was a mad cult stealing them away in the night to slit their throats and drink their blood. It was better kept under wraps.
“Look, I'm only telling you this because you are sincerely searching for something here, but not a word of this goes any farther than this table.”
“Promise,” she vowed, raising her hand, the butter dripping down and almost reaching her sleeve. She grabbed a napkin, sopping up the spill.
“There were ... are ... small animals found. They were killed—mutilated. I guess they were most likely strays since there were never reports of missing pets, and there would have been if Fido hadn’t made it home.”
“Oh, like strays don't count as little living beings!” she defended.
“Shhhh, I didn't say that,” he said spreading out his fingers and indicating to keep her voice down. “I'm an animal lover just like you. I do not like it, but we can't divert our limited resources to figuring out what's going on, but —” he quickly interjected before Missy could object. “— that does not mean we're not aware. We're keeping our ears open for any tips. And if this ever expands to filching children's pets out of the backyard, we'll probably get more actively involved. The thing is, it never has.”
“You mean this has been going on for awhile?”
“Yes. Before me, and before my dad. He knows about it and we’ve discussed it. In spite of appearances, I get along just fine with my old man. I talk things over with him sometimes, like these sacrifices.”
“Sacrifices? Is that what they are?”
“Either that or the work of a psychopath hiding out in the woods … maybe dancing around a fire for all I know,” he replied sarcastically, frustration setting in. “Anything's possible, but for right now, all we know is that someone, or a bunch of someones, are carving up trees and killing cats and dogs. It's not pretty, but that's the reality.”
“I do understand. I just feel terrible about anything being mistreated.”
“A lot of people feel that way, including me. It's why I didn't want to tell you.”
“I know ... I pressured you so I should just shut up. I think you're right though.” she said stretching out her legs.
“About what?”
“The man ... I think he must have been in a costume. After all, it was Halloween, and some of the kids came dressed up. It might have been Kurt. He's pretty good. I've never seen him turn it on to that degree, but then that part I might have been exaggerating. You know, because of the drug and being half-asleep.”
“Think you're right. Especially since he used your name. You don't know that many people in Holybrook, do you?”
Before she could answer, Bonnie appeared at their table.
“You guys want some dessert? Some devil's food cake that was made fresh this morning?” she asked, turning a statement into a question.
Todd flashed a look at Melissa who smiled.
“I think we'll pass on dessert.”
“Suit yourself. Just leavin' more for me if these hyenas don't get it first,” she said, pointing to the line of men at the counter.
“We heard that!” the first man barked.
“Good! Maybe it'll stop you from gnawin' the table legs!” she fired, totaling the tab and ripping the bill from her pad. “Here you go, or should I say
s'il vous plaît
. This place needs a little refinement. Heard that fancy phrase you used. What does it mean?”
Melissa squirmed. She hadn’t meant for anyone to overhear. Her eyes sought out Todd, begging for help.
“It means, 'He who watches dance is happy, but he who dances is blessed,'” he improvised.
“That itsy bitsy thing means all that? I like it though. See ya around,” she said, hitting Todd with her forearm. “And don't do anything I wouldn't do,” she admonished.
Taking out some bills, he handed them to Bonnie.
“We won't. And don't you spread around that we did.”
Helping Melissa with her coat, he escorted her through the tables. Once outside, she took a deep breath of the cold night air, cradling the bouquet of fresh flowers in the crook of her arm.
“You know, a little bit of this stuff is refreshing. Especially after a meal like that.”
“I know what you mean,” he said patting his washboard stomach. “So what's it to be? Care for a little walk? Movie? Or just a lift back home?”
“I think a walk would be nice.”
“Good. I like a little stroll after dinner. Let's go this way. It's a nice part of town. Got some stores you might be interested in checking out.”
“Do you know a guy named Derrick? Used to date Bonnie?”
“Derrick? Don't think so. Is it important?”
“Not really. Just wondering.”
“When were they dating? Recently?”
“No, in high school.”
“Derrick, Derrick, Derrick ... oh, I think I know. Derrick Wilkins. Used to be a star player on the Holybrook High School football team. Married to Ellen Perkins now. That help?”
“Actually, I was wondering what he looked like.”
“I told you he's married. I'm not.”
Wrinkling her nose, she paused, playfully punching Todd in his side. “You are so funny, Mr. Wise Guy. No, it's not any prurient interest that I have in him.”
“Just like to get the description of every guy in town? You know, there's a police database that we’re going to have to use if you keep this up.”
“Enough! The description, please!”
“Well, since you said ‘please’, how can I refuse? Got dark blond hair. Hairline's moving back a bit ...”
“I meant in high school! What would he have looked like in high school? When Bonnie was dating him?”
“You mind me asking why you need to know?”
“Description first; explanation later.”
“Yes, ma'am! Dark blond wavy hair, brown eyes, yea high,” he said indicating about six feet by holding up his hand. “Slim, as were most of the guys on the team. The coach back then was pretty tough. Still is. Very old school and mean as a junk yard dog.”
“Justin!”
“Justin?”
“That's who she was talking about.”
Todd contorted his face, scratching his eyebrows.
“Sorry, I said I would explain. When I asked Bonnie about The Innocents, she said someone else had been asking her. I assumed she meant Zoe, but it wasn't a girl. I asked her what the guy looked like, and she said he looked like her old boyfriend Derrick, and ...”
“And it turns out Derrick looks like Justin, who is?”
“Zoe's boyfriend.”
“I believe that's what we call a match.”
“Exactly,” she muttered, satisfied and happy.
“Beautiful as well as brainy. You just have it all, don't you, my little dancing lady?
“Yeah, well, I wouldn't say that,” she said, self-deprecatingly.
“Yeah, well, I would. And never contradict a police officer, or else,” he menaced.
“Or else what?”
“He just might fall in love.”
Chapter
Eighteen
Sitting quietly in the passenger seat, the stroll through Holybrook had been amazing. The memory of it lingering, the pleasant excursion was erased the moment Todd drove up the isolated road. Both spotting the police car parked outside the academy, they were jolted out of the pink cloud of affection into grim reality.
“What's this?” he queried, speaking more to himself than the person occupying the passenger seat of his car.
“Don't you know?” Melissa asked.
“No. There was nothing discussed about a visit.”
“Could it be about Halloween? I mean, the drug thing?”
“Doubt it. That was a dead end road unless somebody decided to talk. Let's go see,” he said getting out of the car.