23
DANNY TOOK A bite of the club sandwich. Wasn’t bad. Pretty good bacon, turkey wasn’t too dry. He’d slipped the sliced tomatoes out from between the toasted bread and left them on the plate. Danny didn’t like tomatoes.
The waitress stopped at his booth by the window to freshen his coffee. Tasted pretty good too. But the service was slow. He guessed this place hadn’t seen so much business in years.
‘Thank you,’ he said. He dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. ‘Say, what’s going on around here?’
The waitress – her nametag said SHELLEY – laughed, then the smile dropped from her face. ‘You don’t know?’
Danny looked back out to the street, at the reporters wandering around like zombies looking for a scent of flesh. ‘Know what?’
‘Sorry, I just assumed …’ She waved a hand in front of his face. ‘I mean, you’re not from around here, so I assumed you were a reporter. Like them.’
Danny smiled and said, ‘No, I’m just passing through. Lady in a store out the road said you had good coffee. She was right. So what’s happening here?’
‘Oh my God,’ Shelley said, sliding into the seat opposite him, coffee pot in hand. ‘It’s terrible. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. I mean, this little town, what’s left of it, biggest news is if someone farts in public.’
Danny snorted.
Shelley lowered her voice, hooked a thumb toward the counter. ‘Couple days ago, Sheriff Whiteside pulls this woman over.’
Danny glanced across the room, saw the sheriff. A big man, wide at the shoulders and waist. Sat on that stool like it was a throne, and he the king of the land.
‘He found drugs in the car,’ Shelley continued in a loud whisper. ‘News said it was pot, enough for a dealer, but I heard there was more. Like cocaine and crystal meth, and whatnot. So he takes her in. Turns out she left New York three or four days before with her two children, but they weren’t in the car when Ronnie, the sheriff, when he pulled her over. She has a history, mental problems and like that, and they reckon she did something to the kids, maybe out in the desert somewhere.’
‘Jesus,’ Danny said. ‘What do they think happened?’
‘Lord knows,’ Shelley said, shaking her head. ‘But they got the state police and the FBI here investigating. I hate to think what she did to those poor children. I pray they’re alive somewhere, but I don’t believe it in my heart. Not really.’
‘You think she hurt them?’
‘Oh, she killed them,’ Shelley said. ‘Sure as you and me are sitting here, she took the lives of those little ones. If only she’d tell what she did with the bodies, then we’d all know. How’s that sandwich?’
‘Good,’ Danny said.
‘You’re lucky you got anything. Harvey, my boss, he had to drive all the way to Phoenix last night to pick up supplies. We ain’t seen this kind of business since before the copper mine closed. Got to the point last night that I couldn’t even pour a cup of coffee.’
She reached over and patted Danny’s hand.
‘Well, you enjoy your meal. Nice talking with you.’
‘You too, Shelley,’ he said, giving her his brightest smile.
She returned it, with interest, and slipped out of the booth.
Before Danny could chew another mouthful of sandwich, a shadow fell over the table. He looked up. Sheriff Whiteside looked down.
‘How you doing today?’ Whiteside asked.
‘Pretty good,’ Danny said. ‘You?’
‘Oh, fair, all things considered. I couldn’t help overhearing your talk with Shelley, there.’
‘She’s a nice lady,’ Danny said.
‘She is, and she’s been rushed off her feet since yesterday. You be sure and leave a decent tip, won’t you?’
‘I will,’ Danny said.
‘Anyway, like I was saying, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. So you’re not with these press folks, then?’
‘No, sir,’ Danny said.
‘See, now, that strikes me as strange.’
‘Really?’
‘Really,’ Whiteside said. ‘Mind if I sit down?’
Danny indicated the seat opposite and said, ‘Please.’
Whiteside slid in next to him, his shoulder against Danny’s. ‘Like I said, it strikes me as strange. I mean, you don’t mind my saying, you clearly aren’t from around here.’
Danny kept his voice low and even. ‘Why would you think that?’
‘Well, I’ll come right out and say it, because I don’t hold with this political correctness nonsense. See, Silver Water is about as lily-white as a town can be. Since the mine closed, there’s not even a single Hispanic within the town boundary. There’s a couple of Mormon families, but that’s about as diverse as it gets around here.’
‘I see,’ Danny said.
‘Do you? Do you see what I’m getting at? So, if you’re not with the press, what are you doing here?’
‘Just passing through,’ Danny said. ‘I heard the coffee was good.’
‘Yeah, the coffee’s good, but that doesn’t really address my concerns. See, Silver Water is kind of an isolated little town. We’re not really on the way to anywhere. Unless you got business here, people don’t tend to pass through. Especially not a gentleman like yourself.’
Danny smiled. ‘Like myself?’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘No, I don’t.’
Whiteside scratched his chin. ‘Asian-American. Is that the preferred nomenclature these days?’
‘Chinese is fine,’ Danny said.
‘Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Outer Mongolian, I don’t much give a shit.’ Whiteside leaned in close. ‘My point is, you just happen to be passing through a town that no one ever passes through, and you’re doing it today of all days, with all this going on. You gonna tell me that’s a coincidence?’
Danny held Whiteside’s gaze. ‘I don’t know what else to call it.’
‘Okay, so it’s a coincidence. That’s fine. But if you stick around here much longer than it takes to finish that sandwich, then I’ll be less inclined to see it that way. Do we understand each other?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Danny said. ‘Let me get it straight. You’re telling me that when I’ve eaten my sandwich and drunk my coffee, I have to leave town. Because I don’t look like I belong around here. Is that right?’
Whiteside nodded. ‘That’s about the size of it.’
‘Because I’m not white.’
Whiteside didn’t reply, his gaze sharpening.
‘First of all,’ Danny said, ‘you don’t have it within your power to order me to leave town. Second, I think some of these press people would find it interesting that you told me to leave because of the color of my skin.’
Whiteside stared, his face cut from stone. Then he spoke.
‘Well, I’ve said my piece,’ he said, sliding to the end of the booth. ‘I don’t expect to see you around after you’re done. Let’s just leave it at that.’
The sheriff stood, lifted his hat from the table. Danny spoke as he stepped away.
‘I know what you did,’ he said.
Whiteside stopped and turned. ‘What was that?’
‘You heard me.’
Whiteside wrapped his thick fingers around Danny’s arm. ‘I think you and me ought to go outside and talk a little more.’
Danny smiled at him. ‘No, I think I’ll stay right here and finish my lunch.’
‘Don’t try me, boy.’ Whiteside leaned down, lowered his voice. ‘You push me, I will push back, you better believe it. Now come with me.’
‘Look around,’ Danny said. ‘This place is full of reporters. How many cameras do you count? And out on the street. What do you think you can do, in front of all these people? Now get your fucking hand off me.’
Whiteside’s jaw muscles bunched. He tightened his grip on Danny’s arm, then let go.
‘I’ll be watching you,’ he said. He straightened, put on his hat, and spoke loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. ‘Enjoy the rest of your meal, now. And like I said, make sure you leave a decent tip. Poor Shelley’s been run off her feet.’
Shelley beamed a smile at him from behind the counter, and the sheriff touched his finger to the brim of his hat, before walking to the door. He kept his gaze locked on Danny as he passed the window, heading toward the station.
Danny took his time finishing the sandwich, enjoying every bite. He watched the guesthouse across the street as he ate, wondering about Audra Kinney, what she was doing in there. Going out of her mind, he guessed. He wondered if she’d eaten.
He pushed his plate away, drained the cup of coffee. Right on cue, Shelley appeared at his side once more.
‘You want a look at the dessert menu?’ she asked.
‘No thanks,’ he said, reaching for his wallet. ‘I’ll settle up.’
‘Sure thing,’ she said, turning to go. ‘I’ll get your check.’
‘Wait,’ Danny said. ‘You do takeout?’