Рита Браун - Pawing Through The Past

Market was number one on the list.

"I heard it second-no, thirdhand." Market coughed behind his hand. "I didn't think about it-even then-because Charlie was always bragging about himself. But . . ."

"Just tell me what you heard," Rick patiently asked.

"You know about senior superlatives?"

"Yes."

"I heard that on the day the class of 1980 elected theirs, which would have been mid-October, I think, there was the usual round of excitement and disappointment, depending on whether you were elected or not. But what I heard was that Charlie Ashcraft, Leo Burkey, Bob Shoaf, Dennis Rablan, and Rex Harnett pinned down Ron Brindell and raped him." Market grimaced. "They said if that faggot was going to be elected Most Popular they'd make sure he was popular. Or words to that effect. But Ron never reported them and he seemed on friendly terms with those guys. Just another one of those high-school rumors, like Charlie getting a girl pregnant."

Rick sighed. "Adolescent boys are terrified of sex and their own relation to it. Their answer to anything they don't understand is violence."

"I don't remember feeling all that violent," Market replied. "But I can't believe Ron would stay friendly with them after something like that."

"Depends on what he thought he had to do to survive. It's hard for many men to understand what it's like to be the victim of sexual violence," Rick said.

"I never thought of that." Market wondered what else he never thought of by virtue of being a man, a straight man.

"We worship violence in this country. Turn on your television. Go to the movies. I can tell you it makes my job a lot harder. Anyway, who told you this?" Rick returned to his questions.

"I wish I could remember. As I said, I dismissed the story and I never heard any more about it. I don't think the rumor made the rounds or it would have lasted longer. Damn, I wish I could remember who told me."

"Too bad."

"Maybe Ron wasn't a homosexual. Maybe he was just effeminate." Market thought a moment. "Must be hell to be a gay kid in high school."

"Anything else?"

"No. Well, Ron Brindell killed himself. His parents died shortly after that. From grief. He was their only son, you know. All that misery. I can't imagine killing myself."

"Self-hate." Rick offered Market a cigarette, which he refused. "All manner of things derail people: greed, lust, obsessions, sex, revenge, and self-hate. Then again I sometimes wonder if some people aren't born sorrowful." He inhaled. "Market, we've known each other for a long time. I don't mind telling you that we're sitting on a time bomb."

"Because everyone's gathered together?"

"Yes."

"But two murders took place before the reunion."

"That they did-with Marcy Wiggins' .38."

"Guess it was too good to be true." Market stopped. "I don't mean good that Marcy killed herself, but her gun . . . we all let our guard down."

Rick nodded in agreement. "Our first thought was a crime of passion. Bill had discovered the affair with Charlie, shot her, and made it look like suicide, taking the precaution to have her write a confession in her own hand. But Dr. Wiggins happened to be at the Fredericksburg Hospital that day. She could have been murdered by someone else but I don't think so. All indications were suicide."

"But her gun-"

Rick interrupted. "I know. I have a thousand theories and not one useful fact but I am willing to bet you a hundred dollars of my hard-earned pay that our murderer is sitting in the gymnasium right now. For whatever reason, this twentieth reunion has triggered him."

"Jeez, I just want to get out of here."

Rick frowned. "A normal response. I'm not sure I can let you all go. Not just yet, anyway."

As Market left the room, Rick thought about bringing in Dennis next. However, having Dennis in the gym would disquiet the others. Maybe he'd get more information from them if they stayed agitated. He decided to call Hank Bittner next.

Market walked back into the gym. Cynthia kept everyone on a short leash. No one could rush up to Market. He sat down at the end of the table, his grim visage further upsetting the others. Market was usually so cheerful.

Walter Trevelyn asked Cynthia, "Are we trapped in the gym or what?"

"Once Rick finishes his interviews, he'll make a decision." She kept checking hands.

"I think we should forget the reunion," Linda Osterhoudt, who'd looked so forward to this reunion, suggested. "How can we go on? At least, I can't go on."

BoomBoom put down her barbecue sandwich. "If we cancel our reunion then the murderer wins. He's spoiled everything."

"I'd rather have him win than me be dead," came the sharp retort from Market.

Others spoke in agreement.

Mike Alvarez dissented. "I came all the way from Los Angeles. If we stick together what can he do?"

"I have something to say about that." Mike's attractive wife spoke up. "We came all the way from L.A. and it would be perfect if we could live to go all the way back-soon."

He declined to reply.

"We could market this," Bonnie quipped. "You know, like those mystery party games? We'll create one, Murder at the Reunion. If you get a lemon, make lemonade."

"Baltier, how insensitive," BoomBoom chided.

Hank Bittner returned, telling Bob Shoaf to go out. Bob glared at Dennis, who glared right back. Then Bob turned on his heel and left to join Rick Shaw.

Chris sat, avoiding eye contact with Dennis. Market moved and sat on the other side of Chris, as if to reassure her.

Rick returned with Bob Shoaf, who didn't seem as upset as Market had been on his return to the group. Rick still wasn't ready to pull Dennis out of the room.

BoomBoom started to cry. "All my hard work . . ."

"Oh for Christ's sake." Harry smashed her plastic fork down so hard it broke. "This isn't about you."

"I know that but I wanted it to be so great. It's your hard work, too, and Susan's and Mike's and Dennis's. I bet he didn't get any pictures either."

"Yes, I did. Up until the murder."

"How long will it take you to develop them?" Cynthia inquired.

"If I take the film to my studio I can be back in an hour."

"You're not going to let him go?" Hank Bittner was incredulous.

"There's not enough evidence to book him," Cynthia answered.

"He left the scene of the crime!" Hank exploded.

"I didn't do it."

The room erupted again as Rick shouted for quiet. "We've got your names and addresses. We've got the hotels where you're staying. We'll get in touch with you if we need to. I have no desire to make this more uncomfortable than it has to be."

"Are you going to book Dennis?" Hank insisted.

"No, I'm not, but I'm going back with him to his studio," Rick stated.

Dennis bit his lip until it bled, realized what he had done and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

As Rick and Dennis left, Cynthia remained. BoomBoom stood up, then sat down abruptly as Susan pulled her down. They whispered for a moment.