Alex Barclay - Time of Death

‘Ren, I got that tape in from Billy Waites…’ said Robbie. ‘Do you want to watch it? It’s all set up.’

Ren’s voice echoed off the glass. ‘I like the way you just ignore that I’m splayed out on the table here.’

He paused. ‘Yes. Is everything OK?’

She pulled herself up. ‘Look at that-’ She pointed to a smear on the table. ‘That is my makeup. Gross.’ She wiped her sleeve across it.

‘Your makeup isn’t greasy.’

‘Hmm,’ said Ren. ‘Maybe only when its mixed with the venom seeping out of my pores.’ She stood up. ‘Give me a hug.’

‘Sure.’ Robbie put his arms limply around her and gave a quick squeeze.

‘Just what I needed,’ said Ren. An antiseptic embrace to counter the venom.

She went into the AV room with Robbie and sat down in front of the video player. Ren took the remote control and pressed Play. There were a lot of shots of Billy Waites from behind. And out of the crowd, eventually, came the handsome face of Gavino Val Pando. The bar was busy, people pushed in front of him, he was not very tall, so it was difficult for him to get served. When he did, he held the drinks above his head and retreated to the booths opposite the bar.

‘There,’ said Robbie, sitting forward. He pointed to two booths further down and a table with the two teenage girls.

Ren and Robbie watched as more time elapsed, people came and went. And before long, one of the girls was sitting next to Gavino.

‘Well, they look like they’re having a good time,’ said Ren. She pointed to other parts of the room. ‘Look at these little tramps. Gavino and his girl look quite sweet.’

Ren hit Pause. ‘I presume this is one of those “and the cock crowed three times” things…’

Robbie glanced at her. ‘If you’re asking me is she one of the ones who denied his existence, yes, ma’am. Her name is Jessica Ellerbee.’

Ren leaned closer to the screen. She pressed Play. Jessica Ellerbee stood up. ‘Well, she looks totally wasted,’ said Ren. ‘Maybe she really didn’t remember him. But…I doubt it. I don’t think a teenage girl is going to forget a cute guy like that. A night in the sheriff’s office is a different matter. But, all I will say is: tough. I’ll go talk to her.’

‘OK.’

‘And look,’ said Ren. ‘Here she is, back from the ladies’ room. And who’s helping her on with her jacket? Gavino. And they’re walking to the door holding hands. What a little gentleman.’

‘Do you think this Jessica would have any information that’s going to help us?’

‘I think there’s a possibility the two may have dated,’ said Ren. ‘Even for a little while. So she could know where he is. What we just saw didn’t look like a sleazy encounter that was going to end up in a one-night stand. Or am I being naïve?’

‘Actually, that encounter ended with them both being taken into the sheriff’s office.’

‘Oh yes. I forgot that part.’ Because watching Billy Waites on screen completely threw me.

‘If we show Ms Jessica that tape, she’ll talk.’ Ren pushed back her chair and stood. ‘And we can find out if she’s had any contact with Gavino Val Pando any time recently.’

‘Great,’ said Robbie. He got up and left.

Ren rewound the tape and paused it at the clearest shot of Billy Waites: the broad shoulders, the toned arms, the Diesel ass.

I miss Billy Waites. Even the back view. Or…especially the back view.

Ren popped the tape out and stood, holding it, her mind drifting.

Who am I kidding? She turned off the light and walked into the hallway. I miss Billy Waites: the inside view.

Cliff called to Ren when she walked in. ‘Hey, your brother Matt on two.’

Ren got to her desk and picked up.

‘Hey,’ said Matt. ‘I heard about the T-shirt. What the hell’s going on?’

‘That’s what I’m trying to find out, Matt. I can’t understand all this. It’s insane. Did you call Jay?’

‘Yes.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He’s just like us — devastated.’

‘In his little emotional HazMat suit.’ Emotions: hazardous materials Jay Bryce.

‘I’m staying out of it,’ said Matt. ‘Do you have any idea how that T-shirt wound up in the headboard?’

‘Not a clue. Did you know that the hole was even there?’

‘No.’

‘Who goes into Beau’s room?’ said Ren.

‘Just Mom.’

‘Do people ever stay over?’

‘Riiight. Look, let’s face it, Ren — this is all bullshit. It’s not like one of Mom and Dad’s friends is randomly going to wander into Beau’s room, discover a hole in a headboard and put a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry inside.’

‘I know, I know.’

‘We’re kind of talking a whole lot of nothing here.’

‘That about covers it,’ said Ren. ‘How are you doing?’

‘Crap.’

‘Is there anything we’re not factoring in? Like, has someone got it in for us?’

‘What?’ said Matt. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Well, Beau didn’t have anything to do with Louis going missing, so someone is obviously trying to frame him.’

‘No, I get that. But I don’t think that means they want to hurt us , like, deliberately.’

‘Oh, please Like this would have no impact on the rest of us?’

‘Maybe whoever it is just does not care,’ said Matt. ‘Do you think it could be the person who took Louis?’

‘No,’ said Ren. ‘That would be way too risky. You’d sit it out. Especially if you’d gotten away with it for this long.’

‘True.’

‘Imagine if no one took Louis,’ said Ren. ‘Like he had an accident, wandered off somewhere, fell down a hole or something.’

There was silence at the other end.

‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘I know.’

‘And just one small thing — I do know where you were coming from, because my angel wife has that healing presence, but she is not the one to be helping Mom right now. Basically she is having a “How can we bring a child into this horrible world?” moment and the closer she is to anything like a child going missing or a dead brother or a traumatized mother, the more freaked out she’ll get…’

‘Oh my God, I am so sorry,’ said Ren. ‘I didn’t think of it that way at all. How didn’t I, more to the point? I just thought, Who always knows the right thing to do in times like this? And then I thought of you guys. And I figured you would be working.’

‘Hey, don’t worry about it…but if you so much as suggest that again? Bitch, I will cut you…’

Ren laughed. ‘I feel really dumb. I just…Mom adores Lauren. She’s the daughter she never had…’

Matt laughed. ‘Anyway, don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.’

‘Please tell Lauren I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, Lauren has no idea I’m calling you. I’m her emotional spokesperson at the moment. She didn’t say a thing. She was almost on her way to Mom’s. I just knew that, when she came back, she’d be haunted in the eye.’

‘Nice save, then.’

‘I’m sure I won’t give a crap about her for the second child.’

‘Thanks for making me laugh.’

‘Hey, how are you doing…about Helen?’

‘Awful. The irony is that she spent almost two years trying to squeeze an emotion out of me. She finally achieves that. Then she’s gone.’

‘That kind of progress can’t be reversed that quickly,’ said Matt. ‘You’ll find another therapist. It will be like the movie Always . Helen will be watching over you while you find someone to take her place.’

‘Oh, God, that movie…’ said Ren.

‘Step away from the video store.’

Glenn Buddy knocked on the open office door and stuck his head in as Ren was hanging up.