James Andrus - The Perfect Scream

Lately, Stallings couldn’t fall asleep easily without knowing his father was safe. He supposed it was a common enough feeling for children of parents with Alzheimer’s, but it was odd considering how little time he’d spent with his father in the past twenty years. But he felt a wave of relief as soon as he saw his father working with a group of older, homeless men at a large round table in the corner of the giant room.

Stallings didn’t really need to talk to his dad; he just wanted to ensure the old man was safe. But as he was about to turn and leave he heard a voice behind him say, “I thought I might find you here.”

Grace Jackson stood behind him in a sundress that brought out her beautiful, dark complexion and bright smile.

Suddenly he didn’t feel so tired.

Kyle watched in fascination as the forty-two-foot-long fishing trawler revved its twin diesel motors, causing water to churn like the inside of a blender. Even though he’d seen it a hundred times before, he could barely take his eyes from the frothy water. Maybe it was being raised in landlocked Winter Park, or maybe it was because he needed to work on the ocean. That mix of salt air and diesel made Kyle feel like he was at an amusement park. The smell alone was almost enough to make him drop out of UNF and sign on as a mate.

There were only a few customers on the boat as it powered into its berth at the dock. He’d noticed a trend toward empty boats but didn’t know whether to attribute it to fewer fish or fewer tourists.

He waited anxiously for the first mate to acknowledge him.

Lynn watched Kyle in silence from the far end of the marina. He looked like a little kid fascinated by the big boat. He stood motionless on the dock slightly behind the banged-up fishing trawler. But she was committed to her goals no matter how innocent he seemed, now that Lynn had already made the judgment. She’d proved her restraint by not killing the pest Friday night. It had left her with a slightly hollow weekend, but it had to do while Kyle Lee was still away.

The familiar thrill started to creep through her and she imagined approaching the unsuspecting fraternity brother. She craved the satisfaction of completing the task and knowing she was that much closer to a normal life. Sometimes Lynn wondered what exactly a normal life was. Did it mean getting married and having children? Did it mean working at Thomas Brothers Supply the rest of her life? She felt like she had developed a real skill and wondered if there was a chance to apply it for the greater good of society.

She decided to let the big, philosophical questions rest for a while and focus on what she had to do. There was no way she’d let Kyle Lee get away. Not tonight.

John Stallings felt very comfortable in the corner of the cavernous community room, sharing a cup of coffee with Grace Jackson. While he got to spend time with this lovely woman, he was also able to observe his father from a distance and feel more confident about the older man’s ability to function, despite his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

He was so relaxed he found himself telling Grace about personal problems he wouldn’t even discuss with Patty Levine. He told her about his marriage and the disappearance of Jeanie and about Maria’s drug use. He was careful never to blame Maria for the family’s problems, because, as had become clear to him recently, he was more at fault than anyone else. He even told Grace about Brother Frank Ellis.

When he was finished, Grace said, “I hear what you’re saying, John. But I don’t understand why you think Frank Ellis is purposely trying to disrupt your family life. Could it be he was just trying to get you to pay attention to a problem that Maria had?”

Stallings thought about it for a few moments, frustrated by someone who was objective and trying to get him to look at a problem from all angles.

Then Grace said, “I wish my ex felt the same way about me that you feel about Maria. It’s really very sweet. It’s too bad she doesn’t realize how rare it is to find a guy like you.” She reached across the table casually and grasped both of his hands in her delicate but strong hands. “I do have to say that my ex-husband is trying to get his head on straight. He’s been seeing the kids more and catching up on child support. But it has more to do with the kids than with me. He had another girlfriend even before we split up.”

Stallings enjoyed her hands on his. “I don’t know how you do it between a career, raising two kids, and all the volunteer work you do.”

“My mom always taught me to be thankful for what I have and give back all I can. I’m trying to set a good example for my kids.” She paused for a moment and glanced around the immediate area. “That’s why I probably wouldn’t say anything to them if you asked me out to dinner one evening.”

“I’m in a crazy place right now, Grace, but I can’t think of anything I would enjoy more than spending a pleasant evening with you.”

Stallings flinched and yanked his hands away from Grace as his father walked up, saying a loud voice, “Two of my favorite people sitting at the same table. This calls for a drink.”

Stallings turned his head and stared at his father in disbelief until the old man started to cackle and said, “For a cop, you’re awful gullible.”

Kyle spent a few minutes looking over the meager catch of the fishing boat. There were two wahoo, a snapper, and an amberjack that looked more like bait than a trophy fish. The customers must’ve agreed because none of them wanted to take the fish home with them. One of them was so shit-faced he wobbled across the dock and into the parking lot. Kyle was relieved to see he was only a passenger in a big pickup truck parked near the entrance.

He stood patiently while the first mate cleaned the snapper, cutting it into two small but equal fillets.

The mate looked up at Kyle and said, “You haven’t been out with us in a while. What’s wrong, school getting too tough?”

Kyle smiled and shook his head. “You know how it is during the holidays. I had to go home and visit my folks and school’s been getting real busy.”

“All Thanksgiving meant to me was an extra trip out to sea in the morning. I couldn’t believe how crowded we were. We did so well the captain even smiled for a few minutes on the way back.”

Kyle said, “Looks like a couple of your customers had a little too much beer out in the boat.”

The mate said, “Not my concern once they hit the cement. I don’t care if they drive off the highway into one of the swamps.” He moved fast to wrap up the fish and clean the table. Then he turned and jumped back onto the fishing boat as the captain revved the engine. The mate scurried around, untying lines as he yelled up to Kyle, “See you later, kid.”

Lynn had slipped next to the dock without anyone ever noticing her. She had waited in the shadow under a burned-out streetlight while the three customers from the fishing boat shuffled toward their cars. One of them look like he had trouble walking until he opened the passenger door of a Dodge 1500 and was able to pull himself in easily.

She noticed Kyle chatting with the older, weather-beaten first mate while the tall, lean man cleaned some fish. Then the man made a graceful leap onto the boat, waving to Kyle as he landed.

She stepped onto the dock toward Kyle. This seemed right. No one was around and he was not paying the least bit of attention. The knife was in her front pocket. She reached down with her right hand and started digging.

Her heart picked up speed as she realized it was time.

Stallings liked Grace Jackson’s idea of a quiet dinner together. The whole concept thrilled him and at the same time made him feel guilty. She was a very special woman, but he hadn’t given up on Maria, who, in an entirely different way, was a very special woman. Still, he felt something was unresolved with Grace. It was a lighter problem than he usually faced, and it made him feel like a little time by himself, down by the beach, might help him get his head on straight. His father had made him laugh tonight with his joke about getting a drink, but mainly it meant he had at least some more time with the lucid James Stallings. The effect of Grace and his father had lifted his spirits more than he could have imagined.