Jan Burke - Remember Me, Irene

“Let’s go back to Nadine,” I said.

“Oh, right. Well, Moffett tells Selman he should have at least stayed with her until the final acceptance of the redevelopment proposal. Selman says there’s a problem. Turns out this Jeff is on to everything. He’s caught Nadine going through Selman’s papers.”

Keene paused, then shook his head. “Now whatever else I could say about Selman-and don’t get me started-he could charm the horns off the devil himself. He gets people to be devoted to him, although I don’t think he’s ever truly cared about another person in his life.”

“Not even his son?”

“Not his son, and sure as hell not his daughter.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m telling you the truth. Anyway, this McCutchen kid thinks the world of Selman, and he starts warning him that Nadine’s on to his scheme.”

“Jeff knew about Moffett and Roland?”

“Figured it out very early on. Bright kid, like I said. Selman said he could be trusted, and it seemed like he was right. So Selman tells Roland that he wanted to get Nadine out of the picture before she learned too much.”

“But she didn’t stay out of the picture, did she?”

“No. She already knew everything she needed to know. She waited a while, probably planning her strategy, then she goes up to Lucas Monroe and promises him the world.”

“What did she want out of it?”

“I don’t think she ever planned to help Lucas out. She was the perfect match for Selman. She was right about that. He didn’t exactly appreciate it when she told him so. Came over to his place one day, told his current lover to scram. Then she announced to Selman that she wanted to get back together. And she wanted money.”

“I can imagine how well that went over with the others.”

“Roland and Allan were furious, but honest to God, Selman frightened me. Not because he was losing his temper. He was coolheaded, not panicked at all. You ever see him when he’s angry with his daughter? With Lisa?”

I nodded. “Different than with other people.”

“Yeah, only it’s the same this time. Pleasant, but icy. I can tell he’s really pissed at this woman who would dare to presume to threaten him.”

“So he’s angry. But what could he do about it?”

“Selman tells Roland and Allan not to worry. Says he’s got a plan. Get everybody together for a fishing trip. This can all be worked out. So we’ve got this ‘drop everything’ command from Roland and Allan to go fishing. I used to hate this crap. But I go.”

“This was on Ben’s boat?”

“Yeah, that big Bertram. Same one you saw in that photo Lucas took. Different day, though. He took that photo back when Andre was still inviting him along. Nadine’s first trip out on it. Big boat. More than big enough to live aboard.

“Anyway, on this day I’m telling you about, there sure as shit weren’t any photos being taken. Allan and Roland come aboard carrying this huge canvas bag, and it’s got some kind of heavy chain in it. Ben asked them ‘What’s that?’ and Allan shoots him a dirty look, but Selman’s the one that speaks up. ‘It’s a new anchor for you, Ben. We bought a spare. You should always have one.’ Ben was just looking at Roland. Nadine-oh, Christ!-she says, ‘Aren’t you going to thank him?’”

He put his head in his hands, stared at his feet on the stairs.

“Who went out on the boat that day?” I asked.

“Ben, Selman, Allan, Roland, me, Corbin, and Nadine. Booter wasn’t there. Booter used to get sea-sick. We’re out fishing most of the day. Fishing and drinking. I’m thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ Nadine is there, she’s all over Andre. They’re so huggy and kissy, it’s awkward for the rest of us. Ben tries to stow the canvas bag, Selman says leave it there on the deck, he’ll take care of it. So all day, Ben keeps looking at the canvas bag like it’s a snake. Ben’s unhappy, Corbin’s unhappy, I’m unhappy. I had this bad feeling, I’m drinking a little more than usual. Roland and Allan don’t seem to be bothered in the least.”

“Where did you fish?”

“All over. I’m no sailor. I can’t even tell you where we were.”

He fell silent.

“What happened next?”

He looked up, glanced over at me, but then kept his eyes straight ahead. When he spoke again, his voice was strained.

“We’re out fishing, like I said. At one point, that sick bastard Selman takes her below. Ben Watterson looks like he’s going to faint. Roland tells him to relax. Just like that. Cold. ‘Relax, Ben.’”

He shook himself.

“So Andre went below with Nadine,” I coaxed.

“Yeah. Then I realize they’re down there getting it on. They come back up, all smiles. Then a little later, this call comes in over the radio from Booter. He calls to say, ‘All clear.’”

“The meeting with Lucas? The one when Lucas waited for Nadine to show up and clear his name?”

“Yes. It’s like Selman wanted to be screwing her right when he knows this meeting is going on. She doesn’t even see what’s coming. No, that call comes in, she figures he’s sealed the deal, and she gives Andre this big face-sucking kiss. He really gets into it. I figure, this time, he’s going to take her on the deck, right here in front of God and everybody. So I’m a little relieved when Allan says, ‘Ben, take the boat in.’”

“And then?”

He was silent.

“There’s more to this, isn’t there, Keene?”

“I don’t know!”

“Allan tells Ben to head back to the marina. Did he?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Ben takes the boat in. I’m feeling a little relieved. I don’t even know why. But then, all of a sudden, Roland says, ‘Andre and Nadine and I have some business to discuss. We’re going out again.’”

“Everyone?”

“No, just the three of them. Ben protests, but Roland just says, ‘If anything happens to the boat, I’ll buy you a new one, Ben.’” He shook his head. “Can you believe that? Ben said, ‘It’s not the boat I’m worried about.’ Roland gave him this look-I don’t know how to describe it. It just made us all shut up and get off the boat.”

“Nadine stayed aboard?”

“Yeah. With Selman and Roland.”

“What happened next?”

“Allan tells us to go home, but Ben wasn’t as afraid of Allan. He keeps trying to watch where they’re taking the boat. Allan said, ‘Ben, don’t you realize what Roland is trying to do for you? Go home.’ Ben started looking green. He got sick, really sick, right there at the dock. Corbin and I started to worry about him. But after a minute, he said he just wanted to get out of there. We all walked to our cars and drove home.”

“When was this?”

“August 8, 1977.”

“You remember the date that clearly?”

“For a lot of reasons.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “God knows I’d love to forget that day.”

I waited.

Long minutes passed before he went on. “You asked me how I remembered that date? Everything changed that day. Everything. I stopped drinking. Ben sold the boat to Selman. I don’t think you can get Corbin Tyler to step on a dock. Corbin and I stopped speaking to Selman; made Roland handle everything with the studies. Didn’t matter. We all kept working together, speaking or not.”

“You haven’t told me why everything changed.”

“I don’t know! It just did.”

“Bullshit, Keene.”

He didn’t answer.

“Okay, I’ll ask the obvious question. Did you ever see Nadine Preston after that day?”

“No.”

“The canvas bag and chain?”

“I never went back to the boat. Maybe it was there, maybe not.”

“Nadine never went back to school after that semester.”

“No.”