Bea Cannon - A Small Gray Dot

So, it was Semptor who was providing that ankle-turning paving. And whoever this guy with Morgan was, he wasn’t simply a packer.

“Could you describe him for me?”

“Hmm, well he’s a young feller, kinda tall maybe not as tall as you, but bigger n’ you. He’s got light brown hair an’ blue eyes.” His bleary eyes brightened for a second and he said, “Hey, in case you need it, his name’s Ken Talbert.”

That sounded like the man with whom Morgan had left. Her friends hadn’t remembered his name, though. I was going to have to thank my ex-client again, for sending me to this nosy man.

“Thanks, Frank. Now, can you remember what they were wearing when you saw them today?”

“Well, didn’t pay much ‘tention to what he was wearin’.” He gave a sheepish grin showing yellowed but straight teeth. “I was too busy lookin’ at th’ girl. She had on th’ same clothes both times I seen ‘er – tight purple pants and a short yellow jacket. Had on a purple knit hat.” His forehead wrinkled, then he said, “I ain’t sure what else Talbert had on but he was wearin’ a blue leather jacket both times. Wouldn’t’ve noticed that ‘cept it was a peculiar shade a blue.”

“Did they come back out of the house on Carter?”

“Naw, not that I saw. They prob’ly still there – ‘less’n they come out in th’ last hour. Folk don’t much wanna walk around here at night.”

“Have you ever seen this Talbert guy at the doctor’s house before?”

“Yeah, I seen ‘im there a coupla times.”

“Good. Describe Dr. Bennett for me.”

“Nice old gent with gray hair, gray eyes, wears coke-bottle glasses, ‘bout my height but skinnier. He’s kinda quiet but he’s friendly enough, he always speaks to me.”

That pretty much described the man who’d taken the deliveries, though his “gray” hair was a matter of opinion. My hair was gray; his was more of a Santa Clause white. If he were fatter with a beard, he would be a dead ringer.

“Anybody else live there?”

“Naw, old guy lives alone. Got a housekeeper what comes in a couple times a week to clean, but she ain’t there on Saturday’s.”

My ex-client was right. Frank certainly was nosy.

The fact that they’d gone into the house on Carter could be a simple matter of Talbert getting lost. Even if he knew how to navigate around the neighborhood, I supposed it could be a case of him having gotten distracted, perhaps by Morgan, and therefore lost, and they’d gone into the house of someone he knew seeking shelter until he could get reoriented. Nevertheless, I wondered if there might be something more involved.

I nodded and tipped my head towards the cash on the table. He grinned and walked his fingers over, and hauled it in.

I drained the last of my drink, set the glass down, and slid from the booth. The next to last song I’d chosen on the jukebox began playing.

“Hey! Were you goin’?” he looked up at me.

“I need to talk to the young lady, Frank, so I’m going to Carter Street.”

“Hey man, you oughta not go back out there! You got here okay this time but— wait a min, you ever been here befo’?”

“Yes, twice.”

He studied me. “Oh. So, you know how not to git lost.”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “Well, okay. You done come ‘cross th’ strip an’ I reckon you ain’t gonna git lost. But be careful. Things a l’il different here at night. There’s, um… things. Don’ let ‘em git to you. They’s jist, um… shadows and they don’t bother nobody but they kin make you fergit where you goin’.”

I nodded. “Yes, I saw the figures. I also heard… noises.”

The dark outlines I’d seen on the day of the Event were silent, and I never saw any after that day until going across the strip. Like other elements of our city, I guessed the leftovers were more intense in Blue Heaven.

Though folk didn’t much talk about them, I was curious, so I asked, “Is it those that’s making the sounds?”

He looked puzzled but then shrugged. “Never thought about it but I guess so. Jist you be careful. Don’t pay no ‘tention to them noises. That can make you git lost, too.”

“I’ll be okay.” I reached down and shook his hand. “Thanks for the information, Frank. You’ve been very helpful.”

As I went past the bar, Joe was mopping down the counter. He looked up and said, “Leaving?”

“Yes. There’s something I have to do.”

“Don’t want me to fix you a sandwich or something before you leave, do you? I won’t charge you for it.”

I shook my head smiling, remembering the old family joke about my never having to go hungry. I evoked that in a lot of folk. Even in ones who’d not known me for long, or that I’d just met. Joe was merely one of the latest. Possibly, so was Frank. It had been that way all my life, I’ve never known why. On reflection, that could’ve been one reason I was so good at tracking. Folk tended to want to help me out. And feed me. Sometimes I didn’t even have to offer a bribe to get them to talk.

I didn’t take it for granted though because there were always a few it didn’t seem to affect, like the bastard who broke my nose. And, those guards at the gatehouse hadn’t appeared to be fond of me either, but usually, it worked. I didn’t question it.

He looked worried as he studied my face. “You be careful out there, Tenn.”

I smiled. “I’ll be as careful as I can, Joe.”

I went out into the cold night that was full of shifting outlines and whispering voices.

CARTER STREET WAS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES from the bar. I oriented myself, mapped out the route in my head, fixed it firmly, and headed for the alley’s exit.

Ignoring the whispering shadows around me, I reached the house and stood across the street. I studied it looking for movement. I didn’t see any. The row of upstairs windows was dark but light glowed behind the curtained ones on the bottom to the right. It was only around eight-fifteen and even in Blue Heaven that would be early for bedtime, so I hoped that meant whoever was there hadn’t gone to bed and was lolling around downstairs. I hoped it also meant Ken Talbert and Morgan Effingham were still inside lolling with them.

As I went over my options, I noticed a security camera in a corner over the door. Aimed outward at the moment, if anyone was monitoring the thing, they may have already spotted me. I needed to decide fast. I could watch the house to see if Talbert came out with Morgan, and stop them to see if she really wanted to be with him and if so, tell her that her sister was worried and that she needed to call. Or, I could take action if this was an abduction.

I glanced around. Watching the front wouldn’t be a problem. There were plenty of places from which I could do that but if they decided to make a back exit, I saw no good position from which to watch both entrances. I would have to search for a location that covered both. I did another quick scan hoping to see a likely spot that could be put to that use and saw a possibility, but then, a gust of icy wind wrapped itself around me, teasing the back of my neck just as a couple of the shadowy figures whispered past. That settled it. There was no guarantee they were still there and if so would be leaving anytime soon, so I could be out in the cold watching for a long time. I decided on a frontal approach.

I crossed the street, and a light on the porch that was apparently motion-activated blinked on as soon as I started down the driveway. I stepped up to the door and gave the bell a firm push. In a few seconds, I heard footsteps and a shadow fell across the frosted sidelights of the door. Whoever it was had undoubtedly gotten a good look at me on the surveillance system and from the sound of it, decided to come to the door.