James Moore - Blood Red

“Meow, Kelli. And I don’t need the sign, I just like it.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her hair out. Erika wasn’t happy if she wasn’t being scandalous. Kelli caught a costume that struck her fancy. It was a zombie costume and it wouldn’t take a lot of work. Also, not so scary the kids would freak out.

“God, you cannot be serious.” Erika looked at her like she’d lost her mind as she examined the costume.

“Why not?”

“Because zombie chicks do not get laid at frat parties and you definitely need to get laid, girl.”

“So… maybe I’ll get a second costume for afterwards.” It wasn’t in the plans and it sure wasn’t in her budget, but she wouldn’t mind looking a little sexy for a change of pace.

Erika waved the devil outfit at her. “I’m buying this for you.”

“Okay, Erika, you might have the body for that, but I do not.” Kelli shook her head good and hard to make her point.

“Fine.” She reached out and grabbed an outfit that was just a bit less revealing than Elvira’s usual black ensemble. Erika raised one eyebrow in question and challenge alike as she held out the package for Kelli to see. “Try this one. And yes, you have the tits for it.”

A woman hauling two shell-shocked kids around the store looked over with a frown of disapproval at the language and Erika stuck out her tongue in response.

“I can’t wear that, Erika.”

“Of course you can.” Erika smiled brightly. “I’m glad we agree.”

“No, seriously, Erika…”

“Honey, it comes with a mask. You’re wearing it.”

“But—”

“It’s settled. We can even dye your hair if you want.”

“Are you spoiling me?”

“Yes. Deal with it.”

She nodded and smiled. It was nice to get spoiled now and then. Besides, the number of times she’d spoiled Erika, she figured she had one coming.

One full section of the wall was completely emptied of costumes. An illustration on the wall showed a black-hooded affair with tattered sleeves. “Popular costume…”

“Ever since that Scream movie came out.” Erika shook her head. “No originality.”

“Well, it was kind of a neat costume…” Kelli had seen it a week ago and toyed with it. She was shocked to see them all gone.

“No, it was kind of a neat movie. The costume shows no cleavage, so how good can it be?”

“You have no shame.”

“Shame is for the weak and the virgins.”

“Well, I guess I’m weak.”

“Yeah, but at least you’re not a virgin.”

“Could you announce that a little louder?”

“Nah. I’ll just tell the guys you’re easy at the parties tomorrow night.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Watch me,” she smirked. “You’ll have a wig and a mask. Keep the mask on and have a party, I say.”

“You would.” Kelli started to laugh and stopped when Erika looked at her funny.

“Who are you kidding? I already did. Try it some time.”

“Thanks for doing this.” She felt like crying but hid it well.

“For what? Going out and partying? Any time!”

Kelli nodded and tried to hold in her feelings, but it was harder to do all the time. Erika moved over and pulled her close, offering a shoulder that Kelli did not want to use. She used it anyway. She needed it. The days were driving her crazy and the nights were a hundred times worse.

“We need to get you out of that house, Kelli. Even if it’s only for a few nights.”

“I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Shit. You can come stay with me, okay?” All the usual caustic charm was gone and Erika was just herself; a warm, wonderful person who hid it well sometimes.

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Screw you. You’re staying with me tonight.”

Kelli nodded, grateful. She needed to rest, and she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Teddy disappeared.

“It’s pissing me off. Something Soulis said was wrong. I just don’t know what it was.”

“You’re obsessing, Richie.”

“I do not obsess. I get results.”

“Save it for O’Neill.”

“O’Neill can kiss my hairy ass.”

“Better be careful. He might if we actually figure out what’s going on around here.”

“You’re starting to whine again.”

“I got a headache.”

“Suck it up.” Boyd reached for the coffee again. If he kept drinking it this fast, he’d be pissing all night.

“Don’t go getting all grumpy bear on me, Richie. Only one of us can be bitchy at a time and it’s my turn.”

“Okay. Good point.” He stole one of Danny’s shrimp. “So here’s the deal. I think Soulis is dirty.”

“We already discussed that.”

“I know, but I want to talk about it again.”

“Well, he gave a good excuse for dealing with Tommy, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, but it was almost too good.”

“How do you figure?”

Danny stole a French fry from his plate. Then the bastard went and took a bite of his burger.

“He didn’t say how he knew about Tommy’s death.”

“Yeah? It’s a small town.”

“Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean everything that happens is spread around town to a stranger.”

“Maybe he gets the paper.”

“Maybe we need to look at this morning’s paper…”

They both called for Sally at the same time. She sighed and moved their way.

“Yeah, guys?”

“Sally, love of my life, flame of my heart.”

“Don’t make me sick, Boyd.”

“Hmmph. Okay then, you got any copies of this morning’s paper lying around?”

“I knew you wanted something.” She shook her head and walked toward the kitchen door.

“I love you, baby, honest.”

“You tip like we’re already married, Boyd.”

“You gotta start tipping her better. She’s gonna start spitting in your coffee or something.” Danny took another bite of his burger and Boyd scowled. One shrimp was not worth that much of his burger.

Sally came back out with a slightly wet newspaper. “It’s all yours. It’s been in the trash, so have fun.”

“Yeah?” Boyd smiled at her. “Want to order me another burger?”

“Sure, hon.”

“And Sally, my love?”

“Yeah?”

“Wash your hands for me, okay?” He stole another shrimp and opened the paper.

“Boyd, I’m bored.”

“Stop whining or I’ll make you read, Danny Boy.”

When Danny didn’t comment, he looked up to see why. Ben Kirby was walking into the diner with a bombshell on his arm.

“When the hell did he get popular?”

“Maybe he’s spending some of Tommy’s money.” Boyd watched the two sit down and saw Sally move over to them in a hurry, a smile on her face.

“More power.”

“Amen, brother. On the other hand, if he’s giving out loans, I could use a new car.”

“You could use a car that doesn’t belong to the department, you cheap bastard.”

“I ain’t cheap and my parents were married.”

“Not according to Sally.”

“Yeah? What would she know about my parents?”

“You’re a funny man, Richie.”

Boyd went back to reading. He scanned every headline and then threw the paper into Danny’s lap just as his partner was finishing off his burger. “See if you can find any mention of a dead pimp bastard in there, Danny.”

“Nothing?”

“Not a damn thing. And that’s the other thing that bugged me. Why did Soulis talk to us about the frat fire? Far as that article says, it started and it burned; the article didn’t say anything about who died or missing bodies.”

“That might be stretching it, Richie.”

“The fuck it might be. We’re gonna go pay our new friend another visit.”