“You ever hear Captain Frank on the subject of the beast?”
“The old goat’s got himself quite a yarn. What’s he call it, Pogo?”
“Bobo.”
“If that guy told me I’ve got a nose on my face, I’d take a quick peek in the mirror before I’d believe him.”
Abe grinned. “He’s not too reliable?”
“Let’s say he likes to be the center of attention, and he’s figured out that just about everyone—but especially tourists—are as happy as pigs in shit to hear about the beast. He gives them what they want to hear, and he’s center stage for half an hour or so.”
“He said the thing killed his sister.”
“I’ve checked it out. We’ve got files going back to 1853 when the town was founded. According to the reports, his sister was killed by a coyote. His father had been on a trade ship to Australia, but there’s nothing to indicate he brought back an unusual animal. He could’ve, I suppose, but I think it’s more likely Captain Frank just used his father’s voyage to make the story sound good. If the old man had been a miner, he would’ve brought it up out of a shaft.”
“I see what you mean,” Abe said. “I’d better get moving, I’ve got some people waiting for me.” He offered his hand, and the man shook it. “I really appreciate your taking the time to tell me all this.”
“Sorry your friend had such a raw experience. You can tell her Dan died bravely in the line of duty, and we miss him around here.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks again,” Abe said, and started to turn away.
“Say. One thing before you leave. You must’ve been in town last night, out at the Last Chance, or I don’t suppose you would’ve heard the Bobo story.”
“That’s right.”
“Stayed at the Welcome Inn?”
“From what I hear, it’s the only motel in town.”
“Notice anything peculiar out there?”
“Peculiar? In what way?”
“Seems, the Crogans, the family that runs the place, weren’t anywhere around this morning. The cook phoned in around six to report it. The office was all locked up. We sent a man in, and it looks like nobody slept there last night. Just found their car abandoned down the road. No sign of them anywhere.”
“Odd.” Abe shook his head. “No, I don’t recall anything unusual.”
“We didn’t think much of it till we found the car. That was about an hour ago. Seems like there might’ve been trouble.”
“I’ll ask my friends if they noticed anything.”
“I’d appreciate it. We’ve got a man out at the Inn now to interview guests, but it seems most everyone’s already taken off. Pay in advance, leave first thing in the morning. Folks on vacation, they always want an early start.”
“Well, I’ll check.”
“Bring your friends around, if they saw or heard something. ‘Course, all we’ve got now is a missing family. If it turns worse, we’ll be in touch for sure.”
“Right. Well, I hope they show up.”
“You and me both.” He tipped a finger to his eyebrow. “Have a good one.”
Outside, Abe scanned the roadside. The Mustang wasn’t in sight so he walked to the corner. Looking down Front Street, he tried to spot Tyler and Nora. Apparently they were still shopping. After a car passed, he crossed and stood near the curb to wait for Jack.
Up the road a block, a blue-and-white patrol car swung out of the service station. That would be Lucy at the wheel, he thought, with Bix in the tow truck tailing her. As she drew near, she smiled at Abe and raised a hand. He returned her wave. Bix drove by with a finger deep in his mouth. The patrol car and tow truck moved slowly down the road, waited at a traffic light halfway through town, and moved on. They passed the ticket shack in front of Beast House, and soon disappeared where the road curved away into the wooded hills.
Abe turned his gaze to the sidewalk. A block down, a woman pushed a baby stroller into a shop. When they were out of the way, he could see down to the sporting goods store. Still no sign of Tyler or Nora.
The Mustang pulled up beside him. Its passenger seat was piled with towels, his blue swimming trunks on top. He lifted the stack and sat down.
“Took me a while,” Jack said. “I got waylaid by a cop.”
“The disappearing family?”
“You know about that. I’ll tell you something you don’t know.” He checked the side mirror, and eased into the deserted lane. “They aren’t the only ones missing. I was talking to the cop when up comes that Hardy fellow and says his friend, that Blake character, hasn’t turned up all morning. Hardy hasn’t seen him since last night.”
“The plot thickens,” Abe said.
“Yep. The cop was so intrigued by that little development he lost his interest in me, or I’d still be there.”
“Well, I don’t think the ladies are finished shopping yet, anyway.”
Jack parked in front of Will’s Sporting Goods. “We’ll probably have a long wait,” he said. “You get a couple of gals trying to make up their minds on swimwear, it could take all day. So, what did you find out about Jenson?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Turn here,” Nora said.
Tyler, in the backseat, kept her eyes down as Jack swung the car onto Beach Lane. She didn’t want to see the road she’d driven yesterday, but her mind dwelled on it: the windowless brick house across the field to the left, the woods to the right, the row of mailboxes, Dan’s mailbox. She saw herself and Nora walking Seaside’s shadowy ruts, the strange man staring out at them through the screen. She remembered the desolate, abandoned look of Dan’s cabin with its empty porch, and how she’d felt anxious to get away from it. Without knowing, she’d somehow known her search for Dan would end badly. Dead more than a year. God, it was hard to believe. He lives in Beast House? I wouldn’t say that, not exactly. That crazy old man, Captain Frank, had known all along. He’d toyed with her. Even last night, he’d kept it to himself. Maybe he just didn’t have the guts to come out with it. Maybe he’d wanted to, but couldn’t force himself to be the bearer of such news. Probably holds himself responsible, figures it was his father’s Bobo that did it.
She wished he had told her. Nothing could’ve dragged her into that awful place, if she’d known. Dan’s body—no, not his body, just a wax dummy…
And she’d fainted. God, she’d fainted! Right in front of everyone. The memory made her skin go hot with embarrassment, just as it had every time she’d thought of it, even in the shop while trying to pick out a swimsuit.
Fainted. Barfed.
It would’ve been awful enough without all that, and she felt ashamed for letting the humiliation of it stand in the way of the grief she should feel over Dan’s death. She should be mourning him, not blushing over the spectacle she’d made of herself.