Loxley Belle Read online

  Two security guards patrolled the parking lot. That wasn’t a normal sight on campus. But they were clear out on the other side of the parking lot of at least two hundred cars. They were mostly just laughing and smoking. This prom wasn’t just for our school but for all the high schools in the county. There were tons of teenagers here tonight. Funny, as I was thinking about Shannon Bohannan not being the Queen Bee tonight, not a shoo-in for Prom Queen after all, I saw her boyfriend’s car. An easy pull on the car door revealed that it was unlocked.

  It was wrong to sit in someone’s car without being invited, but I liked the feeling, that old familiar feeling that I was doing something wrong. It made me stronger. Very carefully, so as to not draw attention to myself, I closed the door. The car light went off, and I sat in darkness for a minute. I could just imagine Chuck and Shannon riding to the prom in this monster of a car. It wasn’t nearly as nice as Harmon’s, and it smelled like Shannon’s perfume. What was I doing? Why had I done such a thing? Well, while I’m here, I may as well look around. My dress would wrinkle if I sat too long, and I was already tired of the scratchy petticoat beneath my skirt. There wasn’t much to see in here…but the glove box, that might hold a few surprises.

  Inside the glove box was a small bottle, no, a flask. Like the kind one would carry if one were to take sips from it during church services as Mr. Watley used to do after collecting the offering. Everyone knew he was drinking booze from that flask, but no one ever said anything. They’d certainly talk about me if they knew what I was up to, though. I closed the glove box, the flask still in my hand. I’d been so focused on plundering that I hadn’t noticed the footsteps as they came up beside the vehicle.

  Suddenly the door opened, and Shannon Bohannan’s boyfriend was staring at me.

  Chapter Thirteen—Loxley

  I stared at Chuck, unsure what to say. I hadn’t planned on being caught, and he was now demanding to know why I was sitting in his car. Shannon was right behind him, looking as furious as ever, and I was terrified. I had no idea what to say or how to explain myself. “What exactly are you doing in here? What kind of mischief are you up to, Loxley Belle?” That was Shannon’s nasally voice, but Chuck didn’t look happy either.

  “I……”

  “There you are. Wrong car, toots. It’s right over here. Excuse us,” Harmon said as he pushed past Chuck and reached for my hand. I kept the flask squirreled beneath my skirt. No way could I put it back now, not that I had ever planned to do so.

  “Just a damn minute. Your crazy girlfriend doesn’t have any right to climb around in my car. Unless of course she realizes what a loser her date has turned out to be. Is that it, Crazy Belle?”

  “I’m not crazy!” I shouted at him. Out of my peripheral vision, I could see the two security officers making their way toward us.

  I wasn’t the only one. Chuck saw them too and whispered in a low voice, “You two losers need to make like eggs and scram. Hit the road! Or should I call those officers over here?”

  “Hey, it was an honest mistake. Our cars are the same color. You know how girls are. They couldn’t tell you one make and model from another, right?” Harmon said with a grin at me, but I only frowned at him. I wasn’t stupid and didn’t appreciate his making fun of me. He elbowed me as Shannon leaned across Chuck’s shoulder. She wasn’t believing any of this, and I suddenly felt worried. Not so much for me but for Harmon. He’d hinted earlier that he was in some sort of trouble, or at least his family was. I decided to play along and clutched his hand.

  “I just wasn’t paying attention. Sorry about that, Chuck.”

  The tall boy tilted his head and looked down at us as if we were two bugs he wanted to crush beneath his dress shoes. He didn’t speak to me—I guess he thought he was too good for that—but said to Harmon, “You need to take your nutjob girlfriend and your wheels and get out of here. We don’t want your kind here. You two deserve each other.”

  “You need to take that back. You call her crazy or a nutjob one more time and see what happens to you. You’re about to get a fat lip, buddy!”

  “Please, Harmon. Let’s go. I’d like to get out of here. It was my mistake. It was an honest mistake. We are leaving.” I snatched my hand away as I surreptitiously hid the flask in my voluminous skirts.

  Shannon Bohannan’s boyfriend was cussing up a storm, which actually helped us out because the officers were more worried about his foul language than what I could possibly be doing plundering his car. Harmon’s face said it all. He was livid, but with me or Chuck or Shannon… I didn’t know.

  “I’m sorry I got you into trouble. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Harmon took his keys out of his pocket and opened his door, then reached across the seat and unlocked my door. I was still apologizing as I got into his car.

  “What were you doing in that car? You know the difference between a Chevy Bel Air and a Buick Roadmaster. What were you doing in there?”

  Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should go find my aunt and insist that she take me home, but I couldn’t move from the vehicle. Knowing that Harmon was furious with me made me feel sick. He was my only friend left in the world, and even if he was leaving soon, I couldn’t afford to lose another friend. “I was just looking around.”

  “Were you looking for something to steal?”

  I was flabbergasted that he’d guessed so correctly. “No. Yes, but I can explain everything.”

  Harmon cranked the vehicle, and we slung out of the school parking lot. Rocks flew as his wheels spun out of the driveway. That was one sure way to draw attention, but at this point, I didn’t have any desire to give him driving instructions. “You don’t have to explain, but I want you to tell me the truth.”

  “I don’t think you would understand. I hardly understand it myself. What do you want me to say, Harmon? I told you I was crazy. You didn’t believe me, but now you know the truth. I am what they say I am. Just like my Momma, I’m a nutjob. A crazy person. A psychopath who steals things. What else do you want to know? And why do you care? You’re not even going to be here. You’re leaving. Remember?”

  I expected him to argue with me. I thought perhaps he might even go as far as to say I wasn’t like my mother, that I wasn’t a nutjob, but he didn’t. His eyes were fixed on his rearview mirror. “Someone is following us, Loxley. Why would they be following us? I think this is going to be bad.”

  I’d forgotten all about the flask I was still clutching in my right hand. Might as well tell the truth. He knew the worst about me already. I held the flask up and showed it to him. “Because I took this.”

  “Hells bells, Loxley! We’ve got to get out of here. The cops are going to come find us. What made you want to steal from that guy’s car? You know he’s a jerk!”

  I felt as stiff as a board as I sat beside Harmon and did my best to think things through. I’d made a real mess of things, such a bad mess that I had put my friend in a horrible position. I glanced over my shoulder and could see the car closing in on us. I couldn’t be sure, but the headlights looked familiar. Was it possible that Chuck and Shannon were tailing us? Of course they were. Why else would they have come out to his car except to retrieve that flask? There was a strict no-drinking rule at any school function, but people like Chuck always found ways around those rules.

  I knew that I should feel bad, that I should feel guilty for what I’d done, but suddenly I didn’t. I felt strong. I felt like I was fighting back against the people who hated me, who enjoyed tearing down my reputation and destroying my family’s name. In a surprisingly calm voice, I said to Harmon, “Head east on 98. I know where we can go. I know where we will be safe.”

  And without question, Harmon drove faster, barreling down the dark highway toward Summerleigh.

  I was going home.

  Chapter Fourteen—Jerica

  “On your way?” I asked hopefully as I picked up the phone without bothering to say hello. I didn’t want to sound desperate, but I was beginning to feel
that way. After seeing the room destroyed and hearing the scream, not to mention watching the baby’s carrier slide across the floor, I was done trying to keep it all together.

  “No, unfortunately. My truck bit the dust.”

  I rubbed my lip as I stared out the kitchen window. “What? Were you in an accident?”

  “Nothing like that, sweetheart. It just wouldn’t turn over, and then the battery died…it’s been a nightmare. But I had it towed from the hotel parking lot and am on the way to the mechanic’s shop now. I’m just about ready to say keep the damn thing.” Wow, that was big news. Jesse loved his vintage truck, so much so that he’d spent at least one weekend a month tinkering with it. “If they can’t fix it in a timely manner, I’ll grab a rental car and head that way.”

  I sighed and closed my eyes. “No, don’t do that. You love Old Bruiser. You know you would never abandon him like that. I can’t come get you, though. We have guests.” And there really are ghosts in the house, Jesse. I think Loxley is here.

  He laughed softly, and then it was his turn to sigh. “I guess you’re right. How are the guests? Nice people, I’m hoping?”

  “Yes, they’re great. About to head out for the day, I think. There’s a big concert in the park in Lucedale. I had no idea that it was such a big deal. I wonder how they’re going to get by without the great Jesse Clarke’s performance.”

  He snorted and sounded a bit unimpressed with my attempt at humor. Jesse wasn’t the best guitarist or vocalist, but he did love it; at least he was pretty to look at. I reminded myself that he was a bit sensitive about his playing.

  “I’m sure they aren’t missing me. I better go. Looks like the mechanic wants to talk to me. Well, there goes the profit from this book signing.”

  “Just let me know how it goes, will you?”

  “I will. Bye, Jerica.”

  “Bye,” I said as I put the phone back on the receiver.

  I chewed on my fingernail as I thought about the situation. I took the biscuits out of the oven and arranged the small plates on the tray. Breakfast would be simple this morning. As a tribute to Harper, I added a small jar of peach preserves to the tray with a tiny silver spoon. I put the tray on the table with some napkins and headed to the back porch. There were two round tables out here with comfortable chairs. I loved serving breakfast out here. My four guests hurried into the kitchen and walked through to join me on the porch.

  “Who wants coffee?” I asked the excited group, and everyone raised their hands. I hurried off to fill a carafe and fetch the cups, but I wasn’t alone.

  “Excuse me, Jerica. I found this in the bathroom. I figured you left it in there when you were cleaning.” Trisha dropped Loxley’s charm bracelet in my open hand, and I nearly hit the floor.

  “Hey, are you okay? You look like someone just kicked the wind out of you.”

  “Yes, thank you,” I said with a smile even though my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. I lifted the carafe off the table.

  “Let me take that, please. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

  I smiled even bigger. “I’m great, Trisha. Thanks for asking.”

  The breakfast was like most, over quickly, and there were lots of compliments on the biscuits. As I always did, I gave Harper Belle credit and offered the ladies copies of the recipe if they wanted them. Nobody said no. I returned with pre-printed cards and began tidying up the dishes. I was anxious for them to leave. I had to clean up Loxley’s room and figure out how that bracelet ended up in that bathroom.

  “We better load up. The first group starts in thirty minutes. We won’t be back for lunch, but we will see you tonight, Jerica. Thanks for a wonderful breakfast.”

  “You’re welcome, Mr. Beckett. Would you like me to tidy up your rooms? Need fresh linens?”

  “That would be wonderful. I’ll go grab the keys, then,” Harry said. Karen and Ron followed him through the kitchen, but Trisha lingered behind.

  “I think you should know that I saw the girl that bracelet belonged to. I couldn’t keep it. I’m guessing that you’ll know what to do with it.”

  I let the hot water run in the sink and added some soap. “Are you a medium?”

  “Not really, not a psychic medium, but sometimes I can feel things. Usually when I hold objects or visit certain places. It doesn’t happen reliably enough for me to call myself a real psychic, but if there is anything I can do to help you, please say the word.”

  I eased the cups into the soapy water and pretended, as best I could, that there wasn’t a thing wrong.

  “Let me help,” she said.

  Before I could discourage her, her husband returned and said, “I’m ready when you are, Trisha.”

  “I think I’m going to stay here. I’m not feeling too well. Another migraine, I think. The idea of sitting in the hot sun all day worries me.”

  Harry frowned but didn’t go against her. “If you think it’s best. How about I call you at lunch? If you think you’re up to coming out, I’ll come back and pick you up. It’s not that far away. How does that sound?”

  “Wonderful. In the meantime, I’ll take a migraine pill and see if I can nip it in the bud. Thanks, Harry.”

  The three of them left; Karen seemed disappointed but not enough to stay behind. I was glad, too, because I didn’t like the idea of creating a panic over a lost bracelet. I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to talk about it with Trisha, but she kind of didn’t ask me. In some ways, she reminded me of Renee. I glanced at the clock over the phone. Renee was bringing Jordan home in a few hours. She was half asleep when I called a while ago. According to her, Jordan slept through the night, but Frank’s snoring kept her up for most of it.

  Trisha and I washed dishes in silence. Imagine washing dishes with a stranger. But she was quiet and polite, and when we’d dried the dishes and returned them to the cabinet, we sat on the back porch.

  “May I hold the bracelet again?” she asked hopefully. “I think I can tell you more. Especially now that we’re alone.”

  I couldn’t say why, but I felt as if I could trust her. I removed the charm bracelet from my pocket. “Here you go,” I said as I put it in her hand.

  “She’s a girl with dark blond hair. Her name…oh dear. She’s being shy now. She doesn’t want to tell me her name because she thinks she is in trouble. Bad…really bad…she says. She deserved it, she says. She deserved what he did to her because she’d been so bad.”

  I waited patiently, but I was dying to know who she was talking about. I decided to ask her a question. “Is she young or old?”

  “She’s young, a teenager. Please tell me your name. We won’t tell anyone.” Trisha’s voice softened as she spoke with the invisible girl. “L…something with an L. She’s not being very forthcoming with any of it.”

  “Loxley…it has to be Loxley.”

  Trisha began to cry as she clutched the bracelet. “She doesn’t want to talk about it. Oh, God, Jerica. She’s devastated. So very sad. Please, we have to let her go. She wants to leave.” She opened her eyes and put the bracelet on the table.

  Suddenly, the screen door slapped shut and I nearly jumped out of my seat at the sound. Trisha didn’t seem surprised at all. Maybe I’d left the door open earlier? It was possible. “She wants you to follow her. She’s going that way. Can you see her?”

  “No, I can’t.”

  Trisha sighed and said, “She wants to show you something—I’ll take you. It’s not far from here.”

  “Thank you,” I said as we left the porch and walked past the circular driveway and toward the narrow path. I knew exactly where we were going, but there was no way my guest could know. It’s not like we handed out maps to visitors. And the discovery of the shack was so new that would have been impossible.

  “It’s this way.” Trisha was practically running, and I was right behind her. Before I knew it, we were standing in front of the shack. Trisha said, “He’s in there.”

  I glanced at her and said with some surpri
se, “He? I thought we were following Loxley?”

  “We were, but he’s here and she left. I wish I knew why.” She dropped the bracelet in my hand. “He comes back here a lot, and he’s looking for her. He won’t let her go. She’s not at rest, Jerica. Not by any stretch of the imagination.”

  That’s when I saw the shadow move past the window. I walked up the steps and waved at her to stay back. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go inside. Jesse had locked the door, and the shiny new doorknob wasn’t going to budge.

  I turned to speak to Trisha, but she was backing away from the building. Her face was pinched and worried. “I have to go. I’m sorry.” She wasn’t looking at me but at the window. Although I couldn’t see what she was seeing, I knew it was something terrifying because she was running back to Summerleigh.

  With the bracelet in my pocket, I ran back too.

  Chapter Fifteen—Loxley

  “Wait a second,” I said as the car went around us and zipped down the highway. “That wasn’t them at all. It’s all clear, Harmon,” I said as I breathed a sigh of relief and sank into the leather seat.

  “Good, that’s good. Say, what’s in that flask? I bet it’s high-dollar stuff. Probably Jim Beam. Pass it here.” He wasn’t turning around, and his eyes never left the road. I did as he asked but felt sure that at any moment he would turn the car around and we would head back to the school, or maybe he’d take me home. Aunt Dot would be expecting me for sure. “Will you unscrew the top for me?”

  I took the flask back and unscrewed the top. Harmon took a sip and choked a little. “I should have known better. That’s moonshine. Straight-up moonshine. And not good moonshine either. Take a sip.”

  “No, I don’t want any. Where are we going?”

  “To Summerleigh. That’s where you wanted to go, right? I’d like to go with you.”