The sheriff doesn’t look pleased. “I hear you, Frank, I do. Like I said, we’re on it, okay?”
“You know,” Dennis says from his high-top, ignoring the sheriff. “It’s almost Halloween, which means kids are going to be daring each other to run in that old place like they do every year. Might be a good idea to put up some fencing around the area. Maybe hang some warning signs to stop ‘em from gettin’ themselves hurt.”
The sheriff ignores Dennis altogether, taking another long pull of his beer.
Frank and Dennis both look at each other and roll their eyes.
“I think it’s a mighty fine idea, Dennis. In fact, maybe I’ll go out there myself—give the old place a little look-see and put up some plywood on the doors.”
The sheriff sighs. “I wouldn’t advise that, Frank. You’d be trespassing. It’s private property.”
“Well, I sure hope you and your boys do something about it then, Benji,” Frank says through narrowed eyes. “My Martha has hardly slept in the last week, and Denny’s right: it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing goes down. I’d sure hate to hear of anyone getting hurt if it could have all been avoided.”
“Jesus,” the sheriff—Benji—mutters to himself. He tips back the rest of his beer before setting the empty glass down with a loud clamor. Carmenalmostfeels bad for him with the way these guys are imposing on him when he’s clearly trying to unwind. But she’s too intrigued by the details of this old abandoned factory to give any sympathy much focus.
Loud music, Frank said. Andhowling.
She almost shudders thinking of the sounds that came from the beast who killed Lacie. Lifting her glass, she sucks the rest ofthe whiskey into her mouth and holds it there, letting the burn consume her. Teddy shoots her an amused look before he turns his focus on a couple who point at something on the menu.
Carmen finally swallows the liquor just on the brink of inducing a coughing fit, and then centers herself inside the bar, reminds herself why she’s here, what she’s set out to do.
The sheriff tosses a ten-dollar bill on the counter, and mumbles a low, “Keep the change.” And then he stalks for the door, disappearing out into the night without another word.
Carmen watches the door swing closed behind him. Then she takes a deep breath and goes for it.
“I think I might have heard what you’re talking about,” she says, making clear eye contact with Frank. “The loud noises . . . It kind of sounded like coyotes. Or maybe wolves?”
“Yeah,” Frank says, nodding. “But it’s not an animal—definitely party racket. As close as our house is, we can hear yelling and laughing too. I thought it was teenagers from another county coming in for a little weekend rendezvous, but it’s been weeks now and hasn’t stopped. We have to listen to that bullshiteverynight.”
Carmen considers the best way to play this. “I’m not from here,” she says, “so I don’t know the area well—I’m visiting my cousin. But we spent a couple nights camping out in the woods and heard it. Out just past the park, right? Up the river?”
“A ways from the park, but yeah, that’s right, ‘bout a mile up the river. It used to be a plastic factory, but it’s been abandoned for over twenty years. Must be some group of gypsy squatters in there, I’d guess.”
“Oh, don’t go tellin’ tales, now,” Teddy chimes in as he dries a freshly washed glass with a questionable bar rag.
“Who else could it be?” Frank asks. “Honestly, I don’t care what he says, if the sheriff can’t be bothered to take this seriouslysomeone else should go out there and look. What if it’s a gang of criminals?”
Teddy chuckles in that annoying way he likes to do. “You think agangofcriminalsis just going to take over an abandoned factory and party for nights on end?”
Frank shrugs. “Sounds like what I’d do if I were a criminal.”
Dennis scoots back in his stool, the metal legs scraping loudly against the concrete floor. He stands and walks to Frank, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m with Frank. Someone should go check it out and make sure we’re not in any sort’a danger.”
Teddy looks at Carmen, as if waiting for her input. Normally she’d be inclined to keep her mouth shut—this isn’t her town, and she doesn’t care about any of these people. But in her gut, she knows who’s likely taken up residence in that building, and she wouldn’t wish that kind of danger on anybody. “I’d leave it to the sheriff,” she says, looking back to Frank and Dennis. “If there’s trouble, it’s his job to deal with it. Don’t put yourself at risk, you know?”
Frank sighs again. “Maybe you’re right,” he says. “But I still don’t like it.”
Carmen shifts her gaze to Teddy, pushing her glass toward him. “Another, please.”
CHAPTER 7
“Here,” Lacie says, shoving a turkey sandwich into Carmen’s hands. “You’re grumpy when you’re hungry.”
Carmen rolls her eyes. “I’m not grumpy. I’m just . . . hot.” She’s never much liked the heat to begin with, but she’sneverexperienced it quite like this. It’s sweltering outside, so hot it feels like the sun is falling out of the sky and about to engulf the entire planet. It almost feels like she and Lacie are sitting inside of someone’s turned–on oven and not next to a beautiful, wide-open lake.
It’s Carmen’s first time in Arizona. Lacie’s been here before with Warren, but never in August, so she didn’t know just how overwhelming and dry this desert heat would be until they arrived at the Silver Pony motel two days ago. Still, Lacie—ever the cheery optimist—has been committed to making sure she and Carmen enjoy their time here.
She found the campground listed on a map they bought from a gas station as they drove south through Payson, that glimmer of adventurous delight in her eye when she pointed it out to Carmen. They only had enough cash for a couple nights at the motel, so Lacie figured they could spend another night ortwo camping beneath the stars. She’s always been much more spontaneous than Carmen . . . And definitely more impulsive. Carmen considers it one of her many strengths, the way she can weave together these magical experiences out of circumstances that are anything but. It’s one of the things Carmen loves most about her.
