Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black Read Free Book Online Page A

where Jessica Parris was.  She tried not to look at the spot.  Breathed through her mouth and let her mind wander.
    She remembered someone telling her that before the citizens of Bisbee built City Park, this place had been a cemetery. Where did she hear that?  On a trip down here a few years ago?  Probably.  She used to come down overnight with her boyfriend, a member of the Pima County Sheriff’s SWAT team.  Mostly they came down to cool off from the Tucson summers and make love.  It didn’t work out because he had an ex-wife who kept tabs on him even though they’d split up years ago.
    Counting Tom Lightfoot, that made six serious or semi-serious relationships since college, if she included her ex-husband Billy, who was before, during and after. 
    Suddenly she flashed on the night two months ago at the Vail Steak House, going off to the bathroom with Karen, who did the books for the Bosque Escondido. They’d run into each other in the bar on Laura’s first foray out into the world with Tom. Tipsy, blundering into the vinyl-walled cubicle, verging on conspiratorial giggles, Laura asking: What do you think?  Like asking someone off the street to tell her if she ought to buy a certain car.  On cue Karen said what Laura wanted to hear.  He’s so good-looking, and he can’t keep his eyes off you.  You guys make a really cute couple.
    It doesn’t bother you that he doesn’t have a real job?  Laura asking this as if Karen’s opinion was more important than her own. 
    Who cares? You earn enough for both of you . 
    A car cruised up the street and the engine died.  Buddy appeared at the steps to the bandshell a minute later.  He pulled a folded evidence envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.
    “Sorry it took so long.” He didn’t tell her why.
    She placed the matchbook in the envelope and marked it with a pen.  “To preserve the chain of custody, I’ll keep it with me tonight and take it to the crime lab when I get back to Tucson.”  Looking for a reaction. He didn’t give her one.  “Do you have any ideas who Crazy Girl 12 is?  Is she a local?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “Anything come to mind at all?”
    At first she thought he wasn’t going to answer.  Then he said, “It could be something to do with the Internet.”
    “What, like an e-mail address?”
    He rubbed his nose. “Or a nick.”
    Looking at her for some sort of reaction.  All she could offer was confusion.  “Nick?”
    “Nickname.  In a chat room.”  He stared out at the park.  “Are we about through?”
    “Why did you come up here tonight?”
    “Same as you. I wanted to see the place how he saw it.”

    * * *

    She didn’t get back to the Jonquil Motel until a quarter of four.  The rain stopped on the walk back. 
    A fluorescent bulb sizzled above the yellow and green door to her room.  The glare of the light was so harsh she had to blink. When she stuck her key in the lock, it didn’t turn. 
    She jiggled the key in the lock, cursing under her breath.  Stared down at the stubborn lock.  Funny: Her hand didn’t look like her hand.  It looked strange, but she couldn’t figure out why. 
    Brain fart. She’d gone without sleep for long periods before—the job required it.  Forty, sometimes sixty hours straight.  She was young, she was healthy, but tonight she felt every one of her thirty-one years bearing down on her like a weight.
    Abruptly, the lock turned.  She got the door open, stripped off her clothes and crawled under the covers.  But even when she closed her eyes the light from above the door seemed to sizzle behind her eyelids, little fireworks popping in the dark.

9
THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
    Musicman bought a cupcake and a box of birthday candles, even though the box of candles was a waste of money because he used only one.  He chose a blue candle because blue was her favorite color.  He set it down next to the present even though the present was not for her.  He’d wrapped it