Chapter 6

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Martin Bodine, proprietor of Marty’s Motor Lodge, scowled at the photo. ‘Not here, ’ he said.

‘The picture’s six or seven years old, ’ Sam told him.

‘Still not here. ’ He pushed the photo back across the registration desk. ‘Sorry, ’ he said. He didn’t look sorry.

‘Has she been here? ’

‘When? ’

‘Within the past week. ’

‘No. ’

‘She could look different, now. A different hair style or color…’

Martin sighed. ‘I’ve got twenty rooms, Mister Wyatt. As of right now, fourteen of ’em are vacant. That means I’ve got six parties under my roof. You think I wouldn’t know it, if this gal was one of them? Let me tell you, I’d know it. She’s not here. She wasn’t here last night, or the night before. As far as I know, I’ve never seen the gal my whole life. All right? ’

‘All right, ’ Sam said. ‘Thanks for your help. ’

‘Any time. ’

Sam walked to the door, clamping the photo of Thelma to his clipboard. Marty’s Motor Lodge was the second motel he’d checked after searching Dexter’s house and finding a picture of the ex-wife. He’d struck out at both. There were no more motels to try – not in Ashburg. Maybe she’d taken up lodgings in one of the neighboring towns, but Sam doubted it. More likely, she was staying with a friend.

He climbed into his patrol car and drove to the Food King, where Charlie Dobbs had spotted Thelma yesterday. Outside its doors was a pile of pumpkins. Sam remembered buying one only a few days ago. He’d planned to carve a jack-o’-lantern this evening. Now, he doubted he would get to it. He wondered if Cynthia had a pumpkin. It would be fun, getting together with her and Eric to make jack-o’-lanterns. Maybe next year, he thought, hurting with regret.

Inside the store, he found the crew-cut manager behind a booth, okaying a woman’s check. He waited until the woman left.

The manager beamed at him. ‘Yes? ’

‘I’m looking for information about a customer who was in here yesterday, ’ he said, and handed over the photo. ‘Do you recall seeing her? ’

‘Mmm. Say, isn’t this Thelma Boyanski? ’

Sam nodded.

‘You say she was here? ’

‘That’s what I heard. ’

‘Golly, I haven’t seen her for years. Back in town, is she? ’

‘Apparently. ’

‘What a gal. I always wondered what happened to her. She used to be in here two-three times a week. Ran off with Babe Rawls, last I heard. Come back, has she? Well, doesn’t surprise me. She was a dope to step out on a guy like Dex. Must’ve finally come to her senses. ’

‘You didn’t see her yesterday, though? ’

‘Nope. But I keep pretty busy. Could’ve missed her in all the rush. ’

‘Okay if I talk to your clerks? ’

‘Help yourself. ’ He gestured for Sam to follow. They went through a closed checkout aisle. Near the back of the store, a young man was stamping new prices onto coffee cans. ‘Paul, Officer Wyatt wants to ask you a few questions. ’

Paul blushed. His chin was pitted and raw with acne.

Sam showed him the picture, and asked the question.

Paul looked as if he wanted to faint with relief. Sam wondered, briefly, what the clerk had done to cause such guilty responses. Probably nothing more than an illegal U-turn a week ago.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in here, ’ Paul said.

‘Have you seen her someplace else? ’

‘I don’t think so. ’

‘Okay, thanks. ’

The manager squinted at Paul, and turned away. They walked down the aisle. ‘Wonder what that boy’s got on his conscience? ’

‘Hard to say, ’ Sam said.

‘You see how he looked? He looked as guilty as Judas. Like he thought you’d put him under arrest. I wonder if maybe he hasn’t been taking home some merchandise in his pockets. ’

‘Could be. Plenty of folks do. I wouldn’t suspect him, though, just because he got flustered. We’ve all done things we’re ashamed of, and wouldn’t want the police to know about. ’

‘Think I’ll keep on eye on him, just in case. ’

Half a dozen people waited in the ‘Express Line. ’ Sam smiled at two of the women he recognized. Then he turned his eyes to the manager, who was speaking quietly to the checkout girl. The ‘girl’ was pushing fifty. She had a lean, tough look. She glanced at Sam, one eye squinting, and nodded. She mouthed a silent, ‘Over here. ’

They left the manager at the cash register, and stepped over to his deserted booth.

‘What’s your pleasure? ’ she asked. Her voice wasn’t low and harsh, as Sam expected. It was a high-pitched, musical voice.

‘I’m looking for this woman. ’ He gave her the photo.

‘Oh? ’

‘I heard she was in here yesterday. ’

‘She most surely was, ’ lilted the clerk. Her plastic nametag read, ‘Louanne. ’

‘You saw her? ’

‘With my own eyes. She didn’t look exactly this way. Wears her hair up, now, and it’s more a dishwater color. Thinner, too. But I saw her, no mistake about that. ’

‘Did she go through your line? ’

‘Oh yes. ’

‘Did she pay with a check? ’

Louanne fingered her upper lip. ‘No, not with a check. ’

‘She paid cash? ’

The clerk grinned. ‘Didn’t do that, either. You’ll never guess. ’

‘I give up. ’

Her eyes sparkled. ‘This lady didn’t pay for her groceries, at all. I saw a man slip the money into her hand while they stood in line. He did it just as slipper as you please, sneaking it to her ’cause he didn’t want nobody spying. I just happened to see him, though. I like to keep my eyes open. ’

‘Do you know who the man was? ’

‘I surely do. And it seems mighty strange for a good-looker like this gal to run around with a toad like him. ’

‘A toad? ’

‘It was Elmer Cantwell. ’

‘Elmer Cantwell? ’ An odd match, all right. ‘That’s hard to believe. ’

‘I had to pinch myself, but it was him all right. ’

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