Lasting Shadows Read online

  “Wow,” he said. He took a few pictures.

  The big lump became two smaller ones as he got closer, a pair of old Chevys, an Impala and an El Camino. Both now only looked like piles of rust. The cars had both been long stripped, but appeared as if they had been racing a train or each other along the tracks, and crashed.

  The light happy jingle filled the air as his phone vibrated in his hand. He squinted at the screen but the bright day made it impossible to see. He answered the call.

  “Hello?”

  Garbled voices spoke back.

  “Sorry, bad connection. I’ll try at the house.”

  Reluctantly, he tapped one of the cars and turned away, marching back along the tracks to the street and the house.

  ***

  He dropped in the chair by the laptop inside, turning on his phone. He hit automatic call return and waited, but heard nothing. He gazed down at the phone again.

  “Odd.”

  He hit redial.

  “Jerry Rhines’ office, how can I help you?”

  “Kate?”

  “Quinn!”

  “Did you call me a little while ago?”

  “Um… no. I didn’t.”

  “How about Jerry?”

  “No, he’s still tied up with meetings.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing too incredible,” he said. “Probably just a wrong number. Got a call I couldn’t hear while I was out walking.” He tapped his pen on the table. “I guess it was nothing. Talk to you later, babe.”

  “Okay, Quinn.”

  He hung up and stared at the phone for a long moment, then he touched his thumb to Angel.

  “Hi baby,” she said.

  He grinned.

  “Hi, angel. Did you call me a little while ago? Someone called but I couldn’t hear them.”

  “No, I didn’t,” she said. He heard her little laugh. “You sure this isn’t just you making an excuse to hear my voice?”

  He laughed.

  “Uh, you already know me too well,” he said. “You on break?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Put the cig out,” he said.

  Her aggravated grunt made him laugh out loud. He listened as she stamped her foot on the thing.

  “Good girl,” he said. “Now, how about we have dinner again?”

  “Ooh, okay. When?”

  “Tonight. I’ll cook up a nice meal. We can eat right here.”

  “You cook?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I see,” she said, a curious edge in her voice. “What are you planning on cooking?”

  “Have to think about that a little bit. You aren’t afraid of eating meat I know since you had that steak last night,” he said. “I’ll come up with something.”

  “Alright.”

  “How about I pick you up from work this time?”

  “Well…”

  “Or does the old man disapprove of that?”

  “I’ll just tell him I have plans for dinner.”

  “Very lady-like.”

  He grinned as she huffed.

  “Alright angel, I’ll be around in a bit to pick up some groceries. But you can’t look at what I’m buying, right?”

  She laughed.

  “At least pretend you have no idea what I’m cooking.”

  “Alright, baby,” she said, her voice dropping into that sultry slur that got him thinking of things besides food.

  “Later, angel.”

  She made a kissing sound at the phone and he closed the call.

  “Whew,” he said with a deep sigh. “Gotta make a grocery list.”

  ***

  A short while later he stepped in the store, the little bell ringing as he entered. Stephen raised his hand up in a wave as he carried a big box on his shoulder to the back. Tamara was on a ladder, cleaning the windows. She smiled at him as he walked up to her. Instead of stopping he reached out and grabbed her leg just above the knee, slipping his hand up to her thigh as he passed. She gasped and shoved at his hand, glancing over her shoulder at the back of the store. Quinn chuckled and snatched up a basket, wandering around the food section gathering everything he needed.

  Stephen stepped out from the back, carrying another box. He lowered it to the floor and began unloading the contents onto the shelves. Quinn turned to him.

  “Mister Christmas,” he said.

  “Just Stephen.”

  “Stephen. Can you tell me anything about those two Chevys out rusting by the railroad tracks?”

  The middle-aged man made a hmph sound and smirked. He turned his sleepy-eyed gaze up to Quinn.

  “Idiot kids used to race the trains,” he said. “Sometimes they still do.”

  “I take it those kinds of accidents-”

  “Used to happen a lot more than they do now,” Stephen said. “Though we do lose one every now and then.”

  “I saw a wreath and flowers on the way here.”

  He nodded.

  “Teen girl,” he said. “Family new to town. Moved here for some dumb damned reason. My god, why would anyone relocate here by choice? But anyway, she got teased a bit, new kid and all, and let some rough boys talk her into racing them along the tracks. You know we’ve got one fast train shoots through here at top speed. Them boys knew that but she didn’t. She went flying across the tracks and got struck. Made the car spin off and slam into a tree. Killed her instantly.”

  “My god.”

  “Yeah,” Stephen said. “Stupid kids. They do anything to look cool to their peers.”

  “Don’t you go trying any of that, Miss Holt,” Quinn said. Tamara glanced over her shoulder at him. “The town would be less one very pretty face.”

  Stephen eyed him curiously but said nothing, his bushy brows making a thick horizontal line across his face. Quinn leaned in close, moving so Stephen was between himself and Tamara.

  “Hey, would it be alright if you check me out? Making dinner for Tamara this evening.”

  Stephen smirked, shaking his head.

  “Jacob know you’re making moves on his little princess?”

  “Well, he did say last night I’m first ‘boy’ to come around who convinced her to leave the smokes at home.”

  “Ha, good for you.”

  Stephen shoved at his shoulder.

  “Been saying for a while it’s a bad way. Took me ten years to quit.”

  They walked back up to the register together. Quinn snatched up a bouquet of flowers from a collection of them in a bucket of water. Tamara made a little noise but Stephen waved a hand at her.

  “I got it, Tamara.”

  She pouted but Quinn winked at her. Stephen noticed, smirking again as he rang up the groceries.

  “Better be careful, Tilman,” he said. “You break that one’s heart might be a handful of us bringing Christmas early.”

  Quinn laughed.

  “And how many years have you waited for the chance to say that?”

  Both men laughed heartily, but Stephen leaned in close as he handed Quinn back his card.

  “Seriously, Quinn, she’s had a rough life. Her ma… Well…” He sighed, glancing at her a few seconds. “She took her own life, yeah? Ugly mess. She actually set herself on fire. She was seeing things. Stuff not real. Visions. Couldn’t get off it. The church folks said the demons got her, but it was just some mental illness.”

  “No addictions?”

  “Nah. Not even a beer. She was as pure as they come.”

  Quinn frowned a moment. He studied Stephen’s eyes.

  “I’d like to hear more about that. Whenever you have some time. Interviewed Rosie the other day-”

  “I heard about that.” Stephen chuckled. “She’s still going on about it.”

  “Like to do the same with you, when you have the chance.”

  “Certainly. I’ll have Tamara give you a call, since I know she’s got your number.” He grinned.

  Quinn laughed and shook his hand. He walked sidew
ays, hiding his purchases and the flowers from Tamara as he went, waving at her.

  ***

  He parked at the house with a big grin on his face, snatching up the groceries and the flowers and dashing up the stairs, a little song humming on the back of his head.

  “Ash and smoke and ash and smoke and ash and smoke and ash and smoke and-”

  He jerked to a stop and turned to see the old woman staring at him and rocking in her chair, the creak echoing off every surface.

  “Ash and smoke and ash and smoke-”

  He frowned, his light mood shattered. A dark gloom seemed to fall over him. He went inside and put away the groceries, heading back to the bedroom to change for work. Instead, he dropped hard on the bed, still hearing the old woman in the back of his head.

  Ash and smoke and ash and smoke and ash and smoke and-

  He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to block out the memory of the scream he heard the night before. His daughter’s face drifted into his thoughts as the story about the teen girl seemed to mix in the old woman’s chanting. For an instant he thought of her doing something equally as stupid, just to make someone like her. He covered his ears and tried to shake the thoughts away but cracked, tears rolling down his cheeks. He fell on his back on the bed, lifting his phone. He stared at the list of names a long moment but pressed his thumb to Kate’s.

  “Quinn?”

  He burst into sobs.

  “Oh Kate, my god, what have I done? My baby girl.”

  “Oh, Quinn… Angela will be fine.”

  He heard her stand and walk into a quieter space.

  “I’m sorry for bothering you during work.”

  “No Quinn, no. You need to vent too. It’s okay.”

  “Everything was going fine, but…” He sniffed. “I can’t get Angela out of my head today, Kate.”

  “I can have her call you-”

  “No, no, no,” he said. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I made her cry the last time I talked to her. I guess I need to give her a little time without me.”

  He groaned, breaking into sobs again.

  “I miss her so much,” he said. “I can’t believe Gin is doing this to me.”

  She listened as he cried, her own voice breaking with his.

  “I should come take care of you, Quinn,” she said. “You shouldn’t be out there alone. I know you’ve got the books and all but-”

  “No, babe,” he said, sniffling. “I’ll be alright. It’s just a weak moment. It’ll pass.”

  She went quiet.

  “Alright, Quinn.”

  “If it gets any worse though, I’ll call you, okay? I just needed to hear your sweet voice.”

  He heard her smile, imagining her kind face, her sad eyes, her motherly manner.

  “Oh, Quinn.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I love you.”

  He winced with pain.

  Whoops. Damage control. Damn it!

  “I know babe,” he said. “Thank you for being there for me. I better let you go, okay? I hear Jerry out there.”

  “Yeah, the fifth meeting just ended.”

  “Talk to you later, okay?”

  “Okay, Quinn.”

  He hung up the phone and rubbed his face.

  “Oh my god, that was stupid.” He groaned. “What the hell came over me?”

  He sighed, glancing at the clock on his phone.

  “Shit, I gotta get this stuff cooking.”

  He jumped to his feet and dashed to the bathroom, blowing his nose, washing his face and hands, then he ran to the kitchen to get started on dinner.

  ***

  Two hours later, as he wrote and cooked, his phone jingle vibrated. He snatched it up and grinned when he saw the text.

  “I’m off in ten minutes, baby.”

  “Give me a few to set the table.”

  “Hurry up then, or I’m driving there.”

  He laughed out loud.

  “No, you’re not. And put that damned cigarette out.”

  She sent a sticking out tongue emoji. He just laughed and set down the phone.

  He quickly dressed in something finer but still casual and set the table, hunting around for some fresh candles. He left them and the matches sitting there on the table, covered everything, and dashed out of the house to run and pick her up, the flowers in his hand.

  ***

  Quinn pulled in the parking lot at the store, seeing her standing there waiting, ankles crossed, leaning against the wall in a slinky black dress. She wiggled her fingers at him and smiled, though he saw the thin plume of smoke by her toe. He sighed, shaking his head.

  He opened the car door, leaning against the top.

  “Still puffing I see.”

  She walked toward the passenger side. He locked the door.

  “Uhuh,” he said. “Cigs stay here.”

  “What? But it’s a new pack!”

  “Angel,” he said. “I told you. I just don’t go for that. You want to hang out with me, that is a number one rule.”

  “But… damn it!”

  He shrugged.

  “Look, if you don’t want me, that’s cool. I’ll just go back.”

  “What? Quinn! You wouldn’t do-”

  He sat in the car again, closing the door. She stared at him and spun around, her eyes tearing up. He only sat there, watching a moment. Her hands went to her hips and he began to ever so slowly back out. She winced and waved her hands for him to stop, reaching in her purse and taking out the pack. She went to her car and unlocked it, tossing the thing in. She turned back to him, her arms folded across her chest and mouthed the word ‘happy?’ at him. He grinned and parked the car again, getting out with a little spin and walking around. He opened the passenger door and offered a hand to her.

  “Yes I am,” he said as she took it and he tugged her close to him. He stared down into her eyes and she blushed through her tears.

  “I hate you,” she said. “You’re mean to me.”

  “I’m mean?”

  He laughed.

  “Well then, maybe I’ll have to take those back to the store.” He motioned to the passenger seat.

  She looked down, seeing the flowers and glanced up at him again, rolling her eyes.

  “For the only angel in town,” he said.

  She smiled, still sniffing a little and slid into the seat, holding the flowers to her nose. He slammed the door and walked around, slanting his gaze around them, seeing no one passing by.

  ***

  He had her put on music she liked while he served the food. He poured a glass of wine for each of them, making sure to keep her sober enough to drive home. They talked and laughed over dinner, his leg pressed against hers, his fingers touching hers every chance he got and at the end, he walked her to the living room.

  “There’s no couch,” she said with a laugh.

  “Very true,” he said. “But the recliner is definitely huge enough for two if you don’t mind sitting on my lap.”

  She giggled, but he tugged her to him and sat in the thing, forcing her to drop right across his knees. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in close to him. She reached out and grabbed the remote control, turning on the television. He watched her face in the growing darkness as she changed channels, finally settling on some so-called reality thing or other that she liked. He leaned in a little closer and whispered in her ear.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  She turned to him, her eyes catching the glow from the television.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He nuzzled her ear, making her tremble, as his right arm curled tighter around her, holding her closer. His left hand landed on her knee. She stared at the screen as he kissed and licked and nibbled at her, blinking and breathing faster. Her lips parted as he turned her head to face him, devouring her mouth and tongue as his left hand moved in close to his target, finally touching his fingertips to the heat of the cotton cloth between her legs. She gasped but let him spread them apart.


  “I have to be home by ten,” she whispered.

  “Plenty of time, angel.”

  Within a short while, he opened the recliner out into a horizontal position, convincing her to allow him inside her with sweet promises and soft words.

  ***

  He drove her home an hour later, both of them quiet. He knew he had taken her farther than she had ever gone by the little bit of spotting he noticed afterward. He found himself amused at her sudden fear of getting pregnant. He didn’t tell her he had the snip.

  He rubbed her knee as he pulled in the parking lot.

  “You gonna be okay getting home, angel? You had a lot more wine than you’re used to.”

  “I’ll be okay,” she said in a small voice. She touched the door but he hit the locks.

  “No,” he said. “You sit there. You wait.”

  He unlocked the door and got out, walking around and opening hers. He offered his hand. She took it, her fingers cold and trembling. He walked her to her car and wrapped her up in his arms, kissing her. At first, she resisted but then she seemed to relax and let him. He stared down into her eyes.

  “Text me when you get home so I won’t worry, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Promise…”

  “I promise, Quinn.”

  He pouted.

  “What happened to baby?”

  She rolled her eyes and looked away, her mouth breaking into a grin.

  “Come on, angel…” He spoke in a sing-song voice. “Come on, sugar…”

  “Goodnight, baby,” she said, her brows raised. A half-smile curled up on her lips.

  He grinned, chuckling a little.

  She turned away, fishing her keys out of her purse as he reached out and smacked her bottom. She looked back over her shoulder and stuck out her tongue. He just laughed and leaned against his car, watching as she got in hers and left the parking lot for home.

  ***

  He settled in back at the house with a cup of hot tea, the dishes washed and put away, everything meticulously back the way it was before. The laptop made the dark kitchen glow blue in spite of the warm light over the sink. He typed furiously for a little while, suddenly remembering he had shut off his phone during their date. Two messages flashed on the screen, the first one from Kate, asking if he felt better, the second one from Tamara.