The Accomplice(18)

The envelopes were all cleanly sliced open, which Owen experienced as a subconscious invitation. He chose a business-sized envelope at the top of the pile and removed the paper, which was folded in thirds. The letter was typed, with no return address, and postmarked November 2001.

    Dear Ms. Grey,

I do not know if my letters have ever reached you. If they have, I wonder if they’ve meant something. If you’ve taken my advice and sought the help of the Lord. If you ask, if you pray, HE will forgive you. You were young and led astray by evil. I hope by now you have found your way back to the light.

I have prayed for my family and I have prayed for your family. Enough time has passed that I’ve found that I can forgive. I hope you can forgive yourself.

God bless,

Sharon Wells



Owen felt sweat beading on the back of his neck despite the chill in the room. One more letter, he told himself, and then he’d put the box away. As Owen searched the stack for a meatier envelope, the letter that would provide a full narrative, there was a quiet knock on the door.

He returned the letter to the cigar box, put it back in the suitcase, and slid it back under the bed. He got to his feet and scanned the room for anything askew.

“Luna, you in there?” a man’s voice said from the other side.

Ted, Owen thought. He couldn’t decide if he should remain mute or answer the door.

“Luna, I can hear you,” Ted said.

“Hey,” said Owen, swinging open the door.

“Hey,” said Ted, stepping back, startled. Annoyed. “I was looking for Luna.”

“She’s not here,” Owen said.

Ted was getting a bad vibe from Owen, but he wasn’t one to let a bad vibe stick. He opened his backpack and pulled out a brown bag wrapped around a bottle.

“Cesar went on a liquor run,” Ted said.

“Did Luna place an order?”

“Nah, she never has money for booze. I just thought I’d share.”

“That was nice of you,” Owen said.

Ted ignored Owen’s tone, which was guarded and unfriendly, and pretended not to notice the weird way that Owen was blocking the door.

“So, you want some?” Ted said.

“Why not?” Owen said as he backed away from the door and let Ted inside.

A drink to calm his nerves was just what Owen needed. Ted was the price he had to pay for free booze. Ted passed the bottle to Owen.

“Maker’s Mark. Nice,” Owen said as he unscrewed the cap and lifted the bottle to his mouth.

“No, dude, let’s be civilized,” Ted said, as he plucked two shot glasses out of the pocket on his backpack.

Ted sat down on the floor and placed the glasses next to his feet. Owen took a seat next to him and poured two shots. The men clinked glasses. Ted said, “Cheers”; Owen said, “Sk?l.”

Mason passed Luna’s room and peered through the open door. “Hey,” said Mason.

“Hey, Mason, come on in,” Ted said.

Owen didn’t think that was such a good idea.

“Where’s Luna?” Mason asked.

“She had a thing,” Owen said.

“She doesn’t like people in her room when she’s not around,” Mason said.

“It’s okay. I got her permission,” said Owen.

“Mason, want a shot? I think I got another glass in here somewhere,” Ted said, fishing through his backpack.

“Nah. Alcohol is poison,” Mason said as he hovered in the doorway.

Owen wanted Mason to leave, but Ted invited Mason to take a load off. Mason decided to stay, figuring Luna would come back eventually. He also felt protective of the personal space that he knew Ted and Owen were breaching.

“So, you and Scarlet,” Ted said, joining their names as if they were a well-established couple.

“We’re just hanging out,” Owen said.

Ted had heard otherwise but was only interested in the subject as a gateway to another topic. “So there’s nothing going on with you and Luna?” Ted asked.

“We’re pals, that’s all.”

“Cool,” said Ted, pouring Owen another shot.

Owen drained the glass. Ted generously poured him another.

“You have a thing for Luna?” Owen asked Ted.

“I think she’s cool,” Ted said.

Owen wished Mason would leave. He was just sitting there, silently following the conversation.

“She is cool,” said Owen. “Don’t you agree, Mason?”

“She’s got her good side and her bad side,” Mason said. He adored Luna but couldn’t shake his noncommittal ways.

Ted ignored Mason and returned his attention to Owen. “Dude, you’re like her best friend. Give me something.”

“Huh?”

“What do I need to know?”

“She’s a girl,” Owen said. “Ask her questions. Ask her lots and lots of questions.”

Owen briefly caught Mason’s confused expression. Mason knew what Owen was saying was bullshit, and he let Owen know he knew, but he didn’t rat him out.



* * *



—

“Hey!” Luna shouted from the shadow of her door. “What the fuck?”