The Midnight Tour

she returned to Warren. She handed him a can of beer. “Hank the bartender just warned me off the Midnight Tour.”

“Good for him,” Warren said.

“He’s a pretty creepy guy.”

“What’d he have to say?”

Aware of Warren’s own experiences in Beast House, she hesitated and felt herself blush. “The usual. But he got pretty graphic about the thing’s anatomy.”

Warren slipped a spatula under one of the patties. He flipped the burger. It hit the grill sizzling. “I can’t actually vouch for the business about the mouth and teeth down there. That part of it might be a myth. Or it might not be.”

He flipped the other burger. “Either way, you wouldn’t want to get nailed by one.”

“I know I wouldn’t.”

“Even if you survive, you’ll never be the same.”

“Maybe we can have matching scars,” Dana said.

“It’s nothing to joke about.”

“I’m sorry.” She lifted her can of Bud and took a drink.

“Well now,” Warren said.

“What.”

“Look.” He nodded to the left.

Off in the distance, three figures came striding across the lawn. Even though they were fuzzy through the fog, Dana instantly recognized Vein by her size and outfit. And that had to be Darke on the left. But who was the guy in the middle?

Owen?

“What’s he doing with them?” Dana asked.

“Found a couple of new friends?” Warren suggested.

“Ohhh boy.”

Hand in hand, the trio walked diagonally across the front lawn. If they didn’t change direction, they would end up at the front gate.

Probably on their way to the movie theater.

Is Owen planning to sit with them? Dana wondered.

Can’t blame the guy. I’d sit with them, too, she thought, if it’d keep Monica away from me.

She glanced at the abandoned girlfriend.

Monica had been seated in the same place during the entire picnic, not once leaving her bench. Dr. Bixby, sitting across from her, had sometimes strutted away to bring her refills of wine.

At the moment, the professor was holding forth with great conviction and volume about Bigfoot. Monica, Phil and Connie seemed to be paying close attention to his lecture.

The angle taken by Owen, Vein and Darke would lead them straight into Monica’s line of vision.

Maybe Bixby’s head’ll block her view...

Tuck suddenly seemed to be aware of possible trouble. She ended whatever discussion she’d been having with Biff, Eleanor, Andy and Alison, stepped away from their group and watched Owen hurry by with Vein and Darke. Then she checked on Monica. After that, head rising slightly, she seemed to look at Dana.

Dana nodded to her.

Tuck nodded back.

Any second, now...

Monica flinched, her back jerking rigid.

“Saw ‘em,” Warren muttered.

“Yep,” said Dana.

Monica started to rise from her bench. She stood halfway up, possibly to eliminate Dr. Bixby’s head from the picture.

“She might not recognize Owen,” Warren said. “All this fog, that could be just about anyone.”

“Process of elimination might give her a clue,” Dana said. “He’s only been missing for the whole picnic.”

Monica sank back down in her seat.

Bixby said something to her. Dana caught only the word, “wrong.”

Monica shook her head, her pony tail jerking from side to side. Then, leaning forward, she reached across the table and patted the professor’s hand.

“Crisis averted,” Warren said.

Tuck seemed to agree. She stopped watching, glanced at her wristwatch, then turned around and rejoined her small group.

“Guess the burgers are done,” Warren said.

“I’ll get the buns. You want mayo or mustard?”

“Mayo.”

“Excellent choice.”

Warren tossed slabs of cheese onto the dark patties while Dana slathered the buns with mayonaise.

Just as Warren was slipping the patties onto their buns, Tuck announced, “It’s ten till ten, everyone. If you’re interested in the special Midnight Tour screening of The Horror, better start heading over to the Haunted Palace theater. The film will begin at ten. I’m on my way over right now, so you can follow me if you’d like.”

Tuck stepped closer to her group. A few seconds later, they began heading for the gate, Tuck leading the way.

By the time Dana and Warren were ready to find seats, nobody remained at any of the tables except Windy and Rhonda. Hank was busy cleaning up his bar.

Dana saw Monica leave the grounds, walking with Dr. Bixby.

“Maybe she’s found true love,” Warren said.

Dana let out a laugh. “I hope so. But somehow I doubt it.”

“Shall we sit with Rhonda and Windy?” Warren asked.

“I think we probably should.”

“Mind if we join you?” Warren called to them.

“Come on over, boss,” Windy called, and Rhonda smiled at them.

On the way over, Warren said to Dana, “If you’re not careful, you’ll miss the start of the movie.”

“I’ve seen it before.”

“But never the special, exclusive screening for the Midnight Tour.”

“I can catch it next week.”

“You really should see it tonight, or you won’t get the full experience.” Sounding hopeful, he added, “Unless you’ve changed your mind about the tour.”

“No, I still want to do that.”

“You shouldn’t miss the movie, then.”

“But I want to eat with you.”

“Well...the show never starts on time, anyway. You probably have fifteen or twenty minutes.”

“Then I’ll eat with you and catch the movie.”

They sat down beside each other, across the table from Rhonda and Windy.

Dana took a long drink of beer. “What about Hank?” she asked. “Do you think he’d like to join us?”

“He’s awful,” Rhonda said. “Have you ever talked to him? Yug!”

“He’s a real sicko,” Windy said.

“Besides which,” said Warren, “he never eats with us. We’ve asked him before. He likes to get out of here as early as he can. Which reminds me—do you want another beer?”

“Sounds good,” Dana said.

“Ladies?”

“No thanks,” Rhonda said. “I’m about ready to get started with the cleanup.”