Minus Tide

“You’re freezing,” Ann said.

“I’m okay,” James said.

Ann took her jacket off and threw it around them both like a shawl. She rubbed his arms with her hands, kneaded his tight muscles to bring the blood back.

“Where have you been staying?”

“Over at dad’s fishing shack. Until tonight that is. A van showed up with a hanging front bumper and crushed headlight. It looked like it had been in an accident. I could see where a tree limb had gouged the side. Some guys with guns got out and one of them smashed the bulb above the shack. I was barely out the window before they kicked in the door.”

“Who were they?”

“I wasn’t sure at first. All I knew was they weren’t a bunch of kids looking for a place to party. Luckily dad still keeps this boat stashed under the dock. I would have started the motor but I was afraid of drawing attention. Later on they walked out on the bank looking for me, but by then I’d already paddled too far out on the bay for them to see me. I just drifted in the dark for a long time afraid of making too much noise. Then I saw them get into the van and drive away. When it got quiet again I started to hear other voices coming from the shack. Unless I’ve gone completely crazy I’m sure it was Tammy, Mitch and the sheriff. And it didn’t sound like they were just getting ready for a fun day of fishing either.”

Ann felt an icy chill spread up the back of her neck and into her scalp. “Are you sure it was them?”

“It had to be, Ann. You don’t forget people you’ve grown up around that fast. Now tell me what’s going on.”

“All I know is that I’ve been up all night looking for them, ever since I went by to visit Tammy after closing the store. From what I could tell there’d been a struggle, and some blood was left on the sink. But no Tammy. And then later when I tried to find Mitch and the sheriff I found their wrecked patrol at the edge of Dead Man’s Point. Something horrible has happened, James. Now after what you’ve said I think they could have been kidnapped. If it’s really them, then we need to go help.”

“Are you sure we should get involved?”

“What are you talking about? Tammy and Mitch are my friends, our friends.”

“All I’m saying is it’s not safe. Those guys could come back any time and then we might become their prisoners-hostages or whatever. Haven’t you tried calling anyone else for help?”

“There’s no way to reach anyone. The storm even knocked out cell phones. A guy working for the power company told me a landslide has closed 101 above Buoy, and just south of Traitor Bay it’s buried by downed trees. He said no one is going to be able to get through until late this afternoon, and that’s only if another crew can make it over the old road.”

“Then I guess we don’t have much of a choice,” James said, lighting a cigarette. “I just hope we have time.”

They climbed into the boat and James started the motor. Ann leaned in close so she could keep him warm with her body heat. She wanted to ask him when he’d taken up smoking but she didn’t want him to think she was a nag.

“What do you think this is all about?” Ann said. “No one who lives here is rich.”

“I couldn’t imagine there’d be a ransom involved. But it wouldn’t surprise me if this was somehow Dawkins fault.”

“I know he’s weird, but why would he be behind something like this?”

“I think you know-just like the whole town has always has known for years. And it’s not because I’ve never liked him. This town has cut him too much slack and now the birds are finally coming home to roost. I saw him out here this morning with some scary Russian dudes. He looked really nervous too, like maybe he was in way over his head.”

“Did you say the sheriff was looking in the bay for something?”

“Who told you that?”

“Janet at the 101. She knows about everything that goes on.”

“Did she know I was back too?”

“I don’t think so. But I saw Chad and he said that one of his brothers might have spotted you a few days ago.”

James shook his head. “And I thought I was being so careful. It’s amazing Ann. Nothing like being in a place like San Diego where you can disappear, where your only connection to the past becomes a post office box that’s empty most of the time.”

As the boat glided across the bay the outline of the shack began to slowly take shape, the scent of wood smoke its only hint of life inside.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” James said.

“We can’t just leave them there.”

“Then I guess what we have to talk about will have to wait until later. You do remember, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. And we will… I promise.”

“That’s good,” James said, lowering his eyes to the gun back in Ann’s hand. “Have you been practicing with that thing much?”

“Enough,” Ann said.

Chapter 22

Before water struck his face, Sheriff Dawkins was thinking about when he’d bought his first car. The cold briny water only brought him back long enough to hear a strange whisper near his face, a man’s voice, with burned vocal chords that hissed out after each word. The man’s breath was foul, stung his eyes like mace. He could feel the light beam sweep across the surface of his burning retinas, watched the show of tracers with disinterest. All he wanted to do was go back to before the water had hit. Was it too much to ask?

“Wake up, Sheriff.”

It had happened so fast. Overnight he’d gone from a shy kid with an acne problem to the summer-date guy. While most boys had to work hard in the summer tarring roofs or pumping gas for the tourists, Dawkins only worked three ten hour shifts a week at the mill and then he’d have the rest of the week to play. It had helped that his uncle was higher up in the union, and Dawkins often repaid the favor by helping him with construction projects or driving to Portland to pick up supplies. It hadn’t concerned him when he’d found out his uncle was screwing his mother. Dawkin’s father had been dead for years and Aunt Polly was always running off with some guy she’d met at her AA meetings.

Now that he could finally get them to go out with him, Dawkins quickly tired of the available high school girls and their teasing ways. As soon as he saw that the chance of sex was clearly off the table he’d move on to another, until he ran low on who he could ask out and his reputation got routed through the bubblegum grapevine. After he’d tapped out Traitor Bay girls, he began driving over to Buoy City, but the girls there seemed to always be semi-involved with some guy who’d dropped out of high school to chase down big money cutting trees or catching salmon and such young men were likely to be ill-tempered and well known by the police.

By the end of July Dawkin’s fortunes changed and he’d lost his virginity and taken up smoking all in the same night. He’d been seeing an older woman from Phoenix who he’d picked up in Portland during one of his uncle’s errands. It had been late at night and she’d been running from somebody on the street and Dawkin’s had opened the door for her and told her to get in. She’d cried for awhile and Dawkins turned on the heat when he saw she was shaking. She hardly had on any clothes. What am I doing he’d thought, nervously checking the rearview mirror for any signs of police. Did I just pick up a hooker?

Keri was trouble and everyone in Traitor Bay had sensed it, but she’d managed to take up residence above the local tavern where she’d found a job cocktailing. To this day Dawkins associated her with the August heat wave which caused raging forest fires and burned homes. It was as if she’d drifted into his life on an ember from one of those glowing mountains he’d watched in the distance every night after his shift-some spirit that