He had. “You think poker might have been his new obsession?”
“Yeah.” Drew waited a moment. “Mom?”
“What is it, honey?”
“I don’t think Oscar accidentally overdosed.”
His serious tone made my knees weak. “Me, neither.”
“Why would someone murder Oscar?” Drew whispered.
“I have no idea. Can you think of any reason someone would want to harm him?”
“I don’t know who, but the note on his car, the person who followed him home… I don’t even know who Oscar would tell about what was going on and I feel awful about that.” Drew sounded sad.
“Me neither. I know you boys grew apart, but it happens. It doesn’t make you a bad person. I’m sure Oscar had friends here, we just don’t know them.” I softened my tone. “I love you, honey.”
“I love you, too. See you soon.” Drew ended the call.
I stared at my phone in one hand, the photo in the other and remembered the graduation photo that had been taped to Oscar’s TV. He’d saved our family photo from two years ago because it had meant something to him. I decided I’d use that photo at the funeral and grabbed my purse and headed to the cabin.
Ray’s car was gone when I drove up. I opened the front door and stilled. I was certain I’d locked it when we left before.
The room looked different, but not just because the chair was missing. So was the Argyle Sweater calendar and the picture.
Someone had been in the cabin.
I called Tom immediately.
“Garner,” Tom’s curt voice spiked the adrenaline running through my veins.
“Tom, it’s Charlie. Have the police been back out to the cabin and taken anything?”
“What?” Tom’s voice softened.
“I’m at the cabin right now. A few days ago Ray and I cleaned out some of Oscar’s things to bring them to his mother. I locked up, I know I did. When I got here, the cabin was unlocked and a photo is missing, and his calendar.” I rushed to the desk. “And someone has been searching through his desk. Look, Ray set up motion cameras. Maybe he caught the killer!” I hurried outside to check for Ray’s car again.
“Charlie, calm down. Give me a minute to look up the file.”
The phone switched over to messages reminding drivers of Forest Forks to click it or ticket and where to call if you had a gambling addiction or drug addiction or needed a shelter or the anonymous tip line if suspected something. Our town was falling apart! I was in the middle of learning what to look for in a meth house when Tom came back on the line.
“Maybe it fell off? Maybe Oscar’s Dad went out there to check to see if anything of value was left. Have you talked to Ray?” Tom suggested in a polite tone to placate the raving lunatic.
Or maybe the killer took it to have images of the people who meant something to Oscar. What if we were next? I clenched my jaw because even I recognized that thought could be considered a tad crazy. I ‘hmmd’ instead. “I’ll talk to Ray now and call you back and let you know.”
“That’s okay, Charlie. You don’t have…”
“Stop right there, Tom Garner. I don’t believe Oscar accidentally overdosed, which means he was murdered. And now I realize that the killer may have returned to the cabin and taken a photo of me, my husband, and son.”
He sighed. “Fine. If you don’t find it, call me.” He ended the call.
No more snickerdoodles for him!
I searched the area surrounding the television and still couldn’t find the calendar or the photo. It seemed like other things were missing, too. I took pictures with my phone and would compare them side by side at home. I called Joe and told him everything.
“Tom doesn’t believe you?” Joe asked for the third time.
“I think he doesn’t care.”
“I’m calling Drew. He needs to use the buddy system until we figure out who killed Oscar.”
My heart slowed. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”
“No. Babe, someone we know killed Oscar and they now have a picture of Drew and us. Until we find out why, Drew needs to be extra-vigilant. I’m gonna call him now.”
Maybe I was a tad irrational, because I found more comfort in knowing that my husband believed me than knowing a murderer had our picture.
I tore a blank sheet of paper out of one of Oscar’s notebooks and wrote:
Ray, I think someone broke into Oscar’s. His calendar and his high school graduation picture with Joe, Drew and I taped to the TV are missing. It looks like someone went through the stuff on his desk and the front door was unlocked. Also, Drew said Oscar spent a lot of time playing poker at Del Lago Casino and he’s 20! Please check your video and call me.
-Charlie
I printed my phone number below and then folded the paper and put it in his overflowing mailbox.
I got a text from Ray at ten pm. Hope it’s not too late to text. I just got home. I’ll go through the video and let you know if I find anything.
I responded with a thumbs-up emoji and added his number to contacts as PirateBoy.
In the morning I checked my phone and Ray had responded. Dark SUV drove up, spent 10 minutes, and left. Couldn’t see plates or people. Sent the video to Tom.
Chapter Seven
It rained during Oscar’s funeral. We stood under a large canopy in the damp air. The storm started with a dull pitter patter that grew into a deluge, like even nature was furious Oscar’s life was over.
Oscar’s parents didn’t come.
I swallowed and pushed the anger away. Buried it deep under my grief. Covered it with my own insecurities, until the anger was hidden and all that remained was a pile of sorrow and disappointment and regrets.
Ray wasn’t at the funeral, but then he’d never known Oscar. The entire Sanders family was there; Joe’s parents, siblings, and cousins. Oscar’s
