“Where were you all this time?”
“Down at the road in my pickup truck. By then, I was so freaked out my hands were shaking. I figured Austin would hassle her. You know, make her eat crow and apologize, but I thought then he’d be satisfied and we’d be heading down the mountain back to town. I waited and they were gone so long I decided I better go up and see what was happening. If Austin was still pissed, I’d do what I could to defuse the situation. I started up the path in the pitch dark. I was at the halfway point when I heard someone shout and then pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. Six or eight shots. Could have been fired in the air is what I hoped. Fritz whooping like a maniac. By this time I was close enough to take a look and I busted out in tears. Bayard was really shaken. He looked like he’d been hit by a truck. Fritz was all hyped up. Said he’d never killed anyone and he was totally stoked. He was jumping around like a wild man.
“Austin made me go back to the truck and get a shovel so we could bury her. By then, he’d taken the gun off Fritz and he’s standing there reloading it, calm as can be, like he didn’t have a care in the world. I was crying so hard I couldn’t see what I was doing. Fritz sobered up, seeing me bawl like that. He’d turned white by then. All the blood drained away from his face. I thought he’d pass out. Next thing you know, he was blubbering the same as me.”
“And Bayard?”
“He sat on the ground and rocked back and forth, kind of moaning to himself. We were all sick about it. Austin told us to shut the fuck up or we’d get the same as she did.”
“Why move the body?”
“We didn’t move her far. He said it would mess up whatever forensic evidence we might’ve left.”
“And now you have the tape to deal with.”
“Out of the frying pan,” he said.
“So what’s the story on that?”
He hung his head, shaking it with embarrassment. “Sounds stupid now, but it started out as a joke. Make a pseudo-porn film and then shop it around. We probably could have made some money if we’d pulled it off. It was supposed to be a satire. A mockumentary.”
“Whose idea was it?”
“Austin’s. He didn’t want to dirty his hands, but he was happy telling us what to do.”
“And Iris?”
“Oh, she was in on it.”
“Really. She looked drunk to me.”
He shrugged. “I was the one drunk. No doubt about that. Smoking dope and downing too much beer and gin. The movie was in bad taste, which is no excuse. We were dumb fucks. That’s about all I can say. A few weeks ago, I went back to Iris and I made my peace with her. I figure she was entitled to a formal apology.”
“Peace is good. At the same time, four minutes isn’t much of a movie whatever your intentions.”
“It was all we could manage before we ran out of steam. The point is, none of us took it seriously. It was a lark, you know? We were all laughing our asses off.”
“I guess Austin had the last laugh.”
“I’m sure he’s still yukking it up, wherever he may be,” Troy said. “I suppose you’ve considered the idea that he might be the one behind this blackmail scheme.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I said, “but I’m sure he could use twenty-five grand about now. What’s your hit on it?”
“I don’t think he’d have the balls to come back. He’d never risk it.”
“What if he had someone else collect for him?”
“Still risky. Coconspirator gets picked up, how long you think it’d take the cops to sweat it out of him? Why put your ass on the line for a fellow like him?”
“You have any idea who might have sent the tape?” I asked.
“If I did, believe me, I’d say so. I’m not a fan of Fritz’s, but the threat of going back to prison is a nightmare.”
“Cruel and unusual punishment,” I said.
“You got that right.” He stirred restlessly. “I ought to get back to work. Don’t want to take advantage. Jim is a good guy.”
He stood up and crumpled the waxed paper into a wad and tossed it along with his empty milk carton into the trash.
I held out my hand and we shook. “I appreciate your honesty. Reliving this stuff can’t be easy.”
“No complaints. It’s what I deserve,” he said.
12
IRIS AND JOEY
Late morning, Wednesday, September 20, 1989
Joey sat on the edge of the swimming pool and applied sunblock to Iris’s shoulders and back. They were at Bayard’s house drinking beer, wine, and Bloody Marys with Bayard, Poppy, and Fritz. Fritz had brought along a water toy shaped like a long blue Styrofoam noodle and he was currently floating in circles with the noodle tucked under his arms. Bayard was stretched out on one of the two matching chaises longues. He was deeply tanned and his skin glistened with suntan oil. Poppy lay facedown on the matching chaise in a white bikini. She’d applied a sunblock that left a white residue on her shoulders and arms, rendering her skin so pale she looked anemic.
Lazily, Bayard said, “How’s the construction trade these days? Must be doing well or you wouldn’t have a day off.”
“Booming. We’re doing good,” Joey said. He lit a cigarette, drew on it deeply, and then handed it to Iris.
Iris said, “Thanks, babe.”
She turned to Bayard. “Fritz tell you about the PI his mom hired?”
Bayard said, “First I’ve heard of it. What’s the deal?”
Fritz waved off the notion. “She won’t last long. My dad doesn’t care for her.”
Bayard laughed. “A girl detective? You gotta be kidding me.”
“Why is that so funny?” Iris asked.
“Don’t go all righteous on me, Iris.”
“I’d just appreciate it if you’d get up to speed. This is the twentieth century . . .”
Bayard ignored her, homing in on the subject. “What’s his objection?”
“He just has no use for her and he’s made that clear.”
“How come she’s still on the job if she’s so useless?” Bayard asked.
“He’s pissed off because Mom’s been running the show and he doesn’t like the way she’s doing it.”
“How come this female wonder hasn’t talked to me?” Bayard said.
“Or me?” Poppy said, chiming in on his complaint.
“I’m sure she’ll get around to it.”
Poppy said, “Has anyone talked to Troy?”
Iris raised a hand. “I called, but his wife said he’s at work. She couldn’t get off the phone fast enough.”
Bayard said, “Come on, gang. He’s a family man. What’s he want with us? I ran into him last week and he barely made eye contact. There’s a chill in the air now that this has come up again. He’s keeping his distance.”
Iris made a face. “So that else is new? He’s been doing that for years.”
“None of us are feeling exactly chummy,” Poppy remarked.
Fritz said, “I am.”
“You would,” Poppy said.
Fritz wasn’t so easily put off. “I mean it. I love being with you guys.”
“We think you’re a peach as well,” Bayard said.
“Right.”
Poppy sat up and put her feet flat on the patio. Despite the sunblock, she was already looking burned, her skin a hot pink. “You know what I think? The blackmailer can’t be someone who knew about the tape way back when.”