“It’s all good buddy. Just stay away from the state park. The rangers don’t like it much if you are fishing there. They’ll fine you for sure, no questions asked.”
“Will do. Thanks for the tip,” Nikko took a sip of his beer. “My friends will appreciate the advice but some of my buddies are from around here so I’m sure they’ll be able to keep me away from the preserve.”
“Some friends you say?” the barkeep added making conversation. Most bartenders liked to chat up the guests as it increased the possibility of a bigger tip. Nikko was counting on that. He put a twenty up on the counter just to be sure to keep the man’s attention.
“Yeah, me and my buddies just graduated from UMaine and we wanted to have one last hurrah before reality sets in if you know what I mean,” he laughed, picking up his drink taking another long swallow.
“Oh, I was young once too, son. I get you.” He swiped the counter again. “I went to UMaine myself longtime ago,” he added chuckling. “Do you play hockey, too?” The man was grinning from ear to ear. Must be a fan.
Nikko didn’t know much about the game, but from the way the bartender asked, he was definitely an enthusiast.
“Nope, sorry, but I played baseball. A couple of my friends played hockey though, Gary Campbell and Tom Waldron,” he looked down at his beer, when he noticed the man’s eyes got wide. Gotcha, he thought. He knows them. Play it cool, he cautioned. Gary was obviously big news and his family’s wealth meant everyone knew him.
“They coming up here, renting a cabin you say?” the man asked suspiciously. He obviously had to know of the Campbell’s. They had the biggest place on the lake.
“Nah, Gary couldn’t’ make it. When I last talked to him, like three weeks ago, he was noncommittal. Said he might, but his folks have a place here, so if he does come out and hang with us, he’ll probably stay by them.” Nikko noticed the man’s demeanor relaxed a bit.
“Yeah, I know the Campbell’s. Who doesn’t in these parts?” he added after a pause. He was judging Nikko. He wouldn’t want to be caught gossiping about a local celebrity with a stranger.
Nikko knew he wouldn’t get any more information out of the man. The barkeep was shuffling about, but had gotten quite tense when the name was first dropped. Nikko took another sip of his drink. He was nearly done with it.
He watched the barkeep continue to distance himself a bit at a time. He had to know Gary was in town, or in trouble. He was acting too strange. Either way, Nikko had a gut feeling Campbell was nearby, and this town would keep their mouths locked up as tight as a drum if they wanted business from the Campbells. He quickly polished off his beer, as the bartender moved down the line to refill other people’s glasses. He left the twenty on the counter, nodded at the bartender on the way out, and left. It was time to go find Gary. And Ronnie. Where one was, the other would be as well.
***
Ronnie was nervous. She woke up and ate again, after a four hour nap. She ran out to get a cup of coffee, again in disguise, at the Dunkin Donuts down the block. She needed the caffeine to keep her alert. She also needed the courage. After finishing her life sustaining brew, she then worked up the nerve to call Gary. She dialed the number to his parent’s servant’s quarters. It rang twice, and he answered. It was Gary. Just as she assumed. She smiled to herself relief coursing through her.
“Gary, its Ronnie, please don’t hang up, baby. I’m in town.” She added the rest after his initial gasp of surprise.
“What the hell?” he growled into the receiver. “You shouldn’t be calling me.” Gary looked around the cabin nervously. He was standing in the kitchen. He peeked out the curtain windows, but with the light on he couldn’t see a thing in the pitch blackness.
“Gary, I don’t want to go to jail. Please baby. Hear me out. I am not asking for you to do anything you don’t want to. I don’t want to bring you down with me. In fact, I haven’t even mentioned your name to the police,” she lied. It was a big lie, but she hoped he would buy it.
“You . . . you haven’t?” he stuttered. Maybe that’s why no one was really bothering him. The police called his parents two days ago to ask to speak to him, but hadn’t followed up after his parents put them off. His parents sent him here to lay low. They stalled the police by telling them he knew nothing.
“No, baby. I love you. I wouldn’t want to ruin your future too. I know this is fucked up, but I really thought the police would just think someone else planted them. I didn’t want them to think it was you. But, now they are really coming after me hard. I think I might go down for this. But never, never, would I implicate you.” She got it all out like she planned. Focus on him, on keeping his name out. But drop the hint that she knew he was guilty. He reacted just as she thought he would.