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Alma stiffened, familiar with Paul’s tone.
He was about to reveal something that he was worried Alma would be
mad about. “What?”

“He’s a heroin addict.”

“Oh, wow. Okay.” She wasn’t upset, but
hadn’t expected that.

“That’s how we met. He’s been clean for
awhile. At least until Debbie fucked him over. He relapsed, and
I’ve been helping him back on the wagon.”

Alma rubbed Paul’s leg. “You’re a good
person, Paul.”

“I’ve just got you fooled, little Miss
Harper.” He walked his fingers up her leg, then up her stomach
until they were between her breasts. He pushed her back onto the
bed and lay down beside her. “Because I’m a bad boy. Remember?
That’s why you fell for me.”

“The tattooed bad boy my Mommy used to warn
me about?” Alma pushed his hand away and then grabbed his belt
buckle.

“Wait,” said Paul. He took her hand off his
buckle, preventing her from undoing it. “There’s one other thing I
have to tell you.”

“Oh crap,” said Alma, again recognizing
Paul’s tentative tone. “What is it?”

“Jacker’s in trouble with the law.”

“What? Why?”

“Well, you’re right about him being a big
teddy bear. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, but I saw a
different side of him come out this week. After he found out what
Debbie was doing, he flipped. He started using, and then just went
to shit. I’ve never seen someone fall apart like that before.”

“What did he do?” asked Alma. “Why is he in
trouble with the police?”

“You remember how I told you that he lost
his job?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, he lost it because he put his boss
through a plate glass window.”

Alma gasped. “You’re kidding.”

“No, unfortunately not. And it gets
worse.”

“Of course it does,” said Alma as she
started to become frustrated.

Paul stood up and started to empty his
pockets. He tossed his keys, wallet, and spare change onto the
dresser. “After that, he knew he was going to get in trouble, so he
went to Debbie’s work. He found the guy that she’d been cheating on
him with.”

“Oh no, what did he do?”

“What do you think he did?”

Alma sat up and shrugged. “I don’t know. He
seemed like such a passive, nice guy to me. I can’t imagine him
hurting anyone. For crying out loud, he passed out from just seeing
me cut my foot open.”

“I doubt that’s the whole story with
that.”

“What do you mean?” asked Alma.

“I think he’s been using,” said Paul. “He
told me he just used once, right after he found out about Debbie,
but I don’t know if I believe him. I think he’s still taking
something. I’m not sure what, but he’s been acting weird all week.
He’s been living out of that fucking van ever since he…” Paul
stopped and rubbed his eyes as he sighed.

“He what?”

“He put Debbie’s boy toy in the hospital.
The kid’s in serious condition. Jacker found him in the alley, on a
smoke break, and beat his head against the wall until he stopped
moving.”

“Holy shit,” said Alma. “I would’ve never
guessed. He seems like such a nice guy.”

“That’s just it, babe. He is a nice guy.
Seriously one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He just got pushed
too far and he snapped, and the drugs didn’t help.”

“Should we turn him in?” asked Alma.

“No!” Paul was angry and screamed louder
than he meant to. “Fuck no.”

“But he put a guy in the hospital, Paul. I’m
sure the cops are looking for him.”

“Yeah, and he’s got priors. If he gets
pinched for this, he’s going away for a long time.”

“What sort of priors? Who is he? Are we
driving around with a career criminal or something?”

“No,” said Paul. “It’s not like that. He had
a rough life, just like a lot of us. He got into some shit that he
shouldn’t have, and he’s been working hard to pick himself up out
of that shit. He fucked up, that’s all. And now it’s going to cost
him his life.”

“Paul, Jesus, I don’t know what to say. I
don’t know how to react to this.”

“I figured you had the right to know.”

“And so do Rachel and Stephen,” said
Alma.

“No they don’t. It’s better for them to stay
in the dark.”

“Then why did you tell me?”

Paul looked at her and reached out to hold
her hand. “Because I don’t want to keep secrets from you. I want to
do it right this time around. You deserve to know the truth.”

Alma walked away from him and went to the
window that overlooked Branson. “Maybe not. Maybe sometimes it’s
better not to know.”

* * *

“Come on,” said Stephen. “Do a shot with
me.”

“No,” said Jacker as he sat beside Stephen
at the bar. “Honestly man, I’m good.”

“What?” asked Stephen as if Jacker had to be
lying. “You’ve been driving all damn day. You’ve got to at least
let me buy you a drink.”

“I’ll have a Coke.”

Stephen looked offended and ignored Jacker.
“Excuse me, beautiful,” said Stephen as he waved down the lithe,
pretty bartender. The girl held up her finger to let Stephen know
he had to be patient.

“I should probably head up and get some
sleep,” said Jacker.

Stephen grabbed his arm. “No way, pal.
You’re with me tonight. Rachel went shopping, and I got the go
ahead to have some beers at the bar. No chance in hell I’m going to
let you take off on me. Sit your ass down, big guy.”

“Hello, gentlemen,” said the blonde haired,
blue eyed bartender as she came over. She had studs in either cheek
that accentuated her dimples, and vibrant tattoos curled up from
under her tight shirt, over her shoulders. “What can I get for you
tonight?”

“Now, how in the hell am I supposed to sit
here and not ask to see your tattoo?” asked Stephen as he peered at
her cleavage. “Does that go all the way down?”

“Oh boy,” said the bartender with a smile.
“Are you that type of guy?” She chided him and then winked at
Jacker. “Are you going to sit here asking to see my tits all
night?”

Stephen held up his left hand and showed his
wedding ring. “A few years ago, yes. But I’m a married man now. My
friend here, however, is all sorts of single.” He pat Jacker on the
back. “Maybe if we get a few drinks into him he’ll loosen up a
little and start flirting with you so I don’t have to.”

“Well,” said the bartender as she smiled at
Jacker. “I’ll certainly look forward to that. What am I getting you
two started with?”

“How about some whiskey? I’m in a bourbon
mood,” said Stephen.

“Just a Coke for me,” said Jacker.

“God damn it,” said Stephen. “Stop fighting
me on this! Tell you what, darling.” He reached out and took the
bartender’s arm. “Bring me two shot glasses, same size, and fill
one with whiskey and the other with water.”

“Uh oh,” said the bartender. “Looks like
we’re about to witness a bar trick.”

“Zip it, beautiful,” said Stephen before he
turned back to Jacker. “Here’s the deal. She’s going to get us two
shot glasses, one with whiskey and one with water. The whiskey is
mine, and the water is yours.”

“Okay,” said Jacker. “What’s the trick?”

“We both have to drink our own glass one
minute after she serves them.”

“What’s the trick? Are you going to try to
get me to turn around or something? Switch the glasses?”

“Nope,” said Stephen. “And I can’t drink
either of them before the one minute is up, and I can’t use a
straw, and I can’t leave my seat. If I can get my whiskey into your
shot glass before the minute is up, then you have to drink it.”

The bartender had the two shot glasses ready
and waiting on her shelf on the other side of the bar. She had her
lips pursed, restraining a smile, and her eyes twinkled as she
looked back and forth between the two of them.

“Okay, you’re on,” said Jacker.

Stephen shouted and pumped his fist as the
bartender slid the glasses over. A few other patrons gathered
around them, eager to watch the trick. Stephen loved the attention,
and yelled out for more people to come and watch as he took out his
wallet. He showed everyone his license and then set it down on top
of Jacker’s shot glass. Then he flipped the glass over, careful not
to spill any of the water.

“What the fuck are you up to?” asked
Jacker.

“Just wait a minute,” said Stephen as he
concentrated on the glasses. He set the water glass upside down
over the whiskey so that his license separated the two. The crowd
around them started to react to every movement as the trick
proceeded, and Stephen yelled at them to trust him. Some people
were saying that he was going to spill the water, but he hushed
them as he pinched the edges of his license. He slid the card back
just enough that the water started to slide down into the glass
below. The whiskey surged up, the brown alcohol swirling into the
water as the two liquids exchanged places.

“Mother fucker,” said Jacker. He was too
intrigued to be upset as he watched the two liquids switch
glasses.

“You know,” said the bartender. “Usually
when people do this trick it’s to get a free drink, not the other
way around.”

“What can I say, I’m a martyr,” said
Stephen.

“So you knew this trick and you didn’t warn
me?” Jacker asked the bartender.

“Hey,” she said with an innocent smile. “I
was promised that if you started drinking that you’d flirt with me.
What’s a girl to do?”

Stephen took off the shot glass on the top
of the stack, which was now filled with whiskey, and flipped it
over as the crowd applauded. He flicked his card dry and slid the
shot glass over to Jacker. “Drink up, buddy.” Then he pushed the
shot glass of water over to the bartender. “How about you do me a
favor and fill this up with some whiskey too.”

The bartender did as asked and then Stephen
held the shot glass up to Jacker. “Cheers, buddy.”

Jacker clinked his glass against Stephen’s
and shook his head. “To the most manipulative fucker I’ve met in
years.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” said
Stephen before he downed the whiskey. He slammed the glass down and
slid it forward. “Doctor, can I get another dose please?”

Jacker slid his empty glass forward too.
“Same here.”

“That’s my boy!” Stephen slapped Jacker’s
back.

The bartender was quick to fill their
glasses, and started to chat with Jacker about the band on his
shirt. Apparently she was familiar with them, although Stephen had
never heard of the group before. He prided himself on being a great
wingman, and knew when to shut up and let his friends pick up the
conversation.

Jacker’s initial reservation about drinking
faded fast. Within a half hour, Stephen was struggling to stay on
his seat while Jacker only seemed to get a boost of energy from
every newly filled glass.

“Just a Coke for me,” said Stephen when
Jacker pushed him for another round.

“What? Are you kidding me?”

“Dude, I’m fucking wasted. I’m not even sure
I’m going to make it upstairs.”

“Hey man,” said Jacker. “You started this
engine. If you pass out, who the fuck’s going to steer.”

“I don’t even know what that means.” Stephen
laughed and let his forehead fall to the bar.

“Looks like he’s done,” said the bartender.
The only other patrons still around were all focused on a
basketball game, which the bartender seemed disinterested in.
Throughout the night she had spent most of her time at their end of
the bar.

“I know,” said Jacker. “He’s a
lightweight.”

“It’s true,” said Stephen as he sat back up.
“I talk a big game, but when it comes down to it I’m a pussy.
Seriously, though, we’ve got a big day tomorrow. We should get some
sleep.”

“You never told me why you guys are out
here,” said the bartender.

“And you still haven’t told me your name,”
said Jacker.

“Aubrey,” she extended her hand across the
bar. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Pleasure’s on mine,” said Jacker.

“Pleasure’s on mine?” asked Stephen.
“Smooth, dude.”

“Sorry,” said Jacker. “All mine. I guess
I’ve had a few more drinks than I thought.”

Aubrey was wiping the counter with a white
towel as she talked to them. “So, what are you guys out here for?
You don’t strike me as the country music type.”

“Good God no,” said Stephen.

“We’re headed to Widowsfield,” said
Jacker.

Stephen thrust his elbow into the big guy’s
side.

“Oh really?” asked Aubrey with interest.
“Why are you headed there?”

Stephen groaned and set his head back down
on the bar. “Well, you might as well tell her now, Casanova.”

“Sorry, man. I didn’t know it was a
secret.”

“This sounds good.” Aubrey tossed the rag
over her shoulder. She reached across the bar and rubbed the back
of Stephen’s head. “Don’t worry, Stevie, I won’t tell anyone your
secrets. What are you two up to?”

“We’re doing an internet show on haunted
places,” said Jacker. “We’re headed out there to investigate the
town. Do you know the story about that place?”

She nodded and snorted. “Do I? Of course I
do. Everyone around here knows about it. I’ve been down there a
bunch of times. I even saw that creepy green fog once.”

Stephen sat back up, intrigued.
“Really?”

“Yep. I grew up near there. A bunch of us
used to go up on a hill near the town. It was a make out area, and
you could see the downtown area of Widowsfield from there.”

“Do you think you could find that place
again?” asked Stephen.

“Sure, but it’s all closed off now.”

“Since when?” asked Stephen.

She glanced up, trying to recall the date.
“I don’t know, at least five years now. A company bought the land
and closed it all off. The town’s still there, but everything is
fenced off now. My friends and I still broke into the town from
time to time. If you know how to get past the guards you can hang
out there without any trouble.”