Dancing in the Dark (26 page)

It was essential to give the gas guzzler
enough space so that Anna wouldn’t suspect she was being followed. The
details of tonight’s plan were no more definite than they had been for
Carly on Friday night. Exactly where and when the opportunity to grab
Anna would present itself was unclear. But her ultimate destination
tonight was certain.

Remembering that the nearest McDonald’s was on Main Street in Asbury
Park, Anna steered the car in that direction. At the drive-through, she perused all the selections listed on the
colorful menu board. She grimaced with distaste at so many high-calorie
choices.

The patron behind her beeped his horn. She was taking too much time.
Anxious and tense, Anna pulled her car out of the line without placing
her order and found a parking spot.

She tried to compose herself. If she was ever going to get well, she
had to try to follow the therapist’s instructions. How could she blame
Dr. Messinger for her lack of progress unless she had truly given his
directions a try? She had to go in there, buy a Big Mac, and try to eat
some of it.

With single-minded resolve, Anna got out of the car and walked
across the parking lot.

From outside, Anna could be seen through
the plate-glass window. Poor thing. In the bright glare of the
restaurant lighting, she looked so worried, her mouth turned down in a
troubled frown as she stood in line looking up at the menu board.

The parking lot was almost filled, but most
of the vehicles were empty. The few customers who had chosen to eat in
their cars were focused on unwrapping and consuming their selections.
It was simple enough to walk over to the old blue car, open the
unlocked door, and climb into the backseat.

“From sea to shining sea.” The assemblage sang the last song of the
concert together and then began filing out of the hall.

“Good, wasn’t it?” Diane asked her group when they got outside.

“Well, it certainly was wholesome,” observed Matthew.

“Like something from another era,” said Emily as Michelle and
Anthony rolled their eyes.

Diane took her cell phone from her purse and checked for messages.
“Still nothing from Shawn Ostrander,” she said. “I feel like we really
should deliver that envelope from Arthur Tomkins’s sister to him. Who
knows what decisions are being made about legal representation for
Arthur? Shawn should know he has resources to defend Arthur.”

“You know what I could do?” Matthew said. “I could drive over to the
Stone Pony before I go back to the motel and see if Shawn is tending
bar tonight. Drop off the money and see what he’s got to say about
everything that’s been happening.”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind, that would be great,” said Diane. “See if
you can get him to agree to an interview tomorrow.”

Anthony interrupted. “Mom, can I go to with Matthew?”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Anthony.”

“Why not? I don’t have anything else to do. It’s better than going
back to that old place we’re staying in.”

“The Stone Pony is a bar, Anthony. It’s not for kids.”

“I’ll wait in the car. With the doors locked. I promise, Mom.
Matthew isn’t going to be long, are you, Matthew?”

Diane looked at her producer. “What do you think?” she asked.

“It’s fine with me, Diane, if you’re okay with it.”

“All right, Anthony. But don’t give Matthew a hard time. And come in
to see me when you get back to the inn.”

Anna slid back into the driver’s seat. She held her breath as she
opened the paper bag and unwrapped the Big Mac
.
You
can do this
,
she thought.

She looked from side to side, checking to see if anyone was watching
her from the other parked cars. No one seemed to be paying any
attention to her.

She tried not to let the aroma dissuade her from bringing the Big
Mac to her lips. She willed herself not to think about her body and
what food like this could do to it. She had just summoned the courage
to take that dreaded first bite when an arm rose from the backseat and
slammed something hard and heavy on the side of her head.

“He didn’t come in tonight,” the bartender shouted above the music.
“He called and asked me to cover for him. Something about helping that
mentally ill guy he’s always with.”

Matthew was tempted to leave the envelope with the substitute
bartender but thought better of it. It should be delivered directly to
Shawn. Besides, this would give them another reason to connect with
Shawn tomorrow, and he might be more inclined to agree to an interview
if they had just done him and Arthur Tomkins a favor.

Listening to the band, Matthew wished he could stay awhile and have
a beer. But with Anthony waiting outside, that was out of the question.
He walked out of the club and went directly to the car. Anthony, true
to his word, was inside with the doors locked.

The car pulled to the curb in front of the Dancing Dunes Inn. With a
partially eaten butter pecan ice cream cone in one hand, Anthony opened
the passenger door with the other.

“Thanks, Matthew. That was better than hanging out with my mother
and my sister and aunt.”

“No problemo, Anthony. See you tomorrow. Maybe we can play another
round of miniature golf tomorrow night.”

“Awesome.”

Anthony headed up the wooden stairs that led to the inn’s porch,
turned, and watched as Matthew’s car drove away. When the red
taillights rounded the corner, Anthony flicked his cone to the ground,
went back down the steps, crossed the road, and sprinted down the
boardwalk.

The throbbing in her head was excruciating. Anna tried to open her
eyes, but something was pressed tight against them. She tried to
straighten her body and lift her head but collapsed back down onto the
car seat.

Where was she? What had happened? Her mind tried to focus. The Big
Mac. The car in the parking lot. The first bite. Then a shooting pain.

Now she sensed she was in a car, riding somewhere. Over the soft
purr of the air conditioner, she could hear other cars whooshing past.
She was in her father’s car, she realized—she recognized that knock in
the engine, and she could still smell the Big Mac.

Anna wanted to scream for help, but there was something cutting at
the sides of her mouth, making it impossible for her to call out.

She felt the vehicle come to a stop. She heard the sound of the key
being pulled from the ignition. The driver’s-side door opened and
closed again.

She whimpered behind the gag as she heard the click of the door
opening beside her. She felt hands at her armpits pull her up from her
slouch and drag her out of the car.

Thinking that he might have come back and forgotten to check in with
her, Diane walked across the hall and tapped at Anthony’s door. When
there was no answer, she knocked a little harder. Still nothing. Then
she tried the knob and found that the door was locked.

She went back to her room.

“He’s not back yet,” she said to Emily.

“They probably went out for pizza or something.” Emily panted as she
did her sit-ups. “Quit worrying, will you?”

Anthony was getting tired. He also knew he shouldn’t wait much
longer. His mother would kill him if she knew he had come here. If the
owner of the blanket and cooler didn’t show soon, Anthony would have to
leave. He hoped he could get to his room, undress, and get into bed
before his mother was any the wiser. He’d have to try to get away again
tomorrow night.

Five more minutes
,
he thought
as he sat on the floor, his knees to his chest, listening to the ocean
on the other side of the Casino wall. A rustling sound interrupted the
low roar of the water, but he couldn’t tell what caused it or where it
came from. He was grateful for the moonbeam that shone through the
damaged ceiling providing the only light.

He stood up, ready to give up for the night, when he saw the jerky
light moving toward him. Anthony strained from his hiding place to see
who was holding that flashlight.

WENSDAY
AUGUST 24

“It shouldn’t be taking this long.”

“Relax, Diane. There’s nothing to worry about,” said Emily as she
folded back the coverlet on the twin bed.

“Well, it’s after midnight. They should be back by now. Everyone
will just have to humor me,” Diane said with determination. “I’m
calling Matthew’s cell.”

“Anthony’s not going to like you checking up on him,” said Emily as
she fluffed her pillow. “He’ll think you’re treating him like a baby.
You’ll embarrass him.”

“That’s too bad.” Diane found her cell phone in her purse and pushed
the number. It rang five times, and then she heard Matthew’s voice.

“Hi, this is Matthew Voigt. Please leave a message and I’ll call you
back.”

“Matthew. It’s Diane. Just checking to see how it’s going with
Anthony. You might have gone out to get something to eat. You’re
probably on your way back right now. But call me back.”