Authors: Jeanne Harrell
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Pause.
“All right. Where are you?”
“I’m staying at the Excalibur Hotel on the Strip. Can we meet at the coffee shop there?”
“Sure. When?”
“…An hour?”
“…I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Bryce.”
“Bye, Sheriff.”
Bryce hung up and stared off into space wondering what the hell was going on in his universe. Another Carson City contact in the last few days… The city’s tentacles seemed to be reaching out to snare him for some inexplicable reason. First, the dust was stirred from the Mesquite visit, then Beth’s soft touch at the concert and now a visit from the town’s former sheriff. Dan had been a good friend of his father’s and Bryce had known him well.
What could he possibly want after all this time?
Bryce’s mind was completely muddled by the time he had driven over to the Excalibur. His hand actually shook giving his keys to the valet to park his car. Walking through the hotel’s front entrance, Bryce glanced around at the medieval décor and smiled as costumed actors walked by – Probably getting ready for the medieval show and dinner that would be happening in a few hours. He dodged a knight in clanking armor and a lady-in-waiting, complete with tall pointed hat and long-flowing satin gown. He smiled again and almost relaxed… Then he remembered why he was there and tensed.
Bryce located the coffee shop and saw Dan waiting at a back booth. Dan looked up, waved and motioned him over.
“Sheriff, good to see you.” Bryce reached out to shake his hand as he reached the booth.
Grasping Bryce’s hand, Dan laughed. “Good to see you, son. You’re looking prosperous.” Bryce laughed at that. “Sit down, please.”
When Bryce sat down, Dan stared at him for a long minute.
“You look so much like your father. You know that, right?”
Bryce grinned. “Thank you, sir. I did know that. I’ve heard it all my life.”
“Having that Basque blood running through your veins isn’t a curse.”
“…Didn’t say it was, Sheriff.”
Dan looked at him for another minute.
“You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m doing here.”
“That thought had crossed my mind.”
“Like I said on the phone, I was going through some old boxes that came out of my office at the Sheriff’s Department in Carson and I found this.” Dan pulled an old book from a bag sitting on his bench seat. He placed it on the table in front of him.
Bryce knit his eyebrows. “What is it?”
“It’s a logbook that your father kept when he had his clothing business. Do you remember it?”
Bryce blew out a breath and then took in a deeper one. The universe was definitely messing with his head. He rubbed his forehead and took a calming breath.
“…I…I saw it a few times. He’d be writing in it when I got home from wherever. He always waited up to chew me out about something.”
Dan laughed. “Yup, that sounds like him.” He pushed the book over to him. “Here, take it.”
Bryce reacted like it was a coiled snake about to strike. He touched it tentatively to test its reaction to him and found only the touch of aged leather in response. He picked it up and brought it to his nose – It even smelled like rich old leather.
“Actually, it’s sheepskin. Remember your grandfather the sheepherder?
“I do,” Bryce smiled. “He was a wonderful old gentleman. I’d go help Dad find him occasionally to take up his supplies in the hills.”
Dan smiled back. “An old way of life gone from Nevada now.”
“… Gone but not forgotten.”
“No, indeed.”
Bryce opened the book and scanned a few pages.
“This is more like a diary.”
“I think so. I know there were more books, but that’s all I could find… I’ll keep looking.”
“The date here in the front is the year he died.”
Dan nodded. “So he probably writes about the clothing store. It might be a tough read.”
“…Yes…” A frown came to Bryce’s face as he read an entry.
“You’re in business, aren’t you, Bryce?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you do?”
“My firm buys out other companies. It’s an investment firm and we manage money.”
“…Well, that sounds important. I hope you’re doing well.”
Bryce swallowed. “How long are you in town, Sheriff?”
“Just a few days… Why?”
“I may have a question or two for you after reading this. You were one of Dad’s best friends and he confided in you.”
“… That he did. I’m proud to have called him my friend.”
“Could I have your phone number?”
Dan studied him gravely and nodded. “I thought you might need a bit of information sooner or later. I’d be happy to be of help.”
After lunch, Dan and Bryce parted ways near the valet’s stand out in front of the hotel. Dan had given him a cell number and told him to call any time. Bryce felt he might just need to do that one of these days. It was almost like his dad was reaching out to him as well.
Driving away, Bryce shivered. Little tingles of surprise and dread tiptoed down his spine. He knew he was now waiting for the other shoe to drop…
* * *
Across town, Beth and Eva, her best friend, the viola player in the Quartet, were laughing.
“Could you believe it when William hit that A instead of C sharp? What a mistake to make and at what a critical time in the sonata…” Eva smiled.
Beth laughed. “I know we shouldn’t be laughing, but when he played that note, he looked over at me with a Help me expression on his face. It was too funny.”
Eva, a lovely woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes that didn’t miss much, looked around the bar at the Mirage Hotel where they found themselves this late afternoon. She glanced at Beth who was nursing her glass of Merlot.
“You are such a flyweight, Beth. Will you finish that glass of wine tonight?”
“Ha. You’re one to talk. You’re still on your first margarita.”
“Okay. So I can’t drink much without falling asleep…”
“…Then don’t complain about me,” Beth laughed again.
Just then the young waitress in the very short skirt brought over two drinks on a tray. She smiled at Beth and Eva while putting the drinks on their small table.
“…Ah…Miss? We didn’t order these,” said Beth.
“…What?” Eva’s I-don’t-miss-much blue eyes scanned the room.
The waitress tipped her head towards the bar.
“The man in that dark suit sent these over to you.”
“Great,” commented Beth. “Just what we don’t need.”
Eva looked over at him. “He’s kinda cute, Beth.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Don’t even think about it, Eva. He could be Jack the Ripper.”
She looked him over. “He doesn’t look like a Jack the Ripper type.” She smiled at him and raised a glass to thank him.
“I’m sure even Jack the Ripper looked like a nice guy, but this isn’t the way to meet men.”
Eva blinked hard a few times at that comment and looked confused.
“Then how are we to meet men?”
“…Ah…”
“We’re either in rehearsal or on stage. And if we’re not in those two places, we’re getting our instruments repaired or buying clothes for the performances.”
“…Yes…”
“…And I’m buying strings for my viola like they’re going out of style. I should have an affair with the guy at the music store, for Pete’s sake.”
“…Um…”
“Um what, Beth? When was the last time you slept with a man?”
Beth’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “You don’t expect me to answer that.”
“… Please don’t tell me that you and William are hot for one another because I just won’t buy it…”
Eva folded her arms across her chest and frowned at Beth.
“Listen, Eva, my love life…”
“…Leaves a lot to be desired,” Eva finished for her. They looked at each other and laughed.
“Okay. You’ve got me there. It has been a while. William and I are only friends – Not even friends with benefits.”
Eva laughed and then remembered something. “Hey! Who was that really cute guy in the snazzy suit who came in after our last performance? You know, the one with the hot babe at the door?”
Beth demurred and took a drink of her Merlot.
“Tell me. There’s a juicy story here, I can just feel it…” Eva bit her lip and smirked at her.
Beth nervously licked her lips and took another sip of her wine.
“How long have I known you, Eva?”
She thought that over for a minute.
“Six years. Why?”
Beth took a deep breath. “This information isn’t for public consumption.”
“…Okay…”
She exhaled that deep breath. “Before I moved to San Francisco, I grew up in Nevada and was involved with a man.”
“…That guy who showed up backstage?”
Beth nodded. “Yes… the very same.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Incredible! Why didn’t you fall on the floor in shock or something? How did you meet?”
“It’s a long story, Eva. We met in high school and dated a few years.”
“…Dated?” She gave Beth a knowing look.
“Okay, yeah… We slept together and the whole nine yards.”
“… What about love?”
Beth swallowed hard. “Yeah… Love too.”
“You fell for him?”
“He fell for me too.”
“What’s his name?”
“… Bryce Barron.”
“What the hell happened, Beth?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “One day it all fell apart. We were in college and his father died.” Beth reached back into her memories. “Bryce was this larger-than-life Marlon Brando wannabe and drove everyone nuts.”
“Everyone but you…”
“…Black leather jacket, motorcycle…”
“Cool…”
Beth smiled. “He was a big personality, but not really. He was covering up a whole lot of hurt. He could be incredibly sweet and sensitive with me.”
“… What happened?”
“His father died suddenly and it ripped the stuffing out of him. Bryce went from Marlon Brando to a dishrag. He couldn’t cope with his father’s death and he wouldn’t talk to me about it... I loved his dad too.”
“But…”
“All Bryce could do was cry…”
“…And then?”
“I knew something was up. He said he was going out for pizza one night and he never came back.”
Eva blinked again. “…You’re kidding… Where did he go?”
Tears came to Beth’s eyes. “I called his mother who didn’t know anything either. It was a year before she heard from him. He’d gone to California and enrolled at San Francisco State for a business degree.”
“And he couldn’t have told you he was going or called?”
“…Apparently not.”
“Weren’t you incredibly upset?”
“…For a long time, but what was there to do? I had to go on with my life.”
Eva thought about all that for a moment. She stroked her chin and smoothed her hair.
“And after some ten years, you see him coming through the dressing room door at a symphony hall in Las Vegas, Nevada… What did you think then?”
Beth took a big sip of her wine, set the glass down and closed her eyes.
“I was in shock.”
“… But you smiled and didn’t let on…”
“What was I supposed to do? Kick him?”
“…Yes.”
“Actually…”
“…What?”
“I was just happy to see that he was all right and had obviously made something of himself.”
“Yeah…Wow, I think so. That suit he was wearing cost a bundle as does that high maintenance babe he was with. She wouldn’t come in, by the way.”
“Yes to all of that.”
“… He looked pleased to see you, Beth.”
“I’m sure he was,” laughed Beth, “at that moment.” She twirled her glass. “I’m just a girl from his hometown. Something and someone that has no interest for him anymore.”
“…So you say…”
“So I know…”
Eva sat up straighter and glanced around the room.
“What if he called you, Beth?”
“He won’t…”
“But… What would you do if he did?”
“I’m not even going to entertain the thought. He’s not Bryce Barron anymore. He’s some other guy I don’t know.” She looked over at Eva. “He hasn’t kept in touch with his mother for a few years either.”
“Really? How sad…”
“Yes. I have a feeling there’s lots of things about him now that are sad…”
“…And that he doesn’t want to remember.”
“Absolutely correct. I’ve seen the last of him, I’m sure.”
Eva narrowed her eyes at Beth who stared off into space. Eva wasn’t so sure…
* * *
That night Bryce stayed home alone… Sylvia had gone out partying with some girlfriends. He hadn’t been invited, of course, nor did he want to be. He just wanted to be still for a minute, instead of running all around, like he usually did. After leaving Dan at the Excalibur Hotel yesterday, his father’s logbook had been sitting on his dresser. Occasionally, it spoke to him… Read me…
He was sitting in the kitchen nursing a beer when it spoke to him again. And when goosebumps appeared on his arms, he got up and retrieved it from the bedroom. Back in the kitchen, it sat on the table in front of him. Reluctantly, he turned to the first page and began to read his dad’s familiar scrawl.
Friday – Took Carol and Bryce camping out in the Black Rock Desert. Found a swimming hole. Flat tire.
Bryce smiled wide. He remembered that camping trip very well. He was 17, and his dad had insisted that he come with them. They’d found a big swimming hole – out in the middle of the desert – and he had enjoyed the heck out of it. His mother and father both got in as well. Reaching back, Bryce could see his mother’s pleased smile that he and his dad were getting along so well. It didn’t happen as often as she would have liked.
He laughed aloud thinking of the flat tire… That old Chevy that his dad just wouldn’t trade in got one flat after another. Bryce had helped his dad change the tire. They worked closely together in the dirt – Bryce could almost smell the Juicy Fruit gum his father always chewed.
Shaking his head, he continued reading.
Saturday – Bryce out late again. Carol and I worry nonstop about him. Wish I were a better father. Maybe we’d get along more.