The Dead Room

39

Baxter picked up her pack of Marlboros and said, ‘I think I embarrassed him.’

Darby, despite her shock and confusion, felt an undercurrent of anger at the woman. ‘I’d say you went out of your way to provoke him.’

‘Me and Coops got sort of a history together.’

‘What kind of a history? Did you two date?’

‘I wish. He’s got much higher standards, unfortunately, and he’s got his pick of the litter ’cause he’s so goddamn pretty. Every woman I know wants to get in the sack with him. I’m sure you’ve thought about it, am I right?’

‘What’s the deal between you two?’

‘That’s for him to tell you. And I think it’s time I called it a night.’

‘Sit down. I have some more questions about these cops you met at the hotel parties.’

‘I don’t know any of their names, if that’s what you’re asking. For some strange reason, they didn’t tell me.’

‘Would you recognize their faces?’

‘They wore Halloween masks. You can do all sorts of things when you wear a mask.’

‘Did you overhear any names? Did any of the other women mention anything to you?’

‘No and no. All I saw were their cocks. You got mugshots of pricks, I might be able to help you out.’

‘The man who was speaking to you earlier –’

‘He’s a cop,’ Baxter said, lighting another cigarette. ‘Don’t ask me for his name again because he’s never had one.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean there are people who float in and out of here like ghosts. Ask Coop. He’ll tell you the same thing.’

‘Was this cop one of the men you met at the hotel?’

‘It wouldn’t surprise me.’

‘What about the girls at the hotel, did you know them?’

Baxter leaned her head back and stared up at the dark sky as she smoked. ‘Most of them are dead or in jail.’

‘Did you know any of them?’

‘Some of them were from Charlestown. Mr Sullivan liked local girls. Town pride and all.’

‘Was one of these girls Kendra Sheppard?’

‘I don’t know anyone by that name.’

‘You sure? She grew up here. As a matter of fact, her parents were murdered about three blocks away. I’m sure you remember it. Her parents were shot to death while they were sleeping. Then Kendra mysteriously vanished.’

‘Lots of people died here. Or disappeared.’

‘Michelle, why did you tell me that story about you and your mother?’

‘Thought you might appreciate a history lesson, Doc.’

‘I think it’s more than that,’ Darby said.

Doors slammed shut in the distance. Baxter acted as if she’d heard a gunshot. She jumped to her feet and, clutching the railing with both hands, stared wide-eyed down the dark street at a group of people armed with buckets, shovels and sifting equipment standing around a van. Darby could make out the pudgy outline of Dr Edgar patting down his tufts of wild Albert Einstein hair.

‘Who are those people?’ Baxter asked.

‘They’re anthropology students.’

Baxter seemed confused.

‘They’re here to dig up the bones in the basement,’ Darby said. ‘We found three sets of remains. All women.’

Baxter didn’t say anything. She watched the group of men filing into the house.

‘It going to be hard to identify these women,’ Darby said. ‘Someone removed their teeth along with their hands and feet. If you know something that could help us –’

‘Sorry, but I can’t help you.’

‘Can’t or won’t?’

‘You can’t find ghosts.’

‘I’m not following.’

‘I mean there are still some people who float through this town that don’t have any names. They just come and go. Like ghosts.’

‘Like the man you were speaking to earlier?’

Baxter kept her eyes on the house. ‘You seem like a good person, but the thing is nobody here’s gonna talk to you. They do and they’re going to disappear or have an accident. That badge clipped to your belt? You might as well be smeared in dogshit.’

Darby leaned her elbows on the railing, next to Baxter, and said, ‘Kendra Sheppard was living in Vermont with her son.’

No reaction.

‘Kendra was living under another name – Amy Hallcox,’ Darby said. ‘She and her son came to Belham a few days ago.’

‘How old is her son?’

‘Twelve. A man pretending to be a Federal agent came into his hospital room, and Sean – that’s Kendra’s son – Sean was terrified at the thought of going away with this man and do you know what he did?’

Baxter didn’t answer.

‘Sean tried to commit suicide,’ Darby said. ‘Shot himself in the head. It seems he was carrying a gun with him for protection. Before he tried to kill himself, he told me that his mother was afraid of these people finding her. And they did. In Belham. Want to know what happened to Kendra?’

‘Not really.’

‘Someone tied her down to a chair and slit her throat.’

Baxter looked down at the railing and picked at a paint chip with a long fingernail decorated with fake diamonds, moons and stars.

‘Do you know why anyone would do something like that?’ Darby asked.

‘No.’

‘Did you know Kendra Sheppard had changed her name and run away?’

‘No.’

‘You willing to say that under oath?’

‘Sure, why not? You can swear me in right now if you want. There’s a Bible underneath one of the kitchen chair legs. I need something to keep the table from wobbling.’

‘If you’re scared, I can put you into protective custody.’

‘With the Feds?’ Baxter laughed. ‘Thanks, but no. I’ll take my chances here in the real world.’

Darby tried another way in. ‘Michelle, what you went through… I can’t tell you how sorry I am.’ She hoped her true feelings came across in her voice. ‘You didn’t deserve that. Nobody does.’

‘Wasn’t looking for your pity. I just wanted to explain the lay of the land here.’

‘I can give you the name of some counsellors who can work with you on a pro bono basis.’

‘Talking isn’t going to change what happened. It don’t erase what you carry around inside your head.’

‘It can help.’

‘Thanks, but I think I’ll stick with Ambien and Percocet. They work wonders.’

Darby placed her business card on the railing. ‘Tomorrow, when you’re sober, give me a call and we’ll talk.’

Baxter pushed herself off the railing and stubbed out her cigarette on the card. ‘Feel free to help yourself to some beers on your way out.’