Dark Places by Reavis Z Wortham

Author:Reavis Z Wortham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Published: 2015-06-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty-two

Anna killed her engine beside the 271 Drive-In concession stand. Water stood ankle deep between the elevated rows of posts and speakers. The rain had slacked to a heavy mist, but the radio said it was only a matter of time before the next wave came through.

Cecil Hutler, the drive-in’s owner, was in a lawn chair underneath the overhang facing the huge blank screen. There were three rows of shell-back metal chairs for those who preferred to sit outside instead of in their cars. “Howdy, gal.”

Long used to being referred to as “gal,” Anna sat in the chair beside him. It rocked and that pleased her. She pushed lightly with her foot to enjoy the experience. “You called me?”

“Sure did. Did you see the movie we’re running?”

She’d barely paid attention to it, but several people in town were excited to have Home from the Hill showing again. It was based on a book by William Humphrey, a local boy, and had been filmed a few years earlier in nearby Clarksville, with parts shot in Chisum. “Sure did.”

He nodded and fished in his pants pocket for his pipe. His teeth clicked on the stem and he dug a tobacco wallet from the other side. “Yep, and for the first time in a long time I got to watch some of it.”

“Okay.”

He opened the wallet and packed the pipe, then returned everything to its proper place. While she waited with dwindling patience, he scratched a kitchen match alight and puffed until fragrant blue smoke surrounded them both.

Despite herself, Anna took a deep breath of the cherry mix and relaxed. It really wasn’t so bad sitting in the silent drive-in, in what was quickly turning into a fog.

“I’m usually in the back, cooking, or taking money, so even though I show these films every day, week after week, I usually don’t get a chance to watch them. Last night was different. It was so slow, the wife left the ticket booth and came out here with me. We had us a big time

“Now I’ll tell you, that movie came pretty dern close to what it’s really like around here. Hell, some of the folks in town even got to be in it. Extras, they call ’em in the movies. They mostly stand around as background, but it was fun while they was here.

“Anyway, I’m sitting here eating my own popcorn, when this truck comes on the screen. Mama recognized it right off. It was the same kind of truck, a fifty-one Dodge them people was in who was talking to the businessmen that disappeared. Right down to the light ivory color.”

Anna sat straighter and faced Cecil. “And?”

“Why, little missy, Mama remembered who was in it. Marty something-or-other, and a mean son of a bitch named John T. I know him, cause he’s gotten in some trouble here in town before. I run Marty off one night a year or so ago.”

Gears began to mesh. “Do you have a last name for either one of them?”

“Nope.

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