Killalot by Cindy Brown

Author:Cindy Brown [Brown, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

I took turns watching John Robert and Jackie, trying to put the Ren faire puzzle together. He had been at the faire in costume before the joust. She was a Rennie (and a man). Riley’s horse ended up here at the ranch. There had to be a connection, but what?

Maybe Jackie could tell me.

When we had a break, I began a conversation with Hayden, watching for my chance. As soon as Jackie left the theater I excused myself and followed her. When she went into the powder room I crowded in behind her and shut the door. When she turned, I grabbed her hands and peeled the glove off one of them. Man hands! I said. I knew it was you I saw yesterday.

Give me my glove, Jackie hissed.

I held my cotton treasure aloft. Only if you promise to tell me what’s going on.

If I tell... Jackie’s mask crumpled for just a second, revealing a vulnerable face beneath it.

Sometimes I hated being a PI.

If I tell you, she said, her voice more under control. Will you promise not to tell?

I promise, I lied. Yeah, hated it.

We can’t talk here. Follow me after rehearsal. My place isn’t far. Now... Jackie was a first lady again, straight-backed with a little ice to her elegance. Please return my glove to me.

After rehearsal, I asked Jackie for her address and texted it to Uncle Bob. I had to be careful. She/he seemed like the harmless type, but at the very least, the harmless duplicitous type.

I followed her to a trailer park in Apache Junction. It was a nice one, a mobile home community with well-kept homes with window boxes full of petunias and little gravel yards full of lawn ornaments. Jackie parked in front of a vintage singlewide trailer. No room for more than one car. Jackie got out of hers, a baby blue 1960’s Cadillac. Guest parking is down the road.

She met me there and we walked the couple hundred feet back to her place. Are you transgender? I asked. And what would you like me to call you?

I’m not transgender, Jackie replied. I’m a female impersonator who identifies as male and gay. And you can call me Jackie or Benjamin—she or he—depending on the setting.

So last night at the faire you were Benjamin. I was curious about the two personas, but more curious about something else. What were you doing there?

I work there, just like you. At From Hoods to Snoods—the hat shop? I’m only there when the faire’s in town—I don’t travel. I have full-time work at a milliner’s shop in Mesa. We passed a yard full of citrus trees in bloom, their scent sweet and strong.

Really? I was about to ask how any milliner in Arizona could hire full-time assistance (Phoenix is not big on fancy headwear) when Jackie said, We mostly work with cowboy hats.

Ah.

And where do you really work? Jackie climbed the steps to the trailer.

I followed. I’m an actor.

I see. She unlocked and opened the door.

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