The Blaze by Chad Dundas

Author:Chad Dundas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

The sky was deep indigo as they left the motel. Matthew didn’t want to go to a bar, so they stopped for beer at a truck stop and then drove out of town to the east. The floorboards of Scottie’s station wagon were heaped with food wrappers and empty soda cans. Matthew’s feet crunched every time he moved them. He ripped open the twelve-pack of beer and they both drank while Scottie drove, the thump of dance music playing on the radio.

“If you want old times,” Scottie said, “we should go to the train tunnel.” Matthew didn’t know what that meant, but he nodded. The pulse of the music felt good to him, which made him think he was pretty high. “So,” Scottie said, “where did you run into my old man?”

“I’ve seen him a couple of times,” Matthew said. “When he gave me the picture, we were sitting in his office.”

“Yeah?” Scottie said, his eyes turning to hard little stones in the dark of the car. “Did he mention what a disappointment his son has become?” He tipped his head to the side and instantly turned into his father. “Matthew, talk some sense into Scottie. He’s wasting his intellect.”

Matthew smiled because Scottie’s impression was spot-on. “That didn’t come up,” he said. “You don’t think he’s thrilled with your current career path?”

“Before he called to tell me you were back in town, I hadn’t talked to him in a few months,” Scottie said. “Anyway, I don’t give a shit what he thinks. I like the work I do now. Nobody fucks with me. I get to be by myself. It’s peaceful.”

“The first time I saw him was at this memorial for one of his students who died,” Matthew said. He told Scottie about Abbie Green, and about taking the picture of the fire that wound up on the front page of the newspaper. Scottie didn’t react to the story the way he thought he would. He was quiet and then cut a sidelong glance across the wheel. “I knew her,” he said. “The dead chick, I mean. I used to sell her weed.”

Something froze in Matthew’s chest. The pot dealer that Nick Welby said scared Abbie Green. Scottie? “Used to?” he said, trying to sound casual.

“Fucking-A used to,” Scottie said. “Then I caught her in my bedroom going through my shit. She tried to play it off, act like maybe she wanted to hook up with me, but I knew what she was really doing in there. She was looking for my stash. She wanted to rip me off. After that, I wouldn’t have anything to do with her. I made her send the worthless boyfriend.”

“Nick Welby,” Matthew said. “I met him at the memorial, too. He told me he went to see you the night Abbie died.”

Scottie’s head swiveled, surprised. “He did?” he asked. “I don’t know, maybe, I don’t keep track like that. Shit, I suppose that little revenue stream is going to dry up for me now. That sucks.

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