The Comanche Code by Mike Pace

Author:Mike Pace [Pace, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Foundations Books Publishing Company

After another twenty minutes of beige monotony, they passed a sand-colored sign welcoming them to Clovis: “Community for Family.” A smaller sign off to the side read: “The Biggest Little Music City in the Whole World.” Belle drove along a wide expanse of railroad tracks, turned onto Grand Avenue, and found a place to park a half block from the Peggy Sue Diner.

“A diner’s as good a place as any to start,” Belle said. “Hungry?”

Nora nodded. “The place looks like it’s been here for a while.”

They entered to see that the diner was half full. Sliding onto round, backless stools with red vinyl tops, they rested their elbows on the old-fashioned, speckled, white Formica counter. The waitress approached them immediately. Maybe late sixties, bottle-blonde hair wrapped tight in a bun on top of her head. And black frame glasses. Belle noticed all of the wait staff wore the same glasses. Apparently, the populace of Clovis, New Mexico, had a serious vision problem.

The waitress—her name tag read “Janelle”—offered each of them a laminated two-sided menu. “Howdy, folks. Can I get you something to drink to start you off?”

Janelle had a raspy cigarette voice and a smile that came across as genuine. They both ordered greasy eggs, greasy bacon, and buttered toast. The menu didn’t specifically use the word “greasy,” but Belle read between the lines. She figured the best approach was to establish a little rapport with Janelle before asking about Neville. Baby steps. “What’s with the glasses?”

She pointed over her head to a black-and-white photo taking up most of the wall showing Buddy Holly wearing his iconic black frame glasses. Of course. “Peggy Sue” was one of the early rocker’s most popular hits. “So, was Buddy Holly from Clovis?”

Janelle shook her head. “Lubbock, but he recorded a bunch of his early music at the Petty Studio over on West Center.”

The light went on in Belle’s head. “Including ‘Peggy Sue.’”

“Bright girl.” Her smile conveyed her sarcasm was all in fun. Belle thought they were connecting a little bit.

Nora dispensed with baby steps. “We’re looking for a man named Neville Parker. Would you happen to know him?”

Her face didn’t harden, but it did take on a more serious expression. “Might I ask what you want with Neville?”

Okay, what do you do here? Long story, short story, made-up story, or no story? Belle was about to come up with a passable pitch when Nora showed Janelle her museum ID, and flashed a restrained, professional smile.

“My name’s Nora Parker Yates, and I work for the Panhandle Plains Museum. I’m also a distant cousin of Neville. The museum displays a number of Parker family heirlooms, and we wanted to see if Neville might have information that could help us provide background for some of these pieces.”

Brilliant because it was true. Well, kind of true.

Janelle nodded, accepting Nora’s explanation, then checked her watch. “Neville works as a guide over at the Rock & Roll Museum, but they’re not open yet so you have time to eat. The Peggy Sue breakfast is the best in the west.

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