Page 42 of Shelter for Martina

She threw the door open, then dropped her hands to her hips. “Well, well, well. Took you all damn night.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I called last night but nobody came!” She stood there for a few seconds staring at a startled Bud before she said, “Oh, wait. I called the sheriff’s department. I guess that wasn’t you guys. Sorry. Come on in.” Sweeping an arm inward, she invited him inside, and Bud took a step in.

The floor was littered with toys, and there were two baskets of laundry sitting on the sofa. “Sorry. Didn’t know I was going to have company. The kids are at school. Please, have a seat. Can I get you something?”

“No, ma’am, that’s not necessary, but thank you.” Bud took a seat on a chair by the TV and pulled out his little notepad. “So you called Mrs.Anderson last night and said PhilAdams was over here yelling?”

“Yeah, he was in her yard, stomping back and forth and yelling about Marty, how he’d gone missing again and it was Martina’s fault.”

“How was it Martina’s fault?”

“I have no idea. That’s just what he was yelling. I have to tell you, he scares me a bit. That guy’s crazy.”

Bud shook his head. “You’re not the only one who’s told me that.”

“Yeah, we all know it. He’s not a very nice person, but if you want drugs in this county, PhilAdams is the one you go to.”

“And that’s common knowledge?”

“If it ain’t, somebody’s deaf.”

“I see. But her car wasn’t here, so why was he doing that, do you suppose?”

“I dunno. Maybe to see if he could get a rise out of somebody? I have no idea. He’s a weird one,” the woman said, shaking her head. “Probably hopped up on meth or something.”

“Okay, well, I just thought I’d check in with you. Here’s my card, in case he comes back. Don’t even bother with the sheriff’s department—just call me and I’ll get here as soon as I can. And thanks for talking to me.”

She grinned. “I seen you coming in and out of Martina’s house. You’re not just a cop, are you?”

“I’m not sure—”

“You two are seeing each other, ain’tcha?” Bud started to answer but she interrupted him. “I knew it! She’s a sweet lady. She’s got a right to be happy, that’s all I’m sayin’. I hope you’re real happy together.”

“Thank you. I really want to help her find Renita,” Bud said, standing. It was awkward, sitting there talking about their relationship with the neighbor.

“Oh, Marty killed her. I’m pretty sure.”

Bud was a little surprised. “What makes you say that?”

“If there’s trouble in this area, Marty’s right in the middle of it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. And again, thank you so much, Mrs.Tabors.”

“You’re welcome. Take care, sir. There’s crazy people out there these days.”

Bud stopped at the bottom of the steps and smiled back up at the woman. “Yes, ma’am. There sure are.”

His next stop was the grocery store in Fordsville. Every time he stopped there, he heard some kind of gossip. Maybe he’d get lucky and get some little tidbit that would turn into a lead. It was only a few miles away, and he was getting hungry anyway.

The grocery turned out to be a bust. There was almost nobody there, and the few people who were there were buying their stuff, paying for it, and leaving. It was a little early, so the lunch crowd wasn’t there yet, and he realized that too late. After picking out a bag of chips and some jerky, Bud paid for it and made his way back to the car.

He still had most of the soft drink he’d picked up at the post before he left, so he had that in the car already. Driving and opening the jerky wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, but he was managing pretty well. Holding the bag against the steering wheel, he reached in with the other hand and pulled out a piece.

And the whole world seemed to explode. Glass went everywhere, and the car filled with fresh air. In seconds, everything stopped with the sound of crunched metal, and Bud’s airbag forced him back in the seat.

He sat, stunned, as the dust settled around him. Two cars had stopped and the occupants were running toward his car. He could see them, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying over the scream of his horn as it blared. Tendrils of steam rose from under the hood as a man leaned in. “Are you okay? Sir, talk to me.”

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