Page 40 of All You Want
I don’t have time for games, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t the last I’ll see of Diana Van Dirk. She cuts a mean figure, dressed in black ninja clothes over the muscular body she gets from working out with weights. She’s hard to the bone, doesn’t smile, and resembles a Nordic harbinger of doom with her golden hair and slate-blue eyes.
“You’re aware the Goldilocks room is on the first floor and no way as nice as Weeping Widow’s Walkway,” I suggest. “She has a balcony, and she was the most expensive courtesan to ever work the entire Sierra County. It’s said she has a set of wire-frame wings, with a gold nugget in each segment placed there by her many admirers.”
“Do not trifle with me,” Diana roars like a female bear. “Make sure my bed is not too hard and not too soft.”
Molly taps my shoulder and whispers, “Put your parents in the Weeping Widow and let Diana have Goldilocks. I have the perfect haunt for Diana Van Dirk, and you won’t have to worry about her after she runs screaming like Goldilocks fromThe Three Bears.”
I nod and put on my best sales voice. “Why, of course, Miss Van Dirk, I’ll be sure everything is just right for you. See you opening night.”
Fifteen
~ Todd ~
I exit the courthouse, fuming so much I could explode. A hefty hand drags my shoulder down, and the cloying reek of an expensive Cuban cigar identifies the heavy hand’s owner.
“I knew the judge would be compassionate,” George King says. “Those are good boys, and it won’t do any good to hang a record on their names.”
“Al was driving drunk and caused property damage,” I retort.
“Have a heart.” Tami’s father blows smoke my direction and lets a trail of ash drop on the soggy lawn. It’s been raining, and the fire danger is low—thank God.
“What does heart have to do with enforcing the law? He could have run over a child.”
“But he didn’t,” George says. “And it’s his first offense.”
“Not so. Weaver let him get off with a warning a few years back.”
“Just like you’re always warning Tami,” George says, chuckling. He squeezes my shoulder and bows his head closer to my ear. “Look, we mountain folk have to look after each other. We’re family here. We don’t send our own down to state prison.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still revoking Al’s license. He shouldn’t be driving until he’s completed an alcohol course. Speeding’s one thing, but drunk driving is over the line.”
“Legally, he wasn’t drunk,” George says. “His blood alcohol was below the limit.”
“He had an open container, and his passengers were drunk,” I argue, but it’s a losing fight. The way our town fathers act, the laws are for the tourists, and speeding tickets are a source of revenue and a way of transferring wealth from the coastal city visitors to our mountain folk coffers.
“They paid their fines for the infraction,” George says. “And they’re doing community service. You need deputies. Tell you what.”
“What?” I say unnecessarily, because George is always telling me this or that.
“I’ll pay for the deputies, and you assign them to Tami’s grand opening party. With Al, Dillon, and Justin added to the Vice Squad, you should have plenty to cover the additional traffic and people needing first aid.”
“I’m not sure Tami’s property is prepared for an onslaught of campers. She doesn’t have hookups and her parking lot is not an approved campground.”
“They’re only parking there for trick or treating, not overnight.” George tells me something I didn’t know. “All they’ll need are food trucks and porta-potties.”
“Liquor won’t be allowed outside,” I warn. “And we don’t have the budget for more than one porta-potty.”
“I’ll spring for more if you approve her permit.” He grabs my hand and shakes it, squeezing hard.
I crunch his beefy hand. I don’t reply until he winces and let’s go, shaking out his limp hand.
“Approved, as long as the campers leave before midnight.” I walk away with a strong stride, even though my gut is roiling and I have to fight the urge to shove my fist through George’s smarmy face.
* * *
~ Tami ~
The week before Spooky Fest is crazier than ever. Not only am I behind on the promotional materials, but we hit another construction snag when heavy rains thundered through the mountains and knocked down a power line.
