Page 40 of Fool's Gold

He shook his head and hustled over to Tav’s trailer.

“Lock it after yourself,” Tav said, and Chet nodded, then darted in and did as he’d been told.

Tav had a rusty old blue Ford that might’ve been new in 1967. The seat belts didn’t look like they could be trusted, and a spring dug into my ass when I got in. I pulled the belt across my chest anyway. All I could think about during the long ride was Ethan. Tav dropped me off at the first police station we came to in New Gothenburg, the one near the courthouse.

“I have to get back,” Tav said, giving me an apologetic smile. “Murph’s on a rampage, and God knows what that shite will get up to. He’s not in his right mind on a good day, let alone a bad un’.”

“Thanks. I have my bus pass,” I said, forcing a smile.

He saluted and drove off.

But today wasn’t my day.

Ethan wasn’t at the station near the courthouse.

Or the Downtown station.

Or the Collingwood station.

The station out on the southeast side of the city was a bust.

No Ethan.

At the station on the southwest side, people stared at me like I was high when I asked for Ethan and didn’t know his last name. I thought I did know it, but I was so tired and worried that I couldn’t dredge it up and I wanted to cry.

The sun was setting by the time I got to the Lakeside station, and a tall blond cop, with shoulders that could hold up the whole world, came around from behind the information counter and out into the waiting room when tears began to prickle the corners of my eyes and slide down my cheeks.

“His name is Ethan. I don’t know his last name, but people also call him Shep. He was arrested at the Cider Mill private community, but he wasn’t doing anything wrong and I know it,” I said, barely breathing. “He wasn’t doing anything wrong, I promise. I live there and asked him to be there. He wasn’t trespassing.”

“We have an Ethan Shepherd,” the cop said, and I was a little stunned by his light British accent. It reminded me of Bishop. “Thing is, I can’t let you back there to see him or anything.” He flashed me a small smile. “I’m sorry. If you want to sit tight, I might be able to find out what we’re waiting for to release him or charge him.”

“You don’t understand, there’s nothing to charge him for.” I grabbed the cop’s hand, and he patted my wrist before he removed my grip on him. “I asked him to go over there, and I live there!”

The cop pursed his lips. “Why don’t you go home? If he really didn’t do anything, he’ll be let go, all right? I’m sorry I can’t do more.” He settled a friendly hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, and I didn’t want to upset this man who’d tried to be nice to me, so I wandered outside the front door of the police station in a daze.

“I have some cash. I’ll get a lawyer,” I said out loud, nodding.

The sun had almost disappeared below the horizon and stars were starting to pop out overhead. I couldn’t appreciate the view even though purples and peaches were splashed across the western horizon. I could probably take the bus and make my way through the trailer park without getting spotted. My plan wasn’t great, but I went with it because it was the only one I had. The ride to the trailer park went okay. The guy who liked to drink, Rye, was on the bus, and he waved at me with a smile, so I waved back.

At the bus stop, sweat beaded on my temples and slithered along my spine, especially when Rye stumbled down the steps after me. I started toward the trailer park, staring over my shoulder to make sure no one I knew was chasing me.

“Hey, where are you going?” Rye asked, frowning and following after me.

“I’m staying with Ethan Shepherd,” I said quietly. “He’s my friend.”

“Oh.” He swayed, then stumbled forward. “I’ll walk with you because it’s not safe for you to go through there in the dark.”

I blinked at him. “Why?”

He laughed. “You don’t live there. There are rules, but they don’t apply to outsiders. If someone stabbed you and left you for dead, no one else in the park would tell anyone they’d seen a corpse.” He slapped my shoulder.

“Okay.” I shivered.

He started humming a song I didn’t know under his breath, and he was nice enough to walk with me all the way to Ethan’s trailer, but when we got there, we both groaned.

“Oh, Shep is gonna be pissed about this,” he said with a laugh.

I slapped my hands on the top of my head and sank to my knees on the grass. The windows had been smashed out, and when I finally got myself together to go inside, the lights didn’t work—or at least, flipping the switch beside the door did nothing. Rye took his phone out and turned on the flashlight, and the inside of the trailer was totally wrecked. I knew before I went to my bag and stuck my hand inside that my money was gone. I sat there on the bed in the cold darkness and shivered. I’d never felt more like curling into a ball and crying.

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