The Secrets of Lake Road - Karen Katchur Page 0,49

her flip-flop. When she reached the Pavilion, she wasn’t surprised to find the doors wide open. Heil wouldn’t keep his precious money-maker closed for four days, not four whole days.

She walked around the back of the Pavilion to the set of stairs that led to the bar. The parking lot was nearly empty, even though the beach was open. Small clusters of families scattered their chairs and blankets on the sand. Their oily bodies baked in the hot sun, but no one was swimming. How could they even if they had wanted? The lake was filled with two dozen or more fishing boats. She scoured the area for Patricia, Sara’s mother, and searched the water for signs of underwater recovery. Where could they be? Who was running this crazy show? She groaned at the sight of Stimpy directing the chaos.

Kevin stepped off one of the docks. Something about his expression gave her pause. Slowly, she walked toward him.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” he said.

Sheriff Borg leaned against a nearby pillar, drawing their attention.

“What the hell was going on out there?” the sheriff asked Heil, and motioned to the pier where the fishermen were now gathering. “They need to do this in a more organized manner.”

Heil pulled the waistband of his shorts up around his large belly. “And how do you suggest they do that?”

“They need to be less conspicuous,” the sheriff said. “Stick to early mornings or evenings. And make sure those damned fishing boats stay out of the way of the recovery team.”

Eddie stepped out of his cabin in a clean shirt and shorts. Heil called out to him, something about Eddie getting his ass in gear. He wanted the bar opened early. But Eddie didn’t hear him or if he did, he ignored him. Instead he walked over to the pier and stopped to talk with Stimpy and the other men before sauntering over to Kevin and Jo.

“I told you to get that bar open an hour ago,” Heil called to Eddie again.

The sheriff left Heil’s side and headed in their direction.

Kevin grabbed Jo’s hand and squeezed it tightly, pulling her close.

The sheriff stopped in front of them, eying them. “I wonder if you can answer a few questions for me about your friend Billy around the time he went missing,” the sheriff said. “Do any of you know how he might’ve hurt his arm?” He directed his question to all three of them.

“No,” Eddie said. “It’s the first I’m hearing about it. I know it’s been awhile, but I’m pretty sure I was the only one walking around injured.” He showed the sheriff his missing thumb tip. “Snapper got ahold of me around the same time.”

“What about you two?” the sheriff asked.

Jo didn’t like the way he was looking at her.

“Well?” he asked, waiting for one of them to speak up.

The cords in her neck strained. “I don’t remember him being hurt,” she said.

“Why?” Kevin tightened his grip on her hand. “What’s this about?”

“They found a fracture on his ulna, the smaller bone in the lower arm,” the sheriff said. “I’m curious how it might’ve happened.” He directed his next question to Kevin. “As I recall, you were with him that night. Did he fall? Did he get into a fight with someone? Anything at all you can remember, even if you don’t think it’s relevant.”

“No,” Kevin said without hesitation. “Nothing I can think of.”

The sheriff waited a beat or two, perhaps hoping one of them would offer more information in the silence. When no one spoke up, he said to Kevin, “So there wasn’t a fight over anything, say, like a girl?” He looked back at Jo.

“What’s your point?” Kevin asked, digging his nails into the back of Jo’s hand.

“No point. It’s just funny how you ended up with the girl.”

Jo concentrated hard on keeping her face neutral. But Kevin, he shook his head, clearly disgusted. “We got together afterward. Not before.” His voice was strong, convincing.

“I had to ask,” the sheriff said, although it didn’t sound like he believed him. “If any of you think of anything that might help clear up this matter, you be sure to let me know.” He turned to walk away.

“Do you even know if the bones are Billy’s?” Kevin asked, and Jo wished he hadn’t. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold it together. She wanted the sheriff gone.

The sheriff turned back around, taking his time, looking them over. “Nothing’s confirmed. Yet,” he said in