at the Three Sisters’ Café and a Bass Ale had Sam feeling a bit like Scarlett O’Hara: he decided he would deal with finding a new slip tomorrow.
It didn’t take long to reach the Navassa exit from Highway 17. Not knowing where to look exactly, Sam decided to cruise the main street, which was all of four blocks long. He didn’t know where to start, but he felt sure he had to trace Lee’s steps to fill in the missing pieces that would help him figure out what had happened. Navassa was part of the puzzle. He just didn’t know which part.
Navassa is little more than a crossroads, with all the amenities that stopping travelers need—fast food, gas, and a few sundries for the road—plus, an expanding belt of homes for Wilmington’s commuters. The area was considered by some to be blight on the coast’s otherwise glowing reputation until developers saw a golden opportunity. Despite the community’s best efforts to present a clean, well-ordered community of look-alike houses, drugs were still abundant and easily had. Prostitution was a new one to Sam, but if Deloris were right, it was a booming business. Sam was vaguely aware of the kinds of kids Lee took out sailing from time to time. He silently praised Lee for his efforts. Sam felt selfish for not looking beyond his own little world, for not reaching out to someone else in need. He vowed to improve his track record.
Canvassing the streets, Sam headed into a dubious area of town. Even though it was early in the evening, Sam knew that workers didn’t pay attention to clocks. They paid attention to dollars. After driving a few streets, he noticed a house that was better cared for than others on the block of dilapidated 1970s ranch-style houses. The grass was cut, the shutters neatly painted turquoise, and lights shining brightly on the young landscaping.
Sam circled the block and parked as far away from the house as he could manage and still see the place. For two hours, he watched visitors arrive and depart, clocking their stays at an average of thirty minutes each. In the fading light, Sam tried to imagine how far into this scene an observer like Lee could have gotten without getting noticed. He was jarred from his thoughts by the sight of a woman driving past him in a little olive green convertible Jetta.
“Molly?” Sam sat upright in his truck. “What’s she doing?”
When Molly stepped out of the convertible, she was a sight to behold. She was wearing a tight sparkly purple dress that stopped at her thighs, and obviously uncomfortable high heels. Her dark hair flowed gently about her in the evening breeze, and she had on lipstick. Bright red lipstick.
Sam was out of his truck in seconds and composing a storyline in his head as he walked quickly to the house. He loudly coughed, trying to catch Molly’s attention, and reached her as she waited on the front steps of the house. Grabbing her by the elbow, he growled lowly, “What’s going on, Molly?”
Sam briskly escorted Molly away from the house, tightening his grip on her arm as they strolled down the street. He walked so close to her that if anyone were looking on, he should see a couple out for an evening walk. But Sam’s ruse was unsuccessful.
Two guys jumped out of a battered black minivan and approached Sam and Molly with alarming speed. Pulling Molly tightly to his side, Sam whispered, “Not a word,” and then looked straight ahead.
“Nice night for a walk,” the one who looked like a defensive lineman sang out, without lessening his pace. He turned and in an instant was walking closely beside Sam.
“Come with us,” the other one said as he maneuvered around to Molly’s side, thereby steering Sam and Molly toward the van. “You from the Southport force? I know I seen your face somewhere; just can’t place you.”
Sam was confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re just lost.”
“No, man, I seen you. You ain’t visiting. You’re a cop.”
Walking slower as they reached the van doors, Sam grabbed Molly’s arm so tightly that she yelped.
“Well, I am a cop, but I’m not here on official business. My girlfriend and I were on our way to a party, and we got the address confused. I realized our mistake just before she rang the doorbell.”
“It’s okay, man. But we don’t do it that way here. If you want in, all you have to