At closing time, the diner was empty save for Antonio, who continued to sit at the boom in the back corner, his coffee untouched.
"What's with him?" Bobbie Sue asked, coming up beside Vicki. "He comes in here practically every night and never eats anything."
"I'm not sure."
"I think he's kind of creepy, you know?"
Vicki shrugged. "He seems nice enough."
"If you say so." Bobbie Sue removed her apron and wadded it into a ball. "I'm going over to the Blue Horse for a while. I told Steve I'd meet him there. Do you want to come along?"
Vicki considered that for a moment. The Blue Horse Tavern was a dive located on the outskirts of town. They catered mostly to the young crowd who wanted to dance and drink a few beers but didn't want to make the trip into one of the bigger cities. She had received her first kiss on the dance floor at the Blue Horse.
"Sure," Vicki said.
"No sense taking two cars," Bobbie Sue said. "Why don't you go with me?"
"All right." Vicki glanced at Antonio, not surprised to find that he was watching her. "Just let me finish cleaning up."
As she approached his booth, Battista stood and dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table.
"You're a very generous tipper," Vicki remarked as she cleared the table.
"I like the service."
"Thank you. Good night."
With a nod, he turned and left the diner.
The Blue Horse was in full swing when Vicki followed Bobbie Sue inside. The lights were low, the music loud, the air thick with the combined smells of perfume and perspiration, lust and alcohol.
They made their way to the bar, where Bobbie Sue ordered a cosmopolitan and Vicki ordered a strawberry margarita. As she sipped her drink, Vicki nodded at several people that she recognized.
"Look, there's Linda Fay," Bobbie Sue said, pointing at a brunette who, unfortunately, had a long face that resembled a horse's. "She always was a homely thing, bless her heart."
Vicki nodded sympathetically. A few minutes later, Bobbie Sue went to dance with Steve Mitchell. Steve was a handsome young man who'd had a crush on Bobbie Sue ever since high school. Unfortunately, Bobbie Sue didn't see him as anything but a good friend.
A moment later, a good-looking guy strolled up to the bar and asked Vicki if she wanted to dance. They were making the usual small talk when Vicki felt a sudden chill. She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze drawn to a man standing at the end of the bar. He was tall and slender, with slicked-back blond hair. He wore a black turtleneck sweater and black slacks with a sharp crease.
Her heart skipped a beat when he pushed away from the wall. No, she thought, please don't let him ask me to dance. But even as the thought rose in her mind he was skirting the dance floor, walking toward her.
Her partner let her go with a smile and a murmured, "see you later," and then the stranger was taking her in his arms. He held her tightly, his hands cold on hers. This close, she could see that his eyes were a rusty yellow, like the color of dead leaves.
"So," he said, "do you come here often?"
The sound of his voice sent a shiver of unease down her spine. "No," she lied. "Do you?"
"From time to time." Releasing her hand, he reached out to stroke her hair. "Lovely," he said. "Is it your natural shade?"
She stared at him, remembering that Duncan had asked her that very same question.
"No," she lied. "No, it's dyed."
Lifting a lock of her hair, he sniffed it. "I think not."
"I have to go." She twisted out of his grasp and hurried toward the bar where Bobbie Sue was chatting with Steve.
"Hey, girlfriend," Bobbie Sue said, smiling.
"Bobbie Sue, we need to go. Now."
"Why?"
"Please, Bobbie Sue, take me home."
"Sure, hon." Bobbie Sue kissed Steve's cheek. "Catch ya later, sugar."
"Come on!" Vicki grabbed Bobbie Sue's hand and practically dragged her out of the tavern.
"Vicki, slow down! What's with you?"
"That man in there. The one I was dancing with. The blond… I… He gave me the creeps."
"Is that all?"
"No! I think"— she glanced nervously over her shoulder as Bobbie Sue unlocked the car doors— "I think he might be the murderer."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Yes. Quick, get us out of here!"
"Don't tell me twice!" Bobbie Sue gunned the engine to life and drove out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
Vicki looked out the back window, her heart pounding. "Drive around for a few minutes. I want to make sure he's not following us."
"Vicki, you're scaring me."
"Good, cause I'm plenty scared myself!"
Bobbie Sue glanced in the rearview mirror. "Do you see anyone?"
"No." Vicki sank back in her seat, suddenly wishing that Antonio were there. She wouldn't be afraid if he was with her. The thought surprised her but it was true. In spite of everything, she felt safe with Antonio. She glanced over her shoulder again, but there were no lights following from behind.
"So, how's it going with Steve?"
Bobbie Sue shook her head. "It isn't."
"You know he's crazy about you. Do you think it's fair to keep leading him on?"
"I'm not leading him on. He knows how I feel. I mean, he's just as sweet as can be and fun to be with, but it's like dating my brother. I mean, I love him, but I'm not in love with him. It's like you and Arnie. There's just no spark. You know what I mean?"
"Only too well." Vicki glanced out the back window again.
"Sometimes I don't think we'll ever get married. Maybe we should move to greener pastures."
"Yeah, that's what my mother says."
"Is anyone following us?"
"I don't think so."
Bobbie Sue drove around for ten minutes, then headed for the diner. It was closed when they got there, the parking lot dark, when Bobbie Sue pulled up beside Vicki's car.
"Do you want me to follow you home?" Bobbie Sue asked.
Vicki considered that a moment, men shook her head. "I don't think so." She laughed self-consciously. "Maybe I was just overreacting."
"Well, you know what my mama always says, better safe than sorry. Have a good weekend. I'll see you Monday."
"Night, Bobbie Sue."
Vicki unlocked her car and got behind the wheel, quickly locking the door behind her. In spite of what she'd told Bobbie Sue, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her as she pulled out of the parking lot and made her way down the dark, deserted streets toward home. A shiver skittered down her spine when she drove past Sharlene's house. She needed to visit Sharlene's folks, but she just couldn't. What could she say? What kind of comfort could you offer someone whose daughter had died such a horrible death? How did a family ever get past the tragedy and move on?