Free Last Chants by Lia Matera Page B

on, we don’t have much more daylight.”
    When I caught up to her, she walked me alongside the house, past more hollyhocks and gladioli. Behind the house was a tiny bungalow. Beyond it, flowering shrubs framed a winding path. It looked like a Middle Earth poster.
    Toni Nelson stopped, touching the bungalow wall. “This is where Billy stayed.”
    I hurried closer, looking in through a window.
    â€œYou won’t see anything,” she told me. “Nothing that belonged to him.”
    â€œDid the police take his stuff away?”
    â€œNo.” She stepped up beside me. “Galen took it, he took it all.” Her eyes burned with anger, her cheeks flushed. “He denies it. He says Billy didn’t bring anything. What a lie!” She leaned her forehead against the glass. “I saw those things, I handled them. I just wanted to touch them again.”
    â€œIs that what you were . . . talking to him about? Just now?”
    â€œNo.” She didn’t elaborate.
    Through the window, I could make out a small room, its dry-wall unpainted and its plywood floor partly hidden beneath throw rugs. It was sparsely furnished, with only a duffel bag to show anyone had occupied it.
    â€œIs that Billy’s duffel?” I wondered.
    â€œJust his clothes and some books. But where’s the rest of it; that’s what I want to know. Where are the rattles and drums and carving tools? Where are the cedar blocks? The notebooks?”
    I scanned the room again. “In a cupboard?” But I didn’t see any. “A closet?”
    â€œNo. I’ve looked everywhere! I’ve torn Galen’s room apart. They’re gone.”
    â€œCould I . . . ” I hated to be pushy, but this might be my only chance. “Could we look around?”
    â€œI told you! There’s just his clothes and some books. The police went through them, then Galen packed them up.” Again, her voice deepened. “But Galen hid the good stuff.”
    â€œBefore the police saw it?”
    â€œYes. Everything the police found here is in that bag. But there was more. Billy had more. Galen swears he didn’t. He swears I didn’t see the things I know I saw. He’s such a liar. He lies constantly.”
    â€œYou actually handled the other things? The drums and notebooks and all that?”
    â€œWhy?” She tilted her head mistrustfully. “Why do you ask about them?”
    â€œOnly because you brought it up.” I stifled an urge to protect my nose. “Are you sure the police didn’t take them? For their investigation?”
    â€œI told you: Billy’s things weren’t here then. Galen already hid them. If they’re found, he’ll say he didn’t know about them, that he never noticed them here. But it’s a lie.” She turned to me. “He denies things all the time, out of habit.”
    â€œHabit?”
    â€œLike a politician. He’s so careful, so stingy with what he knows.” Her shoulders rose. “Because everyone wants Techno Shaman.”
    â€œI guess he has to be discreet,” I agreed.
    â€œNo! No, really. What’s the point?” She chewed her lower lip, pale brows furrowing. “Why should he tiptoe around doing things at night when he thinks I’m sleeping? Why should he keep the office in town when everyone could come here and be more comfortable? If he doesn’t trust me, he should just say so.” She stood taller, suddenly haughty: “He thinks he’s hiding something from me!”
    Didn’t she have anyone to talk to up here? Why unload on a stranger?
    I wished I could think of a way to take advantage of it. “I guess it’s hard to keep computer technology secret.”
    She smiled as if I just didn’t get it.
    I waited a polite moment before changing the subject. “Would it be all right if I went inside?” I tried to think of some pretext. I was