Free Encore to an Empty Room by Kevin Emerson

shipping label. Do you think she knew about the receipt in there? Like she’s . . . in on helping us find these songs?”
    Val actually busts out laughing. “What, you mean like, Eli told my mom sixteen years ago to remember to send this guitar case here for Christmas this year ? My mom can’t even remember to make dinner, or take a shower . . .” She looks down at the little duck and throws it on the floor.
    â€œMaybe your mom sent it because she knew you and Caleb were together and it’s a coincidence,” I suggest, though as I say it I don’t really believe it.
    â€œI never saw that case around our house,” says Val.
    â€œCan we call UPS?” Caleb asks. “I mean, they should have a record of our address and the delivery, and should be able to tell us something.”
    â€œTheir offices would be closed today,” says Charity.
    â€œSo . . . ,” says Caleb, “do we think it’s possible this guy Dylan, in Denver, really has the next tape? Should we try to call him?”
    I do a search. “His shop still exists, so that’s something.”
    Randy rubs his beard. “I mean, I guess . . . if the tapes retrace our tour, LA, then San Fran, then Denver would be next. Man, this is still blowing my mind. The idea that Eli thought this all through . . .”
    â€œI don’t think we should call that guy in Denver,” says Val. She’s staring hard at the case. “I mean, we already have enough people watching us with Candy Shell and Kellen McHugh. What if we call this Dylan guy out of the blue, and he has some time to think about it and realizes he has something valuable? He might decide that he could make a pile of money selling the tape to Candy Shell, or on his own or something.”
    â€œHe hasn’t said anything before now,” I point out.
    â€œHe might not even know he has it,” says Caleb.
    Randy flips the pickup between his fingers. “It could be hidden somewhere. Pickups usually come in pairs. I bet if we find the matching one, we’re going to find the next tape. It’s got to be Denver.”
    â€œSo how are we going to get there?” Caleb wonders aloud.
    Everybody’s eyes turn to me.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Caleb asks. “A show in Denver?”
    It’s the first thing that makes me feel like smiling. “Nothing would make me happier than to set that up.”
    Val makes a little noise, like wind through a crack. She’s staring at the pile of photos. The one on top shows her mom, smiling.
    She finds my gaze. “I can’t let her find me.”
    â€œI think she already has,” I say carefully.
    â€œWell, then I need to leave. Go somewhere else.”
    â€œYou’re not leaving here,” says Charity, wiping her eyes. “I’d say it’s more likely that this package is meant to be an olive branch. I mean, that’s what I would mean it to be.”
    Val shrugs. “You two couldn’t be more different.” She gets up. “I’m going to take a walk.”
    We are silent for a minute. I find myself reading the stickers on the case. It’s like a list of the best clubs you’d want to play at around the country. The Make Out Room, the Paradise Rock Club, the House of Blues, Antone’s, the Wax Shop. There’s a familiar sticker for Ten Below Zero. Eli had one like that on his gig bag, mostly worn away.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Caleb asks. He’s looking at Charity.
    â€œMaybe I should try to get in touch with Melanie,” says Charity. “Val is essentially living with us. We’re harboring her, I mean not like she’s a fugitive, but . . .”
    â€œShe’s a runaway,” says Randy. “Though Melanie doesn’t sound like the type to take legal action.”
    I rub the top of Caleb’s hand as he sits there. He’s a world away, deep in these dark and familiar waters. It’s the