D-Boy

Chapter 2-2

Derek approached the town cautiously. He knew he must look like something out of a bad horror story. His dark hair was long and matted, full of tangles, despite how often he had run his fingers through it. His clothes had been old, if well kept up, even before he’d started out. Now, after living and sleeping in them for the past few weeks, they were dirty and torn in places from run-ins with bramble bushes. The shoes he’d been wearing when Michael had found him were long gone and his deer-skin boots were practically worn through.

When he reached the bluff above the very edge of the town, he stopped. There was a river cutting through it. Not much of one but wider than any of the streams he’d come across. On each side of it there was a road, with smaller ones leading off them. He saw some houses, a few buildings—mostly shops—and a couple of churches. That was all.

There were people walking near the shops and a few cars coming and going. At the house closest to him, he saw a man in the yard, working on his garden. Derek inched his way down the bluff until he was at the bottom, a few hundred yards from the man.

He must have sensed Derek’s presence because he looked up then c****d his head. “You dressed for Halloween, kid? It’s still a couple of months off, you know.”

Derek shook his head. “No, sir. Can I ask, sir, where I am?”

The man frowned, coming over to the fence that separated his yard from the trees beyond it where Derek was standing. “You don’t know? This is Barkerstown. Where you from, kid?”

Derek chewed his lip then pointed behind him. “Up there. Way up there.”

“There ain’t nothing but mountain and forest back that way for a hundred miles or more.”

“I know, sir.”

“You telling me you lived somewhere in them?”

Derek nodded. “For a while, sir.”

The man beckoned for him to come closer. “You got a name?”

“Yes, sir. Derek.”

“Derek what?”

“Just Derek, sir.”

“Okay, just Derek. I’m Nolan. Nolan White.” Nolan looked him over more carefully when Derek moved to the other side of the fence. “Where’s your family? Still back there?”

“I—” Derek hesitated, wondering how much he should tell Nolan “—I don’t know, Mr. White.”

“Come on, Derek. They have to be somewhere. Did you run away or something?”

“No. They…” Derek sighed deeply. “I guess I should be going.”

“Hang on a minute. You got somewhere to stay here? Is that why you’re here?”

“No, Mr. White. I just…I was walking, trying to find a town or something and, well…” He spread his hands.

“You ended up here. You sure you’re not a runaway?”

“Yes.” Derek turned and started toward the road, figuring he might be safer if he just kept going. He didn’t know how to answer Nolan’s questions without making the man more suspicious than he seemed to be already.

“What’s wrong with your leg? You hurt it while you were traipsing through the mountains?”

“No, Mr. White. I broke it and it didn’t get set right.”

“When you were a kid?”

Derek shrugged.

“Look, Derek, why don’t you come back here? Come in the yard. You look hungry and beat. I can make you a sandwich, maybe some lemonade. We can talk a while, or not. Your choice.”

At that point, a woman who looked about the same age as Nolan, which Derek guessed might be forty-something, came out of the house onto the back porch. “Who this?” she asked, looking at Derek.

“Says his name’s Derek, Janet. Just Derek. Says he’s been living in the mountains.”

She smiled, coming over to join them. “Must have been for a while from the look of you. Did you get lost up there? People do sometimes.”

“Umm, yeah.”

“You as hungry and tired as you look?”

Derek looked down and nodded. He wasn’t certain this was a good idea, but he was more than hungry and tired of dried meat, which was all he’d eaten for the last two days.

Nolan went to the gate, swinging it open. “Then come on in. I promise we don’t bite.”

With a small smile at the man’s joke, Derek went into the yard. Nolan pointed to the swing on the porch, telling him to have a seat. At the same time, his wife went inside again. Derek hesitated before slowly walking the length of the yard and onto the porch steps. He sat on them, saying as he laid the backpack and the bow beside him, “I don’t want to get the swing dirty.”

“Hell, those pads wash, but if you’re more comfortable where you are, fine,” Nolan replied, coming to sit on the step above him. “So, truth, if you feel like telling me. Why were you living in the mountains? Did you really get lost?”

Janet came out before Derek could reply, handing him a plate with a large sandwich and a glass of milk. Then she perched on the swing, watching him.

Derek took a big bite of the sandwich and sighed happily. “This is so good.”

Janet chuckled. “It’s just ham and cheese.”

“Yeah, but I haven’t had…” Quickly he took another bite before he said too much.

“What have you been eating?” she asked with concern.

“Dried meat. Rabbit, when I could shoot one.” He touched the bow.

“You must be pretty good with that thing,” Nolan said, with a tinge of admiration in his voice. “Were you bow-hunting when you got lost?”

Derek nodded. He was beginning to feel guilty about letting them think that’s what had happened. They seemed like nice, caring people. But he didn’t know them, or how they’d react if they knew even a little of the truth. Not that he’d ever tell them about Michael’s murder. There was no way he could explain it. They’d want him to go to the police, he was sure. And what would I tell them. That it happened in a cabin but I don’t even know where it is? Like they’d believe that.

When he finished the sandwich and the milk, Janet asked if he’d like another one. He shook his head. “I really should get going. I’m sure you have things to do and you don’t need me keeping you from doing them.”

Nolan put one hand on his shoulder to keep him from getting up. “It’s Sunday. The only thing we were doing was relaxing.”

Janet piped up, saying, “If you want, I can throw your clothes in the washer so you have something clean to wear. I’ve got the feeling what’s in that backpack has probably been worn more than a few times.”

“I, umm, washed stuff out in the streams.”

“With soap?”

“Well…”

“Yep, that’s what I thought. Now you give them to me and then just sit here and keep Nolan out of trouble. It won’t take more than an hour at best and I bet you’d like to stay off your feet for a bit if you’ve been walking all this time.”

Derek had the feeling she wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer so he took out the few pants and shirts he still had, handing them to her. “Thank you,” he said softly.

“No problem. I’ll be back in a minute or three.”

When she was gone, Nolan smiled at Derek. “She’ll mother-hen you to death if you let her. Our sons are grown and off in the world and she misses having them around to take care of.” Leaning back again the porch post, he studied Derek again. “Where are you from?”

Derek took a deep breath. “I…I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Everyone has a home somewhere, even if they ran away from it. Is that what it is, you ran away and you’re afraid we’ll let someone know?”

Derek ran a hand through his hair—or tried to. It mainly got stuck in the snarls and he pulled it free, shaking his head in disgust.

Nolan chuckled. “Maybe a shower’s in order too, once you’ve got some clean clothes. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I don’t know because I don’t remember.”

“Uh-oh. What happened? You take a fall and knock your head or something?”

Derek nodded. “Not a fall. I…there was a wreck and I got thrown from it and that’s how my leg got broken and someone found me and took care of me until I was okay again and then…” It all spilled out in a jumble until Derek realized if he said anything more he might reveal what had happened to Michael. “And then when I was better, I picked up and left because he wasn’t big on company really, even though he said I could stay if I wanted but, well…”

“He lives somewhere up there?” Nolan pointed to the way Derek had come.

“Yes, but I don’t think I could find it again.”

“This car wreck. I presume you weren’t the driver. You don’t look old enough.”

“No, sir. It was my folks and I…I think they died, but I don’t know. Michael said they had to have, from the look of the car.”

“Michael’s the man who took you in?”

“Yes.”

“When did this happen? Maybe the sheriff can find out if they made it.”

“A-a while ago. I don’t know just when or where.”

The look on Nolan’s face said he didn’t quite believe Derek, but he didn’t press the issue. “So, this Michael, he’s a young guy living, I think they call it ‘off the grid’?”

“No, he was old. Over fifty.”

Nolan snorted. “That’s not old. Though I guess from your perspective, it is. How old are you?”

“Michael figured maybe sixteen.” Derek waggled his hand.

“Yeah, I’d say that’s about right from looking at you.” Nolan drummed his fingers on the edge of stair. “Have you remembered anything at all about your life, even just fragments?”

“Just bits and pieces. Mom reading a story to me when I was a kid. Something—” he frowned “—something from high school, I think. Michael quoted a line, from Shakespeare he said, and I got a flash of this guy I think I knew, on stage in a long robe with fairies. I mean there were fairies dancing around.”

“Probably Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a popular play for high schools to do. Anything else?”

“Tossing a ball with my dad. Umm, Mom telling me I couldn’t wear a pair of jeans because they were too worn out. Just…nothing important. Nothing that tells me who I am or where I lived or anything.” Derek sighed. “The last thing I remember is the end. I think we were going on vacation. Mom was pregnant, I remember that. Dad was driving. We went around a curve, there was a bang, and then I was flying.”

Nolan nodded. “Like the tire blew?”

“I guess.” Derek shrugged.

“Did this Michael check to see if they survived?”

“He said he did. By the time he got to the car, it was burned up, so he looked to see if anyone had been thrown out and found me.”

“It must have hit the rocks. Damned hard to burst into flames, unless it went over the side and blew up when it hit the ground. Tell you what. If you want, I can ask Sheriff Thompson if there were any reports of a car going over a cliff. There are not too many places around here that I know of where that could happen. The roads either have mountains on each side or guardrails when they don’t.”

Derek closed his eyes for a minute, trying to recall the last things he’d seen before the accident. “The road fell off on one side. I think Mom told Dad to be real careful about any cars coming toward us. You know, like they might not see us on the curves and if he had to get out of the way, we could go over.” He shrugged. “Maybe the guardrail was broken?”

“Possible. Okay, I’ll tell the sheriff that. Unfortunately, if you did go over, there might not have been any reports of it, if no one saw the accident. What I don’t get is why this Michael didn’t report finding you.”

“I don’t know. He said he almost never left the area of the cabin except to hunt. I don’t think he—” Derek almost said liked and realized that would mean he knew he wasn’t alive now “—likes people much.”

Nolan chuckled. “I think that’s a given, considering he seems to be living in the middle of nowhere. Still, he should have let someone know about the wreck.”

“He said the nearest town was fifty miles away.”

“Which could be this one or who knows where else.”

Janet came back at that point, taking a seat on the swing. “Derek, what are your plans now? Or do you have any?”

“I don’t know. I just…” He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Nolan glanced at his wife before saying, “Look, if you want, you can stay here for a couple of days. At least long enough for the sheriff to check about the accident. If it was reported then he might be able to find out who the car belonged to and you can go from there.”

“Before you say no,” Janet added, “we have plenty of room with the boys gone, so you wouldn’t be putting anyone out.”

“Are you sure? I mean, you don’t know anything about me.” He smiled, but just barely. “I could be a thief with a good story, or a killer or something, for all you know.”

Nolan laughed. “If you were, you’d have jumped at the chance instead of saying what you just did. I don’t think we’ll worry about your stealing the family silverware.”

“Then yes, I’d like to, for a day or two, until I figure out where I’m going next.”

“Great. So let’s get you settled in and maybe cleaned up?” Janet said, getting up again. “You definitely could use a shower and by the time you’re finished, your clothes should be ready.”

Derek nodded. Picking up his backpack, he followed her inside. The kitchen was bright and sunny, with oak counters and a small oak table and chairs at one end. The doorway she took him through led to a short hallway. Through the other doorway he could see part of a living room with a large, floral-upholstered sofa. There were stairs to the side of the hall that they took to the second floor. She led him to a room at the far end.

“This was Nolan Junior’s before he moved out,” she said, stepping aside so Derek could enter.

There was a bed, covered with a bright, blue comforter along one wall. Between the two windows opposite the door was a desk, and a long dresser took up most of the third wall.

“The bathroom’s there,” Janet pointed to a door at the end of the hall. “I’ll put out some towels for you and then go put your clothes in the dryer while you settle in.” She crossed to a door next to the dresser. Opening it, she said, “Oh good. I thought I remembered he’d left this behind the last time he came home.” She handed Derek a bathrobe. “I’ll be back with your clothes when they’re dry. And I’ll take the ones you have on later.”

After she left, Derek put the backpack down beside the dresser. He looked at the bed wistfully, wanting to lie down on it, but he knew if he did, he’d probably fall asleep. So he undressed quickly, wrapped the bathrobe around him, and hurried down the hall to the bathroom. For a second, when he stepped into it, he flashed on another one. It was about the same size but painted blue—not yellow like this one—and had a shower stall instead of a tub with a curtain. As quickly as he saw it, the image vanished but somehow he knew it was from the house where he’d grown up.

A good while later, when the water began to turn cool, Derek got out of the shower and dried off. He’d washed his hair three times trying to get it untangled, finally succeeding enough that he could run his fingers through it. There was a comb on the sink, next to a box with a toothbrush. He hoped Janet had left them for him.

Picking up the comb, he looked in the mirror over the sink and froze. The face staring back at him was not the one he remembered. It was his, but much thinner, with long, dark hair surrounding it down to his shoulders.

I look older.

He stepped back so he could see more of himself.

And I have muscles. He flexed one arm. Real muscles. He turned, looking over his shoulder to check his back. There was a scar running down one side from his shoulder to just under his arm. He knew, because Michael had told him, he had had gotten a bad gash on his back from the accident but this was the first time he’d seen the result.

At least my face escaped any major damage. He checked it out again. And that was pretty conceited of me. I should be glad I survived at all.

He ran the comb through his hair, removing the final tangles. Opening the medicine cabinet, he found the toothpaste and brushed his teeth, savoring how clean his mouth felt when he was finished.

I didn’t realize how much I missed the little things.

He had the same thought again a few minutes later when he put on his pants and a shirt that smelled like fresh air. They had obviously seen much better days, but at least they were clean. On top of the pile of his clothes Janet had left on the dresser, there were two pairs of socks he didn’t recognize. He understood why when he saw the only pair he’d given her to wash. They were out in the heels and the toes, barely socks at all now. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he put on one of the new pair. Then he looked at his boots and sighed.

“See if these will fit you,” Nolan said from the doorway. He was holding a pair of tennis shoes. “They belonged to Tom. Janet has some of his old clothes stored in the basement. I think—” Nolan chuckled “—you’re going to end up with some of them too before all is said and done. You’re about his size, but thinner.”

After thanking him, Derek tried on the shoes. They were a bit big. Better that than too small.

Nolan looked him over and nodded. “You could do with a haircut maybe, though these days all the teens seem to be wearing it longer than they did in my day. Come on, I’ll take you on a short tour of the town while Janet fixes supper.”

“I can help her,” Derek said, as they went downstairs.

Nolan shook his head. “She prefers doing it all herself. Personally I think she’s crazy but after twenty-plus years, who am I to argue?”

They stopped by the kitchen long enough to tell Janet where they were going then left by the front door. The White’s car was parked in the drive but when Nolan asked, Derek said he’d rather walk. “I can see more that way.”

So they walked, stopping twice so Nolan could chat with neighbors. He introduced Derek as ‘a young friend who is visiting for a couple of days’ and left it at that.

The shops were mainly utilitarian. “We don’t get many tourists through here, thank goodness,” Nolan explained, “so we don’t need all that chi-chi tourist-trap stuff.” There was a garage, a grocery store, a drug store, and a stationary store, which also carried a small selection of books. There were also two restaurants and a soda shop. When Derek asked, Nolan told him the nearest movie theater was in a town about ten miles away.

At the far end of the street, they came to a small, brick building. Nolan stopped, saying, “As long as we’re here, let’s see if the sheriff’s around.”

“On a Sunday?”

Nolan chuckled. “Don’t tell anyone I said so, but I think he comes in to get away from his shrew of a wife. He’s a good man. How he ended up with her is beyond me.”

When they got inside, Nolan asked the woman manning the front desk it the sheriff was around. She nodded, so Nolan led the way through a room filled with desks and a few men in uniform, to a door on one side. After knocking and being told to come in, they did.

A blond-haired, mustached man looked up from what he was doing and smiled. “What brings you to my neck of the woods, Nolan?”

“This young man. His name’s Derek and he has a question for you, Art.”

“Pull up a chair and ask,” Sheriff Thompson said.

Derek hesitated then sat, feeling tongue-tied. When the sheriff c****d an eyebrow, Derek began telling him about the accident. He finished by saying, “I don’t know where we were when it happened—just somewhere in the mountains where the road ran along a cliff.”

“There aren’t too many places around here like that,” the sheriff commented.

“Well, it might not have been too near here. The man who found me lived pretty far from where it happened, he said, and a long way from here.”

“Whereabouts exactly?”

“I don’t know. I mean it’s somewhere in that direction—” Derek pointed “—and there’s nothing around his cabin but trees and mountains.”

“What’s his name? Maybe I know him—or know of him.”

“Michael. That’s all he told me.” He thought perhaps he shouldn’t let the sheriff know Michael’s full name—the name on the discharge papers. Not until I know more about why he was murdered.

The sheriff shook his head. “It’s a common enough name, but it doesn’t ring any bells. My deputies haven’t reported about any accidents where a car went over a cliff but I can check with the State Highway Patrol to see if they’ve heard anything. About when did this happen?”

Derek blew out a long breath. “Maybe two months ago?”

“That’s a long while ago. How come it took so long for you to report it?” Derek told him the short version. The sheriff seemed to accept it, asking, “What are your parent’s names. Maybe we can work backwards from there. Find out if they told anyone where you all were headed. It would narrow things down.”

“Small problem with that,” Nolan replied, when Derek hesitated, wondering if the sheriff would believe him or if he’d believed anything he was saying. “Derek hit his head when he was thrown free of the car. He doesn’t even remember his own name. Derek was just what this Michael person tagged him with.”

“I see,” the sheriff replied slowly. “So we’re looking for a car that went over a cliff, according to what Michael told you, Derek, sometime in the last few months. Do you remember the make and color?”

Derek tried to picture it then shook his head. “It was blue inside.”

“Not much to go on. Okay, I’ll check around. If I find out anything, I’ll let you know, but don’t get your hopes up. It could be sitting at the bottom of the cliff with enough trees around to hide it from anyone unless they were searching for it—especially after all this time.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The sheriff held out his hand when Derek got up. “Nice to have met you, young man. Where are you staying so I can get hold of you?”

Shaking the sheriff’s hand, Derek said, “With Mr. White.”

The sheriff chuckled. “Should have figured that one, since you’re with him. Okay, as I said, I’ll let you know what I find out—or don’t find out.”

Derek thanked him again then he and Nolan left.