Chương 69: Chapter 12. Chocolate Season (February)
"No, you're right." Rick Santo, the Chief of Police, inspected the grass around the wheels of the vardo. "Someone was here. They tried to start a fire -- look." He pointed to some charred blades of grass and bits of what looked like cardboard or newspaper. "Looks like they got interrupted and the fire went out. No -- wait. Was your dog out?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"I smell dog pee right here."
"I called you when I saw the trampled grass and the tire tracks and I thought I smelled something burned. I haven't been in the vardo yet. Let me check something." Fabian went up to the vardo door and tried it. It was unlocked. He opened the door and Bruiser was standing there, his jaw dropped in a doggy grin.
"Well well," Fabian said. "Who was the doggy hero today?" He laughed and reached down to Bruiser.
"What are you talking about?" Rick came over and leaned against the railing by the steps.
"My sister Taryn has a gift with dogs," he said. "She's the one who trained the performing dogs in our carnival shows -- including Bruiser. He was part of the strong man show -- he's extremely intelligent. I've suspected for some time that Bruiser can unlock the door and let himself out, although I've never seen him do it. Turns out I was right."
"How do you know he was out? Other than the dog pee smell?"
"This looks like a piece of uniform pants of some kind," he said, handing Rick a piece of cloth. "I just found this snagged on one of Bruiser's teeth. I either wear sweats or jeans; on rare occasions a suit. I don't have pants in this material or in this color. Do me a favor, Rick?"
"Sure. Name it."
"Lisa can't know about this. Not yet."
"Fabian ...."
"I'm really worried about her. This thing with her uncle has her stressed beyond belief. I don't think she can take one more thing. I'll tell her eventually, if it becomes necessary, but for right now, please keep this between us."
"All right."
"She's been having trouble sleeping. This vardo is the only place in town where she feels safe enough to sleep uninterrupted through a whole night. Every other week or so I spend the night at a sibling's place or with friends and let Lisa use the vardo to catch up on sleep. If she knows about this, she'll lose her safe place."
"Did you hear about Carl Lange? The Morenos fired him." "It's been a long time coming." -- overheard at the Post Office.
Lisa finally permitted Buster to come into the pie kitchen and put a bed for him in an out of the way corner. Buster was very well behaved, staying in his bed while she worked. She was mixing chocolate pie filling for two crusts waiting on the counter when someone came in. She didn't hear it over the mixer, but sensed the change in the light and felt the breeze when the door opened.
"Long time no see." Carl. Lisa turned off the mixer and turned around.
"Hello, Carl."
"Mind if I get warm?"
"My goodness! How did you get so wet?" His pantlegs were dripping and his boots were soaked. His right pantleg was torn.
"It's a long story," Carl shrugged.
"Would you mind staying over on the mat?" she asked. "You're dripping all over the floor. What can I do for you, Carl?"
"I think you know what I want," he replied. It sent a chill through her.
"Yes, I believe so," she said carefully. "Unfortunately, that isn't what I want. I've already accepted the proposal of the man that I love."
"Do you remember when you were in fourth grade?"
"What do you mean, Carl?"
"When you were in fourth grade, you promised to marry me. So technically you were already engaged. We never broke up, Lisa."
"We were never together, Carl. I wanted to be a racehorse jockey when I was in fourth grade. That was twelve years ago and I'm hardly the same person I was when I was nine." She was aware of a low rumbling noise. It was coming from the corner where Buster's bed was. Buster got up slowly. Lisa hadn't seen a dog so angry since Marlene Carrillo had tried to attack her the previous summer and Bruiser had almost gone for Marlene's throat. Buster did not like Carl one bit, apparently. Carl noticed Buster and the feeling was evidently mutual.
"Where did that come from?" he demanded, looing at Buster half in fear, half in disgust.
"He's my dog," she told him. "Buster, sit." Buster sat, but had himself positioned that it was clear the only way to Lisa was through him.
"You don't have a dog," Carl said.
"Yet here he is," Lisa replied. "Sometimes, Carl, I wonder about you. You have a really bad habit of denying things that are plainly right in front of you."
"I could say the same about you. Do you honestly think that a guy like your barbells for brains boyfriend is going to marry you?"
"I have an engagement ring that says he is."
"Why should he buy the cow when he's getting the milk for free?"
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I know you've spent the night with him, Lisa. I heard them teasing him about it at the diner."
"Interesting. I recall a conversation we had before Christmas where you insisted that Fabian was going to dump me because I didn't put out. Now you're saying the opposite."
"Are you telling me that it isn't true?"
"I'm telling you that it's none of your business." Lisa needed something to do with her hands. She picked up the bowl of chocolate pie filling.
"Put that down," Carl demanded. "We're talking now. When someone is talking to you, you pay attention. Doing other things is rude."
"Carl, I'm working," she said patiently. "This is my place of business. I come in here when I have work to do. Sometimes, like today, I have a deadline. I'm sorry if you're offended, but I need to finish this."
"Place of business." Carl scoffed. "You are a waitress. In a diner. This is a little kitchen next to your garage. You've got to quit pretending to be something you're not."
"I'm quitting the diner to work full time making desserts," she informed him. "It started small and it's growing all the time. This is my place of business." Lisa worked very hard to keep her voice even. Carl was frustrating her and she could feel her temper rise.
The thought of Lisa quitting the diner made Carl so furious he momentarily forgot the dog. He reached out with one arm and swept the pie shells off of the counter onto the floor. Lisa was startled, left out a yelp, and jumped backwards. The bowl of chocolate filling fell to the floor after the pie shells. That was all the excuse Buster needed and he lunged. Lisa didn't even try to restrain him; she was in shock from the chocolate mess and the pie shells flying across the kitchen onto the floor. Carl screamed and fumbled for the door as Buster clamped down on one of his pant legs. Lisa collected herself enough to pick up the phone and dial 911. She didn't say anything; she just put the phone down onto the counter, knowing that someone would trace the call and be there shortly. Carl finally managed to open the door as Buster ripped the cuff off of his left pantleg. After Carl escaped, Lisa went over to Buster and took the piece of cloth from his mouth.
"Good boy," she said, patting him and scratching behind his ears. "Good boy."
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