Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [20]
So thats why you wanted to come along? To keep an eye on me? She was furious, mostly with herself for thinking that Warren had come along for other reasons.
Nah, Warren smiled. I came along cause I thought you were kind of cute. He winked. Listen, I can see youre on the level. Ill talk to Pat.
Rhonda kept her eyes on the road, hands gripping the wheel as she drove down toward the lake. They passed the Ducharme farma Jersey cow was poking her broad snout through the roadside fence, seeing if the pickings were any better out there.
So what is it youre doing at school computer science or something? Rhonda asked after a few minutes of silence.
Warren laughed. Im a film student.
Really? You make movies?
Ive made one. A documentary about this place I used to work at: Story Town. Its like a theme park with buildings and characters from classic stories. You know like the old woman who lived in a shoe, Jack and the Beanstalk, that kind of thing.
Just dont tell me there are any big white rabbits, Rhonda said.
Nope. Not a one. And my movie is more about the stoner culture of the kids working there than the characters themselves. Humpty Dumpty was a dealer. Cinderella was sleeping around.
Ah. The dark underbelly of childrens entertainment, Rhonda said.
Exactly, Warren said. And Ive gotta admit, when I heard it was a rabbit who took this girl, it sounded right up my alley. I thought that maybe, I dunno, when its over, when Ernie comes out okay, I could do a little movie about it. You know interview people and stuff. Its a helluva story, dont you think? I mean, this could be way bigger than what happened to that girl in Virginia.
THEY CLIMBED UPonto the tiny Astroturf-covered porch, ducking the bird feeders that hung along the edge of the overhang. Warren tapped at a set of parrot wind chimes while Rhonda knocked on the screen door.
If youre the goddamn press, I dont have anything to say! came a voice from the depths of the trailer.
Laura Lee! Its Rhonda Farr!
Ronnie? Goddamn! Come on in.
Laura Lee greeted them in the kitchen, which was done in white and turquoise and looked as though it hadnt been either remodeled or cleaned since sometime in the sixties.
Laura Lee had giant red curls that must have taken hours to put in and were up so high and stiff above her head that Rhonda wondered how the poor woman kept her balance. Her eyes were painted silver and blue (nearly matching the kitchen décor) and she had two circles of rouge on her cheeks. Her lips were hot pink. She wore bright yellow stirrup pants and a T-shirt with a sequined parrot on the front. In one hand, she held a highball glass of pink wine with an orange slice, in the other, a thin cigarette.
I thought you were from the papers. Laura Lee swayed toward them as she spoke, then jerked herself back so fast she stumbled. Reporters came by earlier. Theyve been calling all day. I finally took the goddamn phone off the hook. Are you going to introduce me to your adorable boyfriend, or not? Laura Lee touched Warren on the cheek. God, youre a looker!
Laura Lee, this is Warren. He worked with me today at the volunteer center.
Volunteer center? What are you, out collecting for charity? AIDS? Those bums, whatayacallem now, homeless? Ha! Orphans, maybe? Oh, whatever it is, Ill throw in a buck. Why not? She turned and found her purse on the kitchen table and began fumbling to undo the clasp.
No, its nothing like that, Rhonda said. Pat set up a center at the Mini Mart for volunteers to help find Ernestine Florucci. We answered phones. Made posters. That kind of thing.
Laura Lee scowled at her. Good for you, sweetie. Good. For. You. Is that why youre here? To see if Ive got the little dove tucked away under my bed? Well, you dont have to bother. The police already checked.
No! No, Laura Lee. Thats not it at all. I was just hoping you could tell us about your car.
My car? Everyone wants to know about the goddamn car. The police took it,impounded it. They insist it was used in the kidnapping. Said they found