Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [55]
THE INN AND OUTMotel was up on a hill overlooking the highway and had only a dozen rooms, one of them with an efficiency kitchen. The remains of the continental breakfast were spread out on a low table against the back wall of the small lobby, not looking terribly continental: a few doughnuts drawing flies, the dregs of a pot of coffee, and a couple of black-spotted bananas. The girl behind the desk looked about sixteenseventeen, tops. The tips of her auburn hair were dyed black and she had a pierced nose. She was staring at the computer screen, clicking away with the mouse and muttering to herself. The girl didnt look up when Rhonda cleared her throat.
If youre looking for room, were full up, the girl said. As an afterthought, she added, Sorry.
No, actually, I was hoping you could help me out with something, Rhonda said.
The girl repressed a sigh, gave a few final clicks of the mouse, and turned to Rhonda.
What? she asked.
See, a friend of mine was staying here a couple weeks back. An old girlfriend. We lost touch after high school
Rhonda improvised while the girl looked on, bored and unimpressed by her story. Her eyes kept going back to the computer screen.
We were best friends in school, you know?
The girl nodded.
Then she goes off, goes to college, gets married, and we lose touch. She looked me up when she was back in town on June 5. We went out for drinks, talked about old times, old boyfriends, the crazy shit we used to do, you know?
She had the girls attention now.
But heres the thing: she wrote down her name and address, but we were out drinking and I lost it. I could kick myself in the ass. I dont even remember her married name. It kills me to think Ive lost her all over again. Do you think you could just check and tell me what she goes by now?
The girl nodded, hit some keys on the computer. Im not supposed to give out addresses, but I dont see why I cant give you her name. She was here on the fifth?
Yes, the fifth.
And whats her first name?
Shit. Um, its Lisa, I mean she goes by Lisa, but thats really her middle name. Her real first name is something kind of weird, I can never remember it.
No Lisa on the fifth, but Ive got a C. Hook who checked in that day. From Seattle. Thats gotta be her, right? I actually remember, it was right before we got so busyyou know, from the kidnapping?so I remember. She was here with a guy. I think this is his car in the computer: a Toyota with license number DKT 747.
Peters truck. Rhonda nodded in what she hoped was a calm yet grateful manner.
C. Hook Captain Hook?
Lizzy? Could it possibly have been Lizzy? Rhonda had that moving-underwater feeling.
Cornelia, Rhonda heard herself say. Her real names Cornelia. After her grandmother.
The girl shivered. Ughh! Id use my middle name, too.
So you were working that day? Rhonda asked.
Im here most evenings. Im not supposed to work mornings, but Jennifer called in with a migraine today. The girl rolled her eyes. I remember your friend. Nice lady. Real pretty. And such a sweet little girl.
Little girl? the words knotted in Rhondas throat, came out sounding more like a croak.
Yeah, she and the guy, they had a kid with them. You didnt meet her? The girl looked at Rhonda suspiciously.
Rhonda shook her head. No, I Lisa, she said she had a daughter, but the kid was off with her uncle when we went out for drinks. I forgot all about her, actually. I wish Id had a chance to meet her. What did um, what did the little girl look like?
Like her mom: dark hair and eyes. Maybe six seven years old.
JULY 4, 1993
YOU SMELL LIKEold piss, Peter complained.
It was the night of Peters fourteenth birthday party, and he, Rhonda, Lizzy, and Tock had ridden their bikes to the lake to watch the fireworks. They arrived at the beach as it was getting dark, and waited. They lay on their backs in the sand, looking across the water toward the center of town, listening as the band played and people laughed and applauded on the other shore.
They