Bad Moon Rising

He handed it over and I crawled into the stinking darkness where it smelled like a badly burned roast. I twisted so I could go in headfirst. The space felt too small, with the rock scraping my back and the earth and debris hard against my stomach. I had to stop and close my eyes for a second to stop the smothering fear of claustrophobia welling up in me. I got it under control and opened my eyes. The bottom of the hole had enough soil for me to see where someone crawled farther into the narrowing space. I pushed my head into the space and saw a thin brightness ahead. I used the phone light to check everything before backing out of the tight, stinking space.

Someone, a desperate someone, might be able to squeeze through the narrow space, and if the light I saw happened to be an opening, they might be able to get out that way. I crawled out of the cave and went to the far side of the boulders. There is was: a narrow, slit-like opening.

Hawkins said, “Is it large enough?”

I nodded, “Yes. And only Moon could fit. The other two bodies are his enforcers.”

The man said, “With bullet holes in their heads.”

I said, “Moon shot them, then pulled them on top of the opening to block the fire.”

Hawkins said, “He must have left the cave while the blaze still burned, because the firefighters arrived on the scene fast, even before they spotted you.”

I looked down at all the blackened acres in the canyon. Moon would have gone through the fire, looking for another way to escape. He certainly didn’t come over the mountain like Bodhi and I, or someone would have seen him.

Hawkins must have thought the same thing. She said, “He went into the inferno. My guess is his body is out here somewhere among the other charred remains.”

I said, “You don’t think he made it out?”

She rolled her eyes at me, “Do you?”

“I guess not.”

She looked around one last time, “Let’s get off the mountain. I’ll send someone back for the bodies.”

We shook hands at the bottom of the hill, and then I drove toward the office. I thought about calling Hondo before I realized I didn’t have a phone. It’s an odd feeling, because I was used to having immediate communication with everyone. Traffic was heavy, so I took a couple of detours, which made it feel like I made good time even if I didn’t.

Hondo had Bodhi, Amber, and Archie waiting at the office when I arrived. He also had a box of Winchell’s donuts on the table. He said, “Just for you.”

“All of them?”

“No, you have to share, but you can go first.”

I used a napkin to grab one and take a bite of the warm, sugary goodness. “Hey, these are fresh baked.”

“Right out of the oven and from the store to you.”

I took another bite and savored it. Hondo sighed. Archie crossed his arms and tapped his foot. Amber and Bodhi gave me the come on hand sign to talk.

I swallowed and said, “Is there some chocolate almond milk? No?” I figured I’d pushed the limits of their patience so I told them what we found among the ashes.

When I finished, Hondo said, “Think Moon escaped the fire?”

“Man, I don’t see how. But we didn’t find a body, and there are a lot of people looking. So I don’t know.”

Bodhi said, “That complicates things.”

I asked, “How so?”

“The attorneys told me that Troy had his will set up so that if he died, Moon gets everything.”

“What?”

“Yes. The only way I inherit is if Moon is dead, then Mom’s fortune reverts to me. And with no body…”

I was angry. “It’s not right.”

Bodhi said, “I have my attorneys working on a solution.” She smiled, “And I have you to thank for being alive, which is the most important thing.”