Page 61 of Broken Bayou
I look at the torn picture Mabry drew. Liv Arceneaux looks at it as well. Then she slides it toward me. I tuck it back in the sketchbook and follow Eddie to the front room. At the door, he rocks on his massive feet, and his eyes keep darting down the hallway. I follow his gaze. The air around me sizzles with a strange, unseen energy. Part of me is yelling to run and the other part is yelling to stay. I don’t want to leave him alone with that woman.
“Do you want to tell me something, Eddie?” I say. He chews his bottom lip. “Have you been leaving gifts for me at Shadow Bluff?” I add.
He nods.
I smile. “Right. Tell me about the gifts.”
He looks down the hallway again. “Show.”
“You want to show me?” I say.
The air in this house is hot and sticky, but a shudder works down my spine as Eddie points to a closed door. I glance at the front door, then back down the hall. I slip the sketchbook into my large tote and fumble inside until I feel the cool handle of my handgun. Then I feel for the other things I stopped for on my way here.
“Show me,” I say.
He does his best to tiptoe down the hallway. I follow. He slides a dead bolt open on the outside of the door.
“Keep her safe,” he says.
The chill I felt earlier magnifies into a cold steel blade as Eddie opens the door and a whoosh of air sucks outward from a small bedroom. Like a seal has been broken. The room is clean. So far, the only clean room I’ve seen. A twin bed with a ratty pink blanket occupies one wall. On top is an old baby doll missing one arm and clumps of hair. A few of Eddie’s metal dolls keep her company. There’s one window on the back wall. The other walls are empty. No closet. No bathroom.
I walk in, past the door with the lock on the outside, my pulse quickening with each step. They’d locked Emily in here. Eddie barelyfits inside the room with me. His towering stature reminds me to keep my distance. He could snap my neck in one move.
Eddie turns in tight circles next to me.
“Eddie.” He stops spinning. I pull out the handful of metal trinkets I purchased from Ace’s. I present the metal parts and pieces to him, nuts and bolts, screws, and scrap pieces Ace was happy to part with. He reaches for them, and I close my hand. “I tell you what. Every time you answer a question, I’ll give you one. Okay?”
He nods.
I need to start simply. I look around. “Was this Emily’s room?”
He nods. I hand him a metal piece. He slides it in his pocket.
“Do you miss her?” I say.
He nods again and gets another piece.
“Why did you want to show me her room?”
He covers his ears and lowers his head to his massive chest and starts to rock. I’ve gone too fast. “Eddie? Eddie?” He looks up and stares at me. “What was Emily’s favorite color?”
“Pink.”
I hand him a small metal bolt. “I like that color too.” I point to the metal figures on the bed. “Did you make those dolls for her?”
He nods, and I drop a screw into his hand.
“You’re very talented.” I pause. “And thank you for sharing them with me.” He smiles, and I swallow. “Why are you sharing them with me, Eddie?”
Eddie cocks his head to one side. He starts to rock again. “It’s a secret.” His voice is a childlike whisper. I hand him a bolt. Go slow.
“Can you drive, Eddie?”
He shakes his head no. Another bolt.
“Do you still ride your bike?”
A nod yes.
