Hippie At Heart
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“What’s the matter?” asked a deep voice from behind her. “Don’t you like it here in Chicago? You can stay as long as you want.”
She jumped, then turned around to face him with wide eyes. He had his hat pulled down over his head and she couldn’t see much of him except for his big brown eyes peeking out from beneath his brim. She swallowed hard.
He was a giant compared to the others. Taller than even the sheriff. But he didn’t intimidate her because he looked so friendly. There were no guns or knives on display, just a friendly smile. It wasn’t until later that she would learn this man was known by all as a gentle giant. A hippie at heart who loved peace and nature and people.
“I’m fine,” she said after a moment. “But I don’t know anyone here yet.”
His smile broadened. “Well, let me help you find some friends. We’re having dinner tonight. Come join us.”
A couple more men came up beside them. They spoke in hushed tones about some trouble brewing in town. Apparently, there had been an incident between two rival gangs last night when they thought they had cornered one gang member in an alleyway.
One of their own got shot during the scuffle. The victim lived but was now confined to bed while he recovered from multiple gunshot wounds.
“Who are those guys?” she whispered to the stranger. “Are they members of the same gang as the guy who got shot?”
The hippie shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Don’t worry. These aren’t bad folks. They’re just looking out for their own interests. That’s what we do in a place like this. We look out for each other.”
She nodded, thinking how different this place seemed to be from any of the places she’d visited before. It reminded her of the commune where she grew up. No guns or violence. Just a community living together and caring for each other.
How many years ago had she left that peaceful haven? Too many. And how many years would it take to live among these people without feeling threatened? Probably never.
“Where are you staying?” the man asked. “We could introduce you around.”
Her stomach growled loudly enough that several people stopped talking to stare at her. Her cheeks warmed. “It doesn’t sound very appealing right now. I’ll think about coming later.”
“You should come anyway,” another man interjected. “This is a great way to meet new people.”
“And if I decide to come, will you show me your tattoo?” she asked.
All three men laughed.
“No!” one of them yelled back. “That’s my secret! Never tell anyone.”
The conversation faded away after that as she headed toward the hotel where she planned to spend the rest of the day resting. The men stayed behind to talk about whatever else was happening in town.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, she sat in front of the window overlooking Lake Michigan and tried to read her book again. She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew someone knocked on her door.
She glanced at the clock. Two o’clock. Not too late for lunch.
“Come in,” she called out.
Three women entered the room carrying trays loaded with sandwiches and salads. Their hair was teased into huge curls, and their makeup was perfect. All of them wore long flowing skirts that skimmed the floor and high-heeled shoes. They looked nothing like the rough cowboys who frequented the saloon across the street.
One of them stepped forward holding a plate covered with a napkin. “Good afternoon, ma’am,” she said. “My name is Nita. Would you like anything else?”
She shook her head. “Thank you. This is nice of you.”
Nita smiled broadly, showing off straight white teeth. “Anytime.” She moved closer to the table, handing a sandwich to each guest sitting down. Then she placed the remaining food in front of herself. “If you need anything else, please ask. If we can accommodate you, we will.”
They chatted casually for a few minutes before leaving. As soon as they closed the door, Susanne picked up a piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth. She felt better already. Now maybe she could concentrate on reading her book.
She heard the door open again, then close. When she looked up, the man she’d seen earlier stood there wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. His muscles flexed as he walked over to stand beside her.
“Do you want something to drink?” he asked. “Or eat?”
She stared at him. He wasn’t wearing any underwear beneath the towel. What did that mean? Was it rude not to wear any under the robe? Or was he simply comfortable in public wearing nothing?
“What?” he asked, noticing her expression.
“Nothing.” She set aside the book. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
***
The hippie had taken her to the lakefront area of town. There were dozens of shops lining both sides of the street, most of which sold clothing. A lot of the stores offered western gear along with jewelry made by local craftsmen.
Most of the items sold here didn’t appeal to her. But she liked browsing through the colorful displays. Some of the handmade goods even looked homemade, reminding her of the artwork she saw in the gallery back home.
A woman selling scarves stopped beside her, smiling brightly. “Can I help you find something?” she asked.
Susanne turned to see what caught her attention. The scarf was made of silk, a pale yellow color. “Yes. Can I try this on?”
The woman held out her hand. “Please take it.”
With shaking fingers, she accepted the gift. “Is this yours?”
“Oh no,” the woman said. “Someone gave it to me when I was younger. My mother always used to say that yellow makes people happy.”
“Why don’t you give it to me instead?”
The woman hesitated, looking surprised. “Are you sure?”
Susanne nodded. “I’d love to have it. It would remind me of home.”
The woman took it from Susanne’s hands and tucked it inside her bag. “There’s an old saying that goes something like ‘if you’re going to get a present, make sure you receive more than just a pretty thing.’ That means the giver wants to share part of themselves with you.”
“Maybe so.”
“Now let me show you some other things.” The woman handed Susanne a card. “We’ll be open until seven o’clock tonight. You can return anytime between now and then.”
As the woman walked away, Susanne slipped the card into her pocket. She hadn’t known such a thing existed. No wonder the shopkeeper seemed pleased to give it to her.
While she browsed the shelves, she came across a rack filled with books written by authors she recognized. After flipping through a couple, she decided to buy one of each. One featured stories about a detective named J.D. Robb. Another featured a private investigator named Lee Child. And yet another told tales of a former CIA agent who became a police officer.
When she reached the counter, the owner approached. “May I help you?”
Susanne handed her credit card to the young man behind the desk. “Just these two.” She pointed to the first two novels.
He rang up the sale. “Have you read either of these authors before?” he asked.
“No, but I’ve been wanting to read their books since I heard they wrote them.”
His eyes widened. “You should read the others too if you enjoy these.”
“Really?” She pulled out her wallet, taking out her last dollar bill. “How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he replied quickly. “It’s our pleasure. Have a good day.”
Susanne thanked him, then headed toward the next store. She bought several gifts for friends and relatives, including a necklace for herself. Then she continued down the main avenue, searching for a restaurant where she could dine alone without being bothered or watched.
Before long, she found a place called the Lazy Gator. She entered the small building and stepped inside. It reminded her of the coffee shops in Boston, except that everyone wore jeans instead of business suits.
After ordering a sandwich, she sat down at a table near the window. Her mind wandered as she ate. Did the man who had followed her outside think she was dangerous? Why would anyone assume she was guilty unless someone actually saw her commit a crime?
Was it possible to stay in town and still keep a low profile? Maybe it was time for her to go home. If there was nothing else she could learn here, maybe she should pack up and leave.
Her cell phone rang. Startled, she answered. “Hello?”
“Did you get everything settled?”
“Settled? How could anything be settled when we haven’t even met?”
“But we will meet soon enough. In fact, we might already have met. What did the shopkeeper say about your scarf?”
“She gave it to me because yellow makes people happy.”
“That is exactly why I chose you for my mission.”
“What mission?”
“I need someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for justice. Someone willing to face danger head-on.”
“Meaning?”
“You are hired. Meet me tomorrow morning at ten o’clock on the front steps of the sheriff’s office. Don’t come late.” He hung up.
“Who were you talking to?”
Susanne glanced around. There weren’t many people left in the restaurant. They were probably closed for the night. She looked back to see what she missed while speaking with the caller. A young boy had just walked past her table. He carried a basket filled with oranges and apples. His face was dirty.
“Excuse me,” Susanne said, getting up from her chair. “Would you please wait a moment?”
“Sure.” The boy grinned. “Anything for you.”
“Yes, thank you. May I have an orange?”
The boy didn’t hesitate. He placed one orange in the basket and picked up another. “Any other color you want?”
“One more.” Susanne held up two fingers.
The boy nodded and went to find his next customer.
Susanne returned to her table and sat down. “This is nice. It reminds me of the streets of New York City. So different than Boston.”
“Boston has its own unique beauty.”
“And yet, this little slice of heaven is very tempting. We should all live like this.” She shook her head. “Unfortunately, we can only visit places like this.”
“You’re right.”
“Why don’t you tell me how you plan to catch criminals?”
“Let’s discuss that after dinner. Come on.”
***
By eight o’clock, Susanne had finished packing and loaded the trunk onto the luggage cart. As she stood beside the open door of her room, she couldn’t believe how easily she accepted this new life. Would she really be able to continue living in such a way? Was this really her calling?
As she pushed the cart down the hallway, she stopped by the hotel clerk’s desk. “Do you know where I can rent a car?”
“In the lobby,” he replied.
“Thank you.”
Susanne made her way into the lobby. Two men wearing black shirts and pants stood waiting to greet customers. One of them smiled and motioned for her to approach. “May I help you?” he asked.
“I’m looking to rent a car.”
“We offer three kinds: economy, compact, and midsize. Which type would suit you best?”
“Midsize,” she replied.
“Very well. Let me show you to our parking lot.” He led her across the street. At first glance, it appeared empty; however, she noticed four cars parked behind a chain-link fence. “There are a few things you’ll need to do before taking your vehicle out. First, take a seat over there so you can fill out the paperwork.” He pointed to a wooden bench.
Susanne sat down and began filling out the forms. Once completed, she handed them to him along with her driver’s license, insurance card, and credit card. After reviewing each item, the man checked off items on the form. When he got to her signature, he frowned. “Is this correct?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Thank you.”
He signed the paper and then passed it to the other worker. Both workers took turns checking out the papers. Each one seemed satisfied until they reached the section that read, “Payment information.”
“It looks like you’ve written down your credit card number incorrectly.”
“How do you mean?”
“Your card doesn’t start with six zeros. You must write in the last digit.”
Susanne tried again but it didn’t change. “Sorry. That is my card.”
“Please try again. And make sure to spell the numbers correctly.”
Susanne repeated everything, paying special attention to the letter Y. “No, that’s not right either. Maybe if you spelled it as ‘yee.'”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!”
They kept working through the alphabet. Finally, the second employee said, “If you would please write down the letters in reverse order, you should get the same answer.”
Susanne thought about it for a moment. Then, she wrote it down. “What do you think?”
“That does look correct.”
She thanked the men and walked back inside. While she waited for the clerk to process the paperwork, Susanne watched the employees drive away in their cars. All the vehicles looked expensive. Most of the drivers wore hats. In fact, every person who drove past the hotel wore a hat. Why? Did everyone in this town wear hats or did they have to cover their heads because of religious beliefs?
After ten minutes, the clerk came out with a set of keys and a copy of the rental agreement. “Here you go.”
Susanne put both items into her purse. “Where will I pick up my car?”
“Down at the front entrance.”
“Thanks.”
Susanne made her way back to the hotel and found a place to park. She opened the trunk and pulled out her suitcase.
When she arrived at the front entrance, a woman in a red dress stepped outside and greeted her. “Good evening. May I assist you?”
“Yes. My name is Susanne. I rented a car from you.”
The woman turned around and shouted, “Hello, Sue! Are you here yet?”
A young girl appeared next to the woman. She was dressed in a white dress and had long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. “Hi, Mommy.”
“Mommy, I met a new friend today.” The woman held the child’s hand and guided her toward Susanne.
“Did you meet Susanne?”
“Yes, I did. Do you want to play with her now?”
“I don’t know,” Susanne answered.
“You can play upstairs. We’re going downstairs.”
Susanne followed the mother and daughter inside and into the lobby. A group of people was already gathered around the large fireplace. Some were sitting on the carpeted floor while others occupied chairs. They all turned when Susanne entered. The woman in the red dress waved her hands and called, “Everyone, this is Susanne.”
At least fifty people crowded into the room, some standing against walls, some seated on couches, and still more huddled together talking. There wasn’t enough space for them all to sit down. Susanne wondered what kind of meeting could draw such a crowd.
Was there something unusual happening in this city? Or was it just a social gathering where the attendees wanted to see the newcomers? Either way, she felt uncomfortable being surrounded by strangers.
“I’m glad you decided to join us tonight. Please come over here so we can introduce ourselves.”
The woman in the red dress led Susanne to an empty chair near the wall. She sat down and looked around. No one spoke. Instead, several people whispered among themselves. One of them finally broke the silence. “Do you know why we’re meeting?”
“Not exactly.”
“Well, let me tell you. It seems like everyone has lost someone close to them. Tonight, we’re discussing how to deal with grief.”
Susanne listened intently to the speaker. He was a short man wearing glasses. His gray beard framed his round face. After he finished speaking, many of the attendees clapped their hands. Others stood and talked with each other. As she watched, Susanne noticed a couple holding hands. Not wanting to be left alone, she approached the pair. “Excuse me. Who are you two?”
“We’re friends. Her name is Mary and mine is Alice.”
“Nice to meet you. Can I ask you a question?”
Alice laughed. “Of course.”
Mary smiled and leaned forward. “Why are you asking questions? You sound suspicious.”
“It’s just that no one else asks any. So I thought maybe it would be best to start off by introducing myself. Then, maybe someone will feel comfortable answering my questions.”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
“Thank you.” Susanne took a deep breath. “My name is Susanne. I’m originally from New York City but moved to Seattle last year.”
“Seattle!” Mary said excitedly. “Are you a fan of Starbucks coffee?”
“Yes, I am. What about you?”
“Me too.”
“How often do you visit your family in Seattle?”
“Every month or so. But not until after I get married.”
Susanne nodded. “Congratulations. When do you plan to wed?”
“Next summer.”
“Have you picked out a date yet?”
“No. Maybe June, if the weather cooperates. We have a lot to take care of before then. Besides, it takes time to find the perfect wedding gown.”
Susanne didn’t say anything as she waited for Mary to finish talking.
Finally, the woman raised her arm. “Now, everyone, please make yourself comfortable.”
She turned and faced Susanne. “You may return to your seat.”
Susanne thanked the woman and returned to her spot. A few moments later, the men began to speak. The topic seemed to focus on work. Men discussed business ventures, job opportunities, and wages. None of them asked her any questions.
They also seemed very serious and intense. Were they really interested in hearing what she had to say? Did she even want to talk to these men? If so, should she wait until another man started a conversation? Should she offer to buy a drink? How much would it cost to rent a car for a week?
As soon as the men stopped talking, Mary and Alice joined her. “Sorry to bother you,” Mary apologized. “But I need to borrow your phone.”
Susanne handed Mary the telephone. The younger girl dialed a number, then held the receiver up to her ear. After listening to the person on the other end of the line for a minute, she hung up and sighed.
“What happened?”
“Someone at home called and told us they found a body.”
Susanne’s heart sank. “A dead body?”
“Yes.”
Susanne tried to think of something comforting to say but couldn’t. All she knew was that she needed to leave immediately. Leaving the woman behind, she headed toward the front door. At first, she didn’t notice anyone following her. Then she heard footsteps running across the wooden floor. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her shoulder.
“Stop! Don’t move!”
Susanne spun around and saw the police officer who arrested her earlier. “What are you doing here?”
“Your friend made the call. Someone saw your car parked outside our station.”
Susanne gasped. “That’s impossible. That was yesterday morning when I drove to the train station.”
“I don’t believe it either. Why did you drive there instead of taking the train?”
“To avoid being recognized.”
He stared at her intently. “So, you’re not the victim.”
“I wasn’t going to kill him. I swear it.”
“Let me see your license and registration.”
After she gave him everything, he studied it briefly. “Can you explain this?”
Susanne looked down at the paper. “It says I can only use the car until noon tomorrow. That’s all I wanted to know.”
“Did you pick up your rental car today?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then where were you driving it?”
“All over town.”
The policeman frowned. “Where do you live?”
“In Seattle.”
“And you drove here because…?”
“Because I needed to find someone. To help me solve a murder case.”
“There’s been a murder?”
“Yes. It was in an old mining camp. One of the mine owners killed his partner.”
“Do you remember the name of the owner?”
“No.”
“Is that true? Or did you happen to hear some rumors while you were working here?”
“I’ve never worked anywhere except New York City. And I certainly didn’t hear anything about a murder.”
“Who do you need to find?”
“An investigator named Jack.”
“Why?”
“Because he helped me with my case back home.”
The police officer shook his head. “If you have nothing else to tell us—”
Susanne stepped forward. “Please. Let me stay for one more day. Just until Monday. Then I’ll be on my way.”
“We have no choice. You must leave by noon on Monday or we will charge you with trespassing.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets. “These are for you to ride the train back to Seattle.”
Susanne took the tickets from him and quickly scanned them. “Thank you, Officer. But why does it take so long to get to Seattle?”
“That depends on the weather.”
The End