The Silver Lake Murder by Gregg Matthews (read novel full txt) 📗

one of the customer’s couches. She watches as Nola stacks some scrap wood next to the window. When there is enough wood, the scrap wood will be used to cover the large window. Nola sits on the couch next to her. Her stomach groans.

“Nola, I’m starving,” Rose says.

“I know where there is food,” Nola says.

“Where?”

“Right down the street, I will be right back,” Nola says, climbing out the broken window of Rivers Tattoo shop.

CHAPTER 27

Blakeis walking south on Bourbon Street. He watches the crowd of people walking up and down the streets. He is hoping not to attract any attention. He has too much to lose if what is in his backpack is discovered. He needs to get some shelter for the night.

Blake walks past a used car lot with classic cars. The classic cars draw him into the car lot. The lot has Christmas lights strung around the small lot housing the ten cars for sale. Looking closer, the lights are lit by an old generator running on the side of a small shed, that has a sign reading, Office.

The cars look clean and muscular. The engine of one of the cars is being revved by someone on the lot. The sound of the old engine causes goosebumps to appear on his arms. Blake thinks he will visit this car lot soon. Looking over, he sees an older gentleman tipping his hat and smiling. He has a wide space between his two front teeth. “Hey friend, we had these cars delivered the other day. They will be gone soon,” the older gentleman says with a Cajun southern accent.

“They look good, I may be back soon,” Blake says, walking past the man.

“Don’t take too long, friend.”

“Right.”

Continuing his walk towards 704 Bourbon Street, Rivers Tattoo shop. He sees a young woman with long, blond, dreadlock style hair going down to the middle of her back. She is small. Her face and hands are dirty. She is wearing a black sleeveless T-shirt, jeans and flip-flops. She has a bright dirty smile. Her arms are covered with tattoos.

“Hey, nice T-shirt,” the young woman says.

“Thanks,” Blake says, walking past her.

Staying focused on walking, his mind searches his memory, thinking he has met this young woman before. He stops walking and turns his head quickly, and can barely see the woman from behind because of the crowd of people.

“Hey,” Blake shouts.

Seeing the woman stop walking and turning her head, he waves for her to come back to him. He watches as she slowly walks up to him. He removes the bandana covering his face and the one covering his head. He pulls up the sun glasses he is wearing.

“Do I know you?” Blake says.

“Not sure,” Nola says.

“What’s your name?”

“Nola.”

“Oh.”

“What’s your name?”

“Blake Rivers.”

“You did the tattoo work on my arms. I was at your shop with Rose.”

“What?” Blake says, not believing what Nola said.

“Yes, come on, I’ll take you there,” Nola says, grabbing one of Blake’s arms.

Following Nola through the crowded streets, he walks quickly to keep up with her. His body is low on fuel. He has been surviving on protein bars for the last day or so. He can see Nola is walking excitedly, and he hopes she is not lying to him. Emotionally he is drained, the thought of finding Rose is overwhelming to him. Nola runs faster the closer she gets to Rivers Tattoo shop. He can hear Nola yelling the name Rose! Nola climbs in the broken window, and he follows her. Stepping into his tattoo shop for the first time in a month, he sees the couches and collapses into one of them. He doesn’t have the strength to shout Rose’s name. He lets Nola do the yelling.

“Rose!” Blake tries to shout.

Blake gives Nola a strange look like she was lying to him but doesn’t know why.

“Were you lying to me?” Blake says angrily.

“She was here a few minutes ago. We have been looking for you all day,” Nola says.

Standing up, he walks around the shop. He can picture what Rose looked like and some of the last things he said to her. The shop was busy, the sun was shining and he was looking over at Rose. He struggled to stay focused on his work. The sunlight was hitting her face causing her to have a golden glow around her head. He remembers seeing her, like it was yesterday. So much has happened since then.

His emotions get the better of him, and his eyes fill up with water. Thinking his mind is playing tricks on him, he sees a tattered frail version of Rose walk into the room from the back of the shop. This is the first time he has seen her in months.

“Blake!” Rose shouts in disbelief.

“Rose!” Blake shouts in disbelief.

He and Rose stand in the middle of the tattoo shop, embracing. Nola walks over and joins them. There are a hundred different things he wants to ask her, but he decides to stay silent for a little while longer and enjoy the embrace.

“Thanks, Nola,” Blake whispers.

He, Rose, and Nola walk over and sit on the couches. He still has the backpack on his back. Emotionally he is in a place where he has never been before. He had not given up. Though he didn’t think he would ever see her again.

“I thought I lost you for good, Rose,” Blake says holding hands with Rose.

“Where have you been, Blake?”

“I looked everywhere for you in New Orleans, but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was so confusing. I went back to Silver Lake to look for you.”

“Silver Lake?” Rose says in disbelief.

“Yes, Silver Lake, Rose.”

“How was Silver Lake?”

“It’s a messed-up place, Rose. We can talk about Silver Lake later,” Blake says leaning on the backpack.

“Okay.”

“I am so relieved you are okay, Rose.”

“I am so relieved you are okay, Blake.”

Sitting on the couch, he and Rose continue their embrace into the night. The night settles in, and the three of them find a safer location in the building to