Bad Places Read online

  In the city, the nightclub known as The Daze was a stand-alone building in an otherwise industrial-looking area. The exterior was painted completely black, only the name of the place in brilliant neon. Billy, Brady, Gary, and Teddy walked up to the entrance, which was guarded by an oversized man in sunglasses, who held up a hand.

  “It’s okay, Clark,” Brady said. “They’re with me.”

  Sunglasses nodded. “All right, Brady.”

  “Has Jenny been around?”

  “She came about an hour ago with some creep dressed all in black.”

  Billy gasped audibly.

  “You know him?” Brady asked Billy.

  “No, but I’ve seen him.”

  “Come on.”

  They entered the nightclub.

  Inside, Gary looked disappointed by the dark an essentially drab interior of the nightclub. “This place looks like my Uncle Benny’s VFW hall, but without the funky old man smell!”

  “Do you see her?” Brady asked, looking around.

  “No,” Billy answered. “But look for that guy in black. Dude isn’t hard to miss, let me tell you.”

  “What happens if we actually find him?” Gary asked. “Kick his ass?”

  “When was the last time you kicked anyone’s ass?” Billy asked him.

  “It’s been a while.”

  “It was me,” Teddy said. “In the third grade.”

  “We’re not looking for a fight,” Brady said. “Just some answers.”

  The four moved through the club, looking back and forth, although Teddy seemed more distracted by the beautiful girls than actually searching for Jennifer. “There’s Heather Sweeney!” he said to Gary.

  “So?”

  “Gary, this place is like the dark side of the moon! Not many get to see it.”

  “I’d like to think the dark side of the moon is a little more interesting than this place.”

  “I’m going to mingle.”

  “We’re here to find Jenny,” Gary reminded him.

  “That, too.”

  Gary let out an exasperated sigh as Teddy moved off to be seen. Gary sat down at a small table near the dance floor and looked around the dimply-lit club. He then spotted Jennifer sitting in one of the booths, sitting with the Man in Black. Gary frowned as he spotted something that was almost too strange to register in his mind. Something was wrapped around Jennifer’s exposed thigh, something snake-like, something alive. It was dark, yet glistened in the dim lights, as if faintly slimy, and ended with a triangular point. Jennifer was staring at him, face emotionless. The Man in Black was smiling, corners of his mouth nearly touching his ears. “That is all kinds of wrong!” Gary said to himself. The dim lighting in the club went out completely as a strobe over the dance floor kicked in.

  The Man in Black appeared on the dance floor, a moment later seemed to have moved closer without taking a step.

  Closer.

  Before Gary could react, the Man in Black was sitting at Gary’s table. “Looking for someone?”

  Gary let out a shriek and jumped up out of his chair, stumbling backward, shrieking again when Billy grabbed his arm from behind.

  “What’s wrong?” Billy asked.

  “I saw them! Jenny and that weird guy!”

  “Where?”

  Gary pointed across the dance floor, toward the booths, but Jennifer and the Man in Black were nowhere to be seen. “Oh, hell, no!” Gary shouted. “They were right there!”

  “I believe you, Gary.”

  “That guy, that weird guy...” Gary swallowed. “He ain’t right!”

  “They can’t have gotten too far.”

  “Hey, I don’t want anything to do with that guy! I’m going home.”

  “What about Jenny?”

  “Billy, a guy’s gotta know when it’s time to let the girl go, like Bogey in CASABLANCA.”

  “You expect me and Brady to go walk off and start a beautiful friendship?”

  “Okay, maybe not like Bogey in CASABLANCA.” Gary sighed. “If you guys keep looking, expect not to like what you find.” Gary looked around. “Where’s Teddy?”

  Teddy was sitting in a booth with three girls when Brady, Billy, and Gary walked up.

  “Come on, Teddy,” Brady said.

  Teddy slid out of the booth. “I’d love to stay longer,” Teddy told the girls. “But my friend Brady Quinn needs me.”

  Gary looked stunned as they walked off. “I can’t believe you!” he said to Teddy.

  “What?”

  “You walked away from three girls in a nightclub on a Friday night?”

  “All good things comes to those who wait.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Teddy held up scraps of paper. “Doing anything tomorrow night?”

  Gary smiled. “I knew you were good for something!”

  Billy was standing beside Brady’s car, speaking to Brady through the open driver’s side window.

  “Sorry to keep you out so late, Billy.”

  “No problem, Brady. Why do you think Jenny is hanging out with that weird guy?”

  “No idea, but I’m going to find out.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on her house. I’ll call you.”

  “Thanks, Billy.”

  Brady drove off, leaving Billy standing in the street, looking over at Jennifer’s house. He stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and walked up to his own house and entered. After entering his own room, Billy looked out the window and realized he did not have a clear view of Jennifer’s house from that position. He walked to another room, a spare room filled with various junk accumulated over the years, and looked out the window. Jennifer’s house was in clear view. Billy nodded to himself. He put a folding chair next to the window and was watching Jennifer’s house through partially-open blinds.

  Later, Billy was drinking soda pop and eating chips, leaning back in the folding chair, still looking out the window. Billy was on the telephone.

  “You’re still watching her house?” Gary asked over the phone. “How long have you been doing that? All day?”

  “What else is there to do?”

  “Well, Teddy did get three phone numbers last night. Want to join us? We’re going to the movies.”

  Billy appeared to be contemplating the offer for a moment. “Maybe...”

  “Don’t tell me you have to check your busy social schedule first. It’s time to stop pining for the girl next door, Billy.”

  “All right, I’m in.”

  “Good, because we already told Chelsea you were taking her out anyway.”

  “I’m glad you let me know before it was time to go pick her up.”

  “Actually, they’re meeting us there at the movie theater.”

  “You know why, don’t you? So they can bail if they want.”

  “That goes both ways, Billy.”

  Billy smirked to himself as he continued to look out the window. “Oh, yeah, your standards are so high, aren’t they, Gary?”

  “We’ll pick you up around seven o’clock.”

  “What if I want to bail on you two?”

  “There’s always the bus.”

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Later.”

  Gary hung up and Billy put aside the telephone with a shake of his head. He glanced out the window one last time and then stood and walked out of the room. In his bedroom, Billy got ready for the movie date. He held up two t-shirts, unable to decide between the two, until he sniffed both and made a face, tossing aside the offending shirt. Billy then stretched out on his bed. After a while, he glanced at a bedside clock, the digital readout showing that it was just past six PM.

  Koko was on the floor next to the bed. The dog lifted its head and growled.

  Billy looked down at the dog. “What’s up, Koko?”

  The dog was looking at the bedroom window, still growling.

  “Hear something?”

  Billy
stood and took a step toward the window. He stopped abruptly when a tapping sound was heard coming from the window, like a fingernail hitting the glass pane from outside. Three taps.

  “What the hell is that?”

  The dog was now standing, its hackles raised, growling harder.

  Billy was now looking nervous. He stared at the window, the blinds shut.

  Three more taps.

  “Probably just a bird, Koko.” Billy swallowed. “Just a bird.” He reached out for the blinds.

  The telephone rang, startling Billy. He swept up the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Billy.”

  Billy gasped. “Oh, hi, Jenny.”

  “Why were you watching my house, Billy?”

  Billy winced. “Uh, what do you mean?”

  “Stop, Billy. Before something happens.”

  “Like what?”

  “Go on your date, have fun, and forget all about me.”

  The line went dead.

  Billy stared at the phone in his hand. “How did she know I had a date?” Billy quickly dialed a number. “Brady? Jennifer just called me. We should talk.”

  Brady and Billy were sitting in Brady’s car, parked in front of Billy’s house.

  “She warned you off?”

  “Yep. I don’t know how she saw me. It’s not as if I was sitting in front of a wide open window. It’s almost like she was watching me, too.”

  “Did she mention last night?”

  “No. Just today.”

  Brady looked out his window toward Jennifer’s house. “No lights again,” he observed.

  “Maybe we should go up and knock on the door and see what happens.”

  “Couldn’t hurt, I guess.”

  Billy and Brady got out of the car and walked up to the front door of Jennifer’s house.

  “Do her parents know you two broke up yet?”

  Brady shrugged. “I have no idea.” Brady reached out and knocked on the door. Billy and Brady stood on the porch in awkward silence. Brady knocked on the door again.

  “Nobody home,” Billy said.

  Brady pulled a set of keys from a pocket and quickly unlocked the front door, pushing it open. Billy looked stunned by this action.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Brady!” Brady called out. “It’s Brady!” He turned to Billy. “Come on.”

  “No way, dude!”

  Brady grabbed Billy by the arm and pulled him into the house, shutting the door behind them.

  “This isn’t good, Brady.” The pair stood in the dark house. “What if they come home while we’re in here?”

  “I used to come over all the time. They’re the ones who gave me the key.”

  “But what if Jenny did tell them you broke up?”

  “I’ll say I came over to pick up some of my stuff Jenny has.”

  “I thought you were a jock. You’re not supposed to be this logical.”

  “We’re just going to look around quickly and leave.”

  “What are we looking for?”

  “If I knew that we’d be getting, not looking.”

  The pair walked forward, into the living room.

  “A lot of religious stuff in here,” Billy observed.

  “You’re right. This stuff is new.”

  “Maybe they brought it back from Europe.”

  “But look, it’s stuff from every religion. Not just one.”

  Weird...”

  “Mr. Sterling wasn’t religious at all. I know that.”

  “My uncle collects his cut hair after he goes to the barber. This stuff seems downright sane compared to that.”

  “Maybe it is just a new collection.”

  “But you don’t think so.”

  “No, I don’t. Come on.”

  “Where are we going now?”

  “Jenny’s room.”

  “I was afraid you were going to say that.”

  Brady opened the door to Jennifer’s room and turned on the light.

  “Holy shit...” Brady uttered, as he and Billy looked into the room.

  “Something tells me this room wasn’t always this color.”

  The room was painted black. Completely black.

  A loud creaking sound was heard.

  “Somebody’s here!” Billy hissed, ducking involuntarily.

  “That’s not the front door. Only the back door creaks like that.”

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Brady turned off the light and shut the bedroom door.

  Quietly, the two boys moved downstairs, not seeing anyone.

  “There’s nobody here,” Billy whispered.

  “Or it’s someone who doesn’t want us to know they’re here.”

  “Man, don’t say that! I’m already creeped out!”

  Almost at the front door, both heard something, and stopped.

  “What was that?”

  Brady shook his head. “I don’t know. It sounds like there’s something in here with us.”

  “You meant someone, didn’t you?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Shit...” Billy put his hand on the doorknob, but a skittering sound was heard.

  “What is that?” Brady sounded more curious than scared.

  “A rat?”

  “I never heard of a rat opening a back door before.”

  “Whatever it is, the Sterlings can take care of it, because I’m out of here!” Billy opened the door and stepped out of the house. He was off the porch before realizing that Brady had not followed him out of the house. Billy stopped and turned around, looking at the still-open door and the darkness beyond. “Brady?” Billy took a step back toward the house.

  Brady suddenly rushed through the front door, slamming it shut behind him. “Let’s get out of here.” Brady grabbed Billy and pulled him along.

  “What did you see?”

  “I thought you had somewhere to go tonight.”

  Billy checked his watch. “Uh-oh.”

  “First thing a guy’s gotta learn is that you never keep a girl waiting, no matter how weird things get.”

  “I’m never going to get there on time.”

  “Don’t worry. I got your back.”

  Gary and Teddy were standing together near the movie theater box office.

  “Where is he?” Gary asked.

  “The girls aren’t looking too happy.”

  The three girls from the nightclub were standing together near the entrance doors.

  “Why did you have to pick up three girls? Two would have been fine.”

  “I was trying to be a good friend.”

  “Unlike a certain someone we know.”

  Brady’s car drove up quickly and Billy got out.

  “Thanks for the help, Billy!” Brady called out. “You really saved my ass back there! I owe you, buddy!”

  “Any time, Brady!” Billy stepped up to Gary and Teddy. “Ready?” he asked. He smiled and looked at the girls. “How’s it going?”

  Brady smiled and drove off.

  “You’re friends with Brady Quinn?” one of the girls asked as Billy, Gary, and Teddy walked up to them.

  “You can say we have common interests.”

  Brady was driving home. He noticed that his rear view mirror was askew. Brady reached out to adjust the mirror. The sound of a tire blow out. Brady parked his car and slammed the steering wheel. “Damn it!”

  Brady stepped out of the car and looked down at the flat tire. He made a sound of frustration. With the car jacked up, Brady removed the flat tire, and carried it to the trunk, the car wobbling slightly on the jack. Brady took the spare tire out of the trunk and discovered that it was also flat. “What the hell?” Brady dropped the tire and kicked it.

  In the movie theater, Gary’s phone rang and he fumbled to take it out of his pocket, looking embarrassed. He looked at the small illuminated screen and frowned, leaning over to Billy, seated next to him. “It’s Brady!” he whispered. “How d
id he get my number?”

  “I gave it to him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t have a cell phone.” Billy reached out. “Give it to me, I’ll talk to him.” Billy got up out of his seat after taking the phone and walked up the aisle to the theater lobby. “What’s up, Brady? Two flats? Hey, no problem. I’ll just go tell the others and then be right over. No, she’s not my type anyway.” Billy returned to his seat and leaned over the whisper to Gary. “Brady needs my help, so I’m going to need your car for a few minutes.”

  “What about Chelsea?”

  “What about me?” the girl named Chelsea asked.

  “I need to go help Brady Quinn,” Billy said.

  “Brady Quinn? Let’s go! This movie sucks, anyway!”

  Gary’s date, Monique, leaned in. “What about Brady Quinn?”

  “Looks like we’re all going,” Gary said.

  Brady waved as the group drove up and parked behind Brady’s car. Billy, Gary, and Teddy got out of the car, followed by Chelsea, Monique, and Ashley.

  “Wow. I call for help and get the whole cavalry!”

  The girls immediately moved up and encircled Brady.

  “Better than the Indians,” Billy said.

  “Looks like we’re the one who go scalped,” Teddy whispered to Gary.

  I’ll get my spare out,” Gary called out.

  The street was on a slight incline and a block up a large delivery truck stopped and the driver got out, running into a small grocery store.

  The truck started to roll backward.

  Chelsea dropped her small purse.

  “I’ll get it,” Brady said, and kneeled, seeing that the contents of the purse had strewn out under his car. He reached under the exposed wheel drum.

  “Hey, be careful, Brady!” Billy called out.

  “Don’t worry.” Brady reached farther, directly beneath the wheel drum.

  The delivery truck was gathering speed as it rolled backward silently. It appeared that the truck would roll safely past the parked cars on its path, but inside the truck, the steering wheel was turned sharply.

  Underneath his car, Brady saw the approaching truck. “Oh, shit!”

  Billy and Teddy grabbed Brady by the legs and yanked him out from under the car, everyone running off as the truck hit Brady’s car. Gary looked around his car just in time to see the crash. Brady’s car was knocked back, hit Gary’s car, which hit Gary and threw him backward through the air.

  “Jesus, that was close!” Billy shouted.