This county and many around it are blessed with diverse topography. There can be hills followed by long stretches of flat land. In the evening, the sun sets over a sparkling lake, beyond a golden field of wheat, or upon rows of green corn stalks. Besides lakes, there are ponds, rivers, and streams all flowing toward greater bodies of water.
“I want to see it,” I finally say.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, my hesitation was silly. It’s that I’ve met Marty and your brother. It’s a bit more personal than what I research. However, you’re right. I came to Blue Gil to learn what happened. As we drive, will you fill me in on more that you know aboutCraig?”
Keith lowers his sunglasses back over his eyes and puts the truck into gear. We move forward with a lurch. Gravel pings the undercarriage of the truck. I watch the trees along the side as Keith begins to speak.
“How far back?” he asks.
“When did you learn he was dead?”
“My father called. We didn’t know he was gone; we just knew he was missing.”
“And what were you thinking? I mean, was it like him to disappear?”
Keith seems to wrestle with his answer, his knuckles blanching with his grip upon the steering wheel. “We weren’t close.”
“Didn’t he used to live up by you in the Upper Peninsula?”
“Before he graduated high school, I received an appointment to Kings Point. Four years at the Merchant Marine Academy followed by five as a commissioned officer. By the time I went back to Marquette, Craig was out of Michigan State, a big football hero, and had just started working for a private high school near Marquette.”
“You’re five years older.”
“Do they make you do math in Hollywood?”
I purse my lips. “Go on.”
“Our parents have lived in the UP for most of their adult lives. Having both of their sons back was what they wanted. The only thing was, during the second year of Craig’s probationary period at the school, there was a young woman.”
My stomach drops.
Keith looks my way. “Fuel, Jill. You asked if rumors burned out for lack of fuel. For Craig’s fires there was always new fuel. Craig was good at a few things. Football and finding fuel.”
“So, what happened with this girl?” I ask. “There were rumors?”
Keith shakes his head. “While Craig was at Michigan State, he discovered that he liked ladies, lots of them. And there were plenty. That’s where he met Serena. My parents were thrilled that he was going to settle down. Serena had two more years in East Lansing to finish her degree.”
“She has a degree?” The question came out a little too high-pitched before I could stop it.
A smile spread across Keith’s face. “Yes, fashion design. I’m not sure she could be more cliché.” He looks my way. “Depending on the size of his life insurance policy, she’s now faced with dusting off that piece of paper and looking for a real job.”
Life insurance. Why didn’t I think of that? Instead of pursuing that train of thought, I ask, “What happened in Marquette?”
“The girl’s name was Diana James.”
“What happened?”
“There was a truck parked at a rear parking lot of a city park one night. It was late and unusual. The policeman heard voices and figured it was two kids. He knocked on the window. According to Craig the glass was too steamed for the policeman to see inside.”
Bile bubbles from my stomach. “Craig and Diana? Was she a student?”
“Yes. An eighteen-year-old student. Lucky bastard. If she had been underage, shit would have gone another way. Since she was legally an adult, neither she nor her parents wanted it public. You see, her dad is a judge.” He shrugs. “Law enforcement and school came to an agreement. They agreed to keep the incident hush-hush if Craig left town. The school even offered to give him a glowing recommendation.”
“That’s when he came here.”
“Just before his hire in Blue Gil, someone leaked information about the police report to someone on the search-and-screen committee. The offer was rescinded.”
