Frayed Edges

By Margie Keck Smith

Attorney Denise Fairchuck loves solving puzzles and mysteries-the who, what, and why. Which is a good thing, because she has made a graveside promise to her good friend, Kaitlin Cosser, that she'd find out who pushed Kaitlin off a Nordstrom Department Store roof. Ever since their five-year reunion, their tight group of six high school best frien

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822901346

Margie Keck Smith

Born and raised in La Junta; Colorado; Margie Keck Smith earned her BA from Colorado State University; then moved to Alberta and British Columbia; Canada; where she lived for twenty years. She then went back to school and received her MA from the University of Oregon before settling down in a rural community in southwest Washington state; where she still lives. She enjoyed a full career in speech and language pathology before retiring. Margie is married with two grown children; and living on a small farm with her husband; dogs; chickens; cows; and pigs. When she isn't writing; she spends her time quilting; preserving; walking with the dogs; and helping her husband with the animals and garden. Margie is also the author of The Right Thing; a poignant novel about women who faced unplanned pregnancies and their various decisions. You can find more about Margie and her books at Facebook.com/Margie-Keck-Smith-author

Book preview

Act One

The Friends

Chapter One

D

enise Fairchuck woke up with a start and automatically stretched her hand across the bed, reaching out for her husband, Stuart. Not there. But, of course, he didn’t live there anymore and for a good reason. She heard her cell phone play its tune and knew then what had caused her to be startled awake.

She opened her eyes and felt for the phone on the side table. It rang for the third time.

Hello. The voice on the line was so soft, Denise thought maybe she was still dreaming.

The message, though, was clear. Stay away.

Suddenly, she was wide awake and sat up on the edge of her bed. Who is this?

Her question was answered with moments of silence. And then, Keep your nose out of everyone’s business and your suspicions to yourself. This is a warning.

The line went dead without giving Denise any more clues as to who the caller might be. The voice was so soft, she couldn’t even be sure if it was a man or a woman. Her free hand rubbed her forehead and then ran through her long black hair, a feeble attempt at smoothing out sleep tangles. Should she call her buddies at the police station, or should she do as the caller demanded and do nothing? Maybe it was time to back off.

Denise threw the covers to the other side of the bed and looked at the time on her phone. Her motto: when troubled, go for a run. She decided she had just enough time for a quick one before heading out to her law office in downtown Olympia. She spoke to a bare wall. Oh, Kaitlin. I told you I’d get answers. But I seem to be digging myself in deeper and deeper. Come on; let’s go for a run.

Chapter Two

T

hree hours later, Denise sat in her office chair and put her head in her hands, elbows on the desk. She loved her job as an attorney, the career she had chosen way back in high school. However, she didn’t like confrontations and avoided them in her personal life. What Denise loved was solving puzzles, the who, what, and why. She was good at finding the answers to those questions, and the results gave her great satisfaction.

She reached across the desk and picked up the framed image of her and her five high school buddies. In the almost five years of working in this room, she had often held the photo and reflected on it. She smiled to see the six of them lounging on the school grounds following their graduation ceremony. The year had been 2010. She examined each of their smiling, eager faces and young bodies. She had loved each of them then.

Denise shut her eyes. She remembered to the day and even the minute when the art-class friends first got together. It was the first day of their senior year at West Seattle High. She had waited in the hallway to catch her friends, Jude Trent and Sheila Fox, as they came out of their biology class. She tapped her foot impatiently as she watched student after student stream out of the classroom.

Denise could smell the rain from outside, pelting against the school windows. The sound was loud and clear despite the music of Lady Gaga coming through her earbuds. Memory of the smell of wet clothing and bodies also came through loud and clear.

What was taking them so darn long? It was all she could do to keep from dashing into the classroom to haul them out. Finally, she saw the two girls, the last students to exit the room, of course. She bounced up and down. Couldn’t you two hurry it up a little? I’ve been waiting forever.

Jude finally spotted her in the doorway, looked at Sheila, and rolled her eyes. Keep your pants on. We’re here, aren’t we?

Denise tucked her earbuds in her schoolbag, grabbing the arm of each of her two friends, pushing them through the crowds of students. They passed the lockers lining the walls and headed toward the class they had signed up to take together.

Over and over again, she wrenched on Sheila’s arm. Sheila was Denise’s best friend, and she loved her dearly, but keeping her from being distracted by and chatting it up with all the boys that glanced her way could be trying. Sheila’s long blond hair flowed behind her as she walked, her legs taking long strides.

Denise continued to push the two down the hallway, unable to stop her own chatter. Are you sure we’re okay taking this art class? After all, it’s supposed to be for freshmen, pretty weird that we’re taking it as seniors. I don’t want it looking bad on my school record. Remember, this time next year, I’m off to college, got it?

Sheila stopped, gave Denise one of her award-winning smiles, and lightly patted her cheek. Again, you’re worrying way too much about this, girlfriend. It’s going to be fun. You’ll see.

Jude, cute as ever, with her short thrift-store skirt, white peasant blouse, cowboy boots, and full head of bouncing curls, gave Denise a pat on the butt and said, Chill out. It’s all good. Sometimes Jude scared Denise a little. Jude was much more of a risk-taker than she was, as was Sheila. The two obviously enjoyed shooting from the hip. Denise liked to plan ahead and consider the consequences.

The three seniors stopped in front of the door to the art room and peeked in. Despite the rain, the room was inviting, with its vast windows letting in necessary light for budding artists. Even the smells of paint and modeling clay were welcoming. On the walls hung colorful artwork from the previous school year. Denise felt relieved. This does look like fun.

Jude was giving her arm a hug. Hot damn, this sure doesn’t look like the rest of the school. It’s awesome.

Denise glanced at the twenty students sitting at tables scattered around the room. She jabbed the other two with her elbows and whispered, "Hey, look. We aren’t the only seniors taking this class. See who’s sitting in the back row? It’s Kaitlin Cosser, Candice Dugger, and, of all people, Gretchen Stravich. How in the world did those three get hooked up together and into this art class?" Denise was especially thrilled to see her gym buddy, Kaitlin.

Mrs. Davis, the art teacher, appeared in the doorway, smiled, and motioned for the three to come in and find a seat. What could possibly go wrong with this setup?

Denise set the photo back down on her law office desk and returned to the present. Good thing there wasn’t a lot on her calendar today. She had accomplished almost nothing. She stood and paced the office a few times, hoping that would get her blood flowing. She stopped and stared out the office window at the autumn rain that had begun soon after she had arrived. Maybe it was the lack of sunshine that was going to get worse as winter set in that made her feel so nostalgic today. But most likely, it was the dreadful phone call she had gotten so early that morning.

She shivered, sat back down, and called Connie, her assistant, in the outer office. Do you have any coffee out there that isn’t two hours old?

No, but I can make a fresh pot. It’s that kind of day.

You got that right.

Denise got to work. She arranged to meet with a new client facing a robbery charge and talked to a longtime client who needed reassurance that she was doing everything she could to get him off. After her lunch break, she received a call from Stuart that he wanted to talk to her and could they get together that evening.

Sure, I’ll meet you at the house after seven, but do come alone. No surprises.

The call set her memory off again. It came back to her as sharp and as vivid as Sheila’s ocean painting on her wall. She had been walking across the school lawn that same senior year, making her way through other students chatting and waiting for the first bell to ring. They stood in the rays of sun that had broken through the fog to warm their pale Pacific Northwest skin.

Her eyes opened wide, seeing Stuart walking in her direction. She pressed her eyes closed for a second and whispered her wish, the same wish she had been making every day for two weeks. Please, please notice me. She gave him, the most handsome guy in the school, her best smile and blinked her eyes, as she had practiced in the mirror at home.

Stuart was now a foot away from brushing shoulders with her, waving to someone else across the lawn. She was about to give up hope when he suddenly looked right at her and shared his own smile. Their eyes locked. Denise thought her legs would buckle and stopped right in front of the basketball star. He said, Hey, Denise. Lookin’ good today.

Thanks, was all she could muster as he continued his walk, leaving Denise to melt into the grass. But, not for long. The first bell rang, and she was soon caught in the flow of students. Her legs suddenly wanted to skip all the way to Sheila, who would be at her next class. She couldn’t wait to report that he had actually spoken to her. She knew Sheila would help her make a plan for the next move.

As it turned out, Denise hadn’t needed any help. Stuart had called and asked her out, and before she knew it, they were a couple. They had been crazy in love. After graduation, they had married and lived happily ever after—or so she thought.

Chapter Three

D

enise made it through the remainder of the workday with some productivity and an uneventful meeting that evening with Stuart. She remained undecided whether to share the early morning phone call with the detectives.

Saturday morning started out leisurely with three cups of coffee and a hearty breakfast before heading out to the gym for a workout. Pulling into the parking lot of her four-star gym, she decided that it was too nice out. Instead, she would drive to West Seattle and go to the beach where she and Kaitlin had always met for their runs. She had avoided going there long enough. It was time to give in to old memories.

She made the drive, parked her car, and set a blanket out on the sand. There was no wind for a change, and the sun was warm on her bare legs and arms. A good number of families were already playing in the sand and gentle waves.

Denise sat on the blanket and looked back again at her senior year and the art class where the six had grown to be such good friends. Sheila, in her free time, sketched and dabbled in watercolors and had confessed she regretted never taking an art class. So, Denise had volunteered to take the class with her, went a step further, and talked their friend Jude into it as well.

The class had been a blast for all of them. Then four months into the school year, Sheila came up with another idea. We need a reward for all our ‘hard work.’ How about a girls’ Friday night out on the town? Just us, no art, no boys, only a lot of laughs.

Jude slowly raised her head up from the photos she was studying for an upcoming test. I think I could get into that. But we have to call it something more exciting than a reward. Let’s call it ‘a hell of a good time.’ Jude threw her head back and delighted all of them with her signature machine-gun laugh, which always sent everyone else into their own fits of laughter. The ha ha ha ha ha could be heard throughout the art room.

The plan grew on everyone except Denise, who wasn’t sure she wanted to give up any time with Stuart. Sheila continued to poke and prod. Come on, Denise. If Jude can finally decide to do something on the weekend with us, and Gretchen can say that it sounds like fun, you can pull yourself away from Stuart and your studies for one night. We can’t do it without you.

Okay, as long as we pick a night that Stuart’s out of town for a game.

* * *

For the night’s activities, Denise had been surprised when Candice provided them with enough pot to have a good high, her brother, Joshua, coming through as her drug dealer. Gretchen contributed by providing transportation. Her older brothers were all off to college, their cars left behind and available to her whenever she wanted one. Sheila volunteered to pay for everything with her dad’s generous allowance money.

The night had been a big topic of conversation between them at school but was never actually planned out. They started out bowling, laughing their way through the first few hours. Gretchen, known for her awkwardness, kept hitting her leg with the ball as she made her move down the bowling lane, sending the others into a howling frenzy. She laughed the hardest at her own clumsiness.

Afterward, they sat in the parking lot behind the bowling alley, crammed into Gretchen’s midsized SUV. The radio blasted out Beyonce’s voice. They smoked some pot, munched the chips and cookies Sheila had provided, and chatted about everything but school. It was dark by then. The Space Needle glowed in the far distance, lit up like a Christmas tree.

Denise grew restless and demanded they discuss what to do next. Throughout the last few weeks, Sheila had told them several stories about her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Kucow. "The old lady makes life miserable for Daddy and my stepmother with her complaints and demands. She doesn’t like my loud music or cars parked in front of our house. Not her house, our house. She’s a witch."

Jude, squeezed in the back seat between Kaitlin and Denise, sat up, and leaned into the front. Okay, Sheila, I’ve heard enough about this bitchy old lady. She needs something to make her life a little more interesting. What could we do to the old Ku-cow? Who has an idea?

Petite, round-faced Candice, sharing the passenger seat with Sheila, half sitting on her lap, giggled. I got one. M-m-my brother and his friends are into toilet papering the yards of b-b-boys they don’t like. How about we toilet paper Mrs. Kucow’s y-y-y-yard?

Jude clapped her hands and let loose her machine-gun laugh. Toilet paper? Perfect.

Denise, thinking about Stuart and wondering how his game was going, was glad they finally had a plan. Both Kaitlin and Gretchen slinked down in their seats. Kaitlin said, I don’t know if we should be doing that.

Gretchen nodded. Yeah, what if we get caught? Maybe someone would see us and call the cops. Denise was on the same skeptical side as Kaitlin and Gretchen. The three had plans for the future, and getting in trouble with the law was not in their dreams.

Sheila, however, grinned sheepishly, watching as Jude cheered and Candice said, S-s-sure you can do it. Let your hair down a little. It’s toilet paper; w-w-w-we’re not talking about spray paint. Jude arm-danced in her seat.

Gretchen looked around the car and finally shrugged. All right. I swore I wouldn’t let anything spoil this night. Where’s the closest place to get the toilet paper, and how much do we need? Who’s the expert on toilet papering? She started up the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

Kaitlin and Denise looked at each other and shrugged. Kaitlin finally murmured, I guess I’m in too. Denise wasn’t about to go against the crowd.

Gretchen drove to the nearest Walmart, where Sheila bought a couple of six-packs of toilet paper, and then to Sheila’s beautiful waterfront, mansion-like house. She parked half a block away, and they walked in the dark around the house and into the backyard. They could smell the fishiness of the Puget Sound close by. Seattle’s skyline of skyscrapers and twinkling lights could be seen through the trees in the backyards.

Fortunately, it wasn’t raining, and there was enough moonlight to see Mrs. Kucow’s house and her landscaping. Denise was relieved to see that no lights shone through any of the old lady’s windows; she didn’t appear to be home.

Sheila orchestrated in a quiet voice. Dad and my stepmother are home, but Dad always turns the TV up so loud that they probably won’t hear us. We do need to be a little quiet though.

Carrying their rolled weapons of choice, they snuck around in the semidark for a couple of hours. They threw the toilet paper back and forth and as high as they could into the tall, needled, and leafless trees and draped it around the shrubs and flowers that filled the backyard. It was January, but adrenalin kept them warm. Sheila whispered directions, seeing that all the trees got sufficiently covered.

Denise enjoyed watching the reluctant Kaitlin and Gretchen throw and attempt to catch the flying rolls. Clumsy Gretchen slid more than once on the wet grass with her two oversized feet, falling butt first. Kaitlin climbed up into one tree, not wanting to leave an almost full roll that had gotten stuck in a branch. Denise took the challenge and climbed into another tree to do the same.

Jude mainly worked on her own at the shorter bushes. Intermittently, a machine-gun laugh came from her direction. Those firings and Candice’s continuous fits of laughter threatened the quiet. Not only was Candice deprived of height, but earlier tokes kept her distracted. She turned out to be of no help whatsoever.

When they finished off all the toilet paper, Sheila declared the yard a work of art. The wet needles and leaves had them soaked by then; no one complained. Jude pointed to Sheila and said, Look at the frickin’ princess. My God, Sheila, you’re not one bit wet. Did you even touch one roll of TP, or did you just give the damn orders?

Sheila held out her arms and displayed the slight dampness on the front of her jacket. Look. I’m wet, just not as wet as you. Besides, somebody had to be the boss.

Jude smiled, displaying a set of dimples. And you did a fabulous job, boss. Now let’s have a smoke.

Squatting by the back hedge, Jude, Candice, and Sheila smoked a celebratory cigarette. Kaitlin and Denise, the athletes of the group, growled their objections to no avail. Sheila growled back with a smirk on her face. Yeah, well, I didn’t see you two refusing the joints we passed around earlier.

Denise stuck her tongue out at her best friend and then whispered to Kaitlin and Gretchen, She’s right; we did that, didn’t we?

Suddenly, Gretchen shrieked, Someone’s coming. Look! There’s a flashlight making its way toward us.

Five heads swiveled to look at Gretchen, following her pointing arm. Sure enough, a light from a flashlight was making its way across Mrs. Kucow’s front yard.

Denise whispered, Don’t panic. Walk slowly around Sheila’s backyard to the other side of her house and head for Gretchen’s car. Don’t make any noise.

Sheila led the line of duck-walking friends around her house and behind the hedges of the other neighbors until they reached Gretchen’s car. After climbing in, they laid their wet bodies down low as best they could, piled on top of each other. Candice lasted only a few minutes and giggled. Sheila snorted in her attempts to not catch Candice’s laugh. Sheila’s snort started four more giggle renditions. Denise was sure the car was vibrating with the movement of the six hunkered-down girls.

After what seemed like fifteen minutes, but was probably only two, Denise shushed them all. Gretchen! Get up! Nobody’s coming. Get us out of here!

Gretchen raised her head and peeked out. It took her another five minutes to find her keys. In her search, she accidentally poked her seatmates and set off another round of laughter. Eventually, she peeked through the steering wheel, started up the car, and pulled away from the curb, driving four or five blocks before turning on the lights. At block three, everyone sat up. They drove around West Seattle’s neighborhoods until they were sleepy and decided it was time to call it a night.

* * *

Denise was brought back to the present by a wandering beach ball bouncing off her leg. She laid back on the blanket, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sounds of playing children. That Friday night had been the first night of other adventures. Kaitlin had always been quiet, her general manner. If Denise had been uncomfortable with their antics, Kaitlin’s skin must have been crawling a good part of the time. Neither one of them, however, had ever backed out of the fun.

Sounds of the high school gym came back to Denise as her memories turned to workouts with Kaitlin. Looking for a spotter? Denise had looked up to see Kaitlin, long and lean, black skin glowing, staring down at her. She set the barbells back on the rack and swung her legs down to the floor. Beads of sweat already soaked through her workout shirt. Hey, Kaitlin. I’m so glad to see you here. I hate it when there are only a couple guys and me. Their grunts are so loud. They intimidate me, I guess.

I know what you mean. And I don’t think the guys like it that a black woman can be in here working as hard as they do.

I guess I never thought of that. It must be more difficult for you. We should arrange to always meet here. Want to go for a run later? Kaitlin had smiled and nodded her head, her black skin, strong jawline, and high cheekbones forecasting what a great model she promised to be someday.

With those visions of Kaitlin in her head, Denise got up from her blanket and started her run. She had almost forgotten what a beauty Kaitlin had always been. Probably none of them had seen it back then.

Thoughts of the threatening phone call were lost to Denise by then, having been replaced with only good memories.

Chapter Four

J

une 2010 had finally arrived. Denise, as salutatorian, gave an inspiring graduation speech to her class. Because the weather was cooperative, the ceremony was held outdoors on the school grounds. The six art students had seating assignments, so they could not sit together. But after throwing their graduation caps to the sky, they gathered together in the corner of the lawn. Much jumping up and down, hugging, and squealing took place. Jude’s notorious machine-gun laugh rang out above the crowds of people.

Denise was the first to actually complete a sentence. We did it, my friends! We finished the year and without getting into trouble.

Sheila said, Or at least without getting caught.

The group laughed and did little dances in the grass.

Candice took a breath and let it out slowly. Y-y-you guys are the best. Her eyes looked close to dropping tears.

Jude danced her two thumbs up over her head. You got that right. I’m going to miss you so damn much. Who is going to keep me organized and out of trouble? Denise, you won’t be there to do all that for me.

Gretchen turned to Jude. Hey, I’m not going anywhere, only to the U to nursing school. Denise will be there as well, working on her degree and entrance into law school. Candice is going to be working and taking bookkeeping classes. And don’t forget our future famous model, Kaitlin. She will be here in the city, learning her trade. The only one going anywhere is our rich friend Sheila.

Yeah, France, to art school. Can you believe it? Sheila pounded her fists into the grass. My plane leaves the day after Denise and Stuart’s wedding. Woo-hoo.

The sun beat down on the six as they settled down onto the lawn in their graduation gowns. Kaitlin stretched out her legs in the grass. Okay, we didn’t get in trouble this year, but do you think we can maintain it? You’re right, Jude. We won’t have Denise with us every week anymore. She’s the one who always makes sure we don’t get into too much trouble.

Sheila laughed. I hope we don’t stay out of trouble; we wouldn’t be having any fun.

Denise punched Sheila in the arm. You better not get in trouble; you’ll be so far away from home. She saw Sheila shiver with excitement, despite the warm sun, and turned to face Jude. But what about you, Jude? Everyone has a plan for the fall except you.

Jude shook the many bracelets circling her arm. Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll come up with something. You’ll see.

Gretchen put her arms around the two grads at her side. Hasn’t this year been fun with all of us? We learned so much about working together as a team.

Denise laughed. Yes and even a little about art.

Kaitlin turned serious again. I don’t want any of us to grow older; we should stay eighteen forever.

The group of six cheered at the suggestion. But then Denise said, Oh, I think not. We need to be older, to grow into our up-and-coming adventures.

Jude hung her head. Yeah, we’ll grow older, all right, and grow apart. The last bit makes me sad.

Denise motioned to Stuart, who had walked up to the group. Come over here and take our photo, Stuart. This is a memorable occasion.

Stuart snapped a photo of the grads and walked away, swatting the air behind him. You girls are impossible. I’ll see you later, Denise, when you’ve had enough of this loud and rowdy bunch.

The six sat for a few minutes without talking. Denise looked around at her beautiful, fun friends. Jude was right; they would grow apart. As they sat there in the shade of a big, old maple tree, a page of their lives turned. New chapters were soon to be written. What was to take place in those chapters? Maybe it was a good thing they didn’t know.

Chapter Five

T

he day after graduation, Jude rushed down the sidewalk, eager to get home and start the enormous pile of laundry she knew waited for her. She was thinking of her school buddies, worrying again about how they would now go their separate ways. Denise and Sheila had been her friends for over a year; hopefully they would continue to be friends. Surely Candice would continue to shop with her at their favorite secondhand clothing stores.

Taking part in the art class had given Jude a clique, something she had never experienced before. However, she had never completely gotten over the feeling of walking on eggshells around them. She always feared they would start laughing at her or tell her to get lost. They all seemed to have such easy lives. She, however, had never been presented with anything on a silver platter. Maybe Candice was more like her. She didn’t seem to have all the money the others did. Sheila’s platter was beyond silver, probably gold.

Jude let herself into the back door of her mother’s house. She remembered how, one day at school during lunch, she had watched Denise munch on her deli sandwich and Sheila on her salad. Their purchased food looked delicious. She tried to hide her own homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich, keeping it wrapped in a napkin.

Sheila had commented on Jude’s latest outfit. You know, your wardrobe matches your laugh. Both are eccentric. I love what you put together from scrounging around in thrift stores. No wonder you’ve been so creative in art class.

Denise nodded her head in agreement. But how come we rarely get to see you after school? Only on our fun Friday nights. Jude felt herself blushing. How would she explain her home life and why she had little time after school to hang out with friends?

Sheila had interrupted, getting her off the hook at having to explain. Her friends didn’t know how her mother insisted she go right home after school to look after her sisters and do all the household chores. Hurry up with your lunch, Jude. We have just enough time to go out for a smoke. She winked at Denise. Athletes, not invited.

Jude stuffed the first load of her sisters’ dirty clothes into the washer. Sheila had said my look was my signature. Wow!

She went into the bedroom that she shared with her two sisters and held up the skirt she had recently found at her favorite thrift store. She twirled around in front of the cracked mirror that was leaning against the wall, studying the complete picture. Yeah, time spent on her makeup and all the jewelry she liked wearing was worth it and sealed the look. That look had probably gotten her the job that she would start next week at Macy’s as a salesclerk. She never had gotten the nerve to tell her friends about the job. It seemed so ordinary compared to all their plans.

Jude changed into her sweats and headed into the kitchen. She yelled to her mother that she was home and would start dinner now. She thought about her checkered past, confident that Denise and Sheila didn’t know of her earlier escapades. Starting in elementary school, she had spent quite a bit of time in the principal’s office. Then in middle school, a drugstore employee had caught her shoplifting small objects. No charges had been made, but they banned her from the store, and she had to return all the goods. The owner called her mother, but there was no punishment. As long as Jude came home and did the chores, her mother didn’t really care what trouble she got into.

Her friends would never have accepted her into their small circle if