“What would you be havin today?” A man in denim overalls stood outlooking the wheat fields that went on as far as the eye could see.
Zak looked out as well, but didn’t see anything besides the Goldens rows. He looked up at the man and said “Just a black coffee please, and a small slice of pumpkin pie. It’s been long trip here”
The man stepped back without even looking at him and retuned to the inside of the small diner. Zak peered inside where a few customers sat in retro style booths and stools. A few outside tables and seating had been set in front of the large windows. An odd choice, but the weather was nice and he had been cooped up in his car for three days. It was nice to sit among the sun rays and fresh air.
He pulled a small notebook from his trench coast and flipped through to the latest page.
Golden Falls, North Dakota - Two incidents, 3 months apart. Agency sent three, none came back.
Report back on Sept 15th.
He took out a pen and made a note of the diner and the man waiting on him and what he had seen so far. He had come in this morning and this diner lay on the outside of the town. Surrounded by golden wheat farms on almost sides then a barrier of lush trees in the center with dips of elevation that could cause one other think they were in an other state. From his research it was an idle town of ten thousand people. Crime rate one of the lowest in the countries and rated one of the best places to move to, if you could find property.
That was until his agency followed a large cult leader to the town. Then things started to look a bit more realistic or at least normal for small towns.
“Coffee, pie. How you be paying? Cash?” The man set each piece down with little caution.
“Yes, cash would be fine.” He handed him a ten “Please keep the change”
The man stared at the money for a long moment then finally bolted them at Zak.
“Thanks, enjoy your time here.” He said and returned inside.
Zak took a sip of the coffee and smiled. It was delicious and the view only made it better. The sun was shining and a couple of clouds skimmed the sky making his view a Van Gogh painting. The pie was next, a small slice, but that’s all he needed. He down it in two bites. Again, what a marvel it was when a place could instill such flavor into a few ingredients. He nodded to himself taking another sip of coffee. He knew that he had to enjoy every moment of this life. He had seen it slip away far too easily in the past.
He took the west road in. Past the diner he glided his car through fields of gold until he hit the forest. He could see it in the distance as he approached, but it seemed so foreign out here in the middle of the wheat that he thought it might be a heat mirage. Large cedars rose in a line and engulfed him from all sides casting him into shaded darkness. The road became more windy and hills heaved him up and down as if he was near the coast line. There was nothing between the beginning the forest and the town, just miles of trees and nature. He rolled down a large hill and rounded a corner where a large sign sat in an outcome of the trees.
Welcome to Golden Falls!
You have never seen a place like this.
Zak stopped at and peered at the sign. It looked brand new, not spec of decay on it. Must be new, the article he saw was only from a few years ago. He continued onward.
The trees broke away and rows and rows of victorian houses in all different colors lined both sides of him. Perfect manicured lawns with sidewalks stamped out front leading all the way to the end of a culdasac and back out to the main road. He came to a stop at the top of a hill in the pristine neighborhood. Down below he could see main street beyond another cluster of trees. Four streets, two going west to east and two others going north to south. Old timey looking buildings of brick lay on each side of the streets. Small streets sprouted from the middle of the side walk and it looked like everything else to be in perfect condition. He let his foot off the brake and let himself glide right down into town. Some residents were out and about strolling on the cool autumn day, he could see some enjoying meals or inside the shop windows. He veered off and parked in one of the metered spots. Eyes glanced, but non lingered. Zac opened the middle compartment of his car and pulled out a .45 and slid it into his holster under his arm. You never knew what you were getting into. He had been stabbed once in a peaceful coastal town by a psychopath he was tracking. If other agents had disappeared here he wouldn’t take a chance of being ambushed. He got out of the car and smoothed back his blonde hair, nodding to a women who smiled across the street. He walked a bit far down to the first intersection, on the corner was a coffee shop with a turret of windows that fit the corner. Next to it was a small bar with two gas lanterns on each side of the door, it was called the Lanternier. Zac pushed through the large dark green door.
Inside were booths on the left running along the brick wall to the back while a massive bar ran parallel on the right side. A few booths were occupied and a three people sat on stools at the bar. He joined them.
The bartender stood at the far end talking to one of the customers and then slid along the bar, still polishing his glass in front of Zac.
“Good morning, haven’t seen you around in a while. What can I get for you?” The bartender asked. His eyes matched his smile. Secrets.
Zac looked around the back bar at the liquor bottles then at the tap. “Something light for me, a beer please, what ever you suggest. And this is actually my first time here.”
The bartender nodded and glided back the middle of the bar and pulled a light beer and returned. He stood silently eyes fixed on Zac’s then finally said “Well, you know sometimes folks look alike. Simon Teller is my name, bartender of the Laneternier. Welcome to Golden Falls - “ Simon stuck out his hand.
Zac shook it firmly “Zac, thank you”
“Zac” Simon repeated slowly “Well if there is anything you need, let me know. I’ll be around” With that Simon shifted, eyes still on Zac to the middle the bar and as if he had to pry his eyes away snapped his head in the other direction.
Zac sat sipping his beer, keeping his eyes shifting back and forth to the customers in the back and to the windows. He noticed a few people walk by but the mid day morning was pretty much empty. When his beer was almost empty Simon slid back in front of him. His eyes had attached to him mid bar and he knew that there was a visit soon.
“Another beer for you Zac?” He smiled.
Zac leaned back in the stool and pulled out a picture of one of the agents. “No, Simon, that was good enough. Just wondering, I had friend pass through here a while ago, trying to get in touch with them and they called from here, did you see them at all?” Zac slid the photo across the bar. Simon pried his eyes away from Zac and in a quick glance peeked down
“Nope” he answered sharply then met Zacs gaze “Hadn’t seen him before. Maybe try the east side of town, past the river. Folks sometimes pass here an end up over there before leaving.” Simon took the glass “Good luck”
“Thanks” Zac threw a few dollars on the bar and returned to the street. The sun was shining bright, but the autumn wind cooled him down as it swept across the street. He took one more glance, got in his car and headed to the east side of town.
The river cut the town in a third. Most of the town rested on the west side of it, while a few shops were immediately after the bridge then residential and bed and breakfasts started to pop up in the trees and hills. No matter where he looked, the views were stunning. Up among the trees sat a large colonial blue house. A large turret framed the left side of the house and a wrap around porch on two levels gave plenty of room for large rocking chairs. The garden in the front was expertly maintained with a small fountain sitting among roses and small bushes with an ornate paved walk way from the driveway to the front steps. Zac stepped inside the parlor which looked just the way he imagined it would. Upholstery, flower wallpaper and dark wood accenting everything. A women popped up from behind the desk. Her smile and outfit matched the decorations.
“Well, what do we have here? Just come into town?” She beamed at him while opening the giant register book.
“Yes, three night please. Pretty town you have here” Zac had to fight the urge to start asking about his partners, but knew that he took a large chance exposing himself at the lanternier already. Better to keep it down low for a bit, he was already being watched like a hawk by any townsfolk that was in seeing distance.
“Mary’s the name” She flipped the guest register towards him. “If you need anything while you are around, just ask, okay?” She turned and selected room 4 for him. “Best view in the whole place”
Zac spied that the rest of the keys were still hanging around behind her. He was the only occupant it seemed. He signed a fake name and address on the register and paid in cash.
“Thanks Mary, will do” he smiled back and took the key from her. She stared at him smiling ear to ear un moving as he backed away from the desk. He peered back at her as he moved up the stares. She still stood motionless, eyes locked on him. He decided Mary might need to be watched more closely than the others.
Night fell peacefully over the small town. The lanterns on the side of the streets glowed orange and everything shushed to a whisper as lights tuned on from the many houses and restaurants still open down on the main. Zac’s room was decorated like the rest of the place, but it was spacious and he could see the whole town from the turret windows. It was ideal.The winding roads through the small neighborhood and into town could be clearly seen and he could even see all the way down the west street, where the lanternier was. He pulled out a pair of binoculars. It was time for some rear window habits. He first scouted out the small houses close to his bed and breakfast. Most were dark, but a few had residents outside on their porch enjoying a night cap. He moved down the street to the edge of town. For a small town he was surprised to see so many residents out late at night, or they could be visitors, but from seeing the empty rooms here, he doubted. As he had passed through town earlier he noticed cigar, and cocktail lounges, trendy old style cafes, a diner and elaborate fancy restaurants. He followed the Main Street up other the east edge then back up the hills looking straight at him. Large cottage style houses, like the one he was staying in stared at him with illuminated eyes. He took a peak. The first few windows were covered in white linen showing shadows moving about behind them. He couldn’t discern what they were doing. A large blue house shone bright, all the windows were lit, all the way from the small slit form the basement to the circle attic window saying hello, we are open for business. He swept across them.
Empty.
Empty.
Empty.
Then, two people. A man and women looking down at something on the floor. The women had her hands on her hips and was shaking her head in disapproval. The man had his hands crossed and scratched his chin with his right hand looking intently at the floor. Zac joined them at what they were looking at.
A body.
Zac pulled away from the binoculars, shook his sight and then went back in.
A man lay at their feet, knife protruding out from his chest. Clearly dead. He looked back at the couple. They seemed not concerned, but more annoyed at the dead man at their feet. Zac took out a tape recorder.
“A man and a women in large blue house on the east side of town. Women, late 30’s brown hair down to shoulders, 5,6ish, man early 40’s 6,1, short black hair. Both are standing over a body of a man with a knife lodge in his chest. No movement. No excitement, no commotion, both discussing over the body. Hard to see more, but the whole house is lit up, maybe they were searching for the man. Will investigate tomorrow.”
Zac put down the tape recorder, but left It running encase anything else happened. He watched for another hour, while the couple walked in and out of the room, turning off the lights and finally the one where the body was. They left the man there, on their floor. Just dead.
He put down the binoculars and rubbed his eyes. Maybe it is a party they are setting up or something, like a murder mystery?
Just as he was about to head to bed, the light in the room turned back on. He jumped to the window and looked. The room was empty for a while, then out of the left corner the women appeared. Dressed in some sort of black and red gown, she wore a mask that looked like a jester smile and mischievous eyes. It was white, but the smile and eyes were red. She pulled the knife out of the man and observed the red stained metal. Then in a violent display she fell to her knees straddling the man and stabbed him over and over again. He must of been dead for a while, as blood did not spray out from the corpse, but oozed and splashed heavily around her and on her gown. Panting and withdrawing the knife she stood up. With knife in her right hand she took her left and steered blood over the mask, took a large breathe in and exited his frame.
The lights went out.
I love Twin Peaks. The characters, atmosphere and the whole production is something special and I just finished reading Wayward pines, which was inspired by Twin Peaks. I have always have the fascination with the small idealic town that just doesn’t seem right when you start peeling back its layers. Our protagonist is based on the Character Zachary ‘Zack’ Morris from Saved by the Bell. I imagined when he grew up he became an FBI agent, putting his tricks and gimmicks away, but using his charm and wit to solve some interesting crimes. He’s mellowed out a bit since high school, but his trickster side is still there serving him well. Let’s see what tricks he can pull on the inhabitants of Golden Falls!
Cheers!