Honeymoon for Three

would.
    He watched from his car as they came out of the chapel to have their pictures taken in front. They were married. They looked radiant. Alfred’s stomach churned. Then they went back inside. When they reappeared, they were in their old clothes. He prepared to follow them.
    They drove only a few blocks, to the Cal-Neva Club. That wasn’t unexpected, since they hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast. It would also give Alfred a chance to grab a hamburger. He had been subsisting on chips and peanuts.
    ***
    Gary took a bite of his sandwich. “Nobody knows where we are. So how could somebody show up and try to stop us from getting married? That’s what this guy was doing, right? Why else would he falsely accuse me of murder?”
    “Maybe it was a mistake,” Penny said. “Maybe…the woman at the chapel thought he was talking about you, but he was really talking about someone else.”
    He watched her sip her iced tea through a straw and hoped she was right, but that didn’t seem logical, either.
    “He gave my name—our names. Remember, she told us he came in the first time while we were changing our clothes and asked for us by name. She wouldn’t have told the police he was talking about me if she weren’t sure. The whole thing doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know anybody who cares whether I get married or not. Certainly not enough to come all the way to Reno to try to stop it with a cock and bull story.”
    Penny put her hand on top of his. “In any case, he didn’t succeed. So let’s not let it spoil our honeymoon.”
    “The only people who even had a clue to where we were going are Steve and Tom.”
    His roommate, Steve, hadn’t been at the apartment the night before they left, although Gary thought he had mentioned to him previously that they were going to Reno first. They had eaten dinner with his brother, Tom, a few days before they left. Tom had been horrified that they were going camping without a tent and had bought the pup tent for them as a wedding present. They had scoured West Los Angeles in the evening after dinner until they had found an open army surplus store.
    “They don’t fit the description she gave. Neither Steve nor Tom has a beard. Or a potbelly. And they are both well above medium height. And both liked the idea of us getting married, if I recall correctly.”
    Gary grinned at her. “Well, you’ve successfully eliminated them as suspects. Although Steve at least has a possible motive. He has to find a new roommate to help pay the rent.”
    “He appears to be pretty successful with girls. Maybe he can get one to live with him. And pay the rent. The last time I saw him, he didn’t seem to be particularly worried about losing you as a roommate. Anyway, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us. We’d better hit the road.” Penny started to get up.
    “You’re a good detective and you’re practical, too. No wonder I love you.”
    “Let’s just play one game of Keno. It only costs a dollar.”
    “And financially astute. If we lose, I’ll still be a lifetime winner in Reno.”
    ***
    This was getting old. Following their car while trying to remain invisible. It was likely they would have spotted him by now if they weren’t so wrapped up in each other. Alfred had watched them from a distance as they ate lunch at the Cal-Neva Club. It was disgusting how they held hands and gazed into each other’s eyes. He wanted to barf.
    They had stopped for dinner at a converted trolley car. Alfred had grabbed a quick sandwich a little farther on. He was getting tired of living like this, eating bad food on an irregular schedule, trying to keep warm while sleeping in the uncomfortable car. That was another thing. His sweatshirt was completely inadequate for the cold weather they were encountering. They had turned off 395 onto 139, and he had a strong suspicion they were planning to camp at Crater Lake. He was sure it would be freezing there.
    To help keep himself alert, he scanned the car’s radio dial, trying to find a station that wasn’t all static. He finally found one. He heard Connie Francis singing the mournful song, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” The words resonated with him. Was he Penny’s fool? He certainly wasn’t her plaything, as another line said. She didn’t even know he existed. Was there any point to what he was doing? He was acting like a fool.
    They crossed into Oregon after dark, and a half hour later they were in the small city of Klamath