by J B Hawker
After the women explained, Bunny was quiet for a moment, taking in the awful news.
“What does Rosamund say? She always kept pretty good tabs on the comings and goings in the parsonage. Didn’t Naidenne give her any hints of where she might be going?” she asked.
“That’s part of the mystery. Rosamund went missing before Deenie did,” Shirley said.
“What? Is there a search party out for her, too?”
“Well, no. Scott and Naidenne said Rosamund went on a little trip, but then he told the Sheriff they don’t really know where she went. Apparently, she left a note saying she needed to get away to think but didn’t say where she was going. They haven’t heard from her in weeks.”
“Now, they think Scott did away with his sister, too!” Judy added.
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake! Anyone with half a brain knows Scott Davidson would never hurt a fly, let alone the two women he loves. Does he at least have a good lawyer? Should I call someone?”
“I think he called Will Stockman. He’s a lawyer and a good friend of Scott’s.”
“Well, if he isn’t able to get Scott released, I know some fairly high-powered attorneys, friends of my late husband, who can. I think I should call one of them, just in case. Excuse me.”
Bunny got up and went into the kitchen to get her cell phone and make some calls.
“So, this is the famous Bunny we’ve heard so much about. Kind of a take-charge gal, isn’t she?” Peggy said.
“I don’t remember her being quite so assertive, to tell the truth, but a take-charge type may be just what’s needed here,” Shirley responded.
*
“Scott! Naidenne! We’re back!” Rosamund called out from the living room in the echoing parsonage.
“Where is everyone?” Len asked. “Shouldn’t they be home from work by now?”
“They certainly should. Maybe something’s happening at the church. Let me check the calendar,” Rosamund said, as she walked into the kitchen.
Scott had fixed himself a bowl of cereal the morning after Naidenne disappeared.
Rosamund was dismayed to see a bowl of soggy cornflakes and a carton of spoiled milk, slowly turning to cottage cheese, on the counter next to the sink.
With a little mental shake, she reminded herself this was no longer her kitchen, and walked over to the calendar where the events of the church were recorded.
That day’s square was blank.
“Something’s wrong, Len,” she called to her new husband.
“What do you mean? How can you tell?”
“I just feel it. Don’t you? This house is too empty. Like I imagine it would look and feel the day after the rapture.”
“Well, we’ll never know for sure, will we…we’ll be gone to Glory,” Len quipped.
“Be that as it may, something here is not right. I’m going to call Maureen Oldham.”
“That old biddy? Why her? You don’t even like her. Of course, nobody does.”
“Maureen always keeps tabs on the pastor and his family. She will know where they are, if anyone does.”
When she tried to call Maureen, the phone was “no longer in service,” according to the recorded message.
Rosamund called Shirley next and Jack answered.
“Hi Jack, it’s Rosamund. We just got back and…”
“Rosamund! You’re here? In Bannoch? Get yourself over to the Sheriff’s office, right away, woman. They think Scott did you in,” Jack told her.
“Whatever are you saying,” Rosamund stammered, but Jack cut her off, telling her to waste no time getting to the Sheriff, and hung up.
“I told you something was wrong, Len. We’ve got to get to the Sheriff’s Office, right now.”
They hurried to the car and drove off, Len restraining his curiosity until they were well on the way.
At the Sheriff’s Office, Rosamund and Len approached the reception counter.
“Excuse me. We are here to see Reverend Scott Davidson, please,” Len told the duty sergeant.
“What’s your relationship to Mr. Davidson?” he asked.
“We are his sister and brother-in-law,” Len replied with a proud grin, despite the circumstances.
“Names?”
“Rosamund Davidson Spurgeon and Len Spurgeon.”
Hearing Rosamund’s name, the sergeant looked up, alertly.
“Have a seat over there, someone will be with you shortly,” he directed, before stepping away from the counter and making a phone call.
Soon the couple was ushered into an interview room, where they waited several minutes before being joined by the detective on the case.
“You are claiming to be Scott Davidson’s missing sister, is that right?” he asked, without preamble.
“No indeed,” Rosamund snapped.
“I was told…”
“I am not ‘claiming’ anything. I am Rosamund Davidson Spurgeon and I have been Scott’s sister since the day he was born...longer actually, since the day he was conceived.”
“Do you have some identification?” the detective asked.
“As a matter of fact, I have my driver’s license and my birth certificate, as well as my marriage license.”
“How is it you just happen to have all that?” the detective sneered.
“We were recently married and haven’t had a chance to unpack and put our documents into a safety deposit box at my husband’s bank. He is the manager of the local branch. Do you need proof of that, too?” Rosamund retorted, handing over the papers.
The detective examined the identification documents, as though suspecting they might be counterfeit, then handed them back.
“Everything seems to be in order. Do you mind telling me where you’ve been for the past few weeks?”
“I don’t see that it is any of your business, officer,” Rosamund replied.
“Now, Rosie…I don’t mind telling you, detective. We’ve been getting married, and on our honeymoon,” Len said.
“Why the big secret?”
“When you get to be our age, you don’t necessarily want a big to-do of a wedding.”
Rosamund smiled at Len, grateful he hadn’t told the detective about her foolish superstition.
“May we see my brother, now?” she asked.
“Wait here.”
In a few moments the interview room door opened, again, and Scott entered.
“Oh, Scott! I’m so sorry! I never guessed my little trip would get you into trouble,” Rosamund wailed, throwing her arms around her brother.
Scott patted her on the back then gently pushed her back.
“You didn’t get me into this, Rose. Naidenne is missing and I don’t know where she is. The police just naturally assumed foul play and I guess the husband is the prime suspect.”
“Missing? What do you mean?” Rosamund cried.
After Scott recited the story, Rosamund was stunned.
“What can we do to help you find your wife, Scott?” Len asked.
“I don’t know…I just don’t know,” Scott said, sitting down at the table and putting his head in his hands.
“I’ve been praying since we heard you were in trouble, even before this awful news about Naidenne, and I know you have been, too, but there must be something else we can do,” Rosamund said. “At least I can fix you a decent meal. Let’s go.”
“I’m afraid I’m still in the frame, as they say, for Naidenne’s disappearance. I don’t think they will let me go,” Scott told his sister.
“Well, we can ask,” Len stated. “Where’s your lawyer? Can’t he get them to let you go home?”
“Will left me about an hour ago to talk to someone. I’m afraid I didn’t pay much attention. He should be back soon, though.”
Will tapped on the door and came in just as Scott spoke.
“Rose! Welcome back. I don’t know where you’ve been, but you made a timely return. I’m not sure I could have convinced these folks to let your brother go home, if you’d still been missin
g, too.”
“But I wasn’t missing! I told Scott and Naidenne I was going.”
“Only not where you were going, how to reach you, or when you’d be back,” Scott pointed out.
“Oh dear,” Rosamund sighed.
“Now, don’t fuss, Rosie. We’re back now. And didn’t you hear the man say Scott can leave? Let’s get the boy home,” Len said.
“Oh, yes. You’ll feel better after I fix you a good dinner.”
“I don’t think I’m going to have much appetite as long as my wife is missing. But thanks, anyway. I’ll be happy to get out of here, though. Thank you, Will.”
“We may not be out of the woods, yet. The detective did tell me they had a report from someone who thought they saw your wife in the backseat of her own car, making faces at folks. This person said the car was being driven by a long-haired man, but the police don’t seem to think this is a serious lead. If Naidenne, well, if she isn’t found, we will probably have more dealings with the police,” Will said.
“Don’t even think that!” Rosamund cried.
“Come on, Scott. Let’s get you home where we can talk this over and make plans to find your wife,” Len urged.
Chapter Nineteen
“My attorney friend in Houston is going to contact the local authorities and find out more details. If it looks like Scott needs him to intervene, he’ll fly out in the morning,” Bunny told the others when she returned from her phone call.
“That’s really wonderful,” Peggy commented.
“But it’s not going to help us find Naidenne,” Judy said.
“Right. Let’s go to the next house on our list. She’s obviously not here at Bunny’s cabin,” Shirley agreed.
“Wait. I’ve only been here a couple of hours and haven’t been all over the house or the grounds. Deenie could have come to open the place up and fallen down the cellar stairs, or something. Don’t you think we should at least look?” Bunny said.
“You know your house the best. Tell us where we should check,” Judy replied.
Bunny sent the women to check the cellar, utility room, closets and guest room, while she did a tour of the yard, even peering under the deck. There was no sign of Naidenne.
“Okay, it was worth making sure she isn’t here, but now we really need to move on,” Judy said.
“Can I come, too?” Bunny asked.
All four women piled into Judy’s car and drove back out onto the road for the next empty property on their list.
“Is that it, up there?” Peggy asked, pointing to the house with all the construction materials in the overgrown yard.
Shirley checked the list and nodded.
“This is the place. See the realtor’s sign?”
*
On the hill above the house, Carver Schramm heard a car and peered through the trees. He couldn’t believe it when he saw a car driving up to the very house that he had been hiking away from for half an hour or more.
“Oh, man! I’ve been walking in a circle! I hate these friggin’ trees,” he growled, then dropped down to stay out of sight of the people in the car.
Seeing four middle-aged women climb out of the sedan, Schramm had an idea. He’d never find his way out of these mountains if he couldn’t stay with the road. But if he took that car, he still had a chance to get out of the area without being seen.
He began to creep down through the undergrowth toward Judy’s car, as the women approached the house and began to peer into the windows.
When the four went out of sight behind the house, Schramm dashed to the car, where Judy had left the driver’s door hanging open.
Carver stifled a laugh when he saw the keys dangling from the ignition. He sprang onto the seat and started the engine, slamming the door shut as he reversed wildly down the driveway and out onto the road.
Alerted by the sound of the engine and the slam of the door, the women came running in time to see Judy’s car disappear down the mountain road.
“My car! Someone’s taking my car! Ken is going to be so mad.”
“Call the police, quickly, maybe they can catch it before it hits the highway,” Shirley suggested.
Bunny pulled her phone from her pocket, dialed and asked the emergency operator for the State Troopers.
“Here, Judy. You can describe your car,” she said, handing over her phone.
“I left my purse in your car, Judy,” Peggy remembered. “Tell them that.”
“Never mind your handbag, Peggy. My car’s gone.”
“But the question is, who was that and did he have anything to do with Naidenne’s disappearance,” Shirley said.
“It couldn’t have been Naidenne, could it?” Peggy asked.
“Of course not. She would have no reason to steal a car and run away from her friends. Naidenne is either hurt or in trouble, and the person who took Judy’s car must be involved. Why else would they be out here all alone at an abandoned house?” Bunny said.
“A trooper is coming to get my statement and take us home. We need to tell him about Naidenne, too. Maybe he can help find her,” Judy said.
“Good idea. In the meantime, we can keep looking around. Maybe we’ll find something,” Bunny suggested.
The women found nothing outside the house except a few beer bottles.
They were hesitant to use their key on the lockbox to open the door and decided to wait and let the trooper go search inside.
After being surprised by the car thief, they weren’t completely sure they were alone.
*
The bump on Naidenne’s head made her thinking fuzzy. She kept drifting off to sleep. Each time she awoke she fought against her bonds, trying to get to her feet before being once more overcome by weakness.
Coming around again, she thought she heard voices and a car.
“I must be dreaming,” she told herself as she struggled in the dark basement. She soon gave in to exhaustion and slept, once more.
*
When the trooper arrived, the women told him their story. He relayed the pertinent details to his dispatcher, then agreed to search the house for the women.
Shirley unlocked the front door for the trooper.
“You ladies stay out here,” he instructed as he walked inside.
The women could hear him walking around the empty house. He searched quickly upstairs and spent a longer time on the main floor, before they heard him descend the basement stairs.
He soon came out, looking grim.
“What did you find?” Judy asked. “Is there any sign of Naidenne?”
“I didn’t find your friend, ma’am. The house is empty.”
When Bunny put her hand on the door, preparing to have a look around for herself, the trooper stopped her.
“You don’t want to go in there,” he cautioned.
“Why not? You said no one’s inside.”
The officer looked uncomfortable, as though trying to think up a reason without alarming the ladies.
“It may not mean anything, but I saw what might be bloodstains in one of the rooms. No one may go in there until the crime scene technicians have a chance to check it out.”
“Blood!” Peggy shrieked, while the others went pale.
“It could be from some animal, or a transient may have set up camp in the empty house. You don’t what to assume it has anything to do with your missing friend,” the trooper said, trying to reassure the women.
Obviously not convinced, the four were becoming more distressed by the second.
“We need to get back to town,” Shirley said.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t leave until the other officers arrive, ma’am. I’ll take you all home, as soon as I’m relieved here.”
“Look,” Bunny spoke up, “my place is just over the hill. I’ll walk home for my car and come and get you. Is that all right, officer?”
“I guess so. I’ve got all your contact information and statements. None of you went into this house before I arrived, right?”
; They all nodded.
“Then, you can go. Someone will probably get in touch, if we need anything more from any of you.”
“Would you like me to come with you, Bunny?” Shirley asked.
“No thanks. She travels fastest who travels alone, and all that. I’ll be back in a few shakes. Hang in there,” Bunny said and walked off across the hill at a brisk clip.
“How are we ever going to tell Scott?” Judy moaned.
“We don’t have anything to tell him, yet. No one should say anything about this until the authorities decide exactly what this nice trooper found inside. It may be nothing and speculating will only add to his pain, unnecessarily,” Shirley said.
“But this doesn’t look good, does it. The person who stole Judy’s car was lurking here and now there are pools of blood inside,” Peggy said.
Overhearing this remark, the trooper walked over to the cluster of frightened women.
“I never said anything about pools of blood, ladies. There are some stains on the rug that just might be bloodstains. They could just as well be from spilled catsup or something. Please don’t go back to town and start a bunch of rumors.”
“That’s right. ‘Least said, soonest mended,’ as my grandma used to say,” Shirley offered.
The trooper’s admonition put an end to the women’s speculations. Since there was nothing else on their minds at the moment, they fidgeted silently while waiting for their ride back to town, with the trooper’s radio squawking in the background.
*
The other First Ladies Club search teams had come up empty and were gathered back at Eskaletha’s home, waiting for Judy’s team to report in, when Bunny dropped them off.
“Will you come in and meet the others?” Shirley asked her.
“I’d like to, but some other time. I want to run by the parsonage and see how Scott’s doing. I’m worried about him with Naidenne and Rosamund both missing,” Bunny replied before driving off.
Eskaletha greeted them at her door, “You’re the last to return. Did you find anything?”
“My car was stolen!” Judy cried. “And the trooper may have found Naidenne’s blood in the last house we looked at.”
“Judy! Remember what the officer said,” Peggy reminded her.