"Has she contacted you? Do you still have feelings for her?"
"No, she hasn't and the love I feel for you, Jenny, was never there with Lisa. She was the hope for our kind of love, but it still crushed me when she left and the reason I was so emotionally out of reach when we met."
"Lisa was the hope for a love. A love that you had found before her?" Jenny asked softly, fighting back the fear of where this was going.
"She was the hope for the love I have exceeded with you Jenny. Don't lose sight of that fact. I have never loved anyone more than I love you Jenny."
Tears started to flow down Jenny's cheeks and she turned away from Charlie to wipe them away. "I have one question before you continue," she said then turned back to face him. "Are we in trouble Charlie?"
"No Jenny. We are forever and there is no confusion about that. I didn't welcome this…distraction and wanted to spare you any hurt as I dealt with it."
"OK, I can listen now."
"I don't think my parents even liked each other anymore as I grew up. Eden was in a family, like yours, the complete opposite of mine, full of love and togetherness. We dated my senior year in high school until her father was transferred and they moved away. We wrote for most of the following year, then lost touch. She's the editor of the Salinas Tribune newspaper where I met Lacy to talk about Rosalyne and Dave."
"I can understand the shock of seeing your first love again. What are your feelings for her now?"
"I can honestly say I was overwhelmed. But I have no desire to explore whatever it is that’s still there Jenny."
"Charlie, if you're being honest with me and yourself, I don't understand why you couldn't tell me when you got home that night. Or why you are so…distracted, as you put it, now?"
"How could I tell you I felt something for another woman without hurting you? I've been sorting it out and never thought it was a threat to us, or to our love for each other."
"Did she tell you she still loves you, is that it?"
"No Jenny, nothing like that…"
"What are you not telling me Charlie?"
"She has a teenage daughter."
Jenny fell silent and looked away through the passenger side window, deep in thought for a moment. Without looking back she asked, "Is she your daughter?"
"I don't know, Jenny. Eden didn't say and I only saw her daughter's photo."
Jenny turned back to face him with a lost and confused expression on her face. "But you think she's yours. The age is right and I am assuming there was the physical side of your relationship to make it possible. Charlie, how could you leave without knowing?"
"Jenny the shock of seeing Eden was overwhelming enough. I couldn't handle the confirmation that her daughter's blue eyes were mine. I'm so sorry this has happened and that I didn't know how to handle it. I told her I had a family and then left her office."
"We can look for Dave tomorrow after we check on Rosalyne in the morning. I won't be able to sleep tonight without knowing if Madison has a half sister. Take me home and go get that answer."
"We can call her from the office."
"I don't like this situation at all! You see this woman one time and it has already put distance between us, Charlie. But, I do trust you enough to extend Eden the courtesy of this question being asked face to face."
Chapter 10
Charlie drove to the Salinas Tribune Newspaper office and when he entered the building Lacy called out to him, "Hello Mr. Watson. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"Hi Lacy. Sorry I have nothing to report on Rosalyne's condition or about Dave. Has Dave called you by any chance?"
"Actually, I received an email from him this morning. He changed his email address and warned me to stay clear of anyone asking questions about him, Assemblyman Mitchell or the Sentinel Corporation," she said, then turned back to her computer and hit a few keys. The printer beside her came to life. She pulled the sheet out of the printer and brought it over to him. "As you'll understand when you read this, he feared for his life and ran for it. He doesn't give me much but wanted to make sure I stayed safe, out of the loop and played dumb."
"I imagine that was like spreading candy across the table and saying don't touch."
"You sound like you know reporters. I shared it with Ms. Downey, our editor whom I understand you know, and she's indicated because of our 'Scoop Club' tie, she forbids me to get involved."
"Is she in?"
"Yes," she said, with a knowing smile. "She mentioned we might see you again. Go on back."
Charlie passed through the counter half door and was walking toward Eden's office when he heard her callout, "Come on in Charlie."
Charlie took a deep breath, rounded the corner and walked into her office. He was grateful she was seated behind her desk and had not stood to greet him because the sight of her still caught him off guard. "Hello again … Ms. Downey."
"Seriously, Charlie, Ms. Downey?" she said with a broad grin.
"I had to try, but it didn't seem to help. Your doorway is like passing through a time machine stripping fourteen years away." He sat down quickly in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
"The only thing missing is your football jersey with number 27 on it. I should have worn it today."
"Not a dust rag long ago? You're not making this easy."
"It's not tacked to the wall anymore … ."
"Then that seems to be the only thing missing."
"To business, I see Lacy gave you a copy of the email. I might have some more information that could help in your investigation."
"Eden, please don't get involved here. I have one person in the hospital and Dave as you know is scared and running. If something ever happened to you…"
"Thank you, Charlie. I didn't run an ad asking for help, just did some quiet digging. Two years ago our town received a new Cinemagic Theater and currently, beside it under construction is an entertainment complex. Both properties were sold to the developers by the Sentinel Corporation. Here's the odd part, Sentinel only held title to both properties for less than three months before reselling them. The first property, where the theater was built was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pete Lester and purchased by the Sentinel one month following Mr. Lester's fatal heart attack. The second property was sold to the Sentinel by Mr. and Mrs. Chester who apparently live in New Mexico but I haven't been unable to contact them."
"Have you spoken to Mrs. Lester?"
"Tracked her down to a senior facility; bad case of dementia." She handed him her notes and copies of the real estate sales documents.
"Thank you, Eden. This will help a great deal. Promise me you won't take any more risks."
"Anything else that surfaces I'll forward to you, if you promise to keep me informed where this goes."
Charlie pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her. "You can reach Jenny or me at these phone numbers or email addresses."
"Glad I could help, Charlie," she told him. She turned and picked up the photo of her daughter from the credenza behind her desk and handed it to Charlie. "Tell me something Charlie. If I had told you when you were here before that my daughter, Emily, is twelve and not thirteen, would I have had this pleasure of seeing you again so soon."
Charlie, realizing he had been holding his breath, let it out slowly. "She is very beautiful Eden. Her blue eyes did keep me awake these last couple of days and as you have guessed, the real reason I'm here now."
"It's not just my thing for guys with blue eyes, Charlie. My Dad's were blue also."
"Emily? That’s the name we chose for our adoption report in our health class," Charlie said, slipping back in time again.
"You remembered; that pleases me. Are you, disappointed or relieved?"
Charlie sunk deeper into his chair, finding his answer was not that cut and dry. Sorting through the wave of emotions and thoughts since their eyes met after fourteen years was not an easy task. "There's no simple answer, Eden. I guess relieved only in the sense that I don't feel guilty f
or missing the thirteen years of a life beyond the memories of what we were, and maybe, disappointed that Emily isn't that life. I have never been fond of roller coaster rides, being slammed side to side in extremes…"
"I'm sorry, that wasn't a fair question, but a wonderful answer. So get off the roller coaster and put your detective hat back on to solve this case," she said with a smile to clear the heavy air between them. Eden stood up, rounded her desk, extended a hand and then added, "Keep me informed and again, anything I get, I'll send."
Charlie stood, relieved at her extended hand and shook it. "Thank you Eden, what you uncovered puts a new spin on this case. Please be careful, for you and Emily."
"I will. I still look forward to meeting Jenny and Madison."
He turned back from the doorway to face her and replied, "My world…now." Then he turned away as his only hope to stay off that roller coaster and left the building. He drove two blocks away, confident that his mind was reengaged and called Jenny.
"Charlie, is that you?"
"Yes Jenny, it's me I just left their office."
"Thank you for not waiting until you got home," Jenny said pensively.
"I only have one daughter and her name is Madison," he said.
"And your thoughts on that?"
"Ready to focus on this case. I have some new information that puts a new twist in our case. Didn't you mention finding something in Rosalyne's desk, a pamphlet or something from Cinemagic Theaters?"
"Ok…for now. Don't let this become a wall between us. I'll wait until you're ready or even know. Yes, there was, but we don't have one in town so I gave it little thought."
"There's one here. Sold to Cinemagic Theater Inc. by the Sentinel Corporation and it doesn't appear they held the property very long before turning it. The Marina City Council minutes I read discussed running utilities to some property…we need to look into that, see if Sentinel is involved."
"I'll start digging there while you drive back. See you in twenty."
"Oh Jenny, I have something else that might help, a new email address for Dave."
"Where'd you get that? His old one was a dead end."
"He emailed Lacy, warning her to stay out of this. I'll show it to you when I get back."
"Dave won't trust us to answer an email from us, if he is so spooked."
"Maybe Rosalyne can make an introduction …"
"She's still in a coma…got ya, I have her computer right here. Let me ease into that and get the communication flowing between the 'Scoop Club' members again."
Charlie gave her Dave's new email address and clicked his phone off. Jenny pulled Rosalyne's computer over and turned it on. After a few moments she heard 'You've got mail' and opened Rosalyne's AOL email account. Jenny sorted through the new mail and found one from Dave's new email address. When she opened it all that was written was "first love?". Jenny picked up her phone and dialed Henry Wilson's cell phone.
"Hello, this is Henry."
"Hi Henry, it's Jenny. Any change with Rosalyne?"
"They tell me it's up to her now, probably still tomorrow. They have stopped all sedation and I am planning to stay here tonight with her."
"We are still planning to come by the hospital in the morning. She was emailed by Dave. He changed his address and is not sure who is receiving Rosalyne's email. As a coded message he simply asked her, "first love". I'm trying to get information from him but have no idea how to answer that question as Rosalyne would. Any ideas?"
"There is little doubt. His autographed photo still sits in her home office. Tom Selleck, from Magnum P.I., she did the whole fan club thing in high school."
"Thanks, I'll run with that and let you know what I can find out from Dave. See you tomorrow," Jenny said, putting the phone down, and returned to the email message. She typed the return message, "Dave, I'm so relieved you're OK. I was so frightened when they pulled me over I could have used my Magnum P.I., yes it's me. What happened to you?' Jenny said a small prayer and hit the send key. She walked over to pull Madison out of her play pen and said, "Your daddy is coming home, Maddy. Let's get some lunch."
Charlie was half way home when he pulled off the road to answer his phone. "Charlie."
"Charlie, it's Lacy can you come back here right away?"
"Calm down, Lacy, what's happened?"
"It's Ms Downey! Please hurry."
Charlie crossed the highway with his wheels spinning. He picked his phone up off the seat as he raced back to their office. "Is she hurt, what happened?"
"A courier brought a package in, she looked at it then rushed out to get Emily at school."
"How do I get to her school, Lacy?"
"The second stop light on Main Street is Elm Ave. Turn right; it’s a mile down on the left."
"Are you in danger?"
"No, I've locked the door but Ms. Downey was very frightened when she left."
"Call the school and have them hold Emily in the office until she gets there. You wait at the office until we come back, OK?"
"Ok, Charlie, thanks."
Charlie was passing traffic on the shoulder of the two lane highway as he raced back to Salinas. He flew through the first stop sign on Main and had to use the lawn on the corner of Main and Elm to pass the three cars waiting at the four-way stop. He pulled in right behind a red Volvo SUV, he assumed was Eden's car at the main loading curb in front of the school. A quick glance around revealed a black Chrysler sedan at the curb on Elm Ave, just beyond the loading zone curved driveway. Two men were in the car watching him and with his phone in hand he took a photo of the rear license plate. The car pulled away at that moment and he raced for the front doors of the Salinas Middle School.
Lockers lined the wide hallway interrupted only by classroom doors on both sides. He spotted the overhead office sign half way down the building. He ran to reach it and didn't stop to catch his breath until he saw Eden holding her daughter through the glass door. Once he felt his own heart had stopped racing and following a deep breath he opened the office door. Eden turned quickly while shielding Emily from an intruder then let out a relieved breath.
"Lacy called me, what happened?" he asked softly.
Emily eased back to look at her mother's face still damp from the flow of tears. "Mom they pulled me out of class, what's wrong? Is grandpa OK?"
Eden pulled a folded sheet of paper out of her purse and handed it to Charlie then answered, "Yes Emily, your grandparents are fine."
Charlie moved away from the group surrounding Eden and opened the sheet of paper. Type written across the top were the words, "We suggest you mind your own business" and below that was a photo of Emily waving from the front of the school with a banner, "MISSING CHILD." Charlie folded the paper and put it in his rear pocket.
The principle moved out from behind the counter and asked, "The call from your office caused quite a stir here Ms. Downey. Do we need to call the police?"
"No Mr. Quinn, I'm sorry for that. It's an urgent family matter we need to attend to. I'll need to keep Emily out of class for a few days though."
"Mom?"
"Emily, we need to let these folks get back to work, I'll explain later," Eden said and then turned back to the office staff. "I didn't realize my office called, I drove here as soon as I got word … about our family matter."
"We understand, Ms. Downey and hope all goes well there. Ok, people back to work," Mr. Quinn said.
Charlie turned and held the door for Eden and Emily to leave the office. As they walked down the hall toward the front doors Emily studied Charlie. When he noticed it he said, "Hello Emily, I am an old friend of your mother's and thought it might be fun for you and your mom to come stay at my hotel for a few days."
"I don't think this is a good time, Charlie…"
"Charlie? You're the guy in the football uniform. I've seen your picture at home," Emily said with a grin.
"Emily, we'll talk about this later." They walked out to her car without a word and Emily slid into the passenger side
and closed the door. Eden followed Charlie to the back of her car and said, "I'm scared Charlie, I don't know what to do? Should I call the police?"
"I don't think their use of "mind your own business" included the Salinas Police. We need to check on Lacy, get your desk covered, and I'll follow you to your home so you can pack a few things to stay with us."
"I can't do that. Just leave my job and what about Jenny? Did you ask her about this?"
"Eden, listen to me. There is no way I'd leave you two in danger. And given the circumstances, Jenny would kick my ass if she knew I had."
"OK then, but only for a few days," she said with relief covering her face.
"Until we know you're safe, let's go." Charlie scanned the area and didn't see the black Chrysler sedan and walked Eden to her door. "I'll be right behind you." He walked back to his truck and pulled the pistol out from under the front seat and set it beside him. As they pulled out of the school loading zone, Charlie picked up his phone and called Jenny.
Chapter 11
Leaving Salinas Charlie noticed the black Chrysler sedan was trailing a few cars behind them. He pulled his phone out of its holder and hit the speed dial. Following the brief conversation his worried expression relaxed as he considered the possible break in their case. He had told Eden when they reached the Marina City Limits sign she should pull over and he would take the lead to Watson Manor. She pulled to the side of the road just beyond the sign and waited for Charlie to take the lead. He pulled to the curb in front of her and walked back to her car. She rolled her window down, concern evident in her expression as she brushed her hair away to face him. "Is something wrong, Charlie?"
"We have company. I don't want them to follow us to Watson Manor. It'll be just a moment." He looked back to where the black Chrysler had pulled off the road a quarter mile back just in time to see the lights on the roof of the Marina Police Cruiser light up behind it. He turned back to Eden with a grin and added, "We can go now, problem solved." It was an automatic move when he put his hand over hers that was clutching the door through the opened window. "Eden, Emily you can relax, we are almost there." He walked back to his truck and glanced as Detective Edwards drove past on the opposite side of the street.
Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3) Page 5