xXATHINLINE EBOOKXx-docx

by Gianna Boiani

  "Hi, ma'am. I am Officer Corbin. I need to ask you some questions about your missing husband."

  "Oh, yes, Detective. Come in. I will help in any way that I can." John followed her to the dining room where she instructed him to sit. "Coffee?"

  "No, ma'am. I’m good, thank you.” He took out a small notebook. “Does Craig have any enemies that you are aware of?"

  "No. None that I know of anyway."

  "Your husband is an insurance salesman?"

  "Yes. He does very well with it. He works in excess of sixty hours a week. That’s not including the overnight trips."

  "Overnight trips?" John asked.

  "Yes. Once a month or so he will travel to another town and stay overnight."

  "I see," John said. Any friends or co-workers that Craig is close to?"

  "Steve Thorpe is his closest friend. They go fishing and hunting together. They spend Sundays together during the football season. He’s about as close a friend as Craig has."

  "Do you have an address and/or phone number that I can reach him at?"

  "Sure." Mrs. Soler jotted the info down on a piece of paper and handed it to John. "Is there anything else that you can tell me? Anything that was out of the ordinary that might help?"

  "Not really. Everything went as usual. Craig was working late the last day I saw him. He never came home. The following night I called the police."

  "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Soler. I will do everything I can to uncover what happened to your husband."

  "Thank you, Detective. At this point, I just need to know, whatever the circumstances are."

  "Of course. Good day, Ma'am." John walked to his truck, glanced back at the large house and felt that familiar twinge in his gut. Steve Thorpe knew something and John was going to find out what it is.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  John sat at a coffee shop just outside Kirkland, waiting for Steve Thorpe to arrive. He would never just talk to a person of interest over the phone. You just get words. People lie. People lie all the time about everything. Meeting them in person lets John decipher their reaction to certain questions. Questions that are asked more to experience the response than to hear the actual answer. As John took his second sip of coffee, Steve Thorpe sat down across from him. "Hi. Detective Corbin? Steve Thorpe."

  “Hi Steve, thank you for meeting me," John said as they shook hands.

  “Is there anything that you can tell me about Craig that could uncover more information?" Steve's eyes darted away quickly and glanced out of the window as he said, "Probably nothing his wife hasn’t already told you."

  A little smirk played over John’s lips as he said, “Is that so? Steve, the question is, do you want to find out what happened to your friend or not? Did you two ever have any disagreements? Where were you the night he disappeared?"

  "Alright, alright. Look, I would never hurt Craig. We are like brothers. You need to promise me what I am about to tell you doesn't get back to his wife. It would crush her and ruin any chance of them resuming their lives together if she found out. "Okay. Shoot," John said.

  "Craig loves women. He would repeatedly see them on the side. He would tell his wife that he had customers to see in other towns to get away for a night. He would tell her that he was working late while he went out hunting women. Sometimes we would together. That is his only weakness in life. Other than that he is a great guy. He always treats her with the love and respect she deserves, but he seems to have this addiction."

  "Steve, I don’t need a testimony about his character. I need info that will help me find out what happened to him."

  “Okay, here." Steve jotted down "The Alibi."

  ”That’s the name of a bar he hangs out at. That’s where he was that night, probably looking for women. If its answers you want, that’s where you will find them."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  "I’ll have a Brooklyn Summer Ale. Also, have you seen this man around here in the past few months?" John asked as he handed Craig’s picture to the bartender at The Alibi.

  "Yeah, sure. Craig, I believe. He used to come in all the time. Hasn’t been in lately."

  "Were you working on Thursday, May 22nd?" John asked.

  "I must have been, I work most Thursdays. Now that I think of it, the last time I saw him, he was leaving with an attractive woman. I can’t be sure of the date, but it was definitely around the 22nd."

  "What can you tell me about the girl he left with?"

  "Very slender. Long, sexy legs. Very pretty. Long, blonde hair. She kind of had that look. You know, attractive, but an open sense of wildness. Kind of like she would be up for anything if you get my drift."

  “Had you ever seen her in here before?" John asked.

  "Yes, I believe I have, a few other times. She seemed to be desperate to meet a man, which seemed a bit odd to me cause, like I said, she is attractive."

  "Great, thank you Mr.?..."

  "You can call me Red."

  "Ok, Red, If you cross paths with her again please call me. Here is my card."

  "Sure, Detective...Corbin.”

  “Call me John."

  As John turned to go, he stopped for a second and glanced back at Red. Dark complexion. Brown hair. Brown eyes. "If you don’t mind me asking, why do they call you Red?"

  "Hmmm. Good question. Must be because I’m Irish." Red said as he winked and walked into the back room behind the bar.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  "A margarita would taste great about now," Jacqueline said as they waited for their food to arrive.

  “You will have plenty of time for that after the baby arrives," Julie said. The two were getting lunch together as had become their custom a few times a week since Jacqueline announced her pregnancy. "How's Todd?"

  "Getting better every day. I'm staying with him to help him get through this."

  "That’s wonderful. It will also prepare you for what to expect when you are married. After all the anticipation, ceremony, family clears, it will just be you two. Oh, and the baby of course. Living together day to day takes practice, sacrifice, and understanding. This experience will help you know what to expect."

  "Yes. You are right. Julie, I’m scared."

  Julie put her water down and took Jacqueline’s hand in hers. "Sweetheart, it is normal to be afraid. These are major events in your life. You wouldn't be human if it didn’t affect you."

  "But Julie, you need to understand, at times I feel like there is something missing in me. Some switch inside that allows me to feel emotions deeper than the surface. I’m not sure that I possess that switch. What if I don’t love my baby enough?"

  "Sweetheart, you will. Trust me. The love that you will feel for your child is unlike anything you have ever felt. Deeper than what you feel for Todd. Deeper than what you feel for family and friends. It is something that you have to experience and feel for yourself. Let me use an analogy if I may. I am around people all the time that have faced death. I mean really faced it, closely, Right there in front of them, and lived to survive it. It changes them. Their lives are happier and fuller. They respect every detail and experience from then on. But you cannot artificially produce that. We know we will all die someday, but it isn’t authentic until it actually happens. Until we face it. Until we accept it as real, right in front of us. The same is true for the love of a child. You cannot understand it until you experience it for yourself. Until you see your own eyes looking back at you. Until you hear them call you Mommy or hear them say, "I love you," for the first time. Those experiences are connected to your soul eternally. You will be fine, Sweetie. When the baby comes out, your life and your heart will change forever."

  As tears ran down Jacqueline’s face, she looked up at Julie and said, "Thank you."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  After following up on the other three missing husbands, John found the connecting link between them to be where the men went to drink. Two of them frequented The Alibi
as their favorite watering hole. The other two went to a bar called The Alco-Hole, which was a short two to three miles from The Alibi. John felt his best chance of uncovering the mystery was to wait on a call from Red, informing him that the woman that left with Craig Soler had arrived. The plan was for John to go undercover and try talking to the lady while she was unaware, instead of the alternative: taking her in to answer questions and alerting her of his suspicion. Whatever she had to do with Craig's disappearance, the evidence would surely have been removed by now.

  Red called on a Thursday, a bit after ten o’clock. "John, this is Red from The Alibi. The woman is here. The one Craig left with."

  "Okay. I will be right down. Thank you, Red."

  John turned off his phone and looked at Julie. "She’s there. It’s time."

  "Oh John, be careful, baby."

  "I will be as careful as I can be. She is the link, I just know it." John put on a suit, splashed cold water on his face and headed out the door to the last place Craig Soler was seen alive.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  The first vision that caught John’s eye as he entered The Alibi was an extremely attractive blonde woman sitting with a handsome man in a suit. John turned away, walked up to the bar and took a seat. "Hello, John," Red said from behind the bar.

  “Good evening, Red. Brooklyn Summer please."

  “Yes sir," Red said, grabbing a beer and setting it down in front of John.

  “Thank you." Leaning in a bit closer John said, "How long has she been with him?"

  "Twenty minutes. He seems transfixed on her."

  "Damn. I need to get rid of him," John said.

  “I’ll help. Go to the bathroom and wait there," said Red.

  “What are you going to do? I don’t want you involved. You are a civilian."

  "I am a bartender. I’ve seen my share of these situations. Plus, what other choice do you have?"

  Red stood behind the bar waiting for the go-ahead from John. "Okay. But don’t get into trouble. I need this to be clean and I need her unaware. If anything starts to go south, bail."

  "Will do, Detective Corbin," Red said with a small smirk as he gave John a mini-salute.

  "Axe the humor also, you Mick wannabe,” John said, also sporting a sly little smirk. "I’ll be in the john, do not fuck this up bar wench," John said before getting up and heading to the bathroom.

  Red walked over to the corner table. "I figured I would save you a trip to the bar. Another round?"

  "Sure," said Tamela as she looked at her date. "Are you ready?" "Yes, ma'am," he said. "Another Cosmo for her and a scotch for myself."

  "Absolutely. Coming right up."

  Red made the drinks and headed back to the table. As he moved to set the drinks down, he pretended to stumble and spilled part of the scotch onto the man’s lap. "Shit. I’m so sorry, sir," he said apologetically. "This round is on the house. Here," Red said as he handed him a towel. "Bathroom is over there, around the corner."

  The man got up in a huff, grabbed the towel and headed for the bathroom. As he walked in, John showed him his badge and said, "Sir, I don’t know your story and I really do not care, but the woman you are with is a person of interest and you need to leave the premises pronto."

  "Okay. Okay. Will do," the man said as he walked out of the bathroom, past Red, past Tamela and straight out the door. The one thing John remembered about the man was the wedding band around his finger.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  John returned to his seat. Red gave him a nod and walked to the other

  end of the bar to wait on a customer. John had to move fast before she left or another man decided to move in. He took his beer and walked over to the corner table. "Hi. Is this seat taken?" John said.

  "No. It was, but the gentleman had to leave in a hurry. He even left his scotch untouched, if you drink that."

  "Maybe, after my beer," John said as he sat down. "Are you married, Sweetie?" she asked.

  "Well, yes I am, miss...?"

  "Tamela," she said. "Well, at least you admit it, most men don't."

  "I am. But we have our issues. Every now and then a beautiful woman like yourself catches my eye."

  "What's your name, handsome?"

  "John," he said as he glanced at the bar and noticed Red looking in their direction.

  “Well, I'll tell you what, John, you buy me another drink and just maybe I'll take you home with me."

  "Okay. You got a deal."

  "I’m going to freshen up, handsome," she said as she got up and headed to the ladies room. John watched as she walked away. She wore a tight skirt that revealed every curve of her lower body. John waved Red over. "How's it going?" Red asked.

  "Perfect. I need one more drink for her then she wants to take me home."

  "Okay. I’ll grab it and bring it right over. Well done, sir," Red said. "Thank you for your help. You did well red, I won’t forget it.”

  "Aw shucks, don’t say that. You know how much us Irish boys blush," Red joked as he went to make Tamela’s last drink of the night.

  “Give me your hand," Tamela said as she returned from the ladies room. John held out his hand and Tamela placed a white thong in it. John shamefully felt a twinge in his groin as he put the panties in his pocket. Men will be men and natural instincts and reactions cannot be totally diffused. All the same, John felt a bit of guilt when Julie popped into his head as he felt the soft silk fabric in his hand. Red returned with her drink. "Ma'am, he said as he placed the drink in front of her.

  "Thank you," she said. "You are a very attentive bartender." "Why thank you, ma'am. Sometimes I have to wear very

  different hats while on duty. Some of them I’m sure would surprise you folks,” Red said as he glanced at John with a sly little smirk and walked away.

  "Nice man, that one," Tamela said.

  “Oh yes. Quite the comedian as well at times," John said, knowing the irony of that statement would be lost on her.

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed. So, John, are you thinking about what is waiting for you under this skirt?"

  "I can hardly wait to find out," he said.

  "Let’s go then. Follow me. I don’t live far," were the last words she said as she got up and walked out. John took one last sip of his beer, felt the minor bulge of her panties in his pocket, slapped down a one hundred dollar bill, waved to Red and was out the door, hopefully following Tamela to the answers to the mystery of the missing husbands.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  John followed Tamela’s jeep up a long dirt driveway which ended at a large box colonial surrounded by woods. He parked his truck in back of her jeep, got out and followed her up the stairs to the front door. She turned and said, "This way, handsome," as she entered the foyer. John walked through the door and followed her up the stairs. She disappeared into a room at the end of the hall. As John walked down the hall towards the room, he felt very vulnerable with her temporarily out of his sight. He reached for his Glock .22 inside his waistband and placed his hand over it. He could feel his heartbeat quicken with every step he took towards the room until he reached the doorway and found Tamela waiting patiently on the bed. "Took you long enough, handsome. Why don’t you get undressed while I freshen up a bit," Tamela said as she walked into an adjoining bathroom. He released his Glock from the holster, held it low and waited as he started to unbutton his shirt. His shirt fell to the floor as he noticed a shadow play on the far wall. He turned fast with his gun drawn. "Hands up!" he said.

  Tamela dropped a needle that she had about a foot from John’s neck. "On the floor. Now! You are under arrest!" John snapped as he straddled Tamela and slapped the cuffs on her wrists. Underneath him, he felt and heard Tamela laughing. "Very good John, if that is even your name. I had no clue you were a cop. I must say though, I am surprised that it took you this long to figure it out. It’s not like I was discreet, haha."

  "Shut it," John said as he picked up the needle
and bagged it. "What’s is in this needle, anyway?" John asked.

  “Oh my little homemade remedy for every horny, lying, pig of a male with an erect cock in this sorry ass world."

  "So you are confessing?"

  "Of course. I was only riding it out until I got caught. I knew it would happen sooner or later. But you know what, John? It was worth it."

  John got up and dialed Captain Johnson. "Sir, I got her. I need a car and two officers to pick her up at 16 Woodland Lane and escort her to a holding cell to await further interrogation by me."

  "Good work, John. Did you get a confession?"

  "Not yet," John said.

  "Okay. They are on their way, John."

  "Thank you, sir."

  Ten minutes later Tamela was taken away. John called Julie. "Hi, sweetheart. It’s over. I’m safe. I got her."

  "Oh John, I’m so proud of you. I love you.”

  “I love you too, babe.”

  CHAPTER FORTY

  John walked into interrogation room number two, looked at Tamela Barnes, circled the room and finally sat down across from her. "I have to admit, you have me a bit perplexed. Do you mind filling me in? What this is all about, who you have killed and where the bodies are?" John said.

  "I have killed four men, no, five actually, if you count my father, but he was hardly a man," Tamela stated, proudly, looking straight into his eyes.

  “Where are they?" John asked.

  "Four are buried in my woods. But, Daddy? Not him. I chopped him up as much as I could, then watched as I cooked his parts in a wood stove. Even toasted marshmallows in his fire."