by Ann Mullen
I laughed. “Bull, you like my mother. I can tell.”
“Now that we’ve come to the conclusion that mothers always have the upper hand, tell me about your new job. How did you come to meet Billy Blackhawk?”
“I read his ad in the paper for an office assistant. I knew I could do the job. I can’t tell you how many office jobs I’ve had. However, this was different. The job seemed interesting. Working for a private investigator sounded like fun. I can learn something new, and perhaps have a little bit of excitement at the same time. Billy’s a nice guy. He’s intelligent, and he seems to really have it together. I’ve been with him for one day and already I feel like we’re old friends.”
“Billy’s a good man, but this is serious business. Do you realize what you’re getting into? He comes in contact with some pretty rough people. Promise me you’ll be careful. Watch your back, and don’t take any unnecessary chances. It’s a hard world out there.”
“Billy and I had a long talk. The only thing I’ll be doing is the usual office stuff. Things like answering the phone, filing, making coffee, and spying on clients.”
“I caught that remark,” he said. “Detective work is serious business. It’s dangerous, and you could get hurt.”
“Why, Rhett, I do think thou dost protest too much.”
Cole turned to me and looked deep into my eyes. “I like you, Jesse. I don’t want anything to happen to you. This isn’t a joke. I meant it when I said things could get dangerous. Did Billy tell you about the time he got shot?”
“What? Billy got shot? When? What happened?”
“Five years ago, Billy was on a stakeout tailing a cheating husband. The guy came out of the motel and caught Billy with a camera. The guy went crazy and shot Billy in the gut with a .22 pistol. Good thing it was only a .22. If it had been a 9MM or a .38, Billy would be dead. It broke him up when Ruth left, and I don’t think he had his mind on his job. He was lucky, and I told him so. Billy and I are old friends. We go back a long way. After the shooting, I made him promise he’d start wearing a vest.”
“You’re starting to scare me,” I whispered.
“Good, you need to have a bit of fear in you. Besides, if something happens to you, who will I marry and have a house full of kids with? Besides, it would break your mother’s heart.”
He was joking, but the way he said it with such a warm smile on his face, touched my heart. I sat there with my eyes glued to his, mesmerized. I actually thought he was going to kiss me, and he might have, if Mom hadn’t appeared at the front door. Talk about bad timing.
“I’m sorry to bother you kids. You look like you’re having such a good time, but we didn’t want to go to bed without saying good-night. Claire says to tell you hi, Jesse.” She turned to Cole. “I hope you’ll come have dinner with us again real soon. Maybe we’ll see you tomorrow at the fair. I’m sure Jesse would like that. Wouldn’t you, honey?”
“I live for the moment,” I replied, causing Cole to chuckle.
She looked at the two of us as if we’d lost our minds. “Good-night.” She was shaking her head as she went back inside.
Cole looked at his watch and exclaimed, “I had no idea it was so late! It’s almost 10:30. Where did the time go? I need to get home. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I hope you’ll come out to the fair, but if you don’t, how about I take you sightseeing Sunday? We could go up on the Skyline Drive. It’s beautiful this time of year.”
“Oh, you can bet I’ll be at the fair. Mom will see to it. I would still like to take you up on the offer to go sightseeing.”
He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, and then he was gone.
I was smitten.
I stood on the porch and listened to the sounds of the night, taking in the clean fresh smell of the air. Crickets made their funny sounds and birds chirped in the background. Somewhere in the distance, the lone cry of a bobcat echoed, or maybe it was the cry of somebody’s house cat. I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter.
I went to bed with one thought on my mind. Tomorrow I would see Cole. I felt like a teenager again. This was getting crazy. I knew I had to get myself together, or I’d be heading for a full-blown crash. Things were moving way too fast, and I knew it. I lay in bed and reminisced about the past men in my life. I decided I’d take a step backwards. The few times I had overwhelming feelings for someone, it usually resulted in heartbreak. I’ve learned that when a man comes into your life with a big bang, he usually goes out like a fizzled-out sparkler on the fourth of July. I was determined I wouldn’t let that happen this time.
Saturday morning, I awoke at the crack of dawn. While Mom and Dad were still sleeping, I showered, got dressed, made a pot of coffee, and then took Athena for a walk. The morning air was cool and crisp, yet the sun was bright and warm. Off in the distance, dark, puffy clouds appeared on the horizon. Was it going to rain today and ruin our plans of going to the fair? I prayed not.
Athena and I scouted the area, ending up at the stream. The water was cold, but that didn’t stop her from jumping in and digging for rocks. She stuck her head under the water and didn’t come up until she had a rock in her mouth, which she promptly brought over and laid at my feet.
“Athena, get out of there, girl. It’s too cold.”
She climbed out, ran to me, and then shook the water from her coat.
“Whoa, girl,” I said, trying to dodge the spray. “Let’s get back on the road, away from this cold water.”
We walked until we came upon a house set back behind a row of tall Pines. Two dogs were sunning themselves in the front yard. The minute they saw us, they jumped up, started barking, and then ran toward us.
“It’s time to go home, Athena,” I whispered, and in one quick step, we turned and headed back home.
When the dogs finally caught up with us, I thought there was going to be a terrible fight, but oddly enough, all three of them sniffed each other a few times, and then began a playful romp before settling down.
“Hey, even the dogs are friendly, Athena.”
As we got closer to the house, I turned and said to our new companions, “All right, you two dogs go on back home.” Much to my surprise, they turned and headed back in the other direction. Cool, dogs that obey your command. What will I discover next?
Dad was reading the paper at the table and Mom was cooking breakfast, humming a familiar song.
“I remember that song. You used to sing it to us when we were kids,” I said. “I just can’t remember the name of it.”
Ignoring my statement, Mom asked, “What do you think of Cole? Y’all stayed up pretty late last night.”
Remembering what Cole had said about Moms, I softly answered, “I like him. He’s nice. We hit it off, so you can stop playing matchmaker. We’re going for a ride on the Skyline Drive tomorrow.”
Dad snickered under his breath as Mom said, “I knew you two were perfect for each other. I told Mack you were meant to be together.”
“What gives you that idea? Is it one of those feelings you get?”
“It was the way you drooled all over yourself the first time you met him,” Dad laughed, turning his back to me.
“I didn’t drool all over myself,” I promptly replied as I sat at the table with a fresh cup of coffee. “I admit that I was taken with Cole when I first met him, and I may have reacted strongly, but I did not drool.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Mack. She was doing what most women do when they meet a handsome man like Cole. She was examining him,” Mom said, coming to my defense. I love it when women stick up for each other.
I heard the rumble of thunder and went to look out the window. The dark clouds I saw off in the distance earlier had moved overhead.
“Please, tell me that’s not what I think it is. I was hoping those gray clouds were going to move out. Is it supposed to rain today, Dad?”
“According to the weather forecast in the paper it says—early scattered thunderstorms tapering off to light rain in the afternoon�
�but it looks like rain all day to me. I guess we’ll have to miss the county fair. I was so looking forward to playing games, riding rides, and following you two around.”
“Oh, don’t fret Dad, you still have tomorrow. Of course, I’ll have to pass on all the fun. I have a date with Cole.”
I was disappointed we weren’t going to the county fair. I would miss out on seeing Cole, but at least I still had a chance to be with him tomorrow. Mom must’ve sensed my frustration. She came over and put her arm around my shoulder and gave me one of her motherly hugs. She has an uncanny way of knowing how I feel, without my saying a word. I can never hide anything from her.
By the time we finished eating breakfast, the storm had moved in. I’ve always had a thing about thunderstorms. Maybe I was traumatized as a child. Now when I see lightning and hear thunder, all I want to do is close the curtains and crawl into bed. However, on the other hand, I love the rain. I don’t want to stand out in it, but there’s nothing like curling up on the couch with a good book, while the rain beats down on the roof. Rain makes things grow, and when it’s over, the air smells so clean. I could never figure out why people get depressed when it rains.
Since the day was going to be a washout, I decided I’d spend time going over the file Billy had asked me to read. I offered to help Mom with the dishes, but she said she’d take care of them when the storm passed. I went up to my room with Athena hot on my heels—maybe she was afraid of storms, too. I closed the curtains on the front dormer window and the big double window on the side, and then sat down on the bed, file in hand.
The file contained a copy of the newspaper article published two days after the disappearance of Helen Carrolton; a copy of her birth certificate; and three pages of handwritten notes concerning the case. I assumed the notes were written by one of her parents because there were bits of information added here and there in the margins. The last page of the notes had stain spots on it, as if someone had been crying while writing and their tears had spilled onto the paper. It was all so sad. I could sense the agony with each stroke of the pen. Their only child had been missing for six months—vanished without leaving a trace. Unless Helen Carrolton was found, dead or alive, there would be no closure for Myra and Jack Carrolton.
From the information contained in the file, it appeared that Helen Carrolton, age 19, had left her home on Wythe Creek Road in Poquoson the 26th of December, around four o’clock in the afternoon. She should have arrived at her friend, Emma Lawrence’s home in Gordonsville around seven or eight o’clock, depending on the traffic on I-64 and the I-295 Richmond by-pass.
Emma was going to use her Christmas vacation to move to her new apartment closer to the university in Charlottesville, and Helen was going to help her with the move.
At ten o’clock, Emma’s parents, Wayne and Donna Lawrence called Jack and Myra looking for Helen. From that moment on, there were a frenzy of phone calls placed to various local and state police departments and hospitals.
Eventually, calls were made to Helen’s other friends, obviously a last ditch effort. There were no reports of accidents involving a red ‘99 Chevy Geo, driven by a 19 year old female, 110 pounds, short blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing glasses.
There was no one admitted to area hospitals that fit that description either. She wasn’t in an automobile accident, or in the hospital, and she wasn’t in jail... so where was she? An official missing person’s report was filed with the Poquoson Police Department twenty-four hours later. The Carroltons had driven to Gordonsville to the Lawrence’s house, checking out every little nook and cranny on their way, looking for Helen’s car. They stopped at the rest area on I-64 westbound, near the weigh station, checked every hill, pasture and building in the background of I-295, and then stopped at the rest area on the second leg of I-64. Finally, they had taken the Zion Crossroads exit, and ended their drive at the Lawrence’s farm. Neither Helen, nor her car was anywhere to be found.
That was the complete file. There was no official police report. Yet, from what I’d read, there were so many questions left to be answered—questions that could only be answered by a police report. Billy and I had to get that report, or we were dead in the water. We had nothing to go on. Somewhere along the way, somebody must’ve seen her. Did she stop to get gas? Did she stop to eat? Where were the eyewitness reports? It was a three-hour drive. Who drives for three hours without stopping to get gas, or at least stopping to pee?
In the middle of my reading, the phone rang.
“It’s for you, Jesse,” Mom yelled up the stairs.
“I got it,” I replied as I picked up the receiver thinking, I have to get a private line.
“Hello,” I said.
“Jesse, this is Billy. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thanks. I called because I have some work to do tonight, and I’d like you to be with me. It’s surveillance work, so all you have to do is sit in the car. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll understand. I just thought it would give you some insight as to what kind of work I do. Surveillance work is a big part of a private investigator’s job. Unfortunately, it’s a lot of sitting and not much excitement.”
“Sure! I’d love it,” I answered, without hesitation. “I have a slight problem with transportation at the moment. My car has turned into a vegetable. Let me ask my folks if I can use the van.”
“Forget the van. I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay, what time?”
“Don’t you want to know anything about the job first?”
“No, not now. I’m sure you will fill me in on it later, right?”
“You got it! I’ll be there around five o’clock.”
“Do you know how to get here?”
“Yes, I do. I’m a private detective. Don’t you remember? I have your address. That’s all I need. I’ll see you at five.”
“Whatever you say,” I mumbled as I heard the dial tone in my ear.
Wow! I was getting my first chance to go out on a real stakeout. I was so excited, until I remembered Cole’s warning. What was going to happen tonight? Were we going to be in danger like Cole said, or am I going to see what the life of a real private eye is really like? What if it turns out to be boring?
I hung up the phone. I’d been so busy studying the file, I didn’t realize it was past noon until Mom called out, “Lunch is ready, Jesse.”
The thunderstorms had passed by the time Billy arrived, but the rain was still coming down, slow and steady. The weather forecaster had been right on target.
Billy was driving a blue, Dodge pickup truck. It looked new, and was a sight better than the ragged Mercury I’d seen parked in front of the office on Friday. After a quick introduction and a question and answer session with my parents, Billy and I left for our night of spying.
“Your parents are nice people, Jesse. They remind me of mine. They have to know everything,” Billy said, a smile forming.
“Yes, they do have a tendency to dig right in,” I agreed. “I appreciate your candidness with them. I don’t think they realize how dangerous this job can be. It can be dangerous, can’t it? I met this man who knows you, and he said you got shot doing the same thing we’re getting ready to do tonight. That’s not going to happen, right?”
He looked at me with a reassuring smile and said, “I sure hope not. I can’t promise anything, but I can tell you, I’ve learned a lot since that happened. I didn’t have my mind on my work and I paid for it dearly. I won’t let that happen again.” He was silent as we crossed the South River Bridge. Then he asked, “Who is this man you’re talking about?”
“Cole James,” I replied. “I met him a few days ago when he stopped by the house to introduce himself. He lives up the road a couple of miles. He’s a cop here in Greene County.”
“Actually, he’s a deputy.”
“There’s a difference?”
“Yes and no. A deputy can act in place of the sheriff, and a policeman acts for the
department.”
“I don’t see the difference.”
“Oh, you will.”
“Now that you’ve completely explained that one to me, tell me about the job.” It was obvious Billy was going to let me find out for myself the dealings of a small town sheriff’s department. “Does this have anything to do with that Mrs. Miller woman?”
“That was a good guess,” he replied.
“It wasn’t very hard, considering she’s the only client I’ve met since the Carroltons. However, you could have other clients that I haven’t met,” I said, trying to pry a little deeper into his business.
“I have two other cases, but I’m about ready to tie those up real soon. I have this one case involving employee theft at Walker Hardware Store in Albemarle County. That’s an easy one. I went in last night with Mr. Walker after the store closed, and set up a video camera.”
“Who’s going to turn it on?”
After a good little belly laugh, Billy replied, “I can see I’m going to have to teach you a few things about modern technology. They have equipment out there that allows you to listen to someone without being in the room, and cameras that operate by motion detectors.”
I could tell he was making fun of me. He probably thought I was ignorant. I sure felt like it.
“Anyway,” he went on, “Mr. Walker won’t be at work until noon, so that just leaves our boy, Bobby Weaver, all by himself. The minute he steps behind the service counter... gotcha! The camera’s activated, and we’ll have it all on tape.”
“What’s he stealing? How does he get it out of the store? Or, is he just taking money?”
“Oh, he steals money, but mostly, it’s tools and equipment. It seems he has someone come into the store and pretend to be buying something. A few minutes later, the person leaves, with goods in hand.”