by Cari Cole
"I'm sorry to hear about your wife."
Dawson waved off her concern. "I think it's possible Perry has gone even farther off the reservation while my attention was elsewhere."
Not exactly comforting words. "Just how desperate do you think Perry is to prove his theory?"
The professor's gaze sharpened and he leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk. "Has something happened?"
Dawson seemed like a nice enough guy but with Belle's safety on the line, Lucy didn't want to say too much. "I'm not sure. My aunt has been helping Perry with his search. I haven't heard from her for a couple of days and I'm worried."
"You're asking if Perry's capable of harming your aunt to get the information he needs?"
Lucy nodded. "I suppose that's what I'm asking."
Dawson frowned. "I wish I could tell you there was absolutely no way Perry would do such a thing. Unfortunately, I don't know how far he'd go to prove his theory. My gut tells me he wouldn't hurt anyone but I just can't be sure."
Given the tone of the conversation, Lucy wasn't surprised at his answer. And she supposed if she was forced to deal with a kidnapper better someone like Perry than a career criminal. She'd bet lot's of money that Perry would have a hard time inflicting physical pain on another human being. "I appreciate your candor."
He shook his head. "I wish I could be more helpful."
"Do you think it's possible he's right? About the signed draft?"
"Anything is possible but I don't think it's very likely that document has survived--if it ever existed beyond July 4, 1776."
"And if it did survive? I suppose there wouldn't be any way to put a price on it."
"I'm not sure Bill Gates could afford it."
"Pretty big incentive for unscrupulous behavior."
"Only if you believe Perry's theory."
Lucy rubbed her collarbone in a nervous gesture. "Which Perry does."
Dawson didn't reply.
Lucy stood. "Thank you for your time."
"I wish I could be more help. Have you considered involving the police?"
Lucy shook her head. "I think it's a little early for that."
"Well, if you think of any more questions you'd like to ask. Please call me."
"I will. Thank you."
Lucy left the office and went out to the parking lot wondering if she was any more prepared to deal with the next thirty-six hours than she'd been before.
She sighed and unlocked the BMW. At least Dawson hadn't come right out and said Perry was a wild-eyed lunatic. If he was behind Belle's kidnapping--and it didn't seem likely anyone else even knew about the theories in his dissertation--he was probably more misguided than dangerous.
Lucy rolled down the windows and turned the AC on full blast before pulling out her cell phone. She'd had a debate with herself about whether to make this call but she couldn't stand the thought of being here and not at least trying to get in touch with Ryan.
He was probably asleep or in class anyway.
He answered on the first ring before Lucy had a chance to prepare herself. "Mom? Are you okay? I've been trying to call you. Where have you been?"
"I'm fine and I haven't had any missed calls on my cell."
"Your cell? You never answer your cell. I've left messages at home."
"Oh. I've been staying at Aunt Belle's but it just so happens I'm on campus now."
"You're here? I knew you weren't okay. Dad told me what happened."
Lucy was surprised Gary had had the balls to tell Ryan he'd left. She'd figured Gary would leave that to her.
"Why would you do something like that?" Ryan said.
His words took a second to register. Why would she . . . "What is it you think I've done?"
"Dad said you asked him to leave. That you wanted a divorce."
At that moment Lucy wished with all her heart that she'd shot off Gary's dick when she had the chance. For about ten seconds she considered going along to spare Ryan's feelings. Fuck that. "Your father is a lying ba--, jac--, sh--. . . " Ah hell. "Your father lied to you."
"Are you really here? On campus?"
"Yes, but I'm headed back to Belle's. There's something I need to take care of."
"Meet me at the Varsity. I'm on my way."
He disconnected before she answered.
###
The Varsity was a legendary fast food place where they still had carhops. The food was greasy, delicious, and very bad for you and the students loved it.
Lucy didn't think her nervous stomach was going to react well to chili dogs or onion rings so she found a table in the corner and waited for Ryan.
He walked in two minutes later and Lucy sucked in a breath at the sight of him. He was handsome, her son, and seeing him here the fact that he was now a man hit her with the force of a freight train.
This was the moment she finally realized she was an adult.
She would do her son the courtesy of treating him as an adult as well.
He spotted her and strode over with assurance in his bearing and concern on his face.
Lucy stood and he let her hug him.
She let go and stepped back.
"What's going on Mom?"
"Let's sit. Do you want something to eat?"
Ryan sat and shook his head. "I don't want to eat. I want to know what happened. Dad said you shot up the study."
Of course Gary would manage to get that part right. "That's true. When your father announced he was moving out and filing for divorce, I confess I went a little nuts. I got one of your father's guns and shot at his trophy fish."
Lucy didn't think Ryan would have looked more shocked if she'd announced she was going to shave her head and become a nun.
"You really shot up the study? That's crazy."
"No, shooting your father would have been crazy. Shooting his fish was a temper tantrum. A well deserved temper tantrum."
"But you threw him out of the house."
"Oh no. That part is a lie. On Saturday around lunchtime your father came into the kitchen and told me he wanted a divorce. He said he'd already packed a few things and was leaving right away. He said he was sure once I had a chance to think about it, I'd realize it was for the best."
Ryan's mouth settled into a stubborn adolescent pout that had Lucy re-evaluating her observation of him as an adult. Then again most men she knew were capable of that particular expression well into their thirties.
"Why would he lie?" Ryan said.
"Because he was counting on me to protect him from your disappointment. After all, I've been doing it for the past eighteen years."
"Mom, you know that's not true. Dad's always been there for me."
At that precise moment, Lucy knew exactly what Jane meant when she said she'd reached the limit on her bullshit meter. "Oh, Ryan grow up. Your father isn't a bad man but he isn't the hero you think he is."
Ryan winced and started shaking his head.
Off the top of her head Lucy could recite chapter and verse at least ten times she'd covered for Gary's thoughtlessness where his son was concerned. And those occasions wouldn't even begin to tell the whole story.
But that wouldn't be productive.
Lucy took a deep breath. There wasn't any point in spending her time reciting Gary's petty transgressions. "I know that's what you believe. I'm happy you have a good relationship with your father but the reality of now is that he left me the day after I waved goodbye and sent you off to college. At some point I might decide he was right and it's for the best, but at the moment I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my entire future is going to be different from the way I've pictured it for the last twenty years."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Lucy reached out and put her hand over the fist he had clenched on the table. "There isn't anything you can do. None of this is your problem. I wanted you to know the truth but I don't expect, or want, you to get in the middle of this. Your father and I will handle our own business. You con
centrate on school."
She patted his hand and sat back. "Let's have some lunch and then I need to get going."
Ryan blew out a frustrated breath. "I don't understand any of this."
"I'm afraid I'm not having much luck with that myself. I know you've been surprised by this--so was I--but in practical terms it won't effect you much. I promise to be polite to your father on all special occasions."
"How can you joke about this?"
"Because it's better than crying and besides, crying won't do any good. I have to deal with this in my own way."
"By running away to Belle's?"
"I haven't run anywhere. Belle asked me to help her with something." And wasn't she just being a big ol' hypocrite, lying by omission after calling Gary on his lies.
"You're not going on one of her 'adventure' trips are you?"
"Not this time. But why wouldn't you want me to go?"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Mom, the last time she went on a trip there was a coup. She had to negotiate with some rebel chief to get back to the airport."
"Well I'm not leaving Georgia in the next few days. After that, who knows? I think it's past time for me to start remembering who I am. Not your mom. Not a wife. Just me."
"What if Dad's just going through a phase? What if he changes his mind?"
"I don't think that's going to happen. He's already filed for divorce. He had someone serve me with the papers on Sunday."
Ryan's expression hardened. "He really did lie to me."
"I'm sorry this has upset you," Lucy said. "But I really want you to concentrate on school and let your father and I worry about ourselves." She looked at her watch and found it was nearly one. "I really have to get going."
"You never said what you were up to," Ryan pointed out.
"No, I didn't. Maybe I'll tell you in a few days."
After promising to keep in touch and getting a final hug and kiss, Lucy gave him lunch money just like old times and left him to his greasy food.
She had one more stop to make while she was here.
She'd done a quick internet search and gotten Perry's address this morning. She figured she could at least do a drive-by and see if it was even possible he could be holding Belle at his home.
The address was an old Victorian that had been divided into apartments catering to students.
There was virtually no way Perry was holding Belle in his apartment.
Should she park? Go in and see if he was home?
She pulled to the curb in front of the house, put the car in park and stared at the front door.
Her curiosity got the better of her and she went in.
The mailboxes in the foyer indicated Perry was upstairs in number four.
She went up and knocked. He probably wouldn't answer the door anyway.
The door swung open and Perry was blinking down at her as if he'd just emerged from a dark theater into the sunlight.
"Mrs. Deen. What are you doing here?"
"I came to do a little research. I thought I should stop by. See if you've heard from Belle or come across anything new that might help find the Declaration."
"What kind of research?"
Figures he'd home in on the one thing she didn't want to talk about. She tried on a wry smile. "I lied. I came to check up on my son. He's a freshman."
"Oh," I see. "I hope he's okay."
"Fine. Now, how about it? Anything new?"
"No. I'm afraid unless you come up with something I'm going to have to rethink my entire dissertation. Has Belle said anything?"
Was he for real? Lucy shook her head. "She's not back yet."
He looked surprised. "Have you called the police?"
"No. They won't get involved unless there's some sort of evidence of foul play."
Perry didn't respond but Lucy thought she might be detecting a little bit of relief on his face. Or imagining it.
"If you think of anything or stumble on something new, call me."
Perry nodded. "Sure. You'll do the same?"
"Absolutely."
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Jane and Mae pounced on Lucy the second she walked in the door, anxious to show off the supplies they'd purchased for their trek into the cave.
"We tried to do some research on the internet before we left but it seems serious cavers aren't interested in helping amateurs strike out on their own," Mae said.
Jane made a rude noise. "Imagine people who know what they're doing not wanting to give the rest of us schmucks enough rope to hang ourselves. The guys at the outfitters said experienced cavers don't like having to rescue idiots or retrieve bodies."
Lucy shivered. She really didn't want to be reminded just how dangerous caving could be. "Oh that's reassuring."
"Don't worry we charmed them into telling us what we'd need," Jane said. She batted her eyes. "Even twenty-somethings can't resist my charms."
"Did you find out anything interesting?" Mae asked.
Lucy shook her head. "Not really. Dr. Dawson hasn't been paying Perry much attention lately. His wife's been sick." She related her meeting with Ryan at the Varsity.
"You should have shot Gary's dick off," Jane said.
Lucy could only laugh. "I agree. At least I'm not going to jail. But we're wasting time. Show me what you bought."
They started with clothes.
"According to our rugged outdoorsy sales guys, temperature in a Georgia cave is probably going to be somewhere in the sixties and the cave is liable to be wet and muddy," Mae said.
Jane held up something large and red. "So we have these ugly ass coveralls to go over our clothes. They recommended layers."
"And we bought hiking boots."
Jane reached into the pile of supplies and waved a hard hat at Lucy. "Helmets. And we bought lights that attach to them with lots of extra batteries."
Extra batteries were a good thing. Lucy didn't even want to contemplate being in a cave without light. Lot's of light. "What about the climbing stuff?"
"Wait 'til you see," Mae said. "I couldn't believe the cool equipment."
Jane showed off mechanical ascenders that took most of the skill out of climbing--at least for short distances. And another piece of equipment designed to let an idiot rappel down a cliff without killing herself. Of course there was rope--lots of rope. And harnesses--that made your ass look ten times normal size--to hook all the stuff to.
"And we bought new packs," Mae said. "Bigger ones. And I bought stuff to make a big batch of Gorp."
"Gorp . . . I seem to remember something about that from my own Girl Scout days," Lucy said.
"Well, my version has peanuts, and M&Ms but I used Craisins instead of raisins. I also put in some espresso beans and pretzels."
"Okay." Lucy wasn't sure how much enthusiasm she was supposed to muster for snacks but the fact that it included chocolate was promising. "What else did you get?"
"More water bottles, wet wipes, Off, Chapstick, protein bars, whistles, Bic lighters, Swiss Army knives, flashlights, rain ponchos and one of those solar blankets for each pack."
Lucy was impressed but--"A blanket?"
"Not a regular blanket. This one's more like a tarp but it's designed to keep in body heat if you wrap it around you. It weighs next to nothing and folds up small." She shook her head. "You wouldn't believe the high tech stuff you can buy to go 'primitive' camping."
Lucy wasn't real clear on what camping had to do with anything. She certainly had no intention of spending the night in a cave. Even if the thought wasn't completely horrifying, they only had until tomorrow night to get the Declaration back to civilization. "What about the whistle?"
"In case we get separated. You just stop where you are and blow the whistle until someone finds you," Mae said. "I remember that from one of those 'what should you do?' shows on the educational channel."
"So we're set to go treasure hunting."
"Just like Lara Croft," Mae said.
"Bad example," Ja
ne said.
Mae frowned at her. "Haven't you ever wanted to have a big adventure? Be a super hero?"
"Sure I'm all for being rich, beautiful and uncovering fabulous artifacts. It's the being shot at, chased by hordes of bad guys and nearly killed part I have a problem with."
"Well, I doubt there are going to be hordes of bad guys. Although obviously there is at least one bad guy since he has Belle," Lucy said and promptly burst into tears.
Mae and Jane exchanged a "what the hell is going on look" before Mae jumped up to put her arms around Lucy.
Lucy cried and tried to put some sort of coherent thought together. She didn't know what brought this on but she didn't like it. Crying wasn't something she did well. Neither was accepting comfort.
That was what finally brought her back, the vaguely smothering feel of Mae's well-intentioned hug.
She sniffed back the last of the tears and stepped back to loosen Mae's hold.
Mae let her go with a pat. "Are you okay now?"
Lucy nodded. "I think so. I don't know what brought that on."
Jane shook her head. "Even I know a woman who's three days from her husband leaving, less than twenty-four hours from finding out her favorite aunt has been kidnapped and the ransom is a priceless document missing for more than two hundred years is entitled to a good cry."
Mae smiled. "Maybe it's worse when it's happy, sad and mad crying all at once."
Lucy swiped the back of her hand across her eyes. "That's just what it was. My feelings just got completely jumbled 'til I didn't know if I was happy Gary left me and sad Belle had been kidnapped or mad about the kidnapping and guiltily pleased about the adventure of finding the Declaration or maybe none of the above." Lucy blinked back new tears. "And I still don't have it all sorted out."
"And you probably won't for a while," Mae said.
"But we promise not to have you committed so we can get control of your money," Jane said.
Lucy laughed with humor this time. "That's good to hear since I don't have any money."