by A. L. Jambor
Jason had been cooperative when Conner questioned him. He showed Conner a letter with Audrey’s signature stating he had her permission to stay in the house. At first, Conner didn’t think much of it. A young person living in an over fifty-five park wasn’t that unusual, but they were usually related to the owner. To have a stranger live there, though, would require permission from the park.
Conner knew he couldn’t waste much time on the case. He’d have to wait the requisite forty-eight hours after the filing of the report to investigate. But he could patrol the neighborhood when he was out on his rounds.
Mel was aggravated. She wanted to find a hotel room, and they were all booked with holiday travelers. She also wanted to go to Lisa’s condo, but she still didn’t know what had happened to Audrey, and once she was with Lisa, she knew she wouldn’t want to leave her.
Underneath it all, she was worried about Audrey. Her family was small. Her nana had been good to her and had asked for little in return. Her mother, Linda, had never been attentive toward her, but her grandmother, Laura, had raised her and always made her feel loved and wanted. They were counting on her to find out what happened to Audrey.
Thinking of Linda made Mel angry. Her mother was a healthy woman in her forties, but her selfishness was legendary in the family. They all knew they couldn’t depend on Linda to help out. She made her own plans and led her own life. She had abandoned Mel soon after she was born, leaving her with Laura. Once Linda had a steady job and a place to live, Laura insisted she spend the summer with her young daughter, and for reasons known only to Linda, she obeyed.
As soon as Mel graduated high school, however, Linda no longer felt an obligation to see Mel. She sent money to Laura for Mel’s education, something that Laura had also insisted upon, and occasionally called Mel on her birthday, but that was the extent of her maternal obligation.
If she allowed herself to think about Linda too long, Mel would never get anything done. She would just stay angry. She banished the thought of her mother and again focused on Audrey.
Mel had parked the car in a McDonald’s parking lot. She looked at the Christmas stickers on the eatery’s windows. She had forgotten Christmas. She was in Florida. It was too warm for Christmas.
Growing up, Mel had longed to have the Christmases she saw other kids having, or saw in TV specials shown during that time of year. Laura was a wonderful substitute mother, and would try to replicate the old-fashioned holidays for Mel, but Mel always felt something was missing. She would often wonder where her father was and never got a straight answer regarding him.
Men were scarce in the Jones family. None of the women in her family had stayed married for long, and her mother hadn’t been married at all. Even Nana Grace had divorced her husband. It was quite a scandal back in the day and had caused a breach between her and Audrey.
Women just didn’t do that in their day, and Audrey was embarrassed by her sister’s brazen disregard for the humiliation her actions brought on the family. In time, the sisters made up, but not without sacrifices on Grace’s part. She had to admit her guilt, even though she felt totally justified in leaving her husband. It was the only way to mend the breach. Grace missed her sister, and this was the price she had to pay to have her back.
Mel opened her purse and took out the photo of Audrey. It had been taken in the 1990’s. Mel smiled at the photo. Audrey looked happy. She was a pretty woman who had aged gracefully, but she didn’t look like the type to take on a young lover, if that’s what Jason had been to her. If her past actions showed anything about her, she would have been too concerned with appearances to live with him if they were indeed lovers.
What is Jason to you? Mel thought.
Mel shook her head. She didn’t want to think of her aged aunt in flagrante delicto. She put the picture back in her purse. She was wondering where she would spend the night when her phone rang. It was Nana Grace.
“Hey, Nana.”
“Hello, dear. I’m just calling to see that you got there all right.”
“I did, and I’m sorry I forgot to call.”
“It’s fine. Were you able to see Audrey?”
Mel didn’t want to tell her the truth, not until she knew what had happened to Audrey.
“Not yet. There was no one home when I stopped by.”
“Oh, dear. Was her car there?”
“No. I guess she was out.”
Well, if her car was gone, then it may be a good thing. It means she’s able to drive.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna try again tomorrow. I’m just trying to find a room for the night, and everything is booked.”
“I talked to my friend, Vera. She said you could stay with her.”
Mel cringed. She didn’t want to stay at some old lady’s house. It wasn’t the way she’d envisioned her trip to sunny Florida.
“I don’t know, Nana.”
“She’s a very nice person.”
“I’m sure she is, but…”
“Mel, stop worrying about what she’ll be like and go there. You need a roof over your head. All you have to do is smile and eat what she offers you. And it’s free!”
“I know, Nana. I guess it’s okay.”
Grace gave her the address and Vera’s phone number. When she hung up, Mel held the phone for a while before making the call. The sun was going down fast and if she didn’t get moving, it would be harder to find Vera’s home in the dark.
She dialed Vera’s number and it was answered in two rings. Vera must have had the phone right next to her.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hi, Vera. This is Mel, Grace’s granddaughter.”
“Oh, yes. She said you might be calling.”
Mel closed her eyes. “She told me to call if I needed a place to stay.”
“Certainly. Come on over.”
Vera gave Mel directions to her house and Mel started the car. As she drove to Vera’s mobile home park, she sighed.
Earlier that afternoon, Conner drove through Holiday Oaks. He went by Audrey’s home and saw an old man going to the mailbox next to hers. He stopped and got out of his cruiser.
“Sir,” he said. The old man didn’t turn. He didn’t have his hearing aid in and never heard the car pulling up behind him. “Sir.”
As Conner drew near, the old man sensed his presence and turned. He jumped.
“Dear Lord, you scared me.”
“Sorry about that. I just wanted to ask you something about the lady who lives in that home.”
Conner pointed to Audrey’s home.
“Did that girl tell you what I told her?” the old man asked.
“No, but she did file a report. When was the last time you saw Audrey Glenn?”
“Months ago. She used to get her mail. She went to the pool, too.”
Conner took out his notebook. “What’s your name?”
“Why do you need my name?”
“I just like to keep notes of who I talk to.”
“Richard. Richard Norman. But people here call me Dick.”
Conner wrote it down. He also noted the man’s mailbox number – 300. “Anything else you remember?”
“Just that I don’t like that kid living there.”
“Has he threatened you?”
“No. Why would he do that?” Dick’s eyes were wide.
“No reason. I just thought since you said you didn’t like him living there.”
“Well, I don’t. He doesn’t belong here.” Dick came closer to Conner. “I think he did something to her.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“No. It’s just a feeling.”
“Did you ever see him touch her?”
“No. Nothing like that. I just don’t like him is all.”
“Has anyone else talked to you about Ms. Glenn?”
“Marge has. She lives over there.” Dick pointed to the home across the street where Mel had seen the woman sitting on the porch earlier that day. “She sits out there all day. If anyone would se
e something, she would.”
Conner wrote down her name. “Does she have a last name?”
“Winthrop.”
“Mr. Norman, if you notice anything else, give me a call.”
Conner handed Dick his card.
“Will do.”
Conner got back into the cruiser and took off as Dick looked over at Audrey’s home. He’d be happy to keep an eye on it and report what he saw to Deputy O’Keefe.
Chapter 5
Vera’s park was smaller than Audrey’s. It had a pool sitting in the middle and the homes were placed in a circular fashion around it. Mel followed the numbers on the mailboxes until she reached 108. Vera didn’t drive anymore, so her driveway was empty. Mel turned in and parked her car.
Before she went to the door at the side of the home, she took Deputy O’Keefe’s card out of her purse and dialed his number. The call went to voicemail. She left him a message that she was going to stay with one of her grandmother’s friends and wouldn’t be able to see him that evening. She felt disappointed. She wasn’t looking forward to an evening with Grace’s friend, but she was tired and could say she wanted to go to bed early if the conversation proved too, well, boring.
Vera lived in a single-wide. She had flower boxes hanging under the front windows and neatly trimmed bushes under them. Hanging flower plants were arrayed along the edge of the roof of her carport. As Mel got out of the car, she thought she smelled pot. Maybe an evening with Vera would be more interesting than she thought.
She took out her overnight bag and left her suitcase in the car. Vera must have seen her drive in for she appeared at the door.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” Mel said.
Vera opened the screen door and held it open. “Come in, come in.”
Mel followed her through the kitchen. They walked into a small living room. A gray tabby cat sat on top of a recliner. He flicked his tail in greeting and went back to sleep.
“That’s Dale. I named him after my second husband. This home only has one bedroom, so I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.”
“No, not at all.” Especially when there’s a cat in the house.
Mel put her bag on the floor next to the sofa. She smelled food, but wasn’t sure if Vera had eaten already, or had made something for both of them. She sat on the sofa and waited for Vera to say something.
“Are you hungry?” Vera asked.
“Yes,” Mel said. “I didn’t have a chance to eat when I got here.”
“I just had some soup and a sandwich. Would you like some?”
“Please.”
“Come into the kitchen and I’ll heat it up.”
There was a tiny table pushed up against the wall with two chairs. Mel sat in one while Vera heated up the leftover soup.
“I have some ham and cheese if you’d like a sandwich,” Vera said.
“No, the soup will be fine.”
Mel could see steam rising from the pot of soup. It smelled good, but she couldn’t discern what kind it was. She saw Vera ladle some into a large mug. As she hobbled over to the table, Mel noticed how much Vera’s hands shook. She stood, reached out, and took the mug before Vera got to the table.
“Thank you,” Vera said. “But I would have gotten it there.”
Mel looked in the mug. It was some sort of bean soup. Not her favorite, but it would be incredibly rude to say so after Vera risked her life to bring it to her.
“Grace tells me you’re here checking up on Audrey,” Vera said.
“Nana hasn’t heard from her in a while and got worried.”
Vera made a face. “It’s just like her to go off and leave people wondering what happened. She has no respect for anyone else.”
Mel was surprised by Vera’s words. She thought all old people liked each other, like a club or something. Vera’s voice dripped with anger.
“Why do you say that?” Mel asked.
“Because I know her,” Vera said. “She’s not a nice person.”
“Really?”
Vera nodded. “When she first came to Florida, I let her stay with me. She loved the park and decided to buy a home there.”
“You lived in Holiday Oaks?”
“I did. And I was kind enough to introduce her to all my friends. Soon, she became their friend, and I became the object of their ridicule.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Indeed. They shunned me after she came. I didn’t have a friend left. It got so bad, I had to move.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because she wanted…my boyfriend.”
“She stole your boyfriend?”
“She did. His name was Tom, and we had been going together for over two years. That all ended the day he met her. Brazen hussy.”
Mel suppressed a smile. “Well, if he went for her like that, he wasn’t a very good boyfriend.”
“She turned his head. With her facelift and her tummy tuck. We all knew about her. He couldn’t help himself. She was Delilah and he was Samson.”
“When did this happen?” Mel asked.
“In 1997.”
And she was still hurt. Wow. “I’m sorry to hear she treated you so bad.”
“Badly, yes.”
“Then I guess you don’t know what happened to her.”
“I’m not privy to what goes on in that park anymore. But I wouldn’t worry about Audrey. She always took care of herself, no matter whom it hurt.”
“Did you know her before she moved down here?”
“We went to high school together.”
Holy crap, Mel thought. “Were you friends then?”
“I was friends with Grace.”
Mel finished her soup and got up to take the mug to the sink. She rinsed it out and turned to look at Vera. “I’m kind of tired. Where’s the bathroom?”
Vera used her thumb to point behind her. “It’s down the hall.”
Mel went to the sofa and took her toiletries out of her bag along with her sleep shirt. She had to pass Vera on her way to the bathroom and noted the miserable look on her face. It was sad that she had never gotten over what Audrey had done, if that’s what Audrey had done. It seemed out of character for her to steal someone’s boyfriend. It also seemed out of character for her to have plastic surgery.
When Mel came out of the bathroom, Vera was in her bedroom at the other end of the hall. Mel could hear the TV and wondered if she should stick her head in the door and say goodnight. She decided if Vera wanted to say goodnight, she would, and went to the sofa.
Before turning off the lights, she pulled out her phone. She had a text message from Deputy O’Keefe saying he’d gotten her message. He asked her to meet him in the parking lot at the sheriff’s office in the morning around ten. He signed it “Conner.”
Mel called Laura to tell her she’d arrived safely, but Laura didn’t pick up her phone. Mel left a message on her voicemail and hung up.
She looked at the time on her phone. It was eight o’clock. She couldn’t believe she was going to bed so early. Maybe it had something to do with spending the night in an over fifty-five park. Maybe something in the air made everyone go to bed early.
When she woke the next morning, the gray tabby was asleep on her chest. She pushed it off and it protested, then she got up and brushed cat hair off her sleep shirt. She glanced at the clock on Vera’s cable box. It read seven. She had slept for eleven hours.
Vera was at the kitchen table and saluted her with her coffee cup.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Hi,” Mel said.
“You slept well. I slept well when I was your age. That’s the curse of old age. Now that you have the time to sleep in, you can’t.”
“I was wiped out. Is there more coffee?”
“I made a whole pot. I usually don’t, but I thought you might like some.”
Mel went to the counter where the ancient Mr. Coffee sat. Vera had put a mug next to it for her and she filled it.
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“Milk and sugar are on the table,” Vera said.
Mel sat and put sugar in her coffee. Vera seemed to have something on her mind.
“I’m sorry for the things I said last night,” she said.
“Oh, don’t worry about it.”
“I do worry about it. I tend to live in the past and I promised myself this new year I would stop.”
“Well, you have a few more days yet to make that resolution.”
“True, but I still should have been more considerate. She is your aunt after all. And she has some good points.”
“What are they?”
“She is very intelligent. She is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. She had traveled all over the country.”
“Really? I don’t think Nana Grace ever left New Jersey.”
“No, she didn’t. Grace was happy to stay put. I always asked her to come and visit, but she always declined.”
“I appreciate you letting me stay here. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t. The hotels are all booked.”
“Christmas vacation is upon us. People are here getting a head start on the season.”
“I know. A friend of mine is staying at a condo in Clearwater Beach. She asked me to join her, but until I find out what happened to Audrey, I can’t.”
“What do you think happened to her?”
“I don’t want to talk about what I think happened.”
“Have you been to her home?”
“Yesterday. And some guy is living there. He’s way too young for her.”
Vera narrowed her eyes. “Vera preferred men her own age. She was never one to chase after gigolos.”
“I don’t think he’s a gigolo, but I’m not sure what he is.”
“What did he say when you asked where she was?”
“He said she went on a cruise to Europe.”