Liisa

by Sioux Dallas

  “May I explain?” He told them of Liisa’s amnesia and her frustrations. “She then began getting threatening phone calls that were perplexing to her. The caller told her that she must not talk about what she had seen or heard or he would kill her and her friends and loved ones. She was naturally disturbed. She couldn’t remember anything that would be so terrible that she must not talk about it.” He stopped to take a drink of coffee. “She, of course, confided in the family that had raised her just as if she were their own child. Their love for each other cannot be described fully. Her Uncle Ben, Ben Johnson, is a family physician. He ran every test he could think of to try to determine why she had amnesia. His son, Paul Johnson, is an attorney and he looks upon Liisa as a younger sister. He was concerned and angry. He has a good friend, Cory Patterson who is an attorney, but at one time Cory was a policeman and a detective in New York City. The three men racked their brains trying to find a solution, but no luck. They finally placed a wire tap on her home phone trying to find information on the caller.” He stopped and looked around at each person.

  “The caller discovered there was a tap and called her here at the store. That’s the first the store owner, and her employer, Mr. Arnold Watson, had heard of her troubles. He felt very close to Liisa as he had been a family friend since she was born. As time went on, all of us tried to find a solution. When the calls became frightening, Mr. Watson was hit by a car that drove up on the sidewalk and deliberately hit him and threw him through a large plate-glass window of a store. The driver then ran and no one was able to get a description of car or driver. In the meantime Mr. Ben Johnson would have been shot in the head if he hadn’t decided, at the last minute, to turn into a strip mall. The bullet caught him across the shoulder and the back of his head. Just flesh wounds. Later Mr. Watson was shot and killed. Two local policemen had investigated Mr. Watson’s first accident and took a personal interest when he was shot. One of the police, Sgt. Ben Gregory, knew Special Agent Marvin Silver of the FBI and asked him for suggestions as to how to handle this. Liisa continued to receive threatening calls. Twice there was a period of time of several weeks when there would be no communication and then he sent messages by private messengers. I have a folder of the messages and a written record of the phone calls. Agent Silver became interested and offered to help.”

  “But why wasn’t I informed?” Miss O’Reilly asked angrily. “And why wasn’t I brought into it?” Mayor Briscom blustered.

  “Frankly we have been so busy and have been angry, concerned, frustrated and all one can think of to describe our feelings, that we didn’t think of calling in anyone else.” Bernie turned to Miss O’Reilly. “What could you have done if we had informed you?”

  She jerked her shoulders. “We have detectives, too. We could surely have done something.”

  “As Mayor of this fair city, I should have been informed.”

  “With all due respect, your honor, what could you have done?”

  “As you said, I deserve the respect of being kept in the loop.”

  Sven leaned back and placed his left ankle over his right knee. “What can either one of you suggest or offer at this moment? We’re willing and happy to listen.”

  Clearing his throat and coughing, the Mayor took his time. I can’t suggest anything at this time, not until I see all the written information you have and hear all the facts.”

  Miss O’Reilly smoothed her skirt and crossed her ankles. I need to know because I will more than likely be prosecuting when the culprit is arrested. I don’t appreciate the FBI being brought into the case without my knowledge.”

  “We are not trying to keep anything secret or ignore anyone. We’re doing our level best to catch this person before more damage is done or more lives are lost,” Ted explained. He then proceeded to tell them how they were checking with businesses on the block and viewing security cameras. He told them of the figure seen on the security camera in Liisa’s apartment building. “If either of you has a workable suggestion, we’ll gladly listen and act upon it.”

  The Mayor stood quickly. “I just want you to know that as mayor of my city, I need to know all that’s going on. I vaguely remember a police report on the first incidents, but nothing more was said and I -” he made noises in this throat and started walking out.

  “Thank you for the refreshments and your hospitality, Miss Lofoten,” he bowed slightly toward her. “I’ll be following up on this.”

  Miss O’Reilly stood up. “I should apologize for coming in here like gangbusters,” she tried to smile, “but I heard it late last evening from one of my detectives who had heard it from the grapevine somehow. I felt I should know more about the situation in the event that I would have to work with you in the future. Miss Lofoten, Liisa, I’m more sorry than I can say that you’re going through this. If you need anything from me, don’t hesitate to contact me.” She gave Liisa a business card, tossed her head in the air and clattered out, slightly unsteady on her stiletto heels. The three men looked at each other dumbfounded and then sat back down laughing.

  Liisa was not amused. “What is there to laugh about? I’m finding it harder each day to just keep a sane head, and I’m not sure I have one of those at this point.”

  Sven smiled at her. “Take it easy. You’ll go ‘round the bend if you only think negative.”

  Ted leaned back and grinned. “Okay, fellows, how much luck did you have walking the streets this time?”

  “People wanted to cooperate, but could add nothing. Maybe we should have started bringing others into this earlier.” Bernie got up to get a cup of coffee.

  Sven drew a deep breath. “There was no change on my side of the street - except -”

  He waited so long, Ted said, “Except what?”

  “Across the street and down one store is an electronics store. I talked to the two men and a woman working in there the last time I went in. They said the owner had died a few months ago overseas and the owner’s wife was not here all the time. I could tell they didn’t care for her, but I hated to ask them to gossip about her. After all she’s their employer now.”

  Ted grinned and brought a recorder from under the desk. “I must confess, I recorded all that was said in here this morning. I knew the others, who have been working with us, would want to know what went on and I was concerned that too much would be said for me to remember all of it. I know it isn’t admissible in a court of law.”

  Bernie was glad to get the recording because he was watching the expressions on the faces of the two visitors and reading their body language. Too, he felt that Sgt. Gregory, Agent Silver, Ben, Paul and Cory would be interested.

  Liisa stood and started pacing. “I can understand why the District Attorney might be interested, but what business is it of the Mayor?”

  Bernie motioned for her to sit by him. “Mayors, in other countries, are often just a figurehead, but here in the United States they have a lot of responsibility. They must enforce the laws made by City Council and enforce the laws of the land. They can hire and fire police and firemen and keep track of them. The mayor must keep track of the city finances and be prepared to make a report on them to whomever requires it. The mayor is the chief conservator of peace within the city. He may appoint or remove any head of all departments of the city. Our mayor has tremendous responsibilities. Mayor Briscom does not tend to be as responsible for all his duties as he should, but he’s out front in all parades, city happenings and anywhere people might see him.”

  “Well I just didn’t think of all that,” Liisa said. “I felt that he was arrogant, self centered, ill mannered, pompous and -”

  “Okay, okay,” Ted laughed. “We get the picture. We need to inform the others in our group of all that has happened and been learned this morning.”

  “We’ll do that soon,” Bernie assured them. “Now, if anyone is as hungry as I am, do we go to lunch in shifts or will one of us go out and bring lunch in to the others?”

  “Bernie, why don’t you and Ted go out to l
unch and bring something back for Liisa and me,” Sven suggested.

  “Maybe Liisa wants to get out of the store for a while,” Ted stated.

  “No, I’d rather stay here. Whoever goes, bring me a container of minestrone soup and a chicken salad sandwich on rye. I have tea here.”

  Bernie turned around as he started out. “By the way, AFIS found a fingerprint on the message left on Liisa’s door, but it isn’t in the database. They’ll keep it and hope to match it later.”

  “Explain to me, please, what is AFIS?” Liisa frowned. “Automated Fingerprint Identification System.”

  “Oh.”

  The day passed uneventfully. Liisa was relieved that she hadn’t heard from the caller, but she stayed on pins and needles waiting for something else to happen. The group had gathered at the home of the Johnsons so that Ronald, Grace and her husband could be brought up on all the news.

  As the days passed Liisa planned to make her storefront more attractive. The crocus had peeped up through the snow. Now the iris and roses were proudly showing beautiful heads. Marigolds and other flowers were blooming with glee in the warm weather.

  Liisa bought two halves of a barrel. She placed small pebbles in the bottom for drainage. A layer of mulch was on top of that, then a layer of rich soil for the flowers. She had the half barrels placed on either side of the plate glass window - on the sidewalk and filled with flowers. Inside, on the bottom part of the window, she had Ted and Sven build a long shelf. On this she placed pots of miniature roses and violets. It lifted her heart to view the beautiful flowers.

  Chapter Twelve

  May had brought even warmer weather and people out looking and buying. Liisa called Martha to work in the store while she took Ted and Sven with her to auctions. She eagerly looked for more items that would bring buyers in.

  At the end of the second week of May, Sven came hurrying in talking faster than Liisa could keep up with him. She and Ted flagged him down and ask for an explanation.

  “Mrs. Harris has returned, and boy is she ugly. She’s not friendly either. She flat out refused to come meet Liisa and said she wasn’t interested in visiting or in meeting neighbors.”

  Ted laughed. “If she’s that ugly, maybe she’s ashamed to be seen.” He looked over at the electronics store. “Maybe she’s shy or maybe she has too much to deal with now. Didn’t you say her husband died while they were overseas and left her with the business? She probably had nothing to do with the business when her husband was alive and now she has her hands full with new, time consuming duties. She has to handle the finances, taxes, insurance, paying bills, etc.”

  “I’ll go over and meet her,” Liisa offered. Sven walked across the street with her while Ted and Martha stayed in the store.

  Liisa bounced into the electronics store with a big smile. “Mrs. Harris. My name is Liisa Lofoten. I now own the Art and Antiques Gallery. You probably heard that some cowardly piece of filth killed Arnold and he left the store to me. I’m so glad you’re back and we can get acquainted.”

  Mrs. Harris turned partially sideways and leaned down to look under a counter. “I’m too busy to fraternize and I’m not here enough to be sociable. It’s good to meet you. Sorry, but I must check some supplies.” She hurried into the back room and let the door shut firmly.

  The young woman in the store smiled shakily at Liisa and Sven. “I’m sorry. I’m happy to meet you. My name is Carrie Mitchell. I’ve been too busy here and at home to visit with you. Please accept my condolences for your loss and my congratulations on owning the store. Everyone, to whom I speak, has lovely things to say about you.”

  Liisa felt better. “Hello, Carrie. It’s good to know you, too. How long have you worked here?”

  “I’ve only been here for about ten months. My husband is overseas in service and I have two boys to keep busy and care for. Fortunately I have an angel for a mother. She helps tremendously by keeping the boys for me. I take them to kindergarten and second grade each morning and mom picks them up after school and keeps them until I get home.”

  “Then you’ve known Mrs. Harris since you started working here.”

  “Yes, in a way. I’ve seen her a couple of times, but she mostly leaves orders for us either written or by phone. I normally would never talk about an employer, or a person with whom I’m working. But you saw for yourself. It is difficult to know how I feel about her.”

  They assured her that they understood. Sven briefly explained why they were questioning and asked her to keep it to herself, but to keep alert and observe all that she could. “Please call me if you have the least bit of suspicion about anything. Remember one person has already died because of this and a young woman’s life is in the balance now,” Sven explained giving her a business card.

  As Sven and Liisa left the store, Mrs. Harris came striding out and demanded to know what they had said to Carrie. She was not satisfied with Carrie’s explanation that they had told her of Arnold’s death and were trying to find anyone who might have seen or know something. Carrie wisely withheld the news that Liisa was in danger.

  “That’s all they said to you? Sure took them long enough,” Mrs. Harris grumbled, but turned hurriedly and returned to the back room.

  When Carrie went to lunch she didn’t want Mrs. Harris to see her talking to Liisa and Sven, so she didn’t go to the store. Instead she called them on her cell phone and told them of the conversation after they left the store.

  “Curious,” Sven muttered. “Wonder why she would care what we talked about? Thank you, Carrie. Take care of yourself. We’re grateful for your caring.”

  He informed Ted, Bernie and Liisa what Carrie had said. They agreed that it was suspicious, but they truly had nothing to go on.

  Two days later Ted and Liisa were walking from the sandwich shop back to the store. Ted pulled her toward the storefronts so they would not be separated by pedestrians.

  “Liisa, I hate that you don’t get out socially. Don’t you have girlfriends that would like to see you and have a girls’ night out?”

  “Oh, yes, and I’ve missed them. We talk on the phone fairly often. I haven’t tried to see them or invite them to come to me for fear of putting someone else in jeopardy. Not knowing who or where the stalker is, I’m afraid that he would take it out on another of my friends.”

  He placed a protective arm across her shoulders. “Some day, soon, this will be over and you’ll not only be safe but you will be free to enjoy all the friends you wish.”

  Just as they came around a corner, they came face to face with Mrs. Harris who immediately went on the defensive. She acted frightened to see them and tried desperately to go around them without being acknowledged.

  “Hello Mrs. Harris,” Liisa smiled. “How are you today?”

  “Humph,” was the answer as she hurried away.

  Ted looked back with a scowl. “Did you notice that Mrs. Harris had a five o’clock shadow? Of course some women do have dark hair and do have a mustache and chin hairs. Why doesn’t she want to talk to us, or at least look at us?”

  “I’m not in any position to judge anyone else. I’ve been in such a dither because of all the strange, unwelcome things happening in my life that I can’t think of anyone else,” Liisa answered.

  Ted and Liisa hurried on to the GALLERY. With the three men present a majority of her time, Liisa did not need Martha as much. Too, she was afraid that the stalker would cause severe harm to Martha and didn’t want her where he could be tempted to do something to her.

  “Liisa, I admit the money is good and I can use it, but my main reason for liking to work here is that I like you so much. Too, you’ve been through hard times and I feel that you need a woman friend.”

  “Martha, I cherish our friendship and when this is over, and we’re all safe, I want to keep you as a dear friend. I can’t thank you enough for your help, but most of all for your caring.”

  Martha reluctantly agreed to stay away from the store. She wanted to be near Liisa but she didn
’t want to place her child in danger, or her husband.

  Ted, being very loquacious, kept Liisa’s spirits up with his jokes and tales of his adventures.

  May was passing faster than Liisa was aware. There had been no new threats or reasons to be concerned for about three weeks. It was so easy to become complacent and put harsh thoughts to the back of the mind.

  One morning Liisa, Ted and Sven arrived at the store and found a note taped to the front door. Liisa started to grab it but Ted quickly caught her wrist and cautioned her not to touch it. They unlocked the door and went in so that Sven could get some latex gloves and a clear plastic envelope to place the note in it. He opened the note and placed it in the clear sleeve so it could be read.

  YOU WERE DOING SO WELL KEEPING QUIET, BUT NOW YOU’VE STARTED STIRRING THINGS UP AGAIN. MAYBE YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE ME. YOU’LL SOON KNOW THAT I MEAN BUSINESS.

  Liisa caught her breath and had to quickly sit down. “Will he ever leave me alone? What have I ever done to him? I wish he would just tell me because I think it’s all a horrible mistake,” she choked on a sob.

  As luck would have it, Paul came by just to say hello. He was furious. “You can’t understand how helpless this makes me feel. We’re fighting the wind here because we have no tangible evidence other than these notes - which tell us nothing. Sven, please take this to Agent Silver for the AFIS to view. Maybe we’ll get lucky this time and there’ll be more for the records.”

  Sven immediately went out the back and hopped on a motor bike that he had borrowed from the man next door. He was off in a hurry.

  Paul wanted Liisa to lock up and go home but she refused. “No. This person has caused enough turmoil without me giving in. He’s probably watching right now and getting a charge out of possibly making me afraid.” She ran out on the sidewalk.