by Anne Hagan
At 11:00 I entered the café along with a few other early Saturday patrons and took a seat at the bar. I looked around but I didn’t see Hannah. To my surprise, Bree, the server Mel and I had on Monday popped up from doing some task below the counter.
“Hey, welcome back!”
So much for having any sort of cover! “You ah, remember me?”
“I make it a point to try and remember faces but you’re a little hard to forget with the crutches. Where’s your girlfriend?”
“Wow, you are good! She’s working today.”
Bree smiled. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have the same kind of beer I had Monday, if you remember it,” I grinned at her in challenge.
“Easy! It’s the house brew. Would you like anything to eat?”
“Well I’m starving but I think the slab o’ steak thing I had before is a little much. What do you recommend for a carnivore that’s just a bit lighter?”
Once she and I had settled on my order and she went into the kitchen to place it, I took another look around. Patrons were rapidly filling up the place. Televisions around the place were tuned to Sportscenter and most eyes were on them since all of the talk was about the latest scandal suspensions in Major League Baseball. I tuned it out and turned back around to face the bar back as Bree set my beer down in front of me.
A short while later, as I dug into the beefy concoction Bree had recommended, my eyes rolled back at the sheer pleasure of the taste. It was lighter only in the sense that the portion of food on the plate was slightly smaller but it delicious beyond description.
Bree was working the bar. When she wandered back my way, I caught her eye, “This is amazing! My compliments to the chef.”
Bree laughed. “No chefs here, but we do have some great cooks.” She patted her slim belly, “I’ve put on a few pounds since Hannah started working here, that’s for sure!”
I almost choked on my beer. When I recovered, I asked, “Hannah?”
“Yeah. She’s younger than me but boy can she cook. She usually comes in to do dinner prep after lunch and then works through the dinner rush. That’s one of her specialties.” Bree pointed at my plate.
“I see. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you Bree?”
“I’m 22,” she said brightly in a way that only a cute, blonde, 22 year old could pull off.
“And this Hannah, she’s younger?”
“Yes,” Bree leaned closer, “And between you and me she’s a little backward. The rumor is that she’s Amish but she left them. I guess that’s where she learned to cook though.”
“Amish?” I tried to sound like I was curious and confused.
Bree shrugged her slim shoulders and then moved off to help another customer. I sat at the bar eating slowly for as long as I dared but Hannah never left the kitchen from anywhere within my view.
###
I had no idea how late Hannah would be working and no way to find out without looking like a stalker. Since the Saturday lunch rush was still in full swing when I left, I figured she’d be at the café at least another couple of hours so I made a trip back to Morelville for provisions and a book. I’m good at stakeouts as long as I have something to do to occupy my mind besides dwelling on things I can’t change.
Once I was settled into a parking spot in the park that was as near to Grandview Avenue and the walking path as I could get, I called Mel’s office to let her know where I was and what I was doing. Her assistant Holly apologized that she was ‘unavailable’ due to official police business. I figured I’d hear all about it later. I hung up, dialed her cell and left her a detailed message. I didn’t want her to worry about me this time.
Just after 2:30, my patience was rewarded as I spied Hannah coming down Grandview from the direction of the restaurant. I hustled as best I could out of my car and made a show of grabbing my crutches while dropping the novel I’d grabbed from the bookshelf in Mel’s office.
My little attempt at subterfuge worked as Hannah hurried toward me and stooped to pick up the book.
I smiled at her, “Thank you so much. It’s such a bother getting around with these things but it’s so nice out today, I just had to get out.”
Hannah smiled and nodded.
“I’m sorry to be so much trouble, but would you mind carrying that book over to that table for me?” I pointed to a picnic table near the walking path that I knew she’d be taking anyway.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Please, my name is Dana. Ma’am makes me sound so old.”
“I’m Hannah. Pleased to meet you.”
I detected the hint of a German accent in her speech so I decided to try and test her. “Hannah is a beautiful name and I hear a bit of an accent. Are you from Germany?”
“No ma’am...Dana,” she shook her head. “I’m from here.” She colored slightly as she looked away.
“Oh, I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No offense.” She looked at the ground and then back up to me as we reached the table. She laid the book down and then asked, “Is there anything else that I can help you with?”
There wasn’t a thing I could think of to keep her there and talking. I’d confirmed her identity but not where she lived now or why she left home. She took my indecision as an out and bid me goodbye.
“I’m sorry. I zoned out there for a second. Listen, thank you so much. I hope you have a great afternoon.”
“Thank you; you too.” She turned and headed toward the walking path. I watched her until she was out of my sight and then I tucked the book under my arm and hobbled back to my car as quickly as I could.
Grandview Avenue went straight along the southern edge of the park. The walking path curved through the park. Hannah wasn’t in view when I pulled out onto Grandview and I feared I’d probably lost her. At the intersection with Pine, I looked both directions and spied her heading north. There was no way I could follow without arousing her suspicion so I turned south and took the first right onto a residential side street. I went up to the next block and turned right again.
I cruised along the blocks slowly so I could look down the short streets toward Pine where I’d last seen her. I couldn’t find her; she’d disappeared.
She’s got to be staying somewhere in this area!
I looped my car around to head back the way I’d come. Might as well head home...Mel’s shift will be over in a little while.
My cell phone rang. Thinking it must be Mel calling me back since she was on my mind, I answered it without really looking at the number display.
Chapter 11 – Ex Pest
Saturday Afternoon, June 14th, 2014
“Hey babe...”
“Dana, is that you?”
Crap, Terri! For the love of...
“We need to meet, now! It’s urgent,” she interrupted my thoughts.
I didn’t even try to respond.
“Dana are you listening to me? We have to meet! Both of our lives are in danger.”
“What? You’re crazy. Why would my life be in danger?” I was both irritated and confused. She’s trying to trick me into meeting with her again!
“Listen, I can’t explain it over the phone. Please; just meet me at the Dillon Dam spillway parking lot. I’ll explain everything.”
“I’m not coming up there on some wild goose chase Terri! Forget it!”
Terri’s voice dropped low and took on a deadly serious tone, “Dana, you really aren’t listening to me. Your life is in danger too. You need to hear what I have to tell you.”
“All right then, you come down here again. I just told you, I’m not coming up there.”
There was some fumbling around on the other end of the line and then Terri spoke again, “I have to go. I’ll be at the dam parking lot in 10 minutes. Get here as fast as you can.” The line went silent.
Of all the nerve! I pulled over and stared at my blank phone for several seconds while I contemplated where there might be a twist in her person
al problems that meant any sort of trouble for me but I was at a complete loss.
I dialed Mel’s number again...still no answer. I didn’t leave another message. I pulled up GPS on my phone and keyed in Dillon Dam. It was near Nashport and only about 11 miles from where I was. With any luck at all, I could be there, hear whatever it was that Terri had to say, send her packing back to Chicago and still be back home by four o’clock.
Fifteen minutes and some good fortune with multiple Zanesville traffic lights later, I pulled into the parking lot for the dam. There were several other cars in the lot but I didn’t see Terri’s. People were viewing and fishing the spillway out in front of me. Terri wasn’t among them.
I opened my door and swung my legs around so I could stand up on my good leg and look down along the green strip edging the spillway and the river fed by it. The area wasn’t that big. I didn’t have to look far to see that she wasn’t anywhere along there either or in the small picnic shelter at the far end of the lot. I dialed her number but after four rings her phone rolled to voicemail.
“Terri, it’s Dana. I’m here at the dam and you’re not. This isn’t funny! You have five minutes to get over here and explain yourself or I’m leaving.” I hung up.
Thirty seconds went by and then a text buzzed through.
Terri: Sorry. Car trouble.
Terri: Had to pull over by the boat launch on the lake just north of the dam.
Me: I’m guessing you want me to meet you there now?
Terri: Please, it’s important.
Me: Fine! I’ll give you five minutes of my time. You’re on your own with your car problem.
I pulled up a map and looked for the boat launch ramp she was talking about. It wasn’t far away. I got back in the car and drove north to it arriving a few minutes later.
The boat launch lot was much larger to accommodate both cars and trucks pulling boat trailers. There were cars, trucks, boats and people everywhere on a beautiful summer Saturday afternoon. I cruised through the lot slowly and dodged people while I looked for Terri or her car.
Her car was on the far end, backed into a car slot, hood up. I thought it odd that she would take the time to back in if she was having problems. Terri wasn’t near the car.
Where the hell is she?
I pulled into the slot just past hers, got out of my car and stepped gingerly over to hers. I could feel a little heat radiating from the engine but nothing was steaming as if it was overheating. Using my left hand as a brace against her car, I worked my way around to the driver’s side and peered in the open window.
Terri’s keys were gone. There was nothing of value in sight in the car. I looked all around but in the crowd, I just couldn’t see her.
Maybe she went to the restroom... I looked around the edges of the lot that I could see for a bathroom facility or porta-pots. I could see the telltale aqua color of the portable outhouses on the far side of the lot and several space to my left but I couldn’t see around the vehicles to know if anyone was waiting to use them or going in and out. In frustration I started to hobble towards them, completely forgetting to grab my crutches.
When I found a good vantage point, I waited several minutes. Once it became obvious to me that Terri wasn’t using the restroom, I huffed and puffed my way back to the cars. There was still no Terri.
I stopped a teenager and her mother who wandered by and asked them if they’d seen the stocky, sandy haired woman. They shrugged their no’s to me and moved on. I talked to a couple of other people in the immediate area too. No one remembered seeing her.
Back at the cars again and frustrated, I slapped Terri’s fender wall. The hood vibrated on the rod holding it open. Without thinking about it, I unhooked the rod and lowered it back to its clip and then dropped the hood. The thunk sound of the hood closing turned several heads in my direction. I waved my hand in the air at them and then hobbled back to my car and shot off another text.
Me: Terri, where the hell are you?
I waited a few minutes but no response came. I’d been in the lot twenty minutes with not a word from her and no indication at all where she might be. Fed up, I left.
###
Mel pulled into the driveway right behind me. She walked up, leaned into my window and bussed my lips with a kiss before helping me out of the car.
“I got your message. I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you. Are you just getting back? Must have been some kind of day for you, huh?”
I blew out a heavy breath, “You have no idea but I’ll tell you all about it later. I want to hear what you’ve been up to.”
“My day was thankfully uneventful so I was able to spend time working out a schedule of appearances with my campaign manager and we held a little impromptu press conference too. I’m feeling a lot better about the whole Noland Troutman deal.”
“Baby that’s great. I’m relieved to hear that.” I pulled open my back driver’s side door and reached in to get my crutches. Only one was there. “What the fuck!”
“What’s wrong?”
I pulled out the single crutch and held it up to show Mel. She scratched her head.
“Mel, I left here this morning with both crutches. I used them going into and coming out of Muddy Misers today but not other than that. Where would the other one be?”
“You were at Misers today?”
“Yes. Hannah Yoder works there.”
“Really? Wow! You nailed that down quick.” She peered into the car, “Are you sure you put them both in here when you left there?”
“Yes and actually, now that I think about it, I used them in Putnam Hill Park today too and I know I left the park with both of them because I had to get back to my car fast.” I cast about, thinking. “I didn’t use them at dam or the boat ramp. Someone must have taken one of them at one of those places, for some reason – probably the ramp. I didn’t leave the side of my car at the dam so I didn’t take them out.”
“Dam? Boat ramp? I think you better fill me in on your day today. This sounds fishy.”
“Tell me about it! Like I said, you have no idea.” I checked my phone. There were no texts or missed calls from Terri. Odd...
Mel and I were driving back up to Dillon Lake. Just what I wanted to do on a nice Saturday evening under odd circumstances!
After telling her the story about Terri and showing her the texts, she was concerned that something was seriously wrong. We bypassed the dam since nothing had really happened there and, instead, went straight to the boat ramp lot.
The boat ramp lot was only slightly less crowded than it had been when I was there less than two hours ago. Lots of people were enjoying a nice evening at the lake.
We cruised down to the end of the parking lot. Terri’s car was still where she’d left it. Now there was a piece of white cloth hanging from the mostly closed driver’s side window.
“That cloth wasn’t there before Mel. The window was down.”
“She must have come back here and put it there as a sign of a vehicle in distress. Hang on while I check it.” Mel got out of her truck and peered into all of the windows of Terri’s car. She was careful not to touch it.
“Nothing looks unusual in the car and there’s no sign of your crutch. This is state property. If the car’s still there after the park closes tonight with that white flag, they’ll probably have it towed.”
“Uggh! I don’t even want to deal with this!” I scowled and looked around. None of the other vehicles nearby looked familiar. People had left and others had come. “Why would someone take a single crutch? I just don’t get it.”
“The better question here is where is your ex and why isn’t she still hounding you?”
“True, I guess.”
“Where is she staying?”
“She told me she’s staying in what she called a camper cabin. I assume it’s somewhere near here.”
“Dillon is a State Park. They have cabins and cottages that they manage. Let’s go and check with the park management.”
“I need to get in contact with someone who’s staying in a cabin here. It’s urgent.”
“Is this official police business Sheriff? Should I call a Ranger in?”
“No, no. That won’t be necessary. The lady in question, Terri...” Mel turned to me and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Sweeting,” I supplied.
“Terri Sweeting is an acquaintance of Ms. Rossi’s here. They were supposed to meet today near the Dillon boat launch but all Ms. Rossi found was Ms. Sweeting’s disabled car. She hasn’t been able to reach Ms. Sweeting.”
“I see. Well, unfortunately I can’t help you. Terri Sweeting checked out of her cabin early this afternoon.”
I moved closer to the counter and stood beside Mel, “Can you tell me what time?”
The clerk checked his computer, “She checked out at 2:36.”
While I was talking to Hannah in the park. She must have been on the run... “Did she come back here at all?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Her room was charged to her for the night and since it was after normal check out, we couldn’t cancel it. She seemed to be in a rush though and she didn’t argue.”
Mel asked, “Would it be possible to see her room?”
“I’m afraid not. This is high season. We were able to rent it back out to someone on the wait list.” He looked at Mel pointedly, “Are you sure you don’t want me to call the Rangers.”
“Thanks. That won’t be necessary.”
I nodded at him and held up my phone, “I’ll just keep trying to get in touch with her. Thanks for your help.”
Chapter 12 – We Have a Floater...
Monday morning, June 16th, 2014
My duty cell buzzed with a call from dispatch.
“Sheriff Crane.”
“Sheriff, a woman’s body was just found dead floating near the shoreline of Dillon Lake. It’s State jurisdiction but we thought you’d want to know.”