“The Blue Lightning threw a shoe, you said,” he reminded her. “Or did it blow a tire?”
“It choked on its oats is more like it,” Claire replied. “It does this sometimes. It starts, but just won’t go into gear, I guess. I can’t get it to move.”
“Hm. Why don’t you let me look at it this week? It could be a simple fix. You can ride with me to and from work, it’s one less vehicle on the road, after all. But you still need a dependable car.”
“If you really want to… I don’t want to take up your time, though. I’ll get it to a shop eventually.”
“That makes no sense when I live right next door, I’m a mechanic, I have a shop, and I’m offering. Let me help, and at least give you a diagnosis. Considering your car’s advanced age, you need someone who specializes in older engines. The Blue Lightning has no fancy computer that can be checked for diagnostics, you need someone who does things the old-fashioned way.”
“Okay, then fine, that would be completely wonderful,” Claire said, with a silent sigh of relief.
“Would you rather eat at your place, or mine?” Alec asked, as he parked in front of his garage.
“Mine,” she replied promptly. “Poor Herschel has been alone all day. And I have NO idea what to do with that litter box! I assume you do, since you took care of him for a couple of months.”
“I do,” Alec smiled. “I’ll show you. So you never had a cat before, I remember you saying that.”
“I moved around a lot growing up, and we rented. When I graduated, I had my own place, and I could’ve had a cat then. But, the pet deposit was steep. To be blunt, it was a luxury I couldn’t afford.”
“What a difference then,” he commented. He walked around the truck to join Claire, then they walked together to her house.
“Yeah, you could say that,” she agreed. “Tell me about my grandmother.”
“Well… she was about your height. She was really nice, and kept the cookie jar full for me and the other kids in the neighborhood. Your grandfather was great, too.”
“When did he die?” she wondered, that familiar pang of longing stabbing her again.
“Five years ago.”
Claire sighed heavily.
“I wish… so much, that I could’ve met them.”
“You did, you just don’t remember.”
“What?” she looked at him sharply, and he nodded.
“I told my grandmother that Mrs. Davis left the house to her granddaughter, Claire. I said you never got to meet your grandparents. She said you did, and that you visited often, before your father died.”
Claire stared at him in shock.
“I did?”
“Yes, you did. I know you did, because she also reminded me that you and I met, the last time you were here. I forgot, until she said something, but that jogged my memory. You were two, and I was six.”
“What do you remember?” she asked, her heart pounding hard.
“I remember your grandfather could always make you laugh. He had a great sense of humor. You loved hanging out with him, I remember you had your own gardening tools, and insisted on helping him with the flowerbeds. I’ll bet somewhere in this house there are pictures. There was a swing in the backyard too, your grandfather put it there for you…”
That pang of longing was so strong, it was more than Claire could stand. Tears stung her eyes, and her throat felt tight. She swallowed hard and brushed the moisture from her eyes.
There was sympathy in the glance Alec gave her.
“Do you want me to save the rest for later?”
Claire nodded hard.
“I need a minute,” she sniffed. He put his arm around her, and squeezed her shoulder.
“It’s okay, Claire. It’s okay to grieve. I won’t think less of you if you cry,” he said gently.
“You won’t, huh?” she sniffed, brushing away more tears.
“Well… it’s not like you’re a guy.”
She laughed a little at that.
“It would be different if I was a guy?”
“I wouldn’t have my arm around you, that’s for sure,” he replied.
She laughed again, mostly in surprise.
“You wouldn’t huh,” she sniffed, wiping away the last of the tears.
“Are you kidding?” he raised an eyebrow. “If you really have to ask, I don’t think you know much about guys.”
“I think you’re right,” she said, appreciating the reminder. She unlocked the backdoor, and Alec followed her inside.
Herschel sat in front of the jelly cabinet, waiting for her. And Alec. Herschel was glad to see them both.
“Did you miss me?” Claire smiled, reaching down to hug the big cat.
Yes, Herschel did miss her. He rubbed the side of his face against her cheek.
“Hi there, buddy,” Alec said, as Herschel wound around his ankles, and rubbed against his shins. He picked the cat up, and pet him. Claire gave Herschel a friendly rub behind the ears, then dumped a can of food on a plate and set it on the floor. Herschel kicked, and Alec set him down.
“I’m glad my grandmother left me Herschel,” Claire commented, as she tossed the can in the trash.
“I was kind of disappointed at first,” Alec surprised her by saying. Her eyebrows knit at that.
“Why on earth would you be disappointed?”
“Because I like Herschel,” he replied.
“Oh,” she understood. “Well… I’m already sharing my court. I might as well share my cat, too.”
“Exactly what I was hoping you’d say,” he smiled, and she laughed. He took his phone out of his pocket. “What’ll it be?”
“If you mean pizza, then I don’t care. Anything’s fine.”
“You’re easy to please. So pepperoni?”
“That’s great,” she approved. “Did my mother come? When my father brought me here to visit?”
Alec paused just short of selecting the number for the pizza delivery.
“Yes. She did,” he answered.
Claire’s expression was contemplative, and he waited. But, she said no more. He called, and placed their order.
It didn’t take long for it to arrive, and soon they were seated around the kitchen table enjoying their meal.
“I haven’t found any albums, but, there are tons of boxes in my closet. I need to go through them,” Claire commented, before biting into a gooey slice.
“I know your grandmother had albums,” Alec said. “They have to be here somewhere.”
“I’ll either go through the boxes Saturday after work, or paint my porch. I found a paint sprayer today. It belonged in the donate pile, so now it belongs to me.”
“Do you have any idea how to use it?” Alec asked. He looked somewhat concerned.
“None whatsoever. Want to help?”
She was kidding, and Alec smiled.
“I would love to, but I need to work Saturday. Did this thing come with instructions?”
“Yes, covered in red paint. I found some online, I think I’ll be alright.”
“Be careful, or you’ll have to repaint your whole house,” Alec cautioned.
“I’ll mask everything off,” she said confidently.
“If the car part I’ve been waiting for doesn’t come in Friday afternoon like it’s supposed to, then I won’t be able to install it Saturday in the car that’s waiting for it. If that’s the case, I’ll help.”
“You seem so concerned,” she pointed out.
“You’ve never done this before. Yes.”
She laughed at that, and waved away his apprehension.
“I watched a YouTube video. I think I know what I’m doing.”
That made Alec laugh. He also gave her an incredulous look. Claire changed the subject.
“Tell me more about what happened when I was here before. You said you remember.”
“I remember how much your grandparents loved you. I saw you when you were outside, mostly, but I know you baked cookies with your grandmother,
and had tea parties on the front porch. That’s the only visit I ever witnessed, though. I just so happened to be visiting my grandparents, that same week.”
“Then tell me what your grandmother said.”
Alec frowned a little, and glanced at her.
“The whole truth?”
“Yes,” she said cautiously, and steeled herself.
“Your grandparents loved you. They would’ve had a relationship with you all their lives, if they could. It wasn’t up to them after your father died.”
“What did they think of my mother?”
“They… thought she was very sweet. It surprised and saddened them when they lost touch. Her responses became fewer, and then there were none.”
Claire sighed as she absentmindedly tore her pizza crust into tiny pieces.
“She’s very… out of sight, out of mind. She’s not malicious. She’s more like a sparrow. She flits from place to place, and person to person. She lives in the moment, literally. Like that’s all there is.”
“Maybe it’s how she dealt with her grief. That had to be hard on you, though.”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Did you have a step-father?”
“More than one,” she replied ruefully. Seeing the concerned look in his eyes, she hurried to explain. “They were nice, actually. She didn’t pick guys who weren’t. And, she’s sweet, like your grandmother said. She’s very loving. And then she flits away to some other branch, in some other tree, in some other state, and never thinks another thing about the nest she left behind.”
“That’s terrible,” he frowned, no doubt feeling sympathy for Claire’s unsuspecting step-fathers.
“Yes. It still is,” she shrugged a little. “She’s happily married, at the moment. It doesn’t mean she’ll stick around for the next one.”
“How are you so normal?” he couldn’t help asking.
“Am I?” she replied pensively. “Is anyone, really? I think almost everyone has problems, and difficulties they’re dealing with that no one would ever guess. Some people hide it better than others. But… I think my mother is empty, and always looking for something. She never finds it for long. So in that way, we’re different.”
“You’re not empty,” he repeated.
“No. I’m not. Because as Jesus said, ‘I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me.’ Who could be empty, knowing that? He also said, ‘Remain in My love,’ and then He tells us how. ‘When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.’ That’s in John, chapter five, nine through twelve.”
“You do seem like you’re full of joy,” he commented. “Maybe that’s what’s different about you.”
“Really? You would say I’m so much like everyone else, I have only the one difference?”
“No,” he smiled. “I’ve never seen anyone shoot baskets the way you do. Do you ever miss?”
“Not often. And that, too, fills me with joy,” she replied, and he laughed.
“I’m sure. If we team up for basketball at church, I want you on mine,” he said, but she shook her head firmly.
“Baskets are one thing. A real game, with people twice my height, is another. Blocks are hard to overcome for one of my diminished stature.”
“Fine, then if we team up for basketball at church with people less than twice your height, I want you on mine,” he amended.
“Deal,” she replied.
“I also want to add the option to block when we play,” he said, and she laughed.
“Yeah, right! As if that’s getting my vote. And if you suggest taking your ball and going home, just remember… it’s a whole lot easier for me to get a new ball, than for you to put in a court.”
“Are you kidding? I know a good thing when I find it. I’m not going anywhere.”
Claire glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Was he talking about the court… or her?
A part of her, the part that was fed up after being jerked around in the past, wanted to come right out and demand that he clarify that. She almost laughed as she imagined what his expression might be, if she did.
“What’s so funny?” Alec asked.
“Nothing whatsoever. Did you ask Jordan how long the beam of light from the flashlight was visible in the video recording?”
“Yes!” he replied with enthusiasm. And then, he said nothing more.
“And?” she prompted.
“He didn’t know,” Alec said matter-of-factly, then smiled at the narrow-eyed look she gave him. “He copied the video to a flash drive for me. We can watch it after we eat, and find out for ourselves.”
“Are you serious?” she exclaimed.
“Yes,” he smiled.
“Then start eating!” she exclaimed, tossing a second slice of pizza on his plate, and taking another for herself.
“Instead of choking me, or you, bring your laptop in here,” Alec suggested. “If you don’t have one, I’ll get mine.”
Claire was out of the room and back in a flash, her laptop clutched in her hands. She set it on the table and woke it, then Alec took the flash drive out of his pocket and she inserted it in the USB port. Several long seconds later, the video was available for viewing. Claire clicked to open it, and a greenish image of the sidewalk outside of the computer repair shop, the street, and the thrift store, appeared on the screen.
They watched in silence for several seconds, then Claire pointed, as a dark figure appeared.
“Good grief, the guy’s huge,” she commented softly. “That narrows down the suspect list.”
The man’s face was in shadow. The image was too grainy to determine what, if anything, was printed on the dark cap he wore. He glanced around briefly, then with a massive blow to the door, it flew inward on its hinges. He disappeared inside.
“It’s date and time stamped,” Alec said quietly.
“Midnight,” Claire replied in hushed tones.
“Why are we whispering?” he wondered. “It’s not like that guy can hear us, and the recording has no sound.”
“I have no idea… He’s not slashing around like crazy,” she pointed out.
“No, he’s not. He is working his way through the shop. Methodically,” Alec noticed.
“He’s searching for something,” Claire said with certainty.
“I think you’re right, but… what?” he wondered.
“I have no idea. But if I’m right, then why take the time to break all those things, instead of move them around?” she questioned.
“Unless… whatever it is, it’s hidden inside something,” he suggested.
“It could be! If it is, or was, was it hidden there before the object was donated, or after? Who hid it, obviously… and what relation are they to this guy? He doesn’t know what it’s hidden in, not specifically, or he wouldn’t waste all this time breaking every item in the category of collectible, ceramic, and small electronic.”
Claire fast forwarded a little way, then a little more. The flashlight beam traveled methodically from one side of the store to the other, then it disappeared. Without a word, she and Alec waited. And waited. She fast forwarded a bit.
The light appeared again.
“The office was trashed, right?” she asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” he replied.
“It was searched, then trashed, or trashed during the search. Otherwise, it wouldn’t take him so long,” she reasoned.
They watched the video until the image began to brighten, pedestrians began to pass, and shops open.
Claire set the laptop aside.
“He was in there five and a half hours,” she stated.
“Do you think he found what he was looking for?” Alec wondered.
“I don’t know. If he did, it took him long enough.”
“So what’s next,
Nancy? Are there any other clues to track down?”
“I’m not sure. But… if he didn’t find whatever he’s looking for… then there will be.”
Chapter 4
The door of the coffee shop swung open and the bell above it rang pleasantly.
Claire glanced up, and saw a middle-aged man headed toward the counter. Her shoulders slumped a little.
She glanced around the shop again as she took another sip of her latte, and pinched off a corner of her pound cake. She was hungry, and excited, and anxious, and wondering what was taking so long.
Claire looked at her watch, then at the clock on the wall. They were both in agreement. The time was eleven-twenty.
She took a bite out of her cake and another sip of her drink, as she tried to exercise patience.
She glanced at her watch again.
Waiting wasn’t her favorite pastime under any circumstance, but if many more minutes ticked by, she’d have to work late to make up the time.
Claire glanced out the window, and un-slumped.
A tall blond woman in a stylish fitted skirt, button up blouse, and heels, walked briskly past. She carried a designer handbag on her arm, and held a cell phone to her ear. Claire couldn’t hear her, but she was having an animated conversation with someone. She reached the door of the coffee shop, and the bell rang as she pushed it open and stepped inside.
Claire smiled, but the woman looked right past her.
The woman’s makeup was as flawless as her outfit, and her perfectly styled blond hair. A gold chain with a diamond pendant hung from her neck, and diamond earrings adorned her ears. The engagement ring she wore sported a magnificent diamond, and her wedding band was encrusted with them. She glanced at Claire and nodded slightly, then got back to her conversation.
“Oh I know, it’s unbelievable. Did you ask Mindy about it? What did she say?”
Over the years, Claire often imagined what it would be like to have a sister. This, was not how she imagined it would be. She felt decidedly let down, and her smile faded.
“Oh, that’s too much,” Marlena laughed lightly. “What about Ava?”
Claire took another sip of her drink, and took a bite of her pound cake. She also had another look at the clock on the wall.
Lochlan Museum: The Case of the Collectible Killer Page 8