by T. K. Chapin
“Micah Freeman. I’m here about Blake.”
She looked around and came out from the bar. She grabbed my arm and took me through a side door and pushed me outside. Coming out right behind me, she shut the door and asked, “Who are you?”
“I told you! I’m Micah Freeman. What was the meaning of that?”
“You were asking about Blake.”
“Yeah,” I replied as I glared at her. “I am. I’m friends with his brother, William.”
Her eyes appeared to well with tears.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. I don’t know anything about anything.” She turned and grabbed the door handle to go back in.
Pushing on the door, I said, “Please. Just tell me what happened the night he vanished.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I have to go.”
Jessica went back inside and the door shut behind her. As the door closed, so did my only lead.
Arriving back at my cabin, I found Joe standing in the driveway. I rolled down my window and stuck my head out. “Could you watch out? I’m trying to park.”
His eyebrows furrowed as he stepped into the grass to let me park. Getting out of the truck, I scratched my head as I walked up to him.
“How long have you been here waiting for me?” I asked.
“Since I found out.”
“Found what out?”
“That you went and talked to the pastor about Charlie, William, Blake and Jessica . . .”
Raising my hands, I said, “I’m just trying to get to the bottom of what is really going on.”
Joe pushed me in the chest and I placed a foot behind me to brace myself. “Don’t touch me,” I said, clenching my jaw.
“I warned you not to go digging. I don’t consider myself an aggressive guy, but when you screw with people I care about, you get a different Joe,” he said, pushing me again.
My jaw clenched and I said, “Last time I checked, we’re in America. I’m free to do what I want.”
“Not in this town, you aren’t.”
He went to push me again, but this time I grabbed his hands and pushed him backward and into the grass, causing him to fall. Looking down at him, I said, “Stop being so protective, Joe. If everybody is innocent, then what’s the issue?”
He jumped up to his feet and got in my face. “The issue is you’re not looking out for brothers in Christ. You understand what kind of damage this could do to Charlie’s reputation? He’s a big deal in Ocean Shores. It’s damaging to people’s reputation whether they are guilty or not.” He turned and began to walk away. “Something to keep in mind while you play detective.”
Infuriated that he would come at me like that, I went inside my cabin and locked the door. What did he mean when he said ‘not in this town’? Was he threatening me? I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t like the hostility. Did Pastor Clarkson call him and rat me out about coming by the church? There was something not right about all this, and it fueled me to keep on digging.
CHAPTER 16
Waking the next day to a knock on my front door, I put on my robe and headed down the hallway while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Getting to the door, I opened it to see a blue car take off from the curb.
“What on earth?” I said, glancing around. I was about to shut the door when an envelope caught my eye on the wood railing that wrapped around my front porch. Grabbing it, I went back inside and shut the door.
Opening the envelope as I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised to see just a blank white card at the bottom. Pulling it out, I flipped it over to find a message.
Meet me at the Humdinger in Hoquiam @ 11am
I wonder if I should go? I thought. Looking over at the clock on the stove, I saw it was just barely after seven. I still had plenty of time to get ready and phone the wife to see what she thought about the mysterious envelope and meeting.
After my morning cup of coffee and a shower, I came out into the living room and called Denise. I filled her in on the recent developments and she began to sound worried.
“People are being sketchy about this, Micah. Maybe that’s a sign you should back off.”
“And what? Just let Charlie beat William? If I can find the brother, maybe I can help them get reconnected.”
“Maybe the brother left for a reason? Have you thought of that? Maybe the rumor that he murdered the parents is true. Then what? You’re searching for a murderer?”
Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t feel it’s like that, Denise. There’s something else going on.”
“What time did you say you’re meeting this person?”
“At eleven.”
“All right. Keep yourself safe.”
“I will,” I replied.
On the drive along highway 109, I looked out into the pine trees that lined the guard rail for miles and thought about my princess, Jasmine. Thinking back to when she was sitting in the seat right beside me not even a year ago, my eyes began to water. She had been gone only three weeks, but it already felt like an eternity since I saw her last. I thought about how it wasn’t anyone’s fault that she was gone, but it was just her time to go. That concept was still a struggle to accept without a reason why. I didn’t know what God was really up to, but I knew if I kept praying and relying on Him, then He’d lead me in all my ways. After dwelling on Jasmine for a bit longer than I should have, I prayed the rest of the drive into Hoquiam. God was my rock, and in those moments of weakness, I needed to be carried.
Arriving at the Humdinger in Hoquiam, I saw the blue car I saw pull away from my house earlier that morning. A man sat down by the bay on a large rock that was a few feet away from the ledge of the pavement.
Coming to the edge of the pavement, I said in a nervous tone, “Hey.”
He turned and looked at me for a moment and then looked back into the bay. His eyes seemed to be focused on one of the large ships that were in port.
“You must be the one that left that note for me.”
“Sure am,” he replied. He stood up and turned around to face me while he stayed with his feet on the rock.
“Why are you out on that rock?”
He shrugged. “I was attempting to come across as less threatening. Figured this rock was a good place to be.” He adjusted his black framed glasses and looked at the pavement I was standing on. “You mind if I . . .?”
“Sure,” I said, stepping back.
“Thanks,” he said and jumped across the gap between the rock and the pavement. “Let’s walk,” he said as he began walking.
Following beside him for a few minutes, I became impatient and said, “So . . .”
“Straight to business. I like that. Anyway. I heard you were poking around Ocean Shores about the Johnson family?”
I nodded.
“That’s not such a good idea.” the guy jumped up onto a log and continued walking along the top of it.
“Hey. I’m not into threats. I’ll go, if that’s what this is,” I replied and turned to leave.
“No! That’s not what this is about at all,” he said, jumping down from the log. Hurrying across the pavement up to me, he grabbed my shoulder and yanked me around to face him. “Look. I want to help you. I know where Blake is.”
“Where is he then?” I asked.
Shaking his head, he said, “I can’t tell you that. You know his parents were killed, right?”
“They were killed?” I looked down at the pavement and shook my head. “Everyone said they were in a car accident.”
The guy laughed. “Is that what they’re calling murder these days?”
My eyebrows furrowed. “Why would anyone want to kill them?”
The guy turned and began walking again. I joined his side. Stepping onto the sidewalk that led up along the drawbridge that went over the bay, he said, “That’s where things get crazy. The Johnsons had found out about what the Pastor, Charlie and a few others were doing at the church.”
“What do you mean?”
�
��I don’t have any proof, but from what Blake has told me, the Johnsons knew they were using the church to launder money.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve known Pastor Clarkson for a while. He doesn’t come across like that kind of guy.”
“Yeah?” he said, stopping. “What about Charlie? He’s a deacon. You already know about how wonderful of a guy he is.”
“That’s true,” I replied. Walking over to the railing on the bridge, I laid my arms on the railing and brought my hands together. I shook my head. The mystery guy soon joined my side.
“I know it’s hard to process,” he said in an understanding and softened tone.
“How could people use a church to do something like money laundering?” I asked, continuing to shake my head.
“It’s jacked, right?” he replied. “I have a plan though.”
“Okay, but can I meet with Blake first? I need to get him and his brother back together. They’re family. The judge would easily give custody to Blake.”
The guy shook his head. “They have the judge in their pocket, dude.”
“Man, that sucks.”
“That’s what happens when crooked people get into places of power. Judge Riddick would never allow Charlie’s rights to be taken away.”
“Why’s Charlie even want the kid? You know, if it’s all about the money laundering.”
He smiled. “The pit goes deeper. When little William turns eighteen, he’s getting two million from an old logging company the parents owned. Get this, there was a condition in the will that he has to live until then or the money would be donated away.”
“Why wouldn’t Blake just get the money?”
“Blake left town when they died. He didn’t come back for fear of what they would do to him.”
“How’d the parents know to add the clause about donating the money?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I do know that Mr. Johnson was a paranoid type of guy. He thought of everything. I mean, why else would he have a clause added to his will stating the kid had to wait until he was eighteen to get the money and be alive?”
“Yeah. You gotta be pretty paranoid. By the way, who are you?” I asked.
“Name’s Rick. I’m a friend of Blake. His fear that drove him to leave William and skip town was rooted in his suspicions about what was going on with the pastor and his parents. One evening, he sat at the top of the stairs, hidden from view, as the Johnsons pleaded with the pastor to repent about something. That was weeks before the so-called accident they were involved in.”
Looking out to the ships in the bay, I shook my head.
“I have a plan though, Micah.”
I laughed. “Yeah. You said that. What is this plan?”
“It involves you.”
Shaking my head, I pulled away from the railing and said, “I don’t want to deal with this kind of thing. They killed people!”
Cars went whizzing by behind Rick before he said anything. Then, he spoke. “You’re a man of God, just like me. This isn’t right—what they did to Blake and William’s parents and what they’re doing within the walls of the church.”
“It’s not my job to right the wrongs in the world.”
“That doesn’t mean you stand idle while sin, corruption and evil unfold before you.”
“I’m just a lowly firefighter from Spokane who lost his daughter. I’m not capable of much.”
He laughed and threw his hands up. “You’re right, Micah. God doesn’t use the broken, the battered, the down and out.” Rick turned and put his hands in his pockets as he walked past me and headed down the sidewalk, back the way we came.
“Wait,” I said. Running up behind him, I said again, this time firmly, “Wait!”
He turned around to me with a grin. “You ready to listen?”
Laughing, I replied, “Yeah. So what’s this plan of yours?”
Arriving back to town later that evening, I stopped at the church to see Pastor Clarkson. Parking, I sat in my truck for a moment with trembling hands. Praying, I asked God to quiet my spirit and bring calmness over me in the moment.
Exiting the truck and heading up to the doors of the church, I knocked. I looked back at my truck as I waited for him to answer.
The door wiggled as the pastor began to unlock it, startling me. I smiled at him to mask my nerves. Pushing the door open, he said, “Hey there, buddy, I was just about to call you.”
I’m sure you were, I thought to myself as I stepped into the church. “You have any updates for me?” I watched his face to see if I could spot his deception.
“Yeah. I got a lead on Blake.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah. Guess he’s out in New Hampshire. Got an address and everything for you.” He handed me a piece of paper as we walked into his office.
“How’d you get this?” I asked, looking at him.
“Just made a call,” he replied. “Maybe Blake and his brother can finally get reunited. It’d warm my heart to see those two reunite. Just head to New Hampshire and get Blake.”
Nodding, I replied, “Me too. Hey, since I’m here, I was wondering if you had any extra tracks to hand out? I love carrying a few on me at all times, and I gave my last one away.”
He paused as he looked at me for a moment and then said, “Yeah. Let me go grab a few for ya.” Standing up, he came around his desk and exited the room.
I looked back quickly to make sure he wasn’t there and then got up and went over to his bookcase. I set the small, self-standing cross up on a shelf and pointed it toward the desk.
As I released the cross, Pastor Clarkson came back into the room. “Good one.”
“What?” I said, jumping slightly. My heart began racing as he walked across the room.
He laughed. “Scare ya?” he asked, walking over to the shelf in front of me. He pointed to a book on the shelf. “Life with Purpose.”
Smiling, my nerves settled and I said, “Excellent book.”
“Here are the tracks,” he said, handing me the stack of pamphlets.
I took them from him and said, “Thank you, Pastor.”
“It’s my pleasure to help spread the name of Jesus!” he said as he went and sat down at his desk.
This guy is some sort of twisted, I thought to myself as I put the tracks in my back pocket. Rubbing my hands together, I raised my eyebrows and said, “Guess we’re done here.”
He nodded and I turned to leave. “Hey, Micah?” he said, freezing me in my tracks.
“Yeah?” I asked, turning back around to him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I replied with a smile.
“Good.” His concern seemed genuine and it confused me.
Hurrying out of the church, I called Rick on my way to my truck in the parking lot. I could hardly keep my hands from shaking from being so nervous. I waited for him to pick up the other end.
“Get it done?” he said.
“Yep. Right on the bookshelf.”
He let out a relieved sigh and said, “Good. Now we wait.”
“How long?”
“As long as it takes for them to incriminate themselves. I’ll be in touch.”
Click.
CHAPTER 17
Walking the shoreline the next day after my morning Bible study and prayer, I admired the sunrise as it rose over the horizon. Even though I had come out to walk the beach several times since I arrived in town, it still reminded me of God and all His wondrous glory.
Laughter came from further inland, and I looked over to see that it was William. My smile grew as he stood waving at me.
“Hey,” I said suspiciously as I looked past him.
As I walked over to him, he said, “Don’t worry about Charlie. He has a meeting at the church this morning.”
“Oh,” I replied as I pulled out my cellphone. I began texting Rick to let him know a meeting was in progress. “Charlie been okay toward you lately?”
William looked out to the ocean and ign
ored my question entirely, responding with, “You’re right. The sunrise is beautiful, Mister.”
Looking over at the horizon, I nodded. Putting a hand on William’s shoulder, I said, “God gives us sunrises and sunsets to remind us there is always tomorrow, and each day is new.” Bending a knee, I looked at William and said, “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
He forced a smile that lasted for a second and then said, “I know. God’s Word promises me that.” He turned back to the sunrise and continued to smile.
Seeing Denise’s name flash across my cellphone around one o’clock that afternoon caused me to suspect something was amiss.
“What’s going on?” I asked hearing her crying on the other end.
She sniffled and then said, “I sent you a picture just a few minutes ago.”
“Let me call you back. I can’t get pictures while on the phone.”
“Okay.”
Hanging up, I pulled up the picture she sent.
My phone buzzed and the image loaded on the screen.
It was an acceptance letter for Jasmine into Eastern University, the college we wanted to her to attend. My eyes filled with tears as that dreadful clamping of my throat came back to me instantly. Crying, I dropped my phone on the couch and went into the kitchen.
I began splashing cold water into my face from the faucet.
She had applied.
She wasn’t going to leave.
Why didn’t she say anything?
My chest tightened as I turned the faucet off. After toweling my face off and collecting myself, I went back into the living room and called Denise.
“You didn’t know?” I asked.
“No,” Denise squeezed out. She sobbed for a moment and then composed herself. “She didn’t hate us, Micah.”
I smiled and said, “No, she didn’t.”
While reading through my Bible a bit later, my phone rang. Setting the Bible down on the coffee table, I picked it up to see that it was Rick.
“What’d you find out?”
He let out an exasperated sigh and then finally said, “Nothing. They figured it out.”