“Oh, really? That’s cool!” I said genuinely.
“It has its quirks,” he replied. “It can be a dangerous way to make a living, and it’s hot or cold as far as the money is concerned.”
“So does he work with a bail bondsman?” I prompted. “Much of the time, yes. Sometimes he just goes for
reward money. Other times, banks hire him to repossess things. Bondsmen are his biggest employer although the banks run a close second.”
“I suppose so.”
“He likes the detective work almost as much as the adrenaline thrill,” he added.
We nodded our heads with wide eyes.
About ten minutes later, Kim announced, “Well, I’m ready to swim.”
We donned our swim wear and played in the water for an hour. Jacob dunked and threw us a few times. Then we’d play silly games like Marco Polo. It was a blast. Finally, it was time to head home.
Kim’s dad picked up us. I waived bye to Jacob who watched us leave. Of course, I was the brunt of many snickers in the car ride home, helpful and not-so-helpful suggestions, and elbow nudges.
Once at Kim’s, we headed down the stairs. We’d all crash on the second living room floor (the theater room) for the night. Surprisingly within an hour, we were all drifting off to sleep.
The black demon landed in the tree outside my window and just watched me. Its yellow eyes glowed in the dank night, and its slit red pupils pulsed with hunger. The scarlet color symbolized the blood of his victims, both past and present.
The shadow of death was a carrion bird waiting for the last throws of death before it landed to feed. It anticipated ripping into the soft body tissues almost as much as it enjoyed feasting on the flesh. A shiver of excitement shook it slightly and a nictitating membrane passed over the alien eyes.
It reached toward the window, the only barrier separating the two of us. Slowly, it extended a morbidly long talon, sharp and cruelly curved, and began to test the glass. I sat up to better see.
It reacted by curling back paper-thin lips to reveal huge yellow and black stained canines that sliced and snapped at the wet night air. Foul breath snaked up in a hot column as it hissed frustration at its discovery. A five-foot snake tongue immerged and licked the window. It suctioned itself to a piece of glass.
A tiny etching noise began as I noticed its claw beginning to trace a rough circle on the glass. It was going to enter by removing a section of glass…
I sat up with a sharp intake of breath. The feeling of danger nearly overpowered me as premonition set in. The dream wasn’t a dream at all! A figure dressed in black could barely be distinguished against the back drop of the night sky. A tool was in his hand, and he was tracing a rough circle in a section of glass!
I screamed and yelled for everyone to get up. We took off toward the stairs and barreled up them as fast as humanly possible. We must’ve sounded like a herd of wild elephants screaming like banshees as we approached Kim’s parent’s room.
Kim’s father materialized before us. I screamed at him to get a gun. He reappeared quickly with a .45 caliber pistol in his hand.
“He’s in the basement!” I screamed.
“Mom, call the police!” Kim yelled with a panicked voice.
The house was in complete chaos for fifteen minutes. Of course, the culprit had disappeared when he realized he no longer had stealth on his side. Kim’s parents ran outside to check the perimeter.
“Don’t disturb any possible evidence,” I gently reminded from the doorway.
“You’ve watched too many Dateline murder shows,” Julie managed to tease. “I doubt they’ll even collect evidence since no major crime occurred.”
“He intended to commit a major crime.”
“True, but you know how the law is. You can’t be convicted on your intentions, only on your actions.”
I sighed wearily. I knew that was true. Breaking and entering was a felony, but it wasn’t nearly as heinous as kidnapping with intent to murder!
The police were out in ten minutes. Another night’s sleep went by the way side. There were questions to be answered, details to collect, and a lot of time was spent with whatever else police do. It was probably 5:00 a.m. before the law left Kim’s.
I was exhausted, but I certainly didn’t feel like sleeping. I overheard Kim’s parents talking about installing an
alarm. Who could blame them?
Chapter Four
Several hours later, I was home in my own bed. I was so tired, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Mom had given me some medicine to help relax me, and sleep finally overtook my mentally fatigued body.
I woke up hours later. I felt rested at last. Mom must’ve heard me up and about, because she had started frying sausage for a biscuit gravy meal. I came down stairs and opened up the biscuit can and spread the dough sections out on a pizza pan. She’d just started adding the milk to the future gravy, so I popped the bread in the oven.
“I’ve made a decision, babe. I’m going to hire a detective. I want that guy apprehended.”
“But Mom – that might be expensive.”
“I’m sure. But money doesn’t matter if there’s anything I can do to protect you or possibly save your life.”
“Oh, Mom. I love you!” I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my head on her shoulder. She returned the embrace. I pulled back and said, “If I can’t talk you out of this–”
She shook her head.
“Well, this guy I go to school with… actually, his dad is a bounty hunter. They do detective work in their profession. I bet he would do it. He might not be nearly as expensive. It might be worth checking out.”
“Oh, there’s this guy, huh?”
Mom’s teasing smile made me happy. She’d been way too sober and anxious up until this point. I felt my cheeks growing warm. She lifted my chin so I looked her in the eyes.
“Who’s this… guy?”
“Hahaha! I told you, I go to school with him. He’s a big football and basketball player.”
“Oh, he’s really into it?”
“Yes, and literally, he’s BIG.” I giggled again. “He’s almost 6”6.
“Oh, my! That is big.”
“Yes, it is. I think I’ll text him and ask him if his dad might be interested. Is that okay?”
“Sure, baby. I just have to do something!” The seriousness was back.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll text him right after we eat.”
The gravy was thickening and bubbly under Mom’s constant stirring, and the aroma was making my taste buds water. I opened up the oven door and found the biscuit tops were lightly golden brown and done to perfection. I donned an oven mitt and retrieved the bread.
It was self-serve banquet style. We filled our plates with piping hot food, filled our cups with ice-cold orange juice, and sat down.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“For what, baby? Being a mom?”
“Yup. Isn’t it nice to have appreciation?” “You know it!”
After eating, we cleaned the kitchen. Then I went to my room to text Jacob and do some homework.
“Hey, Jacob. This is Laurie.”
“Hey. I was beginning to wonder if I’d hear from u.”
“Really?”
“Ya”.
“Well, I didn’t hear from u?”
“Sorry. U were on my mind.”
“U2.”
“So, u wanna do something?”
Well, right now I gotta do hw, but yes, I wud.” “Cool!”
“Got a questions 4u”
“Ya?”
“Does ur dad hire out to individuals??
“Um, I think so. Why?”
“Cuz… mom wants to hire a detective & I thot of ur dad.”
“Waz up?”
“Long story. Can I tell u n person?” “Ya.”
“So… can u ask ur dad?”
“Yup. He’s not home right now, but as soon as he gets here.”
“K. Thanks.” I sighed and resigned
myself to doing dreaded homework. Spanish.
It wasn’t so bad. It was just a lot of memorization. Then it was application, but I had to do a whole lot of memorization before the application part. My brain was just not committed this afternoon. I did force it to cooperate, though. I started with index cards. Half way through memorization, Jacob texted me back.
“Dad said we cud meet & discuss details 2night. What ya doing at 7?
“I’ll ask mom. That shud b fine.”
I found Mom and told her the news. “Where are we meeting?” she asked me. “I’m not sure, Mom. I’ll find out.”
We decided to meet Big Whiskey’s in Nixa. It was a local restaurant on one side, bar on the other. We could eat a bite, sit outside where the conversation would be a little more private, and discuss terms and conditions.
Mom and I got ready. It almost felt like a double date.
Mom wore jeans and a nice summer shirt; it was dressy but not overly so. It definitely showed her more feminine side. I wore shorts and a summer blouse. We both touched up our hair and makeup.
We showed up about fifteen minutes early and secured a table. Within five minutes of us sitting down, we heard the loud rumble of Harleys. It was the men we were waiting on!
Jacob’s Harley was a Dyno Series Street Glide with a really cool paint job done in greens, purple, and silver accented by thicker black fingers of paint dripping and crossing randomly. His father had a Fatboy with the works. The chrome extras, many of which contained flaming skulls, complemented the black background with maroon ghost flames etched in the paint. Both Mom and I got up to admire the popular motorcycles.
Fifteen minutes later, we were seated, and everyone had ordered hamburgers and fries. We made our introductions, and I sensed a growing vibe of interest between Mom and Jacob’s dad, Jason. We received our drinks before the conversation really got down to business.
“So I’m told that our meeting was more of a business endeavor?” Jason began.
“Yes,” Mom said. “I don’t know what the kids have told you…”
Jacob’s brows shot up, and he sent me an inquisitive look.
“I, ah, haven’t really… mentioned what was going on…” I said uneasily and shifted in my seat.
“Okay. Laurie doesn’t like to be the center of attention,” Mom began, “But I’m tired of this. TIRED!” Mom slammed her fist on the table, startling us all.
When she saw our looks of surprise, she said, “I’m so
sorry. I’m just not handling this well at all.”
Mom appeared choked with emotions, so I butted in, “I am being stalked by the murderer of that girl. The one who looks similar to me,” I revealed. Both men’s heads swiveled to stare at me, open-mouthed. “Um, Jacob, don’t be upset with me. I’ve really only talked with you one-to-one last night at the party. It’s not something that I could just randomly bring up…”
He gently said, “Well, it was brought up. You could have mentioned it without it being random.”
“I know, but I’d just met you. I didn’t want you to think me a drama queen.”
His eyes swirled olive with emotions. I could tell he cared. “I guess I can understand,” he admitted after a pause.
“Tell me exactly what’s been going on,” Jason instructed. We filled him in on every detail concerning “Adam”.
“Yes, of course I’ll take the job!” Jason said vehemently.
“Oh, great!” Mom said with relief. “What do you think you’ll charge?”
“Not much. I’d almost do it for free!” “Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that!”
“Believe me, I want to. My son cares about your daughter. And, uh, I wouldn’t mind… seeing if you’d like to, um, go out… sometime… with me?”
Mom looked pleased yet uncomfortable at the same time. “I’d like to,” she said with a pause, “but do you think it’s wise? To mix business and dating, I mean?”
“Well, if I take it upon my own shoulders to do this job, it wouldn’t be business, now, would it?”
“Dad’s been following this case very closely,” Jacob revealed. “He hates people who abuse women and
children.”
I saw Mom’s eyes soften a bit. I knew it was brownie points in her book.
“I was pretty much informally investigating the case from a distant point of view,” Jason said. “But now I have a vested interest! I won’t let some maniac take out or cause two beautiful women panic or fear!”
“I’d be happy to pay you!” Mom said.
“I won’t hear of it. I’m sure there’ll be some sort of police reward if I can apprehend this guy,” Jason said.
“Won’t that be dangerous?” Mom asked.
“Nah. I’m good at being precautious.”
“It still doesn’t feel right for me to offer to hire you to do a job then you decide to do it for free.”
“I was doing it for free anyway. It was just a tad more informal than it’ll be now.”
Jacob was nodding his head in agreement.
“So that’s why you seemed really knowledgeable about the goings-on during the murder conversation last night,” I said.
Again, Jacob nodded.
“Well,” Mom sounded unsure, “only if you’re certain?” Jason nodded. “And if you’d rather wait until after this
guy is apprehended to see me, I can be patient. Good things come to those who wait,” he said with a wink. Then he paused a second for effect before adding, “but I’d really like to see you.”
“I’d like that, too,” Mom whispered. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you now, but I’ll warn you that I’m preoccupied by my daughter’s safety until this guy is off the streets!”
“No one can blame you there,” Jason consoled. “But it’s a deal!” He made Mom shake on it.
When the men saw us looking once more toward theirbikes, they promised to bring extra helmets on some night and take us for a ride. Both of us thought that sounded like fun.
We watched the guys ready themselves to ride then kick their bikes to life. It certainly wasn’t a necessity, but we felt complimented when they followed us to see us safely home.
Once we walked in the quiet house, we threw our things down on the table. Half the time, the table was used more for a collection of things rather than a place to eat.
“See, Mom? You teased me about Jacob. I guess it’s time for fair play.” I instigated.
“Yes, baby, you sure do know how to pick them! Jason is handsome! And tall!”
“I know! I think he’s probably a little over an inch taller than Jacob! I think he’s at least 6’7”!”
Mom nodded with dreamy eyes as she pulled out her laptop to begin some work.
“I guess I’ll head upstairs to work on some more homework.”
“Okay, baby. We can watch a movie later, if you want.” “K. That would be nice.”
I headed up the darkened staircase to work on my Spanish. I put my hand on the smooth, cool wood of the beautiful banister and suddenly, a chill electrified its way up my arm. My breath quickened in my throat, and my heart began to pound.
I abruptly turned around and headed back down the stairs. I feigned missing something to help me with my work. Spooky music was playing in my head, but I refused to be the proverbial girl that walks down the dark hallway to her death with the audience yelling out, “Don’t go in there!”I silently crept back in the kitchen where Mom was sitting and whispered calmly in her ear. Her eyes became silver dollars, but she quietly slipped the laptop under her arm, grabbed her purse, and we headed back out the door.
I texted Jacob right when we reached the safety of the car. Immediately, he responded. “I’ll be right over. Get the heck outta there!”
“We’re leaving now. I think u shud wait 4 the police”. “But dad & I have many of the same rights that police
do – only we don’t hafta b quite so… political.”
“Still, Jacob. Who knows if he has a gun? Idk if he’s even n there 4 sure. I wa
sn’t gonna look!”
“Good. But something made u think he was.”
Mom backed the car up, and we zoomed away. Within minutes, we were at the police station.
“Here we are again,” I mumbled. “By the way, mom, we need the cops to check our house out there ASAP. Jason and Jacob are probably there now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I… sort of… texted Jacob.” “Oh.”
We filled out the paperwork and an officer was dispersed to the location. We drove back as well. We couldn’t stand the not-knowing-what-was-going-on feeling. When we pulled up, the police lights were flashing blue, red, and white while Jason and Jacob were waiting for us on the front lawn.
Eyes with No Soul Page 4