A Fortunate Encounter

by J A Whiting

  “No, thanks. I’m all set.” Claire leaned back against her seat. “For now.”

  13

  “The guy could be telling the truth,” Ian said. “Maybe he did walk Jade back to the bonfire.”

  Claire, Ian, Bear, and Lady strolled over the white sand of the Bayside town beach. When the leashes were removed, the two Corgis took off towards the waves taking turns chasing each other.

  High cloud cover hid the sun and made the late afternoon feel chillier than the thermometer reported it to be. Claire wanted to visit the place where Jade had spent a lot of time so she asked Ian to accompany her to the beach. She was feeling glum and the slate gray sky mirrored her mood.

  “Maybe he was telling the truth.” Claire kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes under the sand. “I had odd sensations when I talked to AJ, but as usual, I can’t sort them out. I didn’t care for his over-confidence, but maybe it was just me turning my feelings of insecurity from childhood into dislike for him.” Claire had grown up poor, she and her loving mother always just a paycheck away from losing their home.

  “You can talk to Jade’s friends to see if any of them recall seeing AJ walking back to the park with Jade,” Ian said. “There had to be someone who saw them returning to the bonfire. I’ll pass the information on to my detective friend.”

  The tide was high and the waves crashed against the sand causing the dogs to jump and bark and run.

  “Jade lived three blocks from here, in that direction.” Claire pointed. “The family came here all the time, in every season, to swim in the summer, walk the beach, play catch, visit the pier.”

  Ian stopped and looked out at the rough sea. “Her mother told you this was her daughter’s favorite place. Does Mrs. Lyons still come here? Does it give her solace or does it make things worse by reminding her that Jade is missing?”

  “She told me it’s comforting to be here. It makes her feel close to her daughter.” Claire sank down to sit in the sand and Ian did the same.

  “What happened?” Claire asked. “How did Jade disappear from a crowded park? She was at the bonfire having a good time and then an hour later, no one knows where she is.”

  Ian frowned. “Someone knows where she is.”

  Claire picked up a handful of sand and let the grains fall slowly through her fingers. “We just have to find the person who knows.”

  Bear and Lady raced from the edge of the water, up over the sand, and then trotted around Claire and Ian, barking.

  “Hush, you two,” Claire told them. “You’re too loud.”

  The dogs usually obeyed their owner, but this time, they kept running and pushing at Claire with their noses.

  “The beach makes them nuts,” Ian smiled.

  “Bear. Lady. Stop.” Claire used a firm voice. “No barking.”

  The dogs sat down at the same time and stared at the young woman.

  “Good, dogs. Go play.” She gestured down the beach. “Go ahead.”

  The Corgis hesitated, and then reluctantly walked away, sniffing intently at the sand as they went.

  “AJ Phelps’s brother is getting married soon. That’s the wedding we’re doing the desserts for,” Claire told her boyfriend.

  Ian’s eyes widened. “That’s an odd coincidence.”

  “Isn’t it?” Claire said. “Maybe I can snoop around the place while we’re catering the wedding.”

  Ian shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll manage that. There will be hundreds of guests. Someone will spot you looking around and report you to Mr. and Mrs. Phelps who will then fire you.”

  Claire chuckled. “It will be too late to fire us. They will have already paid us.”

  “Then you’ll end up in jail,” Ian said.

  “For what? Looking at things?”

  “Attempted robbery.”

  “Yes, attempted robbery of information.”

  Ian said, “In all seriousness, these people will have security on the premises. No way you’ll be able to go anywhere except the kitchen and the wedding tents. You won’t be able to find out anything.”

  “I feel like I might be able to,” Claire said in a whisper.

  “Feel as in a paranormal thing or a regular-person thing?” Ian had a worried look on his face.

  “I don’t think it’s a regular-person feeling.”

  Ian gave Claire a sideways glance and took her hand. “Just be very careful. The person responsible for Jade’s disappearance could be at that wedding. Keep your eyes open. Stay on your toes. I’ll tell Nicole to do the same. And call me if anything seems off … anything at all.”

  Claire squeezed Ian’s hand and leaned her shoulder against his. “I will.”

  “Maybe I should go along with you to the wedding. I can pretend to be your assistant.”

  “Sorry,” Claire smiled. “The contract says only three of us can be working that afternoon and evening. It’s Nicole, me, and Robby.”

  “Maybe I’ll take Robby’s place so I can protect you.”

  “Then you’d have to learn to decorate cakes before we go. You don’t have enough time.”

  “You doubt my abilities?” Ian asked in mock offense.

  Claire stood up to go. “Yup.”

  Claire, Ian, Nicole, and Ryan sat on the Back Bay restaurant’s patio next to the glowing pyramid-shaped heaters that warmed the air. The clouds had cleared away since Claire and Ian left the beach and the stars twinkled against the inky sky. The couples chatted, people-watched, and sipped drinks while waiting for their dinners to arrive.

  “The Phelps family hosted a big charity event not long ago to raise money for the hospital,” Ryan told the group. “It was very successful. They have a lot of important connections, not only in Boston, but around the world. Donors with very deep pockets. I met the family briefly at the event, including AJ. If their son is involved in any way with this young woman’s disappearance, it will be a very black mark against the family.”

  “Aren’t people like the Phelps family able to make their troubles go away?” Nicole lifted her wine glass to her lips and looked to Ian for his opinion.

  “With some things,” Ian said. “But not with murder.”

  Ryan looked at the detective with a look of surprise. “Murder? Is that what law enforcement thinks now? The young woman has been murdered?”

  “If missing people aren’t located in the first couple of days, it usually means there won’t be a happy ending,” Claire explained.

  “I didn’t realize.” A sad look washed over Ryan’s face. “That’s terrible. I hope AJ didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  The server who was waiting on the foursome approached the table. “When I walked by a minute ago, I heard you talking about AJ Phelps and that missing girl.”

  Claire’s heart began to pound.

  “One of the waitresses here dated AJ last year. Would you like to speak with her? I think she’d have some interesting things to tell you.”

  Claire spoke up. “Yes, I would, if she doesn’t mind. I’m helping the family look into the disappearance.”

  “Her name is Audra. She went to Whittemore for three years, but had to take this year off to work. She’s sitting over there in the red dress. She’s not working tonight, just stopped by for a drink. I’ll go ask her if you can talk to her for a little bit.”

  The waitress walked away, stopped at Audra’s table, leaned down to speak to her, then looked over to Claire and waved at her to come over.

  When Claire went to the young woman’s table, she introduced herself.

  Audra gestured to the stool on the other side of the high-top table. “I hear you’re interested in AJ Phelps.” The woman’s words slurred together and Claire wondered how long she’d been sitting there. Audra had white-blond hair that reached way down her back, courtesy of extensions. Her makeup was heavy, but artfully done and she wore black heels and a body-hugging, deep red dress.

  Claire explained, “I’m talking to people who know Jade Lyons, trying to help the fam
ily find some information. I spoke with AJ yesterday.”

  “I went to Whittemore and I knew who Jade was, but I don’t think we ever spoke.” Audra took a swallow from her mixed drink. “Did AJ date her?”

  “He didn’t date her. He talked to her at a bonfire across the road from Whittemore,” Claire said.

  “That was the night when Jade went missing, right?” Audra asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think AJ had something to do with it?” When Audra lifted her blue eyes, they held a look of suspicion.

  “Why do you ask that?”

  “I don’t trust AJ. He goes from one woman to the next, sometimes running around with two at the same time. He’s careful though. He doesn’t date two women from the college because they’d find out. He might date an undergrad and a woman from a nearby town. Less chance of them discovering one another.”

  “Did he do this when he was dating you?” Claire asked,

  “He sure did. Busy, isn’t he? I don’t know where he gets the energy.” Audra took another sip. “Although, AJ doesn’t need to work to get through college so he has more time for extracurricular activities than some of us do.” The young woman made eye contact with Claire. “So did he have something to do with the girl going missing?”

  “Do you think he could do something like that?” Claire asked. “Cause someone to go missing?”

  “I don’t think AJ has any empathy. He only cares about his own wants and needs. Do I think he could do something wrong? Yes, I do. I think AJ is lacking in the basic humanity that would stop someone else from doing something bad.”

  The woman’s words sent a shudder over Claire and she recalled AJ telling her that Jade had rejected him by wanting to leave his apartment and return to the bonfire. Could that feeling of rejection make him lash out at Jade. “Did AJ ever hit you?”

  Audra sat straight. “No way. He knew better than to do that.”

  “Did he treat you in a bad way?”

  Audra smiled sadly. “There was never any overt mistreatment. It was all subtle. Dating other people while we were together, acting like I was wrong to question him, him being drunk a lot, being high a lot, and being defensive when I called him out on it.”

  “Does AJ have a drinking or a drug problem?” Claire asked.

  “I don’t know. He’d deny it even if it was true.” Audra sighed. “I don’t know if he’s addicted or might be an alcoholic. I don’t know the medical definition of those things. But he drinks a ton and takes drugs.” She shook her head slowly. “Have you met his pal?”

  “What pal?” Claire’s forehead furrowed in thought.

  “The drug dealer. He’s a fine example of a human being.” Audra rolled her eyes. “He’s a creep. AJ was always buying from the guy. I’m sure he still is.”

  Claire’s throat tightened. “What’s the pal’s name?”

  Audra leaned forward and spoke in a soft voice. “Badger.”

  14

  “Badger?” Claire asked, her heart thumping. She remembered the convenience store clerk in the small town of Hadwen mentioning a man called Badger being with AJ Phelps the night Jade disappeared.

  “Yes, the name is as stupid as he is.” Audra ran her hand through her hair extension.

  “He’s a drug dealer?”

  “Yes, and he’s as mean as he is stupid,” Audra said. “I don’t think that guy has a brain in his head. He’s like a robot. I drove with AJ once to meet him. Badger was beating up a guy behind a convenience store in Hadwen. He had a knife. I pulled out my phone to call the police and AJ freaked. He batted the phone from my hand. He told me never to call the police on this guy. I told AJ to turn the car around and take me back to campus. I wasn’t getting involved with a monster like that. We yelled at each other all the way back.”

  “So you never actually met this Badger person?” Claire asked.

  “And I never will,” Audra said.

  “Did AJ still buy from the guy?”

  “He did, just not with me in the car. I don’t ever want to be within one hundred miles of that poor excuse for a human.” Audra drained her cocktail. Her eyes had taken on a glassy look while she’d been talking with Claire.

  “Are you meeting someone tonight?”

  Audra looked confused for a moment. “Oh, yeah. My boyfriend.”

  “What were you studying at Whittemore?”

  A smile crept over the woman’s mouth. “Nursing. They have an excellent program. I’m going to finish my final year when I return next year.”

  “Do you see AJ anymore? Do you run into him at all?” Claire asked.

  “I haven’t seen him for quite a while,” Audra said. “I do occasionally see the missing girl’s boyfriend. His first name is Kyle. He comes in here for lunch or dinner sometimes. He works here in the city.”

  “You know Kyle?”

  “I don’t really know him. I’ve waited on him a bunch. Somebody who works here told us the missing woman is Kyle’s girlfriend.” Audra shuddered. “It shocked me, really shocked me.”

  “Has Kyle come into the restaurant since Jade went missing?”

  “No. At least I haven’t seen him,” Audra said.

  “Does Kyle come in alone?”

  “Sometimes. Other times, he comes in with a couple of guys.” Audra looked across the patio to the door to the restaurant and lifted her index finger in a gesture to wait. “My boyfriend’s here.” She collected her phone and her wallet. “If you want to talk more, I’m usually working here in the evenings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Or call the restaurant and ask about my schedule.”

  Claire thanked the young woman for speaking with her.

  Audra let out a long breath. “I can’t get Jade out of my mind. What was she? Twenty-one? I’m the same age.” Shaking her head, she said, “Whatever happened to her could happen to me.” Audra clenched her hand around her phone. “Sometimes I think I’m crazy for obsessing over this.”

  Claire nodded understandingly. “The idea of Jade being missing is upsetting to you. It’s upsetting to people who didn’t even know Jade at all. Her disappearance makes people feel very vulnerable.”

  “I guess.” Audra stood up and leaned over the table to shake Claire’s hand. “Come by again if you want. We can talk.”

  Feeling shaky and anxious, Claire got up to return to her friends.

  Ian stood when Claire approached her chair and he noticed her gait was slightly unstable. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Why did what Claire heard from Audra cause her legs to go weak? Badger, the mean drug dealer. AJ interacting with a drug dealer. AJ claiming that he walked Jade back to the bonfire. Did anyone see them returning to the fire? Who is keeping things hidden? Who is lying? Who is telling the truth?

  Words and images swirled so rapidly in Claire’s brain that she became slightly dizzy and was grateful for Ian’s strong, warm hand on the small of her back.

  Claire had been dreading the early morning meeting in the chocolate shop. She hadn’t seen Mrs. Lyons for a few days and even though she didn’t like to admit it, she hadn’t missed the smothering heaviness of the woman’s grief pressing against her.

  Bonnie Lyons looked pale and thin and her hair hung down dull and lifeless. Claire guessed she hadn’t been eating much or sleeping and the lack of food and rest was catching up with her and showing on her face.

  “How’s your older daughter doing?” Claire asked.

  A joyless smile tugged at the corners of Bonnie’s lips. “Jeena’s holding up better than I am. Or maybe she hides it better than I do. She’s busy back at work and I think that’s a helpful distraction for her. Did you go to the beach?”

  Claire nodded. “We walked my dogs there. I looked around. It’s a beautiful spot.”

  “Jade and I loved it there.” Bonnie looked out of the shop’s window.

  The past tense, Claire noted. Bonnie used the past tense when she mentioned Jade.

  “Who have you been able to talk to?” Bon
nie held the mug of hot coffee between her hands.

  Claire listed the people she’d spoken with and provided some details from the conversations.

  “Did anything someone say point to a place Jade might be?” Bonnie asked with the tiniest trace of hope in her voice.

  “No, nothing,” Claire said. “I want to follow up with the three men I’ve spoken with already. I feel there’s more there to draw out.”

  Bonnie crossed her arms on the table. “Do any of them seem guilty?”

  Even if Claire had a strong feeling that someone she’d spoken with was the one responsible for Jade’s disappearance, she wouldn’t tell Bonnie unless she had some hard evidence to go on. She worried Bonnie would rush off determined to exact revenge and end up confronting the wrong person.

  “Almost every person I’ve talked with could be thought of as having motive,” Claire said. “But having a motive isn’t the same as being guilty of hurting someone.”

  Bonnie flinched at the words hurting someone. “You’re right. We have to be sure.”

  “Have you spoken with the police?”

  With a weak nod, Bonnie said, “They’re always very nice to me, but I can feel their pity. They don’t think I’m able to help, but who else involved in searching for my daughter has a motive similar to mine? My love for my daughter is my motivation to find her. No one else has that … no one else will go to the ends of the earth for my Jade.”

  Something Bonnie said caused a thought to float by in Claire’s brain, but it was foggy and unformed and she couldn’t grasp it. But she knew it was important.

  “Do the police have any leads about the things they found that belonged to Jade? Her phone, fleece jacket, and driver’s license?” Claire questioned.

  “Not really. They don’t think Jade was the one who piled her things neatly in that lot,” Bonnie said. “They think she was with someone and that person ended up placing her belongings there. Why it was done is another question without an answer.”

  “Did the person think by neatly piling the things that we’d all think Jade committed suicide?” Claire asked. “Did the person think that if we believed Jade killed herself, then he’d be safe from an investigation? The focus would shift and he wouldn’t be found out?”