The New World Covenant

by Norm & Kim Bourque

  Murphy handed her his card. "If you think of anything else, please give us a call. Thank you for your time."

  "No problem, can you let me know how she got out? It's driving me crazy."

  Murphy just smiled. "We'll see ourselves out."

  "Who's next?" Jack said as he checked the list again. "Paulie Moretti lives on the upper north side and Scott Harrison lives about ten minutes from here on Stark Street South."

  "Harrison it is. Let's go," Murphy decided. They drove in silence while Jack navigated the traffic.

  It took almost twenty minutes to reach Stark Street, it was always rush hour these days, and when the first vehicle braked, it sent an immediate cascading effect of red taillights, which stretched out like one long string of Christmas lights on an ornamented tree. Murphy's thoughts were on Seraphina with Christmas just around the corner. Would it be the special Christmas they were looking forward to with the arrival of their new baby girl, after all that was Seraphina's due date, he thought.

  Jack, sensing that Murphy needed to be distracted, interrupted his thoughts. "So what’s your opinion of the iron maiden and the princess back there?"

  "If we were looking for a likely suspect, I'd say Nadia would be a good candidate, but Joan doesn't seem big enough or smart enough to cover her tracks that easily." Murphy shook his head, "My money is on one of the guys at this point. We should talk to the nurses as well. We can swing by there, after we talk to the guards."

  "Sounds good, it should save some time. We can head up north to see Moretti after Harrison," Jack agreed.

  They pulled up to a small bungalow in a modest neighbourhood of older bungalows. This was one of the original parts of the town, created when the military had a larger presence in the area. These were the remaining military family homes. Most of them well maintained but sprinkled among them were a few tired, neglected ones; including Harrison's.

  The door opened and a short, stocky man with a dramatic receding hairline closed the door behind him and walked towards them.

  "Let me guess, you're cops." He didn't even glance at the badges.

  "I don't know nothing about the Jossel girl, I didn't help her escape, I didn't see anyone and I was unfairly canned because of it. Anything I missed?" he asked belligerently.

  Jack stated, "That covers quite a bit. I understand there was a nurse on your ward. Did you see him?"

  "What are you talking about mister; there wasn't no nurse in my area. All I did was check the rooms like I was told to do, just like I did every night. Fat lot of good that did me, doing my job and I get fired for doing it. Ain't right," Harrison kept shaking his head. "If you don't have anything else, I'm going to join the boys at Charlie's Pub. I plan on seeing the bottom of lots of mugs today."

  He moved past them and stomped down the street, ignoring the card that Murphy offered to him.

  "Okay, that was interesting," Jack commented as he climbed back into the car. "I'd say he's off the list for now. He's way too Neanderthal to have noticed much. Let's grab an early supper and then go see that Moretti fellow."

  They drove in silence to the upper quadrant of the city. Evergreen Court was a small sheltered cul-de-sac off the main drag. A large two-story brick home stood back from the curb. The landscape appeared professionally tended, and the car in the drive was an expensive new Lexus.

  "Mr. Moretti appears to have money," Murphy commented.

  "Probably married well," Jack responded.

  The door chime sounded through the house and a small Pilipino woman opened the door.

  Out came the badges and Murphy asked for Paulie Moretti.

  "Mr. Moretti is around the back. You go down the path and you come to garden. He there tending the flowers." She shut the door in their face.

  They stepped off the step and followed the path to the back.

  A man stood with his back to them, a pair of shears in his hands. They watched as he cut off some smaller branches from a hedge to form a smooth face.

  Murphy tried a cough this time and it seemed to work as the man turned to face them.

  "Can I help you gentlemen?" he asked.

  "Are you Paulie Moretti?" Murphy asked holding up his badge.

  "I am. I assume you are here about the poor Jossel girl." The man was older than Murphy had expected, maybe in his early sixties, with a thick patch of white hair. His skin was toasted and leathery but his smile was welcoming.

  "Detectives Murphy and Richards, what can you tell us about that night Mr. Moretti?"

  He ran his hand through his hair. "Call me Paulie. Well, let's see, it was real quiet that night. I managed to do a lot of reading. As you can see, I do not lack for money but my wife gets tired of me underfoot all the time. I retired about five years ago and thought this would be a good part time job to keep me from getting bored."

  Jack asked, "Do you remember if anyone came down the corridor?"

  "Not that I can remember, just Scotty. I can't see how it was possible that someone could have gone down there without one of us seeing him or her. They would have had to go right past the kitchen or our guard desk and I'm sure one of us would have seen them, besides how did they get out of the building, that would have meant going out one of the alarmed doors or going right past Joan at the reception desk? They would have had to be really lucky and really quiet, it's like a morgue in there at night, and any small sound carries. One of us would have heard them."

  Murphy asked, "Did you see any of the nurses on the ward?"

  The old man pondered the question, "Come to think of it, I do remember seeing one of the nurses pass me when I went on my break. I didn't recognize him, I just assumed he was one of the new ones. They are always changing so I don't get much chance to get to know them very well. This one seemed a bit young to work in a place like that but who am I to judge what a man wants to do."

  Jack asked, "Can you describe him?"

  "I didn't really pay much attention, like I said, I was heading for a break, and I really needed it, I just nodded to him as he went by. He had a real nice smile, short hair and piercing eyes. He was definitely smaller than me, but then most people seem small when you're 6'5" tall." Paulie smiled down at them, "I don't know where he went, but I'm sure he'll tell you when you talk to him."

  Murphy nodded. "Here's my card, and I would appreciate it if you could call me if you remember anything else. Thank you for your time Paulie."

  As they walked back to the car, Murphy glanced at his watch. "Those nurses should be coming on duty shortly. By the time we get through the traffic we should be able to talk to them."

  They pulled into the hospital parking lot just shortly after 7:00pm.

  They approached the same receptionist that had been on duty the day before.

  "Good evening Amy," Murphy said with a smile.

  She looked up and frowned. "Detective, how can I help you?"

  Murphy replied, "We'd like to speak to the nurses that were on duty the night Hannah disappeared. I believe they are working tonight?"

  Amy responded, "Of course they are working tonight; we are very short staffed right now. I will see if they can spare you a moment, but it will really have to be a quick moment as we are busy at this time of day."

  She stepped into the back administration area and came back a few minutes later with two women, one was fat and fortyish, the other thin and fortyish.

  "This is Diane Marshall", Amy said pointing to the fat woman, "And this is Donna Yates", pointing to the thin woman.

  Amy started to move away.

  Murphy stopped her. "Just a minute Amy, where is the young man that was on duty?"

  "I really have no idea who you could be referring to Detective. We do not have any male nurses on staff at this time, and we certainly did not have one the night Miss Jossel decided to leave." She sniffed at him and walked away.

  Murphy and Jack exchanged puzzled looks, and then turned their attention to Diane.

  "May we call you Diane?" Jack asked.

  She nod
ded. "How can I help you Detective?"

  Jack continued, "I understand that you were on duty that night along with Joan Cavendish, Paulie Moretti, and Scott Harrison and of course, Donna here. Can you tell me if anything unusual occurred that night?"

  "I wish I could but it was just a regular night, as a matter of fact, it was a particularly slow night. We didn't have to attend to any patients. It was downright boring to be quite truthful," Diane answered.

  "I understand you stopped to talk to Miss Cavendish at one point. Can you tell me about that?" Jack continued to ask the questions.

  "There's not much to tell, we were both bored so we started talking, then we grabbed a coffee." Diane shrugged.

  Murphy asked, "Do you remember seeing a young male nurse on the floor that night?"

  Diane shook her head. "Joan mentioned something about seeing a man walk past us, but I didn't pay much attention to her, I knew we didn't have any men on the nursing staff and I didn't see him. I just figured she must have seen one of the guards."

  Jack turned to Donna. "Did you see anyone Donna?"

  Donna shook her head as well. "No, I didn't. I always bring my own food and I don't drink coffee. I usually spend my time working on my homework. I've gone back to University, so this job works well for me, I get lots of time to work on my courses."

  Murphy handed them each a card. "Thank you for your time ladies, if you think of anything please let us know."

  They turned to leave and Amy passed them.

  "Good evening Detectives," she called as they pushed the door open.

  They stopped on the stairs and took in the cool air.

  "Another ghost?" Murphy asked.

  Jack held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, "I'm really getting tired of ghosts."

  Acting on a hunch, Murphy turned to Jack. "Let's get that Cavendish woman to work with the identikit tomorrow and then have the others take a look," he paused, "You know what, lets show the sketch to the Rabbi's sister and that Sylvia girl as well."

  "Why them?" Jack asked.

  Murphy replied grimly, "I'm tired of ghosts too."

  "It's late, tomorrow is another day. Maybe something more positive will turn up and give us a clue to what is going on," Murphy commented, "I'm calling it a night."

  Chapter 30

  Across the ocean lay her home, a distant and misty land in her memory. Most of her family left behind on this journey as she embarked on a new beginning, in a new country, a new city. However, adjusting to this new way of life brought with it many challenges. Living on a farm in another country with its daily routine of chores, where you knew everyone in your community, to a foreign city where you knew no one and nothing was routine, was proving hard to do. Sometimes her mind would wander back to her home but that was another time, another place, and she knew she could never really go back. Time will not stop its progress forward no matter how much you wish and pray for such an outcome. Those still behind will have moved on with life just as she had, choosing the path of destiny that offered itself to each of us.

  Growing up as a child in a large family, she learned the value of hard work and working for the good of the whole family. As just one of many children, there were many hands to help with the long list of duties on the farm and many mouths to feed at the end of the day, but the earth always provided for them.

  Her parents were hard working and diligent in providing for their large family. They taught their children about life with a blend of kindness, firmness, and respect. Leading by example, they taught the value of family, community, and faith.

  Life on the farm was hard but satisfying, but like so many other young people, there was sometimes that whisper, a persistent call to spread ones wings, fulfill other hopes and dreams. In answer, she joined several of her siblings as they struck out for unknown shores, searching for something within them, a need to build a home for their own future and in time the future of their own children.

  This new land was now her home and her future.

  Knowing they had each other in this new land and they would never be alone.

  Her mind now made up to make the best of it in this new land, her old world many miles away, separated by an ocean. She knew that if she went back now, it would only be to visit; no longer would this other world be part of her way of life or her new community.

  The evening before as she sorted her clothes for work, her thoughts jumbled in her head as she mentally prepared for the next day.

  The next day came early and began the same as most of the other days since she started working but she was running behind and would be late for her shift at the factory unless she took a taxi to get there on time, unaware that this moment in time would change her forever.

  Her eyes casually met and studied the young taxi driver. A handsome young man, she blushed as he smiled at her. Quickly turning back to look out the window, she smiled to herself.

  "Do you like coffee?" he asked her hesitantly.

  "No, actually I'm a tea drinker." She looked up into the eyes of the handsome stranger with the accent and never looked back. Somehow, she did not feel like a foreigner in a strange land anymore.

  Their wedding was a quiet affair, a magical day, he in his grey flannel suit with the single white flower pinned to his jacket, and her in her simple white gown with the gauzy veil that she peaked through as they repeated the vows. Then as he lifted it from her face, he gave her a gentle kiss and a promise. She held the flower arrangement against her mid-section for this truly was where life began for them.

  Life was not always easy but they had each other and they counted the passing of time by the number of children. He worked hard to support them, she worked hard to keep their home clean, and the family fed. Life was good and the future was theirs for the taking. In one cruel moment, all the plans they had made for the future were gone.

  The funeral was simple, just as their wedding day had been, the same grey flannel suit worn for the last time. No longer would she see his smiling eyes and feel his gentle touch at night. She turned and gathered her many children to her and promised them she would provide for them. She held her hand to her mid-section again to another unborn child, a promise yet to fulfill.

  She sold what she could to make it through until the Government money started to come in. It wasn't much but it helped feed them and keep a roof over their heads. She sought out a job to help make ends meet so she would never falter on her promise to her children and though they didn't have much, they always had her.

  The community always came together to make sure they were able to have one special day at Christmas, and in the spirit of their giving, their generosity helped ones less fortunate. Her children would not go without, especially on this day of celebration and thanks.

  There were nights though alone and bone weary, when she would talk to him.

  Frustration and despair would fill her soul. "How do I know that you are really there and that you are listening? Why does it feel all one-sided? Why should I pray to you when you won't talk back to me? How do I get to know you?"

  Some nights the questions were more pleading. "What about your love? What is your desire for your children?"

  Tears would fall from her eyes. "My voice that I speak for my children is not silent, why is yours?"

  Anguish and anger would sometimes be there as well. "We need you at this time, but do you need us? You do not come, you just leave us here all alone, my direction is shattered, and my path unknown...I am lost. Is your heart made of stone? I have searched and searched, you are nowhere to be found, why should I continue to believe?"

  Tonight she was serene as she sat in the half-light. She began to speak to him, "My journey ahead now is not one of miles, please Lord do not make it one of sadness, how much must one woman endure. I make you this promise, show me the way, I will take your hand and I will not turn my back. What should I do when the only friend I have is within my own mind? Please show me that there is no lie in 'Believe'."

  She l
ay down on the bed and slipped into a dreamless sleep. What good were dreams if they could never be anything more than that? Somewhere in that deep quiet place she was now entering, a voice very softly and gently said "Believe" followed by, "my spirit is within you my daughter...now sleep...I am the comforter to all my children". For the first time since that day, she was now at peace.

  She dreamed of a mystical land across an ocean, the light of her children now arriving by her side. A mother's love will be forever enduring, for all of eternity...Always

  You Are My Love

  You are the daytime

  And night time of my dreams

  You are the book

  The feelings and the themes

  You are the teardrop

  That runs from my face

  You are the players

  The Coach and home base

  You are the sunshine

  And light in my eyes

  You are the warm air

  And colour in the skies