Roland P D Omnibus

by Ruth DuCharme

  I ended the call and sat there for a minute, reflecting on what Joy Sullivan had told me. Ben? Could Ben know something he hadn’t told me?

  I had to talk to him. I checked the clock on my cell phone. Six p.m. Maybe he would be back from Deertail by now.

  I dressed quickly but instead of heading out I went to the kitchen and began making dinner. My folks would be home form work soon and I knew Mom would appreciate this. Besides, I needed to think about how I was going to approach Ben.

  I usually had others to bounce ideas off of and briefly while I cooked I considered calling Lizzie. I picked up the phone to call her but immediately put it down again. I had mixed feelings about being so close to Lizzie.

  Sarahbeth’s comments had eaten their way into my brain and caused me to question myself. Did I have feelings for Lizzie? She was someone special for sure. Sam was definitely as awesome as kids could come.

  Lizzie was my partner. We worked together. Who successfully mixes work and pleasure? No one. Its true that cops frequently dated co-workers but I wasn’t sure I wanted to take a chance on making our relationship a personal one; at least not any more personal than it already was. Besides I had no indication that Lizzie would even be interested in me.

  And what about Sarahbeth? She was talented, beautiful and I really liked her but could we really have anything beyond a brief little fling while I was home? I smiled to myself. Sarahbeth was pretty temperamental.

  I was leaving in a few days anyway. After everything that had occurred, I was actually looking forward to getting out of here. Being home wasn’t very relaxing now that someone was making it difficult.

  Someone was going to a lot of trouble to make me uncomfortable and throw me off Marc’s case. Well, they didn’t know me that well. I don’t give up and my cop sense was telling me not to leave here without finding out once and for all what had happened that night.

  I owed it to Marc and I owed it to myself to put this to rest once and for all.

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Six

  Mom and Dad came home and we enjoyed a leisurely dinner. I made sure not to mention the car fire or my phone call with Lieutenant Sullivan. When we had finished, I sent my folks to the living room to enjoy their nightly dose of jeopardy while I washed up.

  Once I had dried and stowed the last dish, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer. I needed to talk to Ben. I no longer had a car so I changed into my running clothes and slipped on my running shoes.

  “Ma? Pop? I’m heading out for a run.” I called out as I stepped out onto the front porch. It was still warm but I needed the exercise and the run would give me time to formulate what I was going to say to Ben. I started off slowly and when my muscled had warmed up I let my legs go full stride.

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Seven

  Fifteen minutes later, I made my way inside Bojangles café. I didn’t see Shelly even though the tables were almost vacant.

  I brazenly ventured through the kitchen doors were I found Ben cleaning the grill. He looked up with surprise, “Hey man what’s up?”

  “Just out for a run and thought I’d stop by.”

  “Shell said you were in earlier. Sorry I wasn’t here. I had to go out of town to pick up the meat. Want a hamburger? It’s fresh and the grill is cleaned.”

  “No thanks.” I patted my stomach. “I just had dinner with my folks.”

  Ben smiled knowingly. “How about a beer then?”

  “That sounds like heaven, thanks.”

  Ben popped the cap off an ice-cold beer and handed it to me. I leaned against the sink watching Ben prep condiments for the next day.

  He must’ve felt me staring at him. Humans are predictable. It is very rare that they can stay silent. They need talking. Police Interview 101, the longer the interviewer stays silent, the more restless the suspect becomes. If an interviewer can stay silent long enough, the suspect will just start talking to fill the silence. Inevitably he or she starts spilling their guts because they just cant stand the silence. As if on cue Ben starts the conversation. “What’s new, man?”

  “There was a fire out at my house today.”

  Ben barely blinked. “Everyone ok? No one was hurt were they?”

  “Someone set my rental car on fire. No one was hurt.”

  Ben stopped slicing vegetables long enough to express concern. I wasn’t sure if he was faking it or not. “Someone set your car on fire?”

  “Yep.”

  Ben laughed as he returned to his prep work. “Man, who did you piss off?”

  “That’s just it, as far as I know I haven’t pissed anyone off.” I paused before saying what I was thinking. “I think whoever is bothering me is doing it because I was nosing around about Marc’s missing person case.”

  Ben didn’t break stride. He threw a handful of potatoes into the deep fryer, flipped a burger on the freshly cleaned grill and chopped mushrooms to throw down next to it. “What about Marc’s case?”

  “I’ve been kinda nosing around. I looked at the original file.”

  “Kirk actually let you into his precious police house and let you poke around like that?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Ben threw a piece of cheese on top of the softening mushrooms. I wont lie; despite having just eaten my mouth was starting to water. I pushed aside thoughts of the delicious mushroom cheeseburger. “I found the list of calls for service that night. I figured that maybe there would be other calls for service in the area. Turns out there were a few things that happened that night.”

  “Like what?”

  “For one thing, Marge Freelander heard arguing but that was at eleven. I know it couldn’t have been Marc and his dad because Marc was on his way home from my house at eleven.

  “Ok, so who was doing the arguing?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m not even sure Marge heard what she thinks she heard.”

  “You think she was making it up? Like for attention or something?”

  “No. I think what she heard was real but I’m still working on the theory that the people arguing were not Marc and his dad.”

  “What does that theory have to do someone burning your car to ground?”

  “Hear me out. There was also a party that night.” I dropped that little nugget and watched Ben for a reaction. So far he was holding it together. Maybe Joy had been wrong. Maybe Ben had zero to do with this. I pressed the issue. “There was a party that night and the cops busted it up. They said kids were drinking and a fight broke out. Some of the kids got arrested. The report said you were one of those kids.”

  “I remember that. Jordan Thompson, JT’s older brother, had a party and it was pretty fun. I remember the cops breaking it up and getting hauled in but I don’t remember there being any fight.”

  “How did the cops find out about the party in the first place?”

  “I have no idea. We were probably being too loud and some neighbor called or something. Man, you know how it was back then. We all got a little crazy.”

  “I was fourteen and a total geek. I wasn’t really getting crazy back then.”

  “Well I was sixteen and let me tell you, between the booze and the girls and maybe a little weed now and then, we were crazy.”

  “There were girls at the party?”

  Ben laughed out loud at my question. “Of course there were! What’s a party without girls?”

  “Was Shelly there?”

  “No she wasn’t hanging out with us back then.”

  “I didn’t see Jordan Thompson’s name on the arrest report.”

  “He wasn’t there. What I mean by that is that Jordan was out on a beer run while we were getting busted.” Ben looked like he had had enough of my questions. “Look man. What does all of this have to do with Marc going missing?”

  I lied. “I think that maybe Marc’s dad DID have something to do with Marc’s disappearance but I just don’t know how. I was hoping maybe someone saw Marc on his way home. If someone saw him after he left my house then…”
>
  Ben interrupted me. “…they also wouldn’t think you had something to do with it right? Clear your own name?”

  “Screw you. I was never a suspect. Marc was the closest thing to a brother I have ever had!”

  Ben could see he had struck the right nerve and was happy to keep dancing on it. “I’m just saying…we were kids. If something happened out there at the quarry, if Marc got hurt and you couldn’t help him, if someone took him and you were too scared to tell, no one would be mad at that. You were just a kid.”

  Police Interviewing 101, don’t let the suspect push your buttons and DON’T lose your temper. Failed!

  I stormed out of the kitchen. Screw him. Shit. Why did I let him throw me off track like that? I went outside into the darkness. I paced the sidewalk in the light of Bojangles dancing boot, trying to get myself under control.

  The weather had turned cold and I looked up at the moonless sky. It almost looked like rain. I heard rolling thunder in the distance and smelled rain in the air even though not a drop had fallen yet. How the hell could a storm come in so quickly?

  I slammed an angry fist against the side of the cafe. Pull it together Camden. Ben had clearly been trying to distract me from questioning him further and I had just given him what he wanted. I had let my own guilt and anger get the best of my judgement and now I would never get answers from Ben. Not the ones I was looking for. No. I wasn’t going to let this happen.

  The first raindrops started to fall as I stormed back into the restaurant. I went to the swinging door and pushed it open, hard. Ben was gone. I walked slowly through the kitchen to the office door. It was slightly ajar and Ben was talking to someone on the phone.

  “He’s asking around. Doing too much looking. I was able to hold him off for the night but I don’t think we can stop him asking questions for good. Maybe we should just tell him?”

  Who was Ben talking to? Tell me what?

  There was a few seconds of silence and then. “Look man, I…. yeah I know but… fine!” Ben slammed down the phone.

  I was about to enter the office and confront him when I heard a female voice in the room with Ben. “Ben, just tell Jason what happened. Put his mind to rest once and for all.” Shelly.

  “Are you kidding? He’s a cop Shell. You don’t really think he’s gonna understand do you? If Jason learns the truth you think he won’t go blabbing?”

  “But you didn’t do anything wrong!”

  “Shell, lying by omission is the same as lying outright. I might as well be guilty. You know someone’s been stalking Jason? Set his car on fire, busted out his windshield!”

  “What? Who?”

  “Who do you think?” Ben continued, “I’m going over there tonight. We will figure out the best way to handle this.”

  “Ben don’t. Don’t go over there.”

  “Maybe he will listen to reason?”

  “When has he EVER listened to reason?”

  I had heard enough. My stomach churned and I felt like I was going to vomit. I quietly made my way back outside the café. Ben and Shelly. They knew. They knew what had happened to Marc and had said nothing! My head was spinning. Who had Ben been talking to on the phone? Whoever that person was, Ben was meeting him tonight. Maybe if I follow him I could figure out who this someone was.

  My mind was made up and as if the universe sensed the impending deluge of discovered secrets, the heavens opened and it started to pour.

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Eight

  I had one problem. I had no car. Ok two problems, no car and it was pouring. The restaurant would be closing in about fifteen minutes and I had to find a way to follow Ben when he left. I didn’t have time to run home and get Pop’s car. I had left my cell phone at home. I really only had one choice.

  I ran to the last known remaining payphone in the United States. It was two blocks from the café, located right in front of Camden Hardware. I jumped into the phone booth and closed the door behind me just as appeal of thunder rocked the quiet little town.

  It had been a million years since I had used a payphone, let alone called someone collect. Thank goodness there was a phone book in the booth with me. Thank goodness for unchanging small towns. I found the number I was looking for and went through the rigmarole of being connected. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hello? What kind of telemarketer is this?”

  I would’ve laughed if I hadn’t been in such a hurry. “Sarahbeth it’s Jason, please don’t hang up! I really need to talk to you.”

  “No, I need to talk to YOU. I’ve been calling you all night! Why haven’t you been answering? Where are you calling me from and why are you calling collect?”

  “Take a breath! I went for a run and left my cell at the house.”

  “You went running in this weather?”

  “It wasn’t raining when I started out!”

  “What number are you calling me from?”

  “I’m on the payphone in front of Dad’s shop.”

  “Why?” Sarahbeth didn’t wait for me to answer. “It doesn’t matter. I wanted to apologize. I had no reason to get jealous and I was being a total brat and I know it.”

  I tapped my foot against the phone booth floor and told myself to be patient. “Sarahbeth, it’s ok. I was being vague and standoffish and you don’t deserve that. You asked me a direct question and you were honest about your feelings and I was…I was noncommittal and that’s not right. You’re sweet and I do like you.”

  “I like you too, Jason.”

  “Ok good, cuz I need you right now… like, IMMEDIATELY!”

  “Now that sounds more like it!”

  “Not exactly like that, girl. Meet me at the payphone as soon as you can get here and Ill explain everything.”

  Sarahbeth sighed with feigned disappointment. “Fine.”

  “Oh and one last thing…”

  “What is it your highness?”

  “Can you bring me some dry clothes and a towel?”

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Nine

  I stayed in my phone booth cave, out of the rain, until Sarahbeth pulled up in her little red car. I ran through the rain, opened the passenger door and got in. Sarahbeth squealed as I shook the rain from my hair. “Good gracious, you’re soaked!”

  “I told you!”

  She threw a plastic bag on my lap. “There’s a towel and some sweats in there.”

  I climbed into the backseat and as I changed I started to explain what I had heard at the diner.

  Sarahbeth looked at me through the rearview mirror. “This is crazy! You think Ben and this other person know exactly what happened to Marc all those years ago?”

  I had dressed in mere seconds and as I climbed back into the front seat I replied, “Yes. And Ben is going to lead us to whoever this other person is.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Simple, follow Ben from the café.”

  “When?”

  “After they close so…”, I checked my watch, “…shit they closed up five minutes ago!”

  “Say no more!” Sarahbeth stepped on the gas and we hydroplaned a little as she did made a U-turn and headed back towards the café. We slid to halt half a block away and saw that Bojangles was dark. “Shit! Ben’s car is gone!”

  Sarahbeth was undeterred. “There’s only a couple ways out of here. He couldn’t have gone far. Let’s just take a breath and start looking.”

  We went up one street and down another and within three minutes I saw taillights. “There!” I pointed to them as they made a right at the next block and Sarahbeth sped in their direction. We arrived at the corner, turned right and, sure enough, Ben’s car was just ahead. We let Ben stay three car lengths ahead of us as we followed him.

  It was dark even with the lightning and the rain was coming down strong. There weren’t too many cars out and it was going to be hard to stay out of Ben’s sight but what other choice did we have?

  Sarahbeth couldn’t shut up and she fired questions at me in r
apid succession. “What is he doing? Do you think he saw us? Isn’t he going to see us” What if I lose him?”

  “Stop! Stop!” I pointed ahead. Ben had pulled over in front of a two-story home a block ahead.

  Sarahbeth threw her hands in the air. “Brilliant, Sherlock. He’s just going home.” We watched as Shelly got out of the car and rant to the front door. Once she was inside Ben pulled the car away from the curb.

  I patted Sarahbeth on the knee. “Nope. He was just dropping Shell off.” Sarahbeth waited to a count of three before following Ben as he started back towards the restaurant. “Keep following him.”

  “I am!” Ben sped up and made the corner quickly.

  “Stay with him!”

  “Listen OFFICER, you want to drive?”

  By the time we got to the corner Ben was gone. Sarahbeth sped up and slowed at each cross street while I looked right and she looked left.

  I pounded the dash angrily. “Where did he go?”

  “I don’t know but could you not take it out on my car? It’s not like he could just disappear.”

  I saw headlights about ten blocks ahead of us. Through the storm I could barely make them out but I was certain they were there. “There! Go get him!” Sarahbeth sped up.

  “Not too fast or we are gonna wreck,” I warned.

  “Shut up! I know what I’m doing. I’ve been driving since I was fifteen!” Sarahbeth looked over at me clutching the dash. “Don’t be such a baby! Geez, you’re a cop. I thought you liked driving fast!”

  “It’s a different experience being a passenger. When your life is in the hands of a crazy redhead going Mach ten down a rain slicked road, you tend to get a little nervous.”

  Out of nowhere a swath of red and blue lights lit up the back window. Sarahbeth slowed as she looked in the rearview mirror. “Dammit!”

  “Better pull over, kid.”

  “But we’ll lose him!”

  “It’s not that big a town, kid. Ben isn’t exactly going anywhere. I’ll just have to find another way to get to him.”