Jeopardy in January

by Camilla Chafer

  I smiled. "I will and thank you!" Closing the door quickly, I did not care to watch his retreating back especially when the outside cold was chilling my house. Detective Logan left me with a lot to think about. None of it made Bree sound like the desperate, fearful, young woman who was fleeing from abuse or the image I had painted in my head. It was a bit fanciful for me to jump to any conclusions about her, and even though I tried, I still couldn't believe she was the petty criminal that she now appeared to be.

  The whole thing was too bizarre. I couldn't imagine why any criminal would pick my sleepy, little town as a hiding place; and as I thought that, the answer dawned on me. Who would have ever suspected her coming here? No one. I wouldn't. None of my friends ever felt the least bit suspicious of her, not until after her death.

  I was glad I finally unloaded the burdensome envelope on Detective Logan but now I worried about the course the investigation was taking. Detective Logan correctly pointed out that Bree lied to me, and probably lied about every facet of her life. Yet, I still liked her. She was warm and friendly, always helped me, and was someone I easily trusted. Logan was convinced she was a liar through-and-through but surely, all these months couldn't have been just a huge, exhausting act? I remembered Logan's parting words; did Bree really have to hide out after only one theft? He was right. Plenty of people had petty crimes on their records and they didn't feel compelled to run away in order to conceal them. Yet Bree not only changed her name, but also created a false history, and sought a town where no one knew her. Could she have been part of something much bigger?

  Logan was still seeking a murderer. Now that Bree's suspicious past was coming to light, did he really care anymore about why someone would’ve killed her? Did he still plan to locate her family?

  I wasn't sure of the answer to those questions. Not positively. Perhaps it was best for Detective Logan to concentrate on making our town as safe as possible, but that didn't mean Bree’s murder should be pushed aside.

  It seemed that the only person still working on Bree’s behalf now was me. I wasn't sure if I should itemize all the lies she told, but I wanted to.

  Sitting down, I reached for my notepad to start making notes. I knew Bree's full name was Brittany Johnson. I had her photo. I could easily describe the way she looked the last time I saw her, even if that description were different from her driver’s license photo. The license! I brightened. Although I'd already handed over that evidence to Detective Logan, I still had the picture on my phone, which meant I had her address.

  There was a little time left before the library reopened. It was a long drive, but I could make the trip to the city. Plus, I was sure I’d be safe. If someone were looking for whatever they thought Bree was hiding here in Calendar, I would be much safer out of town.

  It was too late to go there now and the idea of driving home in the dark on the highway didn't thrill me at all; but first thing tomorrow, I planned to drive to the city. I promised not to go back to Bree's apartment here in town but never said anything about her former residence. I could go to Bree's former address and ask around to learn more about her. Someone must have gotten a forwarding address for her or the person to call in the event of an emergency. It might have even been possible that Bree was still officially renting the apartment. If so, I felt sure I could talk my way inside.

  There was also a huge library in the city that I wanted to visit too. A friend worked there. I was sure she could advise me on some strategies for saving the library. Plus, I knew they kept a digital stock of newspapers and I could search for more information about Bree. If anyone asked me why I went all the way to the city, that would be my cover.

  Pleased at my swift decision, I decided to tackle some other things I didn't normally find the time to do. I tidied my kitchen and thoroughly cleaned the refrigerator before sorting through all the packets and cans in my cabinets. After aligning everything nicely and throwing away a few things past their expiration dates, I did my laundry and changed the bed linens. But despite how much I busied myself with the routine chores, Bree never left my mind.

  Chapter Ten

  A few minutes after eight o’clock, I got in my car and pulled out of the driveway. Overhead, the sky was gray and cloudy and the wind blew bitterly, but it wasn't raining. For that reason alone, I concluded today would be a good day. Putting my foot down, I powered along Maple View, reaching with one hand to switch on the radio.

  The explosion almost made me lose control of the car. I grabbed the wheel with both hands and pulled hard to the left as I slammed on the brakes, spluttering to a halt at the side of the road. My knuckles were white as I clutched the wheel, breathing hard. After a moment, I looked up, wondering if anyone happened to notice my emergency stop. Fortunately, the area was clear.

  Climbing out, I walked around the back of the car, my shoulders dropping when I saw the expected flat tire, and the reason for the explosion. No, not just flat, it was shredded. There was no way I could drive to the city on just three wheels. I never expected I would need to perform a tire change but I supposed I had to. Looking up, I thanked the sky for being clear and the sun for constantly trying to break through the clouds, even if it remained so cold.

  Walking back around to the driver's seat, I leaned in and popped the trunk. I pulled the trunk lid up and checked out the spare tire before searching for the jack as a car rolled past.

  "Everything okay?" asked a voice.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Jason Rees pulling up alongside me with his window down. Was it my imagination or were his blue eyes sparkling? I blinked, suddenly aware that he was awaiting my response.

  "Flat tire," I said, pointing to the wretchedly traitorous wheel.

  "Let me help you," he said. Before I could protest, Jason switched into reverse, skilfully parking his car behind mine. He hopped out and strode over.

  "You really don't need to bother," I told him.

  "What kind of man would I be if I left a lady stranded on the side of the road? Especially here, in the middle of nowhere?"

  "My house is right over there." I pointed. "I'm literally less than a minute away from my driveway."

  "My point stands. Hmm, it's no problem to get this tire off but your spare is flat," he said.

  "You're kidding!" I groaned. It was bad enough that my tire blew out and now my spare was no better?! After Detective Logan left, I devoted the previous evening to planning out this day and I couldn't afford to waste any time. With the winter days still shortening, I was determined to start out early and be back home well before dark. Plus, I had to factor in a decent amount of time to prepare for my date with Tom. My dress was hanging in my bedroom and I had already organized my accessories but I still needed to take a bath and do my makeup. It was so long since my last date, I didn't know exactly how long it would take me to get ready and I needed some extra time for any errors in my judgment.

  "I hate to deliver more bad news but this is a pretty bad blow-out. I think you should get a licensed mechanic to take a look at it and make sure your suspension hasn't been compromised."

  I pulled a face. "That sounds very expensive and time-consuming."

  "Sorry." Jason offered an apologetic smile. "Were you going very far?"

  "Into the city. I thought I'd get an early start. I suppose I could catch the train." Mentally, I began to calculate the cost of a cab to the station, along with a return ticket, plus any other expenses I would incur while getting around the city.

  "Why don't you just travel with me?" Jason surprised me by asking. "I have to head into the city for a meeting and I can drop you off wherever you need to go and pick you up later on my way back."

  "Oh, no!" I shook my head vehemently. "No, I couldn't impose on you like that." Besides, I wasn't sure I wanted to spend two hours trapped in a car with Jason. Each way. He probably hoped to persuade me of all the benefits in shutting down the library and then we would have to get into an argument about it. Even thinking about it made me anxious.


  "You're not imposing at all. We can keep each other company and if it makes you feel better, you can buy me breakfast on the way. So far, I'm being fueled solely on coffee."

  "I..." I hesitated, looking toward my hobbled car then back at Jason's SUV. It looked so warm and comfortable, but more importantly, it had the crucial four wheels. If I took the train, it would add hours to my journey plus the cost of the train ticket and all the cab rides around the city. If Jason gave me a ride, all it would cost was his breakfast and a potential earache. I glanced at his SUV again, thinking how much I really wanted to see Bree's apartment.

  "I promise not to talk about land development," said Jason as he smiled.

  "Fine," I agreed. How bad could it be? Jason and I could listen to the radio, exchange a few pleasantries, and do exactly the same on the ride home. I turned my eyes to the rain clouds that were now hovering ominously overhead, eclipsing the rays of sunlight that kept trying to break though, and resolved that a ride with Jason beat taking the train. "Thank you, Jason. I really appreciate it."

  "It's nothing, really. Grab your things and secure your car before we hit the road."

  ~

  "You listen to rock music?" I said after the song finished. The car was pleasantly warm, and the heat thawed me out thoroughly. My coat and bag lay across the back seat.

  Jason darted a glance at me. "You look surprised."

  "I never thought of you as a Foo Fighters kind of guy."

  The edges of Jason's lips struggled not to smile. "You actually think of me?"

  "Only so much as you didn't strike me as a secret rocker."

  "It's the suit, isn't it? You thought I liked classical music."

  "Yes," I admitted. "Or possibly jazz." I resisted adding pretentious jazz.

  "At least you didn't say pretentious jazz."

  "I would never," I told him, biting my cheek.

  "You're mocking me," he laughed. "Okay, I do like classical music and jazz. My mother insisted I practice piano every day for ten years. I have a good foundation in all kinds of music but I only started to play good music after I realized I could use all of that knowledge to play whatever I wanted to play. What about you? Do you play an instrument?"

  I shook my head. "I wish I could, but unfortunately, I'm not inclined that way. The closest I came to music appreciation was creating a display at the library. It featured all the books that discussed different kinds of music. I am an enthusiastic listener, however."

  "Do you listen to rock music?"

  "That, and other genres."

  "If I was still a kid, I'd make you a mixed tape of all my favorites."

  I giggled, unable to constrain the sound. The last person I ever figured would offer to make me a mixed tape was Jason Rees, but he seemed so genuine. I darted a quick look at him, assuming that a lot of girls probably longed for him to make them a mixed tape back in high school.

  "There's a diner coming up on the right. You hungry?"

  "Starving," I admitted as I felt a familiar rumble starting in my belly. Luckily, it ended before making itself known over the sound of the music.

  "Great. I always stop here on this route. They have the best pie."

  "You eat pie for breakfast?"

  "It's one of the nicest things about being an adult. No more food rules."

  "Sometimes I only eat ice cream for supper," I admitted, smiling again. The conversation began a little stilted, but true to his promise, Jason never talked shop. Instead, he remained warm and engaging.

  "Don't forget chocolate sauce! Gotta cover all the food groups." Jason turned the car off the highway and directed it down the ramp, taking the next right turn and following a road that curved around before running parallel to the highway we just exited. After a couple minutes, he pulled into the lot, parking in front of the diner.

  "I think we hit the breakfast rush," said Jason, nodding at all the cars in the lot. "Let's get inside before those clouds dump all the rain they’re holding. I have to say, I preferred it when it was snowing."

  I grabbed my jacket from the back seat and tucked it around my shoulders. The rain began spitting just as we hurried inside. Most of the booths were taken up with families, couples, and friends and the counter was also full. Jason nodded to a booth he spotted near the back. "Let's sit down there."

  "Good morning, you two," said the smiling waitress as she approached us with two menus and a freshly made pot of coffee. "Don't often see you with company, Jason."

  "Dee, this is Sara," Jason said. "I'm giving Sara a ride to the city, and thought I'd show her my favorite place to eat on the way."

  "Hi," I said, raising my hand to give her a small wave.

  "Hi, Sara. Coffee?"

  "Please."

  "I'll give you two a moment to decide what you want," said Dee, looking up as the doors opened and a pair of police officers stepped inside. I tensed for a moment but when they looked away, I soon relaxed.

  "No need on my account. Pancakes and bacon," I decided after quickly scanning the menu.

  "Sounds good. Make that two," Jason said.

  "No pie?" I teased.

  "Maybe on the way back to Calendar."

  "Pancakes and bacon coming up," said Dee, making a note on her pad. She gave us one last smile before heading off to greet the new customers.

  "So why were you driving into the city?" asked Jason. He plucked a packet of sugar from the complimentary basket and ripped open the top, stirring it into his cup.

  "I'm visiting someone," I told him, keeping it deliberately vague.

  "Family?"

  "No, all my family lives in Calendar. This is a friend. I have another day off from work so I thought I'd make the trip for something to do."

  "Sounds like a nice way to spend the day," said Jason, without commenting on why I had another day off.

  "I hope so," I said, trying to ignore my niggling guilt for telling a lie. I couldn't tell Jason the truth. He'd probably turn around and drive directly to the Calendar Police Department to suggest Detective Logan start investigating instead. He would definitely not drop me on Bree's former doorstep and I needed him to do exactly that. There was no other way I could find out who Bree really was. I hastily directed Jason to another topic. "Why are you going to the city?" I asked.

  "Couple of meetings. Nothing important," he said, shrugging off the question.

  Immediately, my nerves jangled. Hearing the casual nature of his answer, I knew it had something to do with the library, and I was sure of it. But if I asked him, I feared it would only spark another argument. I didn't want to annoy Jason into leaving me there, no matter how pleasant the diner was, and I also didn't want the rest of our journey to be awkwardly endured under a tense silence. The best thing to do now was not to ask. I could always grill him on the way home. By that time, his meetings would have concluded and he’d be riper for offering more satisfying answers.

  "I hope it isn't too arduous," I said, settling on politeness.

  "I was planning to head back to Calendar around three," he said, ending the conversation easily and just as politely. "Does that give you enough time to visit your friend?"

  "Plenty."

  "Do you get into the city often?" he asked.

  I shook my head. "Not as often as I'd like to. I keep thinking I'll come here and see the sights, or maybe do some shopping, but I always find enough to do in Calendar and besides, the city will always be there..." I trailed off, thinking that Bree had no idea when her last day would be. If she had, would she have done anything differently? "I should stop putting it off," I decided out loud.

  "Maybe you'll get time today… after you see your friend?"

  Dee appeared beside the booth with a plate in each hand. "Pancakes for two. You'll find flatware in the basket and maple syrup in that jug. Wave a hand if I can get you anything else."

  We thanked her and my eyes widened at the huge plate stacked with thick pancakes and crispy bacon. I inhaled, closing my eyes briefly and letting the sugary scent
invade my nostrils. When I opened my eyes, Jason was watching me. "Wait until you actually try them," he said knowingly, his face lighting up with a boyish smile.

  "What if I'm disappointed after so much of a build-up?"

  "Don’t worry, you won't be." Jason cut off a triangular bite of pancakes and bit into it, making a pleased and satisfied sound.

  Taking the hint that our conversation was temporarily over, I followed his example. One bite quickly followed another and I'd already finished a whole pancake before I ever reached for the syrup. "These are the best pancakes ever!" I groaned. "How could I not know about this place?"

  "We regulars keep it quiet so you non-regulars don't eat all our good food."

  "You can't keep this diner a secret. It's not fair to ... to... the rest of the world!" I finished, unashamed of my dramatic proclamation.

  "Yeah? I bet you come back before you even mention it to another soul."

  "You said something about us stopping by on the way home too," I pointed out, waving a forkful of pancakes at him. Jason followed the fork with his eyes. I dropped it into my mouth before he could think about eating it and he laughed.

  "I meant it. You need to try the homemade pie."

  I chewed a piece of bacon and swallowed. If the pie was as good as their breakfast pancakes, I knew I was in for a good time. "I'm already looking forward to it," I clucked happily.

  We continued to talk about this and that as we finished our breakfasts and accepted coffee refills from Dee. Our conversation drifted between childhood memories and all the things we enjoyed the most and I soon found myself relaxing further. Jason was easy to talk to, not to mention, charming and funny. By the time I settled the bill, insisting it really was my treat since he was kind enough to give me a lift, I couldn't remember why he annoyed me in the beginning. I liked this Jason. He was quick and knowledgeable and I couldn't deny how nice he was to look at.