The Passenger

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Marge …”

  “We’d have to take him furniture shopping, decorate it. But then again, you know people in this town. Always throwing good things out. He won’t have to worry about food.”

  “Marge, you do realize once he remembers who he is or learns, he might not stay here.”

  All expression dropped from Marge’s face, then she caught herself and smiled. “Of course.”

  Russ took the beverage. “But you never know. This is a great town, Marge, so … you never know. Thank you again.”

  He grabbed a straw, poked it in and took a drink. It was by far the most refreshing beverage to have on a hot day.

  When he stepped outside, he nearly ran over Doc Jenner.

  “Look at you,” Doc Jenner said. “All spiffy.”

  “Why is this the second time today I heard those exact same words?”

  “Because you are.” Doc Jenner motioned his hand up and down. “Jeans, black tee shirt. No hat and, you combed your hair.”

  “You’re out of uniform, too,” Russ said.

  “I’m off today.”

  “Oh, good. I was about to go get a burger and wings. New place, you want to join me?”

  “That sounds great. Mind if I get one of those drinks first?’

  “Sure. Meet you at my car.”

  “New place, huh?”

  “Yep.” Russ nodded. “A new place.”

  Doc Jenner stopped walking the second they approached the place. Russ wondered if he even noticed, he hadn’t said anything when they pulled up.

  Sure enough, he hesitated walking in.

  “Thought you said it was a new place?” Doc Jenner shook his head. “The Rat-Tat-Tat. Are the burgers that good here or is there a reason you have to come out here?”

  “A little birdie told me a certain guy has his lunch here every Friday.”

  “Certain guy meaning the drug dropper?” Jenner asked.

  “That’s the one.”

  “This isn’t your jurisdiction, Russ. You’re not just out of your area, you’re way out of your area.”

  “I just want to talk to the guy.”

  “How will you know him?”

  “The little birdie gave me a picture.” Russ pulled out his phone and showed Doc Jenner.

  “Doesn’t look like the type to drop a drug in someone’s drink.”

  Russ nodded, agreeing the clean cut guy, average built and looks didn’t fit the part. But then as the old saying went, a book can not be judged by the cover.

  “This guy. We think he drugged Chip’s drink. If he did, he’s a piece of work and is not gonna say anything to you. You know that, right?”

  “Jenner, you think I’m dumb?” Russ scoffed. “I know well enough this guy isn’t going to break easily.”

  Doug Redding broke down and cried.

  Almost instantly and with no prodding.

  He was seated at a corner table alone when Russ approached him. He told him who he was and he wasn’t there in any legal capacity. He said he just wanted to ask Doug, “Did you know anything about that guitar player who was drugged.”

  That was when the man lost it.

  Russ had seen it a hundred times as a police officer. Someone holding on to guilt, just waiting for the moment they could let it go.

  It took Doug a minute, hands over his face, muffled words of, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “You did it?” Russ asked. “You spiked the drink?”

  Doug lowered his hands with a hard sniffle. “I did.”

  Doc Jenner sat back. “Huh. Well, that was easy.”

  Russ stayed calm. “What would make you do it?”

  “The guys and I were talking. We were mad Lance got kicked out when it was the guitar player who was such a jerk.”

  Russ nodded. “Still no reason.”

  “I know.”

  Doc Jenner asked. “I mean, you had to know what that drug would do. Didn’t it dawn on you he was driving?”

  Doug shook his head. “No. No it didn’t. I thought the band all rode together. I knew they were from out of town. I felt bad about it, but thought he was okay. I didn’t know he was in an accident until Chelsey told me his father was in here. She said someone was coming to talk to me today. I’m not running. I admit it.”

  “I appreciate you admitting it,” Russ said.

  “Are you going to arrest me?”

  “I can’t do that. I will turn this over to the state police and see what they want to do. It’s a federal offense what you did. It could spell big trouble if they pursue it.”

  “I know.”

  “So ... you just found out about the accident? Two days ago?” Russ asked.

  Doug nodded.

  “You didn’t follow him? Pull him from the car, take his guitar?”

  “No, sir. Like I said I just found out about the accident.”

  “I can pull the footage where the guitar was pawned,” Russ said.

  “It won’t be me.”

  “Thank you.” Russ stood. “Doc.”

  Doc Jenner nodded to Doug and stood. They inched away from the table, speaking in low voices.

  “Russ, you had a great theory. I’m sorry it didn’t pan out.”

  “I am, too,” Russ said. They sat at a table a good distance from Doug.

  “What now?” Jenner asked.

  “Now we get our burgers, I’ll contact the state police later. At least he admitted it. That still doesn’t tell me who the passenger was though, I still believe once we find him, we will know who pawned that guitar.”

  “Is it important?” Jenner asked.

  “Absolutely.” Russ gave a firm nod. “He walked away from an accident scene. Had Joe and Marge not shown up he could have been killed.”

  “He wasn’t. We know who he is. We can get the guitar. Seems like you’re chasing a tail.”

  “No. I’m just trying to finish this puzzle.” Russ lifted his hand signaling to the bartender they wanted to order.

  Doc Jenner smiled with a closed mouth to him. Russ had it in his head he was going to solve the mystery of the passenger with some logical explanation. Jenner wondered if Russ considered the possibility there wasn’t a logical explanation, and perhaps never would be.

  ◆◆◆

  To an outsider or someone who didn’t know the situation, it probably looked stalkerish. Grant admitted to himself it was a little. Hanging back at the market, staying behind a shelf, but watching Jonas as he worked the café for Marge.

  Grant had his reasons for being in Baker’s Market. Yes, he wanted to take pictures of the cookies, but he also wanted to grab a sandwich to eat before he and Jonas rehearsed that night.

  He snapped the pictures and did like he had done with the recording of practice a couple days before ... he sent them to Cate.

  They had spoken, but the conversations were chilly and brief. She asked about Jonas but didn’t want details.

  It was as if she had put up this protective front. Grant didn’t blame her; he didn’t want to get his hopes built up either. How many times in the past did Jonas swear he would change and he didn’t? Cate saw it as the same behavior because she refused to believe he had amnesia.

  He did.

  Grant was convinced. It didn’t make it easier or better he didn’t remember who he was. There was still a chance once Jonas remembered, he would just say, “I’m out.” And find the nearest bar.

  Maybe it was silly he sent her pictures. But she hadn't yet commented on anything he sent her. He just wanted Cate to see what he was seeing. What she had said would happen to Jonas all along. Take him out of his element, away from his friends, and he would change.

  Doing his stalker thing, pretending to browse, Grant nearly jumped from his skin when his phone rang. He looked down, saw the name, Jessie, smiled and answered. “Hey, Jess.”

  “Hey, Daddy. Where are you?” she asked.

  “Williams Peak.”

  “I know that. But where?”

  “I’m in the market. W
hy?”

  “Oh, okay, I see it. I’m at some coffee shop called Roasters.”

  Grant spun. “You’re here?”

  “Me and Brandon took a ride. He was off today.”

  “Stay there. I’ll be right over.” Grant said excitedly. He knew he had told Jessie they weren’t telling Jonas who he was yet. He guessed she came to see for herself and maybe be the trigger of memory her brother needed.

  He slipped from the store and crossed the street. He saw his son in law sitting at an outside table and Jessie was standing behind him. She waved to Grant and he hurriedly crossed the street.

  After shaking Brandon’s hand, Grant embraced his daughter.

  “This is a surprise, Jess.”

  “I figured if I wanted to see my father, I better come here. That last text you sent, I took it as you aren’t leaving until he remembersd.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I understand.”

  “Are you staying?” Grant asked.

  “No, we just did a day trip.”

  Grant chuckled. “Awfully long drive for a day trip.”

  “I want to see him, Daddy. Between you saying he doesn’t remember and Mom saying he’s faking. I need to see for myself. I’ll know.”

  “I know you will. You’ll tell your mother, right?”

  “I will. But … she’s really being stubborn right now about this,” Jessie said. “I don’t know if she’ll listen.”

  “Well, let's go back to the market and you can see for yourself.”

  “Sounds good.” Jessie grabbed his hands. “How are we going to do this?”

  It took a few minutes for Grant to come up with a plan. The three of them going in at once, standing together probably wasn’t the best thing to do. Grant worried it could trigger a reaction the doctor had warned about.

  The plan was simple, they’d all be in the Market, but separately.

  Jonas was working in the café.

  Grant went first and ordered his sandwich and a beverage.

  “It’ll only be a minute,” Jonas told him.

  Between taking ‘to go’ orders, Jonas stocked and straightened the café bakery shelves.

  While waiting for his sandwich, Grant sat down at a table where he could watch and hear it all.

  Brandon came in first. He looked left to right, spotted Jonas and approached. “Excuse me,” he said to Jonas. “Do you know where I can find the green olives?”

  Jonas turned around. “Condiments, I think. Aisle one.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jonas nodded and returned to work.

  Nothing. Not a flinch.

  Behind Jonas, unseen, Brandon walked backwards, lifting his hands and shrugging.

  In came Jessie.

  If anyone was going to trigger him, it would be her. She strolled along the counter. Grant saw a reaction, but not from Jonas.

  Jessie couldn’t hide the fact she was overwhelmed seeing her little brother and shocked by how he looked.

  “Can I help you?” he asked as she stood at the counter.

  “Um …” Jessie just stared at him.

  “Miss?”

  “Oh, hey, yeah, wow. These cookies look great.”

  “I made them. Chip’s Chips. I’m Chip.”

  “They look so good.”

  “Did you want to buy some?”

  “No. I mean. Yes. That was rude.” She pulled out a bill and put it on the counter.

  “Would you like anything else?” he asked. “We have great tea smoothies.”

  “Look at you upselling, I’m impressed.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Listen,” she leaned into the counter. “I’m passing through town. Is there a place where I can get a drink? Maybe when you’re done …”

  Jonas chuckled almost shyly, shaking his head.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Look, you seem nice and all. But … I kind of am interested in someone right now. But thanks.” He turned to the window behind the counter and grabbed a bag.

  Jessie’s jaw dropped. She stammered a few words that were more like noises.

  “Mr. Truett?” Jonas called. “Your sandwich is done.”

  Jessie stormed away.

  Trying to hide his laugh, Grant approached the counter for his bag. “What was that about?”

  “Oh, she was hitting on me.”

  “Can’t have that.”

  “No, I can’t, plus ...” Jonas crinkled his face. “She gave off this weird vibe. Who knows? Maybe it’s me.”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Grant held up the bag. “Thanks. See you tonight.”

  It took everything Grant had not to burst out laughing, he found the encounter amusing.

  Jessie didn’t. She was angry when he returned to find her at the coffee shop.

  “He said I was hitting on him,” Jessie said. “I just thought, maybe mention drinking …”

  Grant nodded. “Went right over his head.”

  Jessie folded her arms. “He looks really good.”

  “I know.”

  “Mom needs to see him.

  “What’s your verdict?” Grant asked. “Team Mom or Team Dad.”

  “Team Jonas,” Jessie replied. “And he’s not here.”

  “You believe the amnesia?”

  “One hundred percent, but Dad, as much as he looks great, is happy, that is not my brother,” Jessie said. “And sadly, the Jonas we all know will return.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  It was a pattern he had seen before, but Grant just could not remember where. A figure eight, chain link design. Grant couldn’t name the type of flowers they were. Yellow ones made up the ‘eight’, pink ones all surrounding. The design ran from the side of the church to the front, repeatedly.

  Quietly, Grant took a picture. He didn’t want to be ‘too much’ and was worried Jonas in his amnesiac state would think he was a creepy old guy. He had spent the entire evening practicing with Jonas, spending all the time he could with him. Jessie’s words stayed heavily on his mind.

  In short, she was saying enjoy him while he could because once Jonas remembered, Chip would be gone.

  “Mr. Truett?” the soft woman’s voice called.

  Grant jumped a little and turned. “Oh, Haley, sorry.”

  “I saw you standing there. Everything alright?”

  “I’m just taking pictures.”

  “Beautiful isn’t it?”

  “I’ve seen it before,” Grant said. “This exact pattern.”

  “Then he created this before?” Haley asked.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t remember it being here a couple days ago.”

  “It wasn’t. Chip has been working on it constantly.”

  “I just wanted to take pictures. I’ve been documenting everything, sending it to my wife.”

  “Is she enjoying them?”

  Grant shrugged. “I don’t know. She doesn’t comment on them. She doesn’t believe our son has amnesia.”

  “There are times, every now and then, that I wonder if he knows who he is. Maybe just not wanting to admit it. Then I see that look in his eye and I know, he has no clue. He’s lost. You can’t fake the look of wonder.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s like he’s a baby that’s seeing so much for the first time. Maybe your wife will know that pattern.”

  “Maybe. I really should get going. I don’t want him to see me hanging around.”

  “Can I ask why?” Haley questioned.

  “Because the last thing I want is for him to think I’m weird and to then back off. I’m just so in awe of him right now, I can’t get enough. He always loved music, it brought him so much joy. But not like this.”

  “Again, it’s that baby thing I was telling you about. But it’s okay. No one thinks you’re weird. Chip will not think that. I promise. And it’s understandable. You were so worried about him, missing him. It’s your son.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes.” Haley tilted her head.
“Is there anything about the way he acts that is like the Jonas you know?”

  Grant chuckled. “Maybe when he was twelve. When we got him that guitar he was so sure he was going to be a rock star and famous. Everyone was going to sing his songs.” Grant smiled. “When he was a kid, he had this naivety about him. Such an innocence. I loved that about him. His innocence. Every other kid was wanting to grow up so fast, but not Jonas, he loved being a kid. He did things for people. Was upbeat and happy.”

  “Sounds awfully familiar, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah, I guess it does. You know, we searched for answers.” Grant looked down at the flowers. “Trying to find a reason why Jonas just flipped a switch. Some traumatic experience we didn’t know about. But … that’s not how it works. Sometimes the best kids can get caught up in some bad stuff.”

  Haley nodded. “I have known a few. It’s a disease.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “What was he like? The Jonas that went and disappeared?”

  “You know … I’m not going to tell you. I’ll leave that for him. My son, he likes you. You’re a very nice woman, Haley. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “No, I like him, too. And you’re right, you’re absolutely right for not telling me. I don’t want to judge Chip on who he was before he can remember it.”

  “Exactly. And again, I should go before he sees me lurking.”

  “He’s not here. He’s at the field. It’s the weekly softball game.”

  “My son ... is playing softball?” Grant asked.

  “You sound surprised.”

  “Yes, he never played sports in his life.”

  Haley laughed. “No wonder he’s so bad. He hits well, can’t catch worth a squat.”

  “I tried to teach him. He just wasn’t interested.”

  “Do you play softball?” Haley asked.

  “I did when the kids were young. He used to come to all the games.”

  “Why don’t you join us?”

  “Oh, no, I can’t. Me showing up would just be awkward.”

  Haley laughed and smiled brightly. “Mr. Truett, welcome to Williams Peak. You’re a newcomer in town. I would have sought you out today anyhow.”