***
I hung up the phone and bounced in place, much like Maddie. Silly, for an adult, but I was excited. My next instinct was to call Kim.
“Hi, Kim, you got a few minutes?”
“What’s up? It must be good news – your voice is high.” Kim chuckled.
“A Dr. Addison called from Millicent College. One of their faculty members in psychology is taking family medical leave and they need someone to fill in next year.”
“Great! When’s the interview?”
“Tomorrow. They’d like to have the person in place in enough time for the start of the fall semester.”
“Have you ever heard anything about Millicent College? Where is it?”
“It’s a private liberal arts college in Lynchburg. Small psychology department, but good reputation. About 30 minutes from here I think.”
“That’s great, Sheridan. It will at least keep you out of trouble. I sure hope you didn’t list Max as a reference. He’ll warn them to watch out for dead bodies if they hire you.”
We both laughed. “No, I didn’t list him. Anything new with him?”
“Not really. He’s acting like he’ll be the new department head sooner rather than later, strutting around and giving orders. Allie and Terra put him straight every time and then he sulks away. I hope they find someone else, even hire someone from the outside.”
“For sure. Brett’s pulling in the driveway, so I’m going to get off the phone and tell him the good news. I’ll call you tomorrow after the interview.”
Putting the phone down, I rushed to meet Brett at the door, glad he was able to get home. My mood deflated when I saw how exhausted he looked. Obviously, he had a much less positive day than I.
He pulled me into his arms. “There was a time I loved being on the streets. Must be getting old, but I definitely prefer the detective side of things. Angry crowds. Speaker intentionally agitating the crowds and inciting those who agreed with him to take on those who didn’t. Why? What does that do except make for a lot more work to keep everyone safe. Thankfully, it broke up quickly and didn’t get out of control. Nowhere near as bad as the governor envisioned.”
“Take a shower, get changed, and then you can tell me about it.”
He nodded and walked away. Turning around, he asked, “Where’s Maddie? It’s awfully quiet.”
“She was at Pets and Paws all afternoon. Melina invited her to dinner at their house to hang out with Nedra. I said it was okay. We’re supposed to pick her up around 8 o’clock unless Maddie calls to come home sooner.”
“Good. Okay. Shower.”
By the time Brett returned, some of the stress in his face and shoulders alleviated, I had pulled together a quick dinner. With Maddie gone, I added a glass of wine for each of us.
“Tell me about your day – I suspect you will see most of what mine was like on the news.”
“Court, then Pets and Paws for a while and mostly hanging around here.” I smiled and he tilted his head.
“You’re smiling like a Cheshire cat, yet ‘hanging around’ isn’t your usual favorite thing to do. Should I be worried?”
“Nothing to worry about. At least I don’t think so. I have an interview tomorrow for a job at Millicent College!”
He smiled. “That’s great, Sher. A toast to you and your interview.” We clinked our glasses.
“Will you do the same thing as what you did at Cold Creek?”
“Teaching, yes. Administrative stuff, definitely not. It’s a one year visiting position, at least for now. And Millicent’s Psychology Department is much smaller than Cold Creek’s. I’ll find out more tomorrow.” I shrugged, still smiling and he smiled back. With Maddie not home, Brett took on the Frisbee play with Charlie while I cleaned up. Before we knew it, we were on our way to Melina’s home.
Melina lived over in the direction of Pets and Paws, an older neighborhood with multiple signs announcing “Neighborhood Watch.” I spotted people on the front porches of several of the small houses. We pulled up to Melina’s and the person on the front porch next door, an older man, stood up and waved to us. Brett waved back and commented quietly, “I bet he doesn’t miss a thing and will be over here to find out who we are as soon as we leave.”
I nodded in agreement. Before I had a chance to respond, Maddie, Nedra, and a shepherd came running in our direction, all smiles. Melina and a man followed behind them. We made friends with “Shep” and Melina introduced her husband, Vincent. The girls chattered at us and eventually we managed to make our way home with promises of times for them to get together again.
CHAPTER 14
It was a nice day for a drive and Maddie agreed to tag along to Millicent College, not like she had a choice. She had her tablet and could email, read an ebook, or watch a movie while I was in the interview. At least she’d have a change of place. The winding road to Lynchburg was scenic. There were a few businesses along the road, a handful of bridges, and we spotted the river at some points. With its multiple curves, a little snow or ice could make this a treacherous route to work. Today, though, the sun was shining and the car’s AC was doing its job.
“I understand Alex got to go home yesterday. Yet, it’s still not over, is it? Not for him or for me? The money and drug stuff – it’s still out there, isn’t it?”
I took a deep breath, surprised she was aware and unsure how to answer her. “You’re right, Maddie. Until the police figure out where the money came from and how the envelopes got in your backpacks, the questions remain unanswered.”
“And if the money and drugs are tied to that man’s murder?”
“The same thing applies to the murder. Until they find out who killed Mr. Stories, they’ll keep circling around to all the suspects and asking questions.”
“You’ll keep asking questions too, right?”
I nodded. “Probably. I like asking questions and figuring out puzzles.”
She nodded back and turned on the radio. I followed the GPS directions and found a place to park with about 15 minutes to spare. Barely enough time to find some place for Maddie to hang out. Sure enough, there were benches, and tables, and vending machines in an alcove down the hall. A quick stop in the restroom to freshen up and I was off to meet Dr. Addison.
The interview with Dr. Addison and two other faculty was quick and nothing out of the ordinary. As expected, they requested I come back and teach a class. We discussed days, dates, and topics, and it was scheduled for later in the week. It had gone well.
I found Maddie where I’d left her, reading on her tablet. At almost 11 o’clock, it was a little too early for lunch. I spotted her bottle of water and a candy wrapper. She was all set. Me, I needed some caffeine, and not from a vending machine. “You ready to go?”
She smiled and nodded. “How’d it go? Did you get the job?” As she collected all her belongings, I explained there was a second step yet to go. A quick stop through the drive-through for my coffee and we were on our way home.
“What were you reading?”
“It’s called Turn It Up. It’s about a girls’ singing group. It’s funny. Nedra suggested it. I like it. What books…”
The next sound was metal on metal as a car hit us from behind, and then hit us again. I sped up while I requested the phone to call Brett and simultaneously told Maddie to call 9-1-1. The car hit us again and I was afraid to go much faster, remembering the curves up ahead. My call went to voicemail and I disconnected. Maddie had more luck.
“We’re on the road back to Appomattox…” She pointed the phone at me.
“460 – we haven’t gotten to the bridge yet.”
“Someone keeps hitting our car. Sheridan’s driving fast but they’re driving faster.”
“Yes, I’ll stay on the line and put you on speaker.”
“What kind of car?”
“The one hitting us is yellow. Looks like a jeep or one of those square boxy things. I can only see the front and it has a big black grate on it. We’re in an Accord. Silver.
We’re approaching the bridge and I’m going to have to slow down. What should we do?”
“Slow down. Stop before the bridge. Keep your windows up and doors locked. Help is on the way.”
“Okay. Maddie, you okay?”
She nodded, her eyes wide and teary. The car hit us again as I slowed down to the speed limit and they didn’t. I strained to keep the car on the road and didn’t relax even when I heard sirens.
“They’re backing up, Sheridan. I’m scared.”
“I know. I am too.” I wanted to hold her, but in anticipation of being rammed I kept both hands on the steering wheel. To my relief, the sirens got louder and the car didn’t come at us, but took to the off-road and disappeared. Obviously, the yellow monster had all-wheel drive. I pulled to the side of the road as far as I could and came to a stop. I reached for Maddie as I told the dispatcher our location.
“They left the road. We’re stopped right before the bridge. I can see the flashing lights coming toward us.”
“They see you. Stay safe.” The voice on the phone disconnected. I pressed the phone button and directed “Call Brett” again. It rolled to voice mail. This time I left a message. “We’ve had some trouble but we’re safe. Call when you can.”
The police cruiser passed us, turned around and pulled in a distance behind us. He got out of his cruiser and talked to his shoulder. I got out my wallet, registration and insurance before he got to the window.
He signaled for me to open the window. “You two alright? Paramedics and fire are on the way.” He took my papers as he spoke.
“I…I think so. Shook up for sure.”
He handed me back my papers. “Are you able to drive the car?”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant. “After the last hit, it felt like something was hitting the tires. I’m not sure it is drivable.”
“Let me check.” He walked to the rear of the car and got down to look underneath. I saw him talking again, but couldn’t hear what he said.
“Ma’am, I need you and your daughter to get out of the car and go stand on the other side of the road, while we wait for the fire department. Please move now.”
I grabbed my brief case and Maddie grabbed her backpack. We both climbed out my side and crossed the road.
“Walk a bit back down the road to where my car is, just in case.”
We kept up with him as he walked down the road. I got my first look at the rear of my car. Maddie must have looked at the same time. We both gasped and she took my hand. I heard more sirens as the officer joined us.
“Ma’am, your car is not drivable. Do I have your permission to call a tow truck? There’s only a couple options here and we prefer Travis Automotive, if that’s okay.” I nodded and he instructed someone to make the call. “Is there anyone we can contact for you or have you already called someone?”
“I tried to call my husband, but he isn’t answering. He’s with the State Police. Detective Brett McMann. Is there any way you can reach him?”
He smiled and stood a little straighter. “McMann’s a good detective. I’ve attended a couple of lectures he gave. I’ll see what dispatch can do.” He turned and I only caught bits and pieces of what he said. The paramedics arrived from the other side of the bridge and the officer directed them to pull over just past us.
As they approached, the officer alerted them, “Fire is on the way. I didn’t see any gasoline, but best to be safe. Take care of this side of the bridge. I’m going to the other side to stop any traffic.”
The paramedics took our information and checked our vitals. We assured them we were not in immediate need of medical attention. The fire truck arrived and they conferred with the paramedics. I held onto Maddie as they investigated. Then the tow truck arrived and we discussed options for where to tow the car.
Not knowing anything about either shop he mentioned, I agreed with the driver’s suggestion. We could always tow it again if need be. I snapped some pictures of the rear and sides before he hooked it up. He wasn’t able to take us with him. The officer took our statements at the scene, but warned us he’d need to talk to us further at some later point. He volunteered to take us to the closest town. I took him up on the offer with hopes that by then Brett would contact us.
***
Where he dropped us off was more like a hamlet, with a main street and about six buildings, including a small post office. The officer suggested we wait for Brett in the small local café. We both ordered the lunch special though I didn’t taste much of it. They boasted of the best ice cream in the county. Given the situation, I gave in to Maddie’s request to try some. I wasn’t sure about her, but I was starting to feel stiff and my head throbbed. I stared at my phone, willing Brett to call. The bell on the café’s door sounded.
I looked up and there he was. He bounded the short distance and we both jumped into his arms. Maddie started crying while I did my best to hold back my tears. He soothed her and we all sat back down.
“You’re both okay?”
“Uh huh. It was scary.”
“More or less. Maddie was a trooper.”
“Well, don’t waste the rest of the ice cream. I can attest to this being the best ice cream.” He smiled at Maddie and squeezed my hand. “Sure you’re okay?”
“Stiffness is creeping in, headache. I took some ibuprofen. What are we going to do next?”
Maddie finished and we stood up. Brett paid the bill and we left.
“We’re going to go home. And rest and recover. Call the insurance company. Then, I’m not sure. At some point, you’ll need to review your statement. Sooner rather than later. Right now, they have alerted body shops across the state to be on the lookout – a BOLO – for a yellow all-wheel drive jeep-like model with black bars that shows signs of contact with a silver car.”
We’d reached his car by then. “Okay.” I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes. When I went to get out of the car, though, I was in pain. A trip to the emergency room, xrays, and a cervical collar added to the day’s events.
CHAPTER 15
Several ibuprofen later and a night’s sleep, I felt much better – at least as long as I didn’t try to move too much without the cervical collar. Brett took the day off and we sat in the kitchen going over what happened while Maddie slept.
“You finished your interview and headed home, the same way you got there?”
“Same way, both ways. Not a lot of traffic, even in Lynchburg.”
“Do you recall when you first saw the car that hit you?”
“We’d passed some business – maybe a factory. I didn’t recognize the name. Until then, there’d been one or two cars behind us. I remember thinking we had the road to ourselves. Maddie was talking. I didn’t see the car until it hit us the first time.”
I started shaking and took a deep breath. “They hit us and we bounced forward. I kept going. I didn’t want to stop with no other souls in sight. They backed up and hit us again or at least that was how it seemed. It may be they stopped and then came at us again. I tried speeding up, hoping to get to some place with more people. They sped up too. I called you and Maddie called 9-1-1. When I saw the sign for the bridge ahead, I knew we couldn’t get on the bridge. Thankfully, the sirens coming toward us scared them off.”
Brett’s mouth opened and then closed. He spoke very carefully. “At any point, did you see the person or persons in the car?”
“Two. There were two people. I can’t tell you much more than my impression they were both male. Maddie was watching from the side view mirror but I don’t think she could see them once they were close enough to hit us.”
“Think back to the ride to Lynchburg. Do you remember seeing the same car then? Yellow tends to stand out.”
I shook my head. “Nope. Don’t remember seeing any yellow cars on the way to Millicent. I remember a very old beat up truck and then the usual common gray tones and blacks.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “If you and Maddie were truly targets, how
did they know where you were so they could wait for you to pass the factory?”
“You think it was coincidence? They were a couple of low lifes who decided hitting us was good fun? It sure felt personal.”
“I agree. Too personal and too extreme. Still begs the question – who told them where you’d be and the car you’d be driving?”
I shrugged and winced. Obviously, shrugging was not a good idea.
Brett slapped his forehead. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to ask how the interview went. Did you get the job?”
I squeezed his hand. “Understood. Not yet. I have to go in tomorrow and teach a class I need to prepare for. Then they’ll make a decision.” Panic set in as I said it out loud.
“Okay. I hate to tell you this, but first you need to call your insurance agent.” He tried to look serious but his eyes twinkled. “Then I’ll keep Maddie occupied so you can work on your class.”
My history with cars was not the best, through no fault of mine. I picked up my phone and got it over with, reporting where the car was so they could send an adjuster. It wasn’t exactly new. Perhaps a new car was in my future as well as a new job. Brett set up the appointment for us to go over our statements after my class the next day. I showered and Maddie ate breakfast.
***
Brett and Maddie decided to go to the park with Charlie, while I worked on the class presentation and tried not to move too much. It was a summer class on introduction to psychology, and the topic was memory. I’d taught whole courses on learning and memory, so the content was familiar. The trick was deciding what would work best, allow for student interaction, and impress the other faculty who would be observing.
It didn’t help that sitting up wasn’t very comfortable. I pieced something together with the intent to go back and revise and review. Out of coffee, I ventured back to the kitchen as Maddie ran in from the garage, Charlie behind her.
“Sheridan, you won’t believe it. Someone stole Karla’s walker while she was in pool therapy. Nobody pays attention to who goes in or out of the pool there. When the therapist went to get the walker for her, it was gone. She was upset and had to stay in the pool until they found another walker. They still haven’t found hers. Why would someone do that?”
A New Place, Another Murder Page 7
