by Oscar Watson
What had she done? What had she done to her entire life? She had quit a stable job just because she was given a large advance check and thought she was hot stuff. She had thrown away most of her wardrobe and now most of that large advance check was gone- spent on clothes that were meant for someone that she was not. And then there was Elyse.
The world went black for a second as she recounted that night, that awful, awful night. And then she spotted her. The little bouncy blonde from the hotel lobby. She was coming back toward the hotel with a little bag dangling from her perfectly manicured, tiny fingers. Kate spotted several things in the bag including a can of whipped topping. A second bag, with the name of a pretty well-known adult shop was nestled among the other items. The little blonde was going to go and get sweaty some more it seemed.
Kate gripped her brand new little evening bag a little tighter and then started walking. She “bumped” into the little blonde. As the two were busy gathering up the strewn objects from the blonde’s bag, Kate reached into her own. The paired wandered off down the street, disappearing around the corner. Anyone seeing them would have marveled at the tenderness that the redhead showed to the staggering, obviously overly intoxicated blonde, how she held her up and kept her from falling down.
Colton Pidcock was leaning on the front desk when a young man, obviously distraught came to ask the clerk if she had heard from his wife. They were just in town for their honeymoon he said and she did not know the city. He knew he should have gone with her but their racquetball game had really exhausted him and he had napped after his shower.
Chapter Twelve: Susan Gets a Weird Phone Call
Susan had pretty much given up on getting any calls from her friend or former friend or whatever, whoever she was now when her phone rang and caught her completely off guard. She did not recognize the number but answered anyway.
“Is this Susan? Susan listen, I have been trying to get hold of Kate for a while now and she is not picking up. Oh, this is Donnette. Elyse’s roommate. I’m sorry.” The girl sounded young and frazzled which would make her the perfect match for Elyse.
“Donnette? I…well. Kate and I had a falling out a few days ago and I haven’t talked to her since. What’s going on?”
Susan could tell that this girl was holding back tears. “Elyse said that Kate needed her for something and that she was jumping the first train heading her way. She said she would call me when she got in but she didn’t. not that I would have expected her to remember. She was horrible about that kind of stuff, you know?”
Resisting the urge to explain exactly how well she knew Susan merely said “uh huh” and the girl went on.
“So anyhow, she calls me late on Thursday evening and tells me that she is not coming back and that I can just sell whatever stuff she has laying around her or whatever. And that she is going to be moving in with a new boyfriend. And that if there are any bills or whatever to just send them to her sister’s apartment and they would be paid, no biggie. And that she was sure that I could find a new roommate pretty quickly.”
“Um, I hate to say this, Donnette but that sounds like typical Elyse to me.”
“No. it’s not. Not anymore.” The fighting was over now and Donnette was sadly wracked with heart wrenching wails. Susan held the phone away from her ear until the wailing had settled down to slight sniffling and the occasional hitching sob. “I don’t think you understand.”
Susan sighed. She was pretty sure that she did understand and that was the problem. “Alright then, Donnette. Why don’t you tell me what is going on then?”
“Elyse couldn’t have ran off to live with some guy. Her and I have been living together for two years now. It’s why she hasn’t contacted her family in so long. She wasn’t sure if they would accept her.”
“Wait. So you and Elyse have been together, romantically for two years and now you are saying that you get this phone call from her…”
“It was her phone but there was something just off about it. It didn’t sound like Elyse at all. And none of it made any sense to me. None of it sounded like my Elyse.”
Susan shivered. She was just about to ask Donnette another question when there was a buzz. The second odd call of the day and this time it was Evelyn Plain-Whiting, mother of Kate and Elyse. “Donnette? Can I call you back later? Kate’s mom is calling.”
Mrs. Whiting wasted no time with formalities. “Susan? What in the world is going on with my daughters? I get several calls from Katherine looking for Elyse and then nothing more from her at all. I get one weird call from Elyse telling me that she is going to be moving in with a fellow and that she didn’t want to be disturbed for some time. Everyone knows that Elyse is living with that little Italian girl and has been for years. What kind of a game are these girls playing?”
“I don’t know but I think that Kate might need our help.” Susan was now actively freaked out and could not stop thinking the very worst of the whole situation.
“I will be on the first plane I can get.” The phone went dead and Susan stood there staring at it for nearly five minutes before she was able to move again.
Chapter Thirteen: Things You Hear on the News
Susan ordinarily skipped the news especially in the car but at the moment her nerves were too jangled to deal with music or anything really. She wasn’t even sure of where she was going at this moment- she had been just driving randomly here and there for the last twenty minutes. Her mind, ever fertile thanks to year of listening to Kate bounce book ideas of her was coming up with the most deliriously dark and twisted types of scenarios ever. She was shocked at herself for even thinking these things. That was when she caught the tail end of a news report about the missing bride last seen leaving the area of Main and Hope Drive accompanied by a slightly taller redhead. The pair had turned the corner onto Hope Drive and were not seen by witnesses afterward. Surveillance footage from the hotel, where the bride had been staying for the weekend did show that the redhead had been there earlier in the evening but that she had not been seen talking to the blonde in any way. She had been seen sitting in the bar speaking to one Colton Pidcock.
Susan gasped and clenched the steering wheel so hard that she nearly veered off of the road. She had to speak to Kate and it had to be now! She threw her car in reverse and turned around as quickly as she could, gunning her engine and flying like the devil himself was after her. She heard the siren and looked up to see the flashing lights in the mirror. Just your luck, Nancy Drew, she said.
The officer asked for her driver’s license and insurance card and that was when Susan realized that she didn’t have her wallet with her. She sheepishly explained that she had been upset about a fight with a friend to the officer who wrote her a ticket for speed and warned her about the reckless driving. He gave her a short lecture about having her license and information on her at all times and then drove off. Susan waited for him to be gone before she resumed her former pace, hoping that everything she was thinking was just the product of an overactive imagination.
The phone rang and before she could help herself Susan squealed. She picked it up and said “hello” hoping that she did not sound as nervous as she suddenly felt.
“Miss Cabot? Susan Cabot?” the voice, male and husky asked.
“Um yes. That’s me. Who is this?”
“Colton Pidcock.”
For the second time that day Susan nearly drove herself into a ditch.
Chapter Fourteen: Questions Beget Questions and Not an Answer to be Found
An hour later Susan was sitting in the lavish hotel room of one Mr. Colton Pidcock who was unshaven but still devastatingly handsome. He nervously ran his hand through his hair several times. He paced the room. He poured a drink, sat it down and then would end up pacing over to the bar and pouring another. By the time he finally managed to speak there were several completely untouched drinks in various locations around the room.
“You heard about the newlywed that disappeared from this hotel last night then?”
He asked rather suddenly, so suddenly that it startled Susan and she yelped a little.
“Y-y-yes. “ she stammered. “I caught part of the news while I was out driving. What does this have to do with me?”
“Ms. Cabot…may I call you Susan?” He waited for her to nod before going on. “I bumped into the lovely couple while a business associate and I were heading to the racquetball courts. I believe they played in the court next to ours. It seems that someone else may have bumped into the bride a little later in the night. I think you might know her? Sadie St. Clair. The police have questioned me several times because of the surveillance footage but all I can give them is her cell phone number. They are coming up with a dead end- because it’s a pen name. I am waiting for my office to call me with her real contact information but my systems are down right now. I was hoping that you could help. I really want to clear these things up quickly. You know how the press tends to spin things out of control and I get more than my share of the negative stuff as it is.”
Susan looked at him, his earnest face, the real worry creasing his forehead. He wasn’t just concerned about his business or personal interests here. He was truly worried and that was quite endearing.
“Kate Plain. Her name is Kate Plain. Until recently she was my best friend but she has stopped responding to me- I was actually heading to her apartment when I was driving around. I have to talk to her!”
Colton grabbed her hand. “Okay. Let’s go. I will call the detective and update him on the way.”
“Um, do you think that my friend Kate is involved in this bride’s disappearance somehow?” Susan asked, pretty sure that she knew the answer already.
“Do you?” He countered.
“I’m not sure.” Susan said quietly.
She drove while Colton called the police detective that was handling the case. She looked at his hands, something she always seemed to notice about men right away. His were rough, like he had done work other than the publishing gig in the not so distant past. He noticed her attention and smiled. “I put myself through college working on a farm just outside of Columbus. Dairy cows. I did it all- and it was kind of fun. I had grown up in the city and thought I would hate being on a farm like that- the smells and what have you. I loved it. sometimes when I am stuck in that office, I really miss the sound of the cows snuffling around the ground for a treat. Because when you have to deal with the amount of BS that I put up with its nice when you can see an actual cow.” He laughed. “Oh what a poet I am! And this is why I publish books, not write them!”
His laugh was infectious and Susan felt herself relaxing despite the circumstances. It was easy to see how people could be charmed by this man in only a matter of minutes.
Susan parked the car. She tried Kate’s number one more time but it went straight to voicemail. They would have to confront her in person, it seemed.
Chapter Fifteen More of What the Doorman Seen
Susan was focusing on the handsome Colton Pidcock to the point of nearly tripping over the curb. Four hands were there to immediately steady her. She looked up and smiled at Dan. She introduced Dan to Colton who shook his hand and thanked him for being so quick to help a lady in need. Dan looked rather nervous. He stared down at his shoes as he said, “She isn’t up there, Miss Susan. I tell you, I haven’t seen Miss Kate in nearly a week and then that other one…”
“Other one?” Colton looked intrigued.
“Kate’s sister Elyse. She is a wild one.” Dan supplied.
“A bit high spirited.” Susan corrected, but only half-heartedly.
“So Kate hasn’t been to her apartment in a week? When is the last time that you remember seeing her?”
Dan thought back. “It would have been Wednesday. Miss Susan was here that night too. I haven’t seen her since.”
“But Dan, I seen Kate her after that. On Thursday in fact. Why didn’t you see her?”
“I only seen Miss Elyse coming and going on Thursday. It was Elyse that came in late on Wednesday and then her that left out of her Thursday morning. She came back, mad as a wet hen on Thursday night too. But no Kate. And then there was last night.”
“What happened last night?” Susan and Colton said at the same time. He smiled, a genuine, eye-crinkling smile that made him look young and almost vulnerable for a split second.
“Miss Elyse she came back here, drunk and singing with some little blonde girl.”
“And she was drunk and singing, too?”
“The blonde? No, Miss Susan. If you ask me there was something fishy going on. Miss Elsye said that the girl was not feeling well and that she was taking her upstairs to sleep for a while but there was something weird about the way that Miss Elyse was holding her up. She couldn’t even open the door by herself almost like she was afraid of letting go of that girl.”
“Hey Dan? Have you ever seen that girl before?” Colton asked.
“Nah. Miss Kate almost never had anyone over here except for Miss Susan and that sister of hers. And usually Miss Elyse will come for a day or so and then leave. She said that she might just stay for a while.”
Susan thought about this for a moment. Elyse told Dan that she might stay for a while but supposedly had told her roommate/girlfriend as well as her mother that she was moving in with a boyfriend. And Dan had not seen Kate at all. Susan knew that she had been here on Thursday so what was going on?
She turned to Colton. “I have the key. Let’s go up and see if she is there or …”
Colton nodded and they headed up the stairs.
Chapter Sixteen: Why Susan Hates Listening to the News
A quick glance around Kate’s apartment revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Her writing desk, usually cluttered with notes and outlines was completely bare, however and Susan noted that with a growing sense of dread. All of the items that were distinctly Kate were missing now- it was if she had never existed. Still, there was nothing of Elyse either. And, no sign of a missing bride- drunk, dead or otherwise. Susan was not sure whether she was relieved or even more worried.
They went back down to the car. She agreed that she would drive Colton back to the hotel where they would wait for the detective and share the information they now had with him. On the way, Colton leaned toward the radio. “Do you mind?” He asked. She shook her head and he turned it on. As luck would have it the news was recapping a few of the top stories.
“…grisly find at the local warehouse for charitable donations. The woman’s body has not yet been identified but the coroner believes that she died only a few days ago. Police are checking missing persons reports from around the area to see if there are any leads to the young woman’s possible identity.”
Susan pulled the car to the side of the road and without saying a word got out, walked to the back and threw up. She was still reeling when a strong hand held out a tissue to her. She dabbed her mouth and then stumbled. Colton caught her and without considering what he was doing pulled her to him and stroked her hair. Susan collapsed against his chest, sobbing with the force of tangled emotions raging in her. She could barely breathe and she could not stop. It was as if she was flying in a million different directions but he was there to hold her together and keep her on the ground.
“Call that detective. Tell him that we will meet him at the morgue. Tell him now.” She said, still cradled in Colton’s arms, her words muffled against his chest.
Chapter Seventeen: When the Room is as Quiet as a Tomb
Detective Robert Lang had been on the force for nearly twenty years. In that time he had investigated 5 homicides, all of them solved. None were easy, of course but then death is never something you want to get used to. Once it is easy to look at a dead person’s face it is time to change professions. He extended his weathered hand to the tall man in the expensive suit and then to the pretty lady who looked like she had seen a ghost or two already.
“Detective Lang, this is my friend, Susan. She is the reason that we are here right now.” Colton introduced Susan, smiling at
her when she cocked an eyebrow his way.
“I think that the body found at the warehouse might be my friend. Or my friend’s sister. It is really complicated.”
Lang asked a few questions before signing. The woman might have a point and so far there had been nothing but dead ends. It was not standard protocol but this might be the break the case needed. “Miss? Do you think you could identify the body if it was your friends? Now, keep in mind that this is strictly off the record, not official. I won’t be able to make an official statement based on what you see or don’t see. I just might be able to get a lead here. If you are up to it, of course.”
Susan turned to Colton. “Will you be there with me? I mean, is that too much to ask?”
He shook his head and took her hand. “I will be right here with you, I promise.” He gently kissed her hand and she smiled, a faint, quivering smile.
“Okay, Detective. I’m ready.”
Lang walked into the large room first and greeted the coroner, a no-nonsense woman who needed a step stool to perform autopsies. She crinkled her face at Susan and Colton and then frowned back at Lang.
“Playing fast and loose with procedures again, are you Bobby?” She asked and then cackled. “Jane Doe’s at the end there. Not started yet but I would go easy on flipping that sheet back. You ain’t doing magic and this one looks like a fainter.” She winked at Colton and said “Don’t crack your head, big guy.” And then laughed again.
Susan gulped, unable to say a word. Colton squeezed her hand and she squeezed back. It felt like they walked for miles through the two neat rows of silver tables, all thankfully empty at this moment. Lang patted Susan on the shoulder and then pulled the sheet back a few inches revealing a tangle of red hair, most of it matted with blood. He only needed to pull the sheet back a bit more to make Susan gasp and turn away. “Elyse!”
