by Mima
“I don’t know. I’m wondering that too.”
“I guess we will never know.” Maggie insisted and let out a little laugh. “I think she has been hanging out with you too much, she doesn’t talk.”
Chase let out a self-conscious laugh but didn’t reply.
It was on the following Monday morning, a rare one when Maggie was actually available to join him and Jolene at the office, that the police walked into the room and his heart stopped.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Although sheer terror briefly crossed her eyes, Jolene was quick to regain her composure and standing tall with her usual unshakable confidence, she nodded toward the two RCMP officer’s as they approached. “Good morning, can I help you with something?”
The younger of the two glanced in Maggie’s direction and that’s when Chase got a sick feeling in his stomach. Jolene was expressionless while Maggie’s face completely drained of color, as her eyes glanced from one officers face to another. It was as if the two Constables were suddenly aware of the strange combination of reactions in the room, judging by how their eyes were analyzing the situation, Chase made every effort to remain stone-faced. The last thing he wanted to do was to bring suspicion onto himself. He remained calm as he listened to them talk.
“We’re looking for Kelsey Telips regarding an investigation,” The older of the two officers spoke while the other one continued to watch Maggie’s reaction; tears were forming in her eyes, while some color returned to her face, but in this case it was dark hues of red that were anything but subtle. Chase could tell by Jolene’s expression that she wasn’t happy with Maggie’s emotional reaction, as she pursed her lips tightly together. “Her parents said she was staying with Margaret, or Maggie Telips, sister. We were told she might be here.”
“Kelsey is my sister,” Maggie replied in a whisper and quickly cleared her throat and turned in her chair. “What did she do?”
The Constable glanced at Chase and Jolene, returning his gaze to Maggie. “Do you know where she is? We need to ask her a few questions regarding an ongoing investigation. Is she staying with you?”
“She was but I haven’t seen her since Saturday night,” Maggie spoke earnestly. “She tends to take off and not respond when we message her. I don’t know where she is right now. I can try to text her if you want?”
“We have her number,” his reply was direct, his expression unreadable. “I would also like to speak to you as well for a moment.”
“You can have my office,” Jolene spoke evenly, her eyes glanced toward Chase as she reached for her purse. “We can leave for a while so that you can talk to Maggie.” She was moving away from the desk and following her lead, Chase rose from his seat and noted that Maggie was giving him a begging glance. The last thing he wanted to do was stick around for this conversation. He had no idea what Kelsey was up to but he was finding her antics to be draining and confusing. Where she once was a whimsical young woman who was full of energy and light, she was now mysterious and there was a darkness, a secretive side of her that he didn’t understand.
“We would appreciate that,” The constable nodded and Jolene gave him a brief, small smile and glanced toward Chase, who quickly followed her toward the door.
“Maggie,” Jolene called over her shoulder as they reached the exit and Chase reached for the doorknob. “Text us when you have finished.”
It wasn’t until they were outside that Jolene had a flash of anger cross through her dark eyes as she shook her head and gestured toward the building’s main exit.
“Idiota!” Jolene snapped and reached in her purse. Pulling on a pair of oversized Gucci glasses, she snapped her heels against the pavement, as they headed toward the closest coffee shop. “How can she act like such a whiny girl the minute the police walk in the room? It makes us all look guilty.”
“I think she was worried that something happened to Kelsey since she always goes missing,” Chase attempted to explain as he rushed to keep up with Jolene’s quickened pace, the smell of diesel filled the air as a large truck passed them. The chatter of young girls behind them was hard to miss, as he turned and saw a group of young woman ogling him as they followed him and Jolene on the sidewalk. His boss didn’t notice; she was still stewing over Maggie’s reaction.
“You never act weak with the police, you do not do that!” She complained as they entered the coffee shop and walked up to the counter. The young woman working at the cash was Latino, a smile lit up her face and she immediately addressed Jolene in Spanish.
“Hola!”
The two talked rapidly with words that were unfamiliar, yet intriguing to Chase, as he stood back and after the two women laughed, the lady behind the counter glanced at Chase and made a comment to Jolene.
“No,” she replied and said something else as the young woman grabbed two large cups and wrote something on them as she nodded at the same time, a giggle rose from her throat and she shrugged. He looked away, having no idea what they were talking about but suddenly wished he knew Spanish.
It was only after they were at a table that Jolene’s original demeanor dropped as she explained to Chase that the woman thought he was her ‘boy toy’.
“She asked if you were my younger boyfriend,” Jolene giggled and placed her purse on the empty chair beside her. “She said you are so handsome. But I say no, you work for me.”
“Oh,” he wasn’t sure how to respond to this, his mind still back with Maggie and the RCMP officers, it was difficult for this conversation to distract him in the least. He watched as Jolene tapped on her phone as a strand of her long, dark hair fell forward into her face. Taking a drink of his coffee, he remained silent with his thoughts.
“I tell Kelsey about this,” she pointed in the general direction of the office. “She’s replying, I can see.”
“She’s replying?” Chase almost choked on his coffee. Kelsey never replied to him or Maggie but always to Jolene? Why was that?
“Yes, she say that she knows what this is about,” her eyes met with Chase’s and she stared for a long moment. “She said you would too?”
“I just assumed when they walked in, it was over what happened on the weekend,” Chase admitted. “I don’t know why they’re looking for Kelsey. She hardly ever talks to me anymore, so if she’s in some kind of trouble, I don’t know what it’s about.”
“She’s coming here,” Jolene replied as she looked at her phone, perhaps not even listening to his words. “She said she will explain.”
Chase had a quick, inappropriate flash from the weekend and felt a tinge of desire that caused him to look away and unfortunately, glance in the direction of the barista behind the counter. She gave him a quick smile and he felt color fill his cheeks.
“Chase, what is going on with you?” Jolene’s voice was soft, almost vulnerable. “What is with you and Kelsey? Did something happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean,” she gently replied. “Why are things so weird between the two of you?”
“I don’t know.”
“She doesn’t answer your texts? I understand her not replying to Maggie, but why you?”
“I don’t know.”
“But that doesn’t make sense.”
“Ever since I moved, that’s how it has been.” He replied as she took another sip of his coffee as the sun touched his face through a nearby window and he glanced toward the sidewalk, where people were constantly rushing by, many with their heads down looking at a phone. “I don’t know.”
Jolene didn’t reply and changed the subject.
“I hope Maggie doesn’t get nervous and talk about anything with the police,” she anxiously tapped her long nails on the table. “I do not want her talking about what’s going on with the business or anything stupid.”
“I don’t think she will,” Chase offered. “It sounds like this has somet
hing to do with Kelsey.”
“I do not trust Maggie.”
“Why not?”
“She wanted to be a police like the ones that were at our door today.” She pursed her lips. “I do not trust that.”
“You don’t trust the RCMP?”
“No, I do not trust any police.” Jolene shook her head defiantly. “No matter where I do not trust.”
He merely nodded. It was better not to ask.
Their conversation went back to work, the topic of Saturday night faded away and for the most part, Chase was somewhat relieved by this shift. Eventually, Jolene received a text from Maggie stating that the RCMP were gone but she didn’t offer any other details. Jolene merely rolled her eyes and pushed her phone aside. Kelsey arrived shortly after, breezily entering the shop, dragging her suitcase behind, as if it were just another day; as if it were normal to have the RCMP looking to speak with her, as if she hadn’t crawled into Chases’ bed on Saturday morning and snuck out after he fell asleep, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
“Morning,” she sat down between Chase and Jolene, a smile on her face. “So what’s going on?”
“That is what we want to ask you,” Jolene asked, her eyes searching Kelsey’s face, her expression anything but pleased. “Why are there cops showing up at my door looking for you?”
“Yeah, that, I’m sorry,” Kelsey replied and glanced down at her fingers. “I didn’t think they would go there. I guess cause I’m staying at Maggie’s and she’s never home, they had to find her somewhere and you’re probably listed as her employer and-
“What is going on? Do I need to know?” Jolene appeared impatient. “We have a lot of work to do today to plan six parties in and out of Alberta, we do not have time for this…shit. What is going on?”
Kelsey didn’t reply at first, her eyes slowly glancing toward Chase. “It’s got something to do with stuff that happened in Hennessey, where Chase and I are from.”
Wracking his brain, he suddenly knew exactly what she was referring to, at the exact same moment as she said his name. “It’s got to do with Bud”
“Bud?” Jolene asked and made a face. “What is a ‘bud’?”
“It’s a guy,” Kelsey replied and shifted her gaze toward Jolene. “From back in Mento.”
“What?” Jolene appeared even more confused. “What is a bud? And Mentos? You mean like, candy, Mento?”
“No no,” Chase replied, a little frustrated by Kelsey’s inability to see that Jolene struggled with English and was confused by their strange terms and names. “She’s talking about a man who’s nickname is ‘Bud’. His real name is Brad but everyone calls him Bud. He’s the guy you got a reference from before I started to work for you? Mento is a town next to Hennessey, where I’m from, that’s where the bar was located.”
He noted the understanding in Jolene’s face as she nodded slowly and scrunched up her forehead. “Bud? Why do you have such weird names here? Bud? Chase? Do you not have normal names in little towns?”
“Nothing is normal in small towns,” Kelsey spoke lightly, letting out a sharp laugh.
“So, what does this have to do with you?”
Kelsey opened her mouth to say something, immediately shutting it and looking in Chases’ eyes. “It has to do with the…films..”
Shit! Fuck!
“From the back room?” Chase asked and Kelsey nodded. “The cops found them?”
Kelsey nodded again.
“And saw you?” He asked and she continued to nod. “And they want to ask questions about it? Do they know about me?”
She shook her head no, hesitated and shrugged.
“I don’t think anyone knows about you and I’m pretty sure Bud isn’t going to tell after you threatened to you know, kill him.”
“What?” Jolene’s eyes grew in size. “What is going on, Chase?”
He took a deep breath and hesitated, his eyes glancing toward the window. He couldn’t avoid the truth and when he considered what happened on the weekend, something told him that Jolene wouldn’t be someone who would be shaken by the truth; no matter how dark.
“When I lived in Hennessey” Chase exchanged looks with Kelsey, who quickly looked away as her cheeks flooded in color. “When I worked at this bar, I didn’t know but the owner had a side business in pornography.”
“Porn?” Jolene’s lips parted and fell open as she moved forward in her seat. “Tell me, were you two….” She glanced at Kelsey. “Did you?” Jolene looked into Chases’ eyes.
“Yeah, me but not with Kelsey, I mean, it was just a couple and ah….I was filming it in like a first person perspective, so no one can see my face.” Chase stumbled and hesitated to continue, feeling flustered and awkward. “But they could see everything else.”
“Oh.” Her eyes doubled in size, but yet she didn’t appear shocked or offended. “So you did these movies for this Bud person?”
“Yeah, I needed the money and it was stupid but I just did a couple.” Chase could see that Kelsey looked on the verge of tears but felt he couldn’t lie to Jolene. She would know. “And I was a kid, like 19 so I didn’t see how stupid it was at the time.”
“And this one,” She pointed toward Kelsey.
“Bud got her involved. She was only 16 at the time.” Chase spoke clearly, attempting to ignore the discomfort at the table.
Glancing at Kelsey, he noted that her crimson cheeks seemed to be fading. He wasn’t about to embarrass her in any way but simply stick to the facts. She gave him a quick smile.
“And you threaten this Bud person?”
“I threatened him because she was only 16, a kid,” Chase replied and noted that Kelsey was continuing to avoid Jolene’s eyes. “I was furious and threatened him because I wanted him to destroy the tapes, which I guess he didn’t.”
“He did.” Kelsey’s sudden remark surprised him. “I know he did.”
She had both Chase and Jolene’s attention.
“There are other tapes.” She replied and cleared her throat. “I made after you left town. The police raided him and found them. That’s why they wanted to talk to me.”
Chase felt anger rise inside of him. He had tried to help her. He had tried to save her from herself.
Misinterpreting the anger in his face, she continued, “Don’t worry, your tapes you were in are gone, they don’t know about them. They only want to talk to me because I wasn’t quite 18 yet.”
He didn’t say a word as he felt the fury fill every inch of his body, as his heart raced like a freight train through his veins. Grabbing his coffee, he stood up and exchanged looks with Jolene, who said nothing; but he knew she knew. He knew she knew everything as he walked out the door.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Lucy once accused him of trying to be a ‘superhero’. Confused by why she would make such a comment, a naive 17-year-old Chase laughed self-consciously and shrugged, not knowing how to respond. It was after he rushed to help a lady outside of a grocery store when one of her bags broke and cans of food rolled in various directions in the parking lot. Chase wasted no time rushing over to help her pick everything up, as she grumbled about the cashier overloading the contents.
“Damn teenagers are clueless,” The older lady sharply remarked while glancing at Lucy, who apparently represented the cashier in the store. “It’s common sense that these bags are cheap and will break.”
Lucy rolled her eyes while Chase attempted to help the lady even further by carrying them to her car. When he returned, his then-girlfriend shook her head and criticized him for always trying to ‘save’ women. Giving a tentative smile, he quietly shrugged.
Chase had spent his entire life trying to be a ‘good guy’. He was a compliant boyfriend to Lucy. He tolerated Audrey’s bullshit, even when she made his life intolerable. He was a good kid growing up, never doing anything to cause shame to his f
amily; never coming home drunk or stoned, always had passing grades and never got into trouble. And when he had that opportunity to have sex with an underaged Kelsey at Bud’s a couple years earlier, he ignored his mounting desires and told her no. Not only did he tell her no, he threatened Bud within an inch of his life to keep away from the minor, to destroy anything he previously recorded so that the naive teenage girl could avoid making a huge mistake.
Not that it mattered. As much as he didn’t want to see what Maggie had been attempting to tell him for years, Kelsey was a train wreck. That’s why Maggie had given up on her, showing little interest in helping her kid sister. He hadn’t seen it before but clearly, she had been exactly where he was at least once; frustrated and confused, gobsmacked that someone so smart could be so incredibly stupid. It made him wonder how many other things he didn’t know about her. For example, where did Kelsey go when she disappeared from Maggie’s apartment?
He didn’t understand. What was his role with women? He thought about romantic comedies he used to watch with his mom while growing up. Women in these movies always seem to be damsels in distress, looking for the strong, handsome man to swoop in and save the day. Yet, the real world wasn’t like that at all. Women didn’t want or appreciate any help he gave them. Even the lady from the grocery store, whom he helped when her cans of dog food went flying across the parking lot, hadn’t as much as thanked him for his consideration. Women thought they wanted something until they had it, then they took it for granted.
Jolene was the rare exception. She appreciated his work and perhaps, that’s why he continued to be loyal to her. Always clear about what she wanted from him, Chase knew his role.
Jolene. Shit.
Chase left the coffee shop so abruptly, infuriated with Kelsey, he hadn’t considered that maybe she was wondering where he was or when he’d return. Walking aimlessly, he attempted to cool off, when noticing that his gym was just around the corner. He remembered thinking that it was fortunate that it wasn’t a long drive from Jolene’s office, although both were a distance from his home, it was nice to have some portions of his life in a decent proximity.
