by Diane Roads
CHAPTER 6
Back at the shop Jonesy, was under the hood of an Audi A-4. Being one of the mechanics of Quagmire, a town full of rich and famous people, you need to be versatile in foreign and American made cars. He never knew what might roll in to his garage. Jonesy had to know how to satisfy all of his customers. If he couldn't fix it, he knew who to call who could. He was well respected in Quagmire.
"Hi Jonesy! You know Mark, don't you?"
"Sure, haven't seen you in ages. Do you still have that, ‘64 Chevy Malibu?"
"Yes, I drive it on the weekends mostly."
"Isn't it a Candy Brandy Wine color?"
"Yes it is. Boy, Jonesy, you sure have a memory for cars."
"I never forget the pretty ones. Is she still running okay?"
"Runs like a charm."
"Great! If you ever have a problem getting parts, you let me know. I have a couple of places I can look most folks don't even know about."
"Thanks, Jonesy. I'll keep that in mind."
"Sheriff, I checked the fence all the way around. Back to where that tree is. The branches have been cut. That is where he was able to climb over the fence. Scout was barking so much and then he just stopped. I didn't think much of it until you called. He seems fine now, but he sure was quiet this morning. He still hasn't moved much. He wasn't even really barking at the kids when they were walking by. Makes me think maybe someone slipped him something. If he is not more active later I will have Connie look at him. Can’t have a sleeping guard dog around here."
"You could be right, Jonesy. Can you show us Mr. Twilliger's car?" asked Jasper.
"Sure, it's around back where the fenced in area is. When I was working on it I found his phone in the tire compartment. He said he had a flat, and he needed it fixed. The phone had a low battery when I found it under the tire. He must have lost it when he put the tire back. I was praying that you guys would have found him by now. You know that he called his wife and told her he was okay. No such luck, I guess?"
"No, so far we haven't found anything. We were hoping that we could find a clue in his car," replied Jasper.
"I don't know how. He was supposed to pick it up yesterday, and didn't you say he came up missing today?"
"Yes, that was when we first realized he was gone. But no one has seen him since yesterday morning. About the time he was going to pick the car up from you," said Jasper.
"Sorry, I got busy trying to find that water leak on that Audi yesterday. When I took it out to test-drive it, the transmission went out on it, and when I pulled the transmission out I found the water leak. I got so excited. Been looking for that leak for months. If it hadn't been for that stupid Audi I would have noticed that Mr. Twilliger didn't pick up his car yesterday, and I would have tried to call him. You could have been looking for him yesterday. I plumb forgot about him not showing up until you called today."
"That's okay Jonesy. You couldn't have known. None of us did."
"Well, search all you want. Let me know when you're done, and I'll lock her up. Oh, do you maybe want me to take it back to Mr. Twilliger's house, or just leave it here for now?"
"I'm going over to Mrs. Twilliger's when I am done here. I'll ask her what she wants done when we're finished with it, and someone will let you know. Thanks for your help Jonesy we'll call you when were done."
Scout was laying half in and half out of his doghouse when they went by. Never bothering to get up he threw his head in their direction and gave out three barks. Feeling satisfied that they were no threat he moved his head forward and went back to sleep.
Jasper and Mark walked across the gravel over to 5th Avenue.
"Just as I thought," said Mark. "It has a code key lock. It's a piece of cake. All he had to do was wait ‘til no one was around, punch some buttons and, voila, you're in."
"It's really gotten that simple?"
"Yes, technology is changing so fast that one person can't keep up with it all. The only reason I know about it was because they had something about it on the news one time. I looked in some trade magazines ‘til I found out some more information them," said Mark.
"Well, where do we start?"
"Let me see if I can get some prints off the door handles, and then we can get inside and check it out."
While Mark did that, Jasper looked in the windows.
"I think I see something on the floor. It looks like a match book with some writing on it."
"Well, I’ve got this door done. I think I got part of a print off it. But don't get too excited, it's probably Mr. Twilliger or Jonesy. I'll work on the glove box next."
Jasper reached in his pocket for his gloves before he picked up the matchbook.
"Where in the world is Aksarben?" Jasper asked.
"I think it was a race track in Omaha. Don't think it is open anymore. Doesn't it spell Nebraska backwards?"
"By golly you're right. It does spell Nebraska backwards. When I talk to Mrs. Twilliger I'll ask her if Mr. Twilliger has been there."
"Glove box is open," said Mark.
Jasper went through the contents and found nothing but the usual stuff in the glove box; an owner’s manual, a travel log and some maps and one unusual item for most glove boxes - a Bible. None of the maps were of Nebraska. In fact, the matchbook was about all he found.
Next Mark dusted the outside of the trunk and then opened it to look inside.
"Oh. This doesn't look good," Jasper groaned. "His luggage is still here. It looks like someone had opened it before we got here. They didn't even get everything back in the suitcase."
"With rough texture, I don't think I can get any prints off of it. You might as well open it. There is also a box in the trunk."
Jasper opened the suitcase, but just found the usual contents in it; shaving kit, underwear, shirts, pants and extra traveler's checks. There was also a folder in the trunk with a booklet for the Round tree Art Auction with a receipt for a purchase. He opened the box to find a funny looking statue in it.
"It looks worse than I thought. Okay, Mark, this looks like it's about all for me. Let me know as soon as you find anything out."
"It will probably be tomorrow. Why don't you stop by around lunchtime, if you can? I'll probably be ready by then," Mark asked.
"I'll try and make it. For now I'm off to Millie's. See you tomorrow," said Jasper.
As he left, Scout let out two more barks and went back to sleep. Whatever Scout had been given to tranquilize him must have been pretty strong he thought. Jasper walked on down to Millie's to see if that man with the Nebraska tags was there.
"Hi, Millie, how is it going today?"
"It's going wonderful! I take it you heard the news?" she said.
"No, what is it?" asked Jasper.
"Well, Quincy asked me to marry him!"
"Why, that's wonderful! Congratulations. Let me see the ring."
"Oh, I don't have it yet. He didn't want to wait; it's at the jeweler’s now being sized. There seems to be some mystery surrounding it all, and he is not telling me anything about it. But he did say I would love it. It is very special, not one of those department store rings. That's all he will tell me. I am so excited!"
"Have you set a date yet?"
"Well, we aren’t sure yet. Maybe in the fall, there is so much to do. I haven't even told all of my family yet. There are so many of them, I am afraid Quincy will be overwhelmed when he sees all of them."
"Oh, I think Quincy will do just fine. Remember, he handled old Mrs. Cantrell's funeral a few years back, and there sure were some strange ones who came. People were coming from all over the country to see if they made it rich by her passing. She must have had 300 people that flew in for her funeral. Don't worry. He will do just fine."
"Oh, I do hope you're right. I've been so worried about it this morning. In fact, I figured that's why you were coming by. I am surprised you hadn't heard the news yet. Sally was one of the first people I told," said Millie.
"No, I hadn't," he answe
red.
"Well then, what in the world brought you over here?" Millie asked.
"I wanted to know about a man staying with you. His car is the blue one out there with Nebraska tags."
"Well let's see, he checked in on Monday, he's about 40 years old, 5' 10", brown hair and eyes. Said his name was 'Earl Skinner'. He didn't say it with too much confidence, so I asked him for his identification. He said it was in a suitcase in his car, and he had lost his key to it. He was hoping to find it in one of the other suitcases, or in the car. He said if he didn't find it that was okay, because he had another key at home in Dallas and he would wait to get back home before he opened it. He made it clear that he paid a lot of money for the suitcase and didn't want to break the lock."
"Sounds kind of fishy to me. You should have called me. I would have checked him out."
"Oh no, I didn't want to alarm anyone. I mean I didn't have anything to go on. It was just a hunch. He could have been telling the truth."
"Okay, where is he now, Millie?"
"Mr. Skinner is in his room. He was out most of the night, and has a 'do not disturb' sign on the door now."
"So, do you know what he was doing?" asked Jasper.
"Well, he said he was here to do some night fishing, but when he left he didn't look like he was dressed for fishing."
"Like how was he dressed?"
"All in black," she replied.
"Black?" asked Jasper.
"Yes, black, and when he came back he wasn't even dirty."
"What time was that?" asked Jasper.
"Oh, about 4:30 A.M. if I remember, I was up because Miss Kitty was up having her kittens. She had five of them last night. I know it's only been a few months since you lost your kitty Keno. I thought maybe you'd like a kitten?"
"No thanks Millie. Smokey and I aren't ready for another kitten just yet. He still walks through the house looking for Keno. My only regret is I didn't take Smokey with me when I buried him. Maybe then Smokey would have had more closure. I don't know!"
"I guess dogs and cats grieve just like people do," said Millie.
"I guess you're right. You know that cat could sleep sounder than anyone I know. It was a good five seconds after he would roll off the bed and hit the floor before he would wake up."
"How did you end up with him anyway?"
"I had been out on a case one night when I heard a kitten meowing. Just when the suspect spotted me I spotted the kitten. I reached down to pick him up and the suspect thought I was looking for my lost kitten and didn't pay any attention to me."
"When I looked up, I saw a bill board advertising KENO, the latest lottery game out. On the board was a black cat with a white spot on its chest. It looked just like the kitten I had in my hands. At that moment my family grew to three with no regrets. Keno and Smokey became best buddies. It would be nice to have another cat but I don't think there will be another Keno."
"One more thing Millie. You haven't seen Mr. Twilliger have you?"
"Why, no. Should I have?" asked Millie.
"Not necessarily, I say that because he is missing. No one has seen him since yesterday. He was supposed to go on a business trip. His car was never picked up from Jonsey’s. We don't know if he left town or not. If you hear anything let me know?"
"I will, Sheriff."
"Oh, and for now would you not say anything to Mr. Skinner about Mr. Twilliger? Thanks for the information, Millie. You might let me know when that 'Do not disturb' sign is off his door."
"Okay, I'll give you a call. You know something else I remember. He didn't have a fishing pole. You would think if a man was going fishing, he would have a pole," said Millie
"You would think. Well, if you can think of anything else, you let me know." With that, Jasper went back to his car. He was heading over to Mrs. Twilliger's.
He knew this was the stately home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Twilliger now, but he still couldn't believe this was the house his great-great-grandfather had built. His grandfather used to talk for hours about this house; he would say 'Oh, if those walls could talk.' He would talk about how the house had many secrets, and that the world wasn't ready for what had gone on in that house. When Jasper would ask what the secrets were he would say, "Someday people will be different, and they will accept things, but for now it is best that its secrets are kept secret," which was all that Jasper could ever get out of him. He never even told Jasper where the house was, but his Great Aunt Mattie knew the same secrets. She would say that, ‘This is history, and history needs to be written down. For now I will respect my brother's wishes, but Jasper boy, I will make sure you know what happened. I will leave you my book.’ Ten years later his Grandfather died. It was a sad time, but one month later Aunt Mattie showed up on his door step with the book. It revealed all, and she filled in the answers to all of his questions. He was finally going learn the truth, and know where the house was.
Now if his grandfather hadn't lost all of his money in the stock market, Jasper's life might have been very different. Jasper wasn't sorry he didn't have a lot of money. He had seen what greed did to some of the town folks, but he was content just to have his health and friends. He enjoyed his life as town Sheriff, and knew money wasn't everything. His friend Pete had taught him that.
He walked up the steps, and rang the doorbell; this time Carl Carter answered the door.
"Why, hello, Sheriff Quagmire. Do you have any news? Have you found Mr. Tom yet? Oh, where are my manners? Please come in. I'll get Mrs. Twilliger. She went to go lie down earlier. She has been so upset since Mr. Tom has been missing. Not only her, but also Rollo has been very agitated. I have a call in to the vet to see what she says. Rollo just loves Connie; I was hoping maybe she would have some idea of what to do with him. You know we thought he was barking at George, but it wasn’t George he was upset with, it was his coat."
"His coat? What's so special about his coat?" Jasper asked.
"I asked George that, and he said he didn't know, so I asked him where he got it. He said a friend left it. I want you to know he's a good boy. He’s been in trouble with the law, but he's done his time."
"What's that got to do with this coat?" Jasper asked.
"Well, he said the coat belonged to a guy he knew from prison."
"He's not supposed to be spending time with ex-cons," Jasper said.
"He knows that. He said the other morning that the guy had just stopped by to see him."
"What did he want?" asked Jasper.
"Nothing. He was just interested in what George did around here. Asked what kind of people he worked for; what they did, if they were the same people his dad used to write about in all those letters I used to send him while he was in prison. Basically asking what kind of a life he had here. He left his coat by accident, and George didn't think he would see him again, so he started wearing it."
"Can you think of anything else he said?" asked Jasper.
"No, that's about all. Remember? I said he's a good boy. He told that guy not to come back. Said he didn't want any trouble."
"Did you catch his name?"
"No, he didn't say. He just called him Old Scoot. George didn't want anybody to find out he had been talking to any ex-cons. He'd be mad if he knew I said anything to you. Said he's going to stay clean. He doesn't want to go back to prison."
"Don't worry," Jasper said, "He has nothing to fear if that's the truth."
"Oh, Sheriff, that's the truth, my boy don't lie to me. I swear."
"Okay Carl, I believe you and we should be done with Mr. Twilliger's car this afternoon. Could you call Jonesy about picking it up?"
"Okay, I'll call him later. Is there anything else you need?" ask Carl.
"No, that's all except I would like to talk to Mrs. Twilliger."
"Okay, I'll go get her," said Carl.
While waiting for Mrs. Twilliger, Jasper walked around the room looking at all the pictures on the wall. It was plain
to see someone liked hummingbirds. In fact, one wall was covered with artwork and photos of hummingbirds. Another wall was covered in family pictures. He looked up and in walked Mrs. Twilliger. She looked very anxious.
"Hello, Mrs. Twilliger. No, we haven't found him yet. I was just admiring your hummingbird pictures. You seem to have a lot of them."
Mrs. Twilliger seemed to sadden just a little bit more when she said, "Oh, yes I do. Thomas brings me back one from a lot of his trips. I didn't get one this last trip of his. He was in New York and went to an auction. They must not have had a hummingbird picture at it or he would have bought it. He knows how much I love hummingbirds. I think I have at least 150 of them, maybe 200; I lost count a long time ago. The walls in my morning room are covered in them. I have some special ones on this wall."
"They are very pretty. Are they worth much?" asked Jasper.
"Thank you. Some of them are worth about two or three thousand dollars. Carl said you don't have any news about my Thomas?"
"No, not yet, but we did find some things. His suitcase was in his car with the usual items in it. We also found a box with a statue in it. Do you know if Mr. Twilliger has been to Nebraska recently?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Well," said Jasper, "we found this match book. The cover says Aksarben. That's a race track in Omaha."
"Thomas is a strong Christian, he would never go to a race track," said Mrs. Twilliger.
"We did find a sale bill for an auction in New York. It was for the Round Tree auction House. There was a receipt for a purchase there. Are you sure he didn't buy something there?"
"He hasn't given me anything yet. We do have an anniversary coming up soon. Maybe he bought something for that. I couldn't tell you for sure."
"Thank you now. I have just one more question. Have you ever seen this handkerchief before?"
"I am sure it’s one of Thomas' but let me check." She left the room for only a moment. "Why, yes, it does match the other ones he has. What does this mean?"
"I don't know. We found it out behind Sally’s. I hesitate to tell you this because I really don’t know anything for sure. Someone may have seen him behind the restaurant and he was alive. They saw him walking towards the highway. I don’t know anymore than that." said Jasper.
"Oh, this doesn't sound good. My poor Thomas, you have got to find him soon. I'm just worried sick about him. It's the not knowing that is driving me nuts. Oh, I wish Thomas had a phone with him. He lost it this week. I told him to call it to see if he could hear it ring, or if maybe someone found it. I was worried about him going without a phone. I wanted to send mine with him. He told me that he would be okay. He said he would pick up a phone on the way. Quagmire is such a quiet town. I didn't think about him needing a phone until I was packing his suitcase. I keep praying to God to look out for him."
"I'm sure that He will. I have men looking right now. We will let you know as soon as we find anything. As far as his phone goes, Jones found it in the tire compartment. He must have had a flat and lost it when he put the tire back. Can you get me a list of some of his associates and friends who might know where he might be?"
"Why yes, I'll make a list and send Carl over with it.” At that moment the phone rang. "Would you excuse me for a minute?"
Jasper turned to look at the pictures. He didn't want to eavesdrop, but Mrs. Twilliger was getting louder and louder. "I can’t hear you. Okay. That’s better. You say you are where? I didn't get that. Oh, there, that is better. Oh dear, I don't know how to tell you this, but we can't find your father.” There was a pause and then she said. “Well he was here yesterday morning but now we can't find him. His car is here, but we don't know where he is.” Another long pause and then she said. “Kidnapped? No, I don't think so.” There was another break in the conversation while she listened. “Yes, your father is worth a lot of money, but we haven't heard anyone asking for a ransom. Oh dear, the Sheriff is here, let him tell you. Please, Sheriff, would you talk to Luke, our son?"
"Of course I will.” Jasper took the phone from her. “Hello Luke, this is what we know for sure. We found your father's wallet out behind Sally's Café this morning. It looked like he had left yesterday to go to the drug store, and after he left there he just disappeared. We don't know for sure what happened after that. He might have walked back to the highway from behind Sally's Cafe. Someone did report that they saw him but we are still checking that out. Do you know anyone who might want to hurt your father?"
There was a pause, and Jasper listened, then he said “I will tell her,” and he hung up.
"Tell me what, Sheriff?"
"Luke said he would call you later. He is going to get the next flight out, and that he doesn't know if he can get here any earlier than what he already planned… something about a boat that only comes by once a week?"
"Yes, I know. I was afraid of that. He is in such a remote area that I am surprised that I was able to get a message to him at all. I was so glad that you were here to talk to him. There for a minute, I thought he was going to think his Mom had gone nuts, but I didn't know how to tell him all that had happened. Oh dear, he won't be back until Tuesday. I sure hope we find Thomas by then."
"Thank you, Mrs. Twilliger we will try. I had better go. We will keep looking for him."
