Stepford USA (Jade Snow International Adventure #1)

by Lada Ray

  “This is my best friend, Rachel Weise. She is visiting from New York.” This time the introduction came very naturally.

  “Nice to meet you, Rachel!” Jason smiled at her warmly and shook her hand. “Any friend of Jade's...”

  “Thank you. The pleasure is all mine,” Rachel returned the smile. “So, is this your car, Jason? She's a beauty.”

  “Yes, she is a beauty but I can only wish she was mine,” said Jason. “I used to have a car a bit like this one, but she is... she is... long gone.” His voice faltered.

  Sensing that we were on dangerous ground, I changed gears quickly. “So, Rachel and I've been strolling around the fair. We thought we'd visit the bake sale and the silent auction next. What about you, Jason?”

  “I just came for the car show. I love classic cars, you know. After that, I'll stop by Mom's.”

  “Right, Adelaide's here,” I said excitedly. “Where can I find her?”

  “She's with the cat charity booth, didn't she tell you?”

  “She did, actually. But we kinda got sidetracked by some people.”

  “Yes,” nodded Rachel, and before I could stop her, blurted out, “we just met Peter Burns and Marc Catcham. Do you know them?”

  “Yes,” said Jason very quietly, and a dark shadow passed through his face. The smile that delighted me just a minute ago disappeared without a trace.

  I stealthily tugged on Rachel's sleeve, hoping she catches my message: “Shut up, will you!”

  Rachel fell silent. It appeared she did catch it.

  Again, I expertly changed gears. “So, Adelaide is with the cat adoption booth, right?”

  “Yeah.” His smile slowly returned. I was glad, even if it was just a pale ghost of the last one. “She'll be there all day. Just head straight and make a right at the food court.”

  “Thanks, Jason.” I flashed him another big smile. “Let's go, Rache, I really want you to meet Adelaide. You are gonna love her!”

  “What about you, Jason,” said Rachel. “Are you joining us?”

  “Thanks. But I'd rather stay here, with the cars. I'll stop by Mom's before the end, when there are fewer people around. She'll need help loading up cats and driving them back to the shelter. Besides,” he added quietly, “you don't want to be seen with me – bad for your reputation.”

  Disregarding our assurances that our reputation would be absolutely fine, Jason remained by the cars and we headed for the cat adoption booth. Midway, I realized that we could cut a corner by circumventing a row of tents that stood in our way and by skirting the grounds on the right.

  “You have to find adventure wherever you go, don't you?” said Rachel with a laugh. “A straight and clear road isn't good enough for you. But,” she lowered her voice conspiratorially, “why not, let's see what kind of evidence we can uncover in the nearby shrubs and tall grasses.”

  “Go ahead, mock me,” I said defiantly. “But you never know when and where an important piece of a puzzle might show up!”

  We proceeded along the back of the last row of tents, on the narrow strip of cut grass, hugged by a tall shrubbery on the right. The shrubbery delineated the fairgrounds' border and separated it from the neighboring field.

  We walked past the backs of various tents, peaking curiously into each. One sold art supplies, another - some paintings of local landscapes. Then, there was a pottery tent, a tent full of handmade toys for children, and a few other tents with assorted arts and crafts. When we approached a tent with photography equipment stored in the back I noticed two people in its shadow – a man and a woman – in a tight embrace. That particular tent's front was closed off with a curtain. A light went on in my head and, before Rachel could say a word, I put a silencing finger to her lips and dragged her behind the bushes.

  “Peter Burns,” I mouthed to her, as we peaked from our hide out. The woman was concealed in the shadow of the tent, but she seemed to be tall, with a luxurious mane of blond hair. Her face was hidden, too, as Peter was smooching her full on the lips, while his hands were groping her shapely behind in a rather graphic fashion. Rachel tugged me on the hem of my tunic and, giggling discreetly, we retraced our steps via the narrow grassy passage. In a couple of minutes, we were back to the venue's main thoroughfare, from whence we continued our journey through the fair the normal, boring way.

  We picked up some baklava Rachel has fallen in love with; then stopped at a bake tent, where I found what I was looking for: the freshly baked artisan bread, a loaf of olive and a loaf of raisin walnut. Rachel and I also picked up a couple of scrumptious looking blueberry and pecan pies each. We were about to leave, when I noticed a poster advertising the Famous Old World Cranberry Cake.

  So that's where Maria got that amazing cake! I simply had to get a treat or two for Jason! Better stock up on them, I thought. I paid for my breads and pies and ordered three large cranberry cakes to be delivered to my home tomorrow.

  “What do you need so many cakes for?” asked Rachel in a shocked voice.

  “Oh, it's just that Jason loves those and I've been looking and looking...” I stopped, noticing that expression on her face.

  “What?” I said, squirming under her knowing gaze.

  “Jade,” she said, “are you falling for him?”

  “Don't be ridiculous.” I blushed, getting angry at myself and at her. “He's just a friend, that's all.” Rachel said nothing and we walked the rest of the way to the Berkshire Humane Society's cat adoption booth in complete silence. By the time we reached it, I calmed down and was back to my normal self.

  Adelaide stood in front of the booth, deep in conversation with a nice-looking family, complete with two excited children, who wanted to adopt a fluffy tabby. The mother was urging the kids to pet the cat gently, while filling out some adoption papers. We waited until Adelaide kissed the tabby a final goodbye, safely deposited him in a carrier and the happy group left, carrying the new addition to their family. I noticed that Adelaide looked rather tired.

  “Hello,” I said cheerfully. “We just saw Jason and he told us that you'd be here. I am so glad I found you!”

  “Jade,” said Adelaide. “How wonderful to see you! ”

  “Please, meet my best friend, Rachel Weise, from New York.”

  “Oh, how nice. It is such a pleasure to meet you!” Adelaide hugged us both, looking so happy that it seemed even her tiredness subsided.

  “Just placed two cats with some very nice families,” she announced.

  “So, this is part of your charity work, isn't it?” I glanced around at cages containing kitties of all colors and sizes. They were clustered underneath a large rectangular umbrella for protection against the sun. The sides of the corner cages have been carefully wrapped with newspapers, to limit exposure to the sudden gusts of wind. A white adult cat slept in the cage next to me, covering his head with his paw. The next cage was occupied by a pair of grey kittens curled together in a tight, protective ball. In another cage, a small ginger kitty complained loudly.

  “Poor thing,” said Adelaide. “He is a cutie, but still very young and all this noise and activity scare him. We shouldn't have brought him here, I told Amy and George. But they really wanted this one adopted, because he longs for a good home. So, they insisted on bringing him. Amy is the shelter director and George is a volunteer - he is a vet. Such good people, both of them. They are at lunch now.” Adelaide leaned towards us and added confidentially, “They'll be married before the end of this year, if you ask me… Ah, and here they are!”

  The two young people were heading in our direction, talking, lighthearted laughter following them in the wind.

  As they approached, the ginger kitty got all the way up on his hind paws and complained even louder. The young woman unlocked the cage and held the cat, petting him and sheltering him from the wind.

  “Poor baby,” she said, as the kitty settled himself in her arms and stopped complaining.

  “She is so wonderful with animals,” said the man, gazing at her with admira
tion.

  “Hi, I am Amy,” introduced herself the woman. “And this is George.”

  I basked in the loving energy of this couple and in the aura of kindness that surrounded this place. How different it felt in this little spot! No other booth in the whole fair felt anything like it. I watched Amy cradling the ginger kitty; George busily straightening out the newspaper screens on cats' cages; Adelaide, who was already conversing with another prospective adoption family. And in that moment, I knew that I wanted to adopt a kitty right on the spot! The ginger cutie! Yeah, that's right, he needs a home so badly, poor thing. No, I'd rather get the pair of grey kittens! They are so young and defenseless, and so adorable, too. Or maybe, that big white cat? He's such a beautiful fluff ball! Or, maybe, somehow, I'd manage to adopt all four of them? Then, when the baby's born, we all can be one big, happy family!

  Full stop! I said to myself. This is madness. I'm losing touch with reality. Do I want to become a cat woman at the ripe age of twenty-eight, with a baby on the way to boot? And what about my journalistic career? How will I ever travel with four cats?

  But what about adopting at least one kitty, a small voice inside me pleaded. But which one? Another voice objected, they are all so adorable. It's awfully hard to choose.

  In the end, my sensible nature, as usual, won over. I need to get my bearings first, I decided. Understand what is involved in taking care of a cat, what I can do and what is beyond me. That would be the right course of action. I'll volunteer at the shelter first and that will give me a better idea how to proceed.

  I sighed longingly. Wasn't I being a bit too sensible? Shouldn't I just go for it? But something still held me back - that famous instinct, which never let me down before. Ah well, I thought. I guess, that's the way it is. But for now, why not help out financially?

  “So, how do I donate?” I asked.

  “Here is the donation box,” pointed Amy.

  I took out my wallet and deposited sixty eight dollars into the box, everything I had left on me. Rachel, who, as I suspected, went through the same inner struggle I just experienced (and honestly, who wouldn't) contributed another sixty five, leaving just a few bills for her return trip to New York.

  “Thank you! This is very generous,” said Adelaide.

  “It's nothing,” I said. “I'd love to help out at the shelter, too, if I could be of any use. I don't have any experience with that sort of thing.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Adelaide was positively glowing. “You don't need any experience. Would you like to visit the shelter tomorrow? I can show you around and explain everything.”

  “Great. I'll see you tomorrow.”

  We sat on my shady veranda, sampling the goodies we picked up at the fair. Together with the pies, Rachel bought a bag of freshly ground French roast and made some in my Turkish coffee maker. I broke down and had a cup. Well, someone had to help Rachel finish all that coffee, right? She couldn't possibly finish it all by herself, could she? I leaned back in the comfortable wicker armchair, closing my eyes like a happy cat after a good meal: a large slice of my favorite pecan pie with a cup of French roast. It was positively heaven.

  “A very eventful couple of days, I'd say,” commented Rachel, cradling her coffee cup.

  “Oh my, if you say they were eventful...” I shook my head in mock disbelief.

  “So much for sleepy paradise.” Rachel and I looked at each other and started laughing.

  “So, what do you think about the participants of this drama?”

  “Lots of food for thought,” nodded Rachel solemnly. “Of course, I haven't yet met two of them, the police chief and the rich nerd. But the ones I did meet... Very interesting, very interesting, Holmes.”

  I snorted. “Let's sum up, Watson.”

  “Let's. One – Rebbecca: has not spoken since the incident and is apparently scared to death of something or someone. Two – Jason, the convicted rapist, but seems like a very nice, open and kind man, although a very beaten down one. Prefers cars to people, understandably under the circumstances. He used to have a Mercedes convertible. When was that?”

  “I think he may be referring to the Mercedes Adelaide had given him for his eighteenth, the one that was implicated in Rebbecca's rape.”

  “Hmm... A Mercedes at eighteen,” said Rebbecca. “In other words, she'd spoiled him rotten. No wonder he got in trouble. Any psychoanalyst will tell you, it's the surest recipe for disaster.”

  “They both paid a disproportionately high price for that, don't you think?”

  “Seems that way,” readily agreed Rachel. “I can see why you want to get to the bottom of this.”

  “Thank you, glad you understand.”

  “Okay, let's continue. Adelaide: a good person, no question. Marc Catcham: one word...”

  “Sleazebag!” we blurted out together.

  “And don't forget, also a politician,” I added, laughing.

  “Right. I have to say, your instinct about him was right on. Finally, Peter Burns: roving eyes and naughty fingers. I don't know about the other two, police chief and the nerd, but as the ancient Greeks used to say: tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are...” She shook her head, letting her words trail off.

  “So true.”

  “And did you notice Jason's reaction,” went on Rachel, “when I mentioned that we just met Peter Burns and Marc Catcham? Did you see that shadow on his face?”

  “It was clearly an intense dislike,” I mused. “But what if it's more than that? What if he also knows or suspects they were implicated in that rape?”

  “It did seem more,” agreed Rachel. “His face looked positively stormy. But here is another question: did he react to one of the names, or to both?”

  “In short,” I nodded, “any one of them could have done it, but this is all pure speculation. I need proof, but that's exactly what I don't have.”

  Rachel left for New York late on Sunday night, but before leaving, she made me solemnly promise that I'd be careful and keep her appraised of the developments.

  As I lay sleepless in my bed, I was haunted by Rebbecca's gaunt figure and her frail hand grabbing my arm with an unexpected force. Then, Rebbecca's image was replaced by Adelaide's gentle face and Jason's smile.

  I knew now with absolute certainty that a miscarriage of justice was committed here. But how do I prove it? And who were the real perpetrators? Was I on the right track with my investigation or was I barking up the wrong tree? With these disturbed thoughts, I finally fell asleep.

  Chapter 15

  I rang Adelaide's bell at nine on Monday morning. After a pause, the door opened. Jason stood in the doorway just in his jeans, a red bandanna tied over his hair, several beads of sweat glistening on his naked torso. He wielded a hammer in his hand. I swallowed hard. What a body - lean, muscular, tanned, delicious! In a word, Adonis.

  “Oh, sorry,” I murmured, trying not to betray my feelings. “I wanted to see if Adelaide wanted a ride to the animal shelter. I was going to meet her there, but thought I'd stop by and see if she...” I paused, feeling that I was turning bright pink. What is it with you, Jade? I asked myself. Hormones playing tricks? Stop blushing - it's lame!

  “Hi Jade,” he said. If that huge grin on his face was any indication, he was happy to see me and didn't mind my blushing at all.

  “Mom left early. She did mention she'd be meeting you at the shelter today.”

  I said, “Oh,” and started turning to leave, feeling a little self-conscious.

  “But,” he continued, “you could give me a ride instead. I am going to the shelter myself and this way, I won't need to bring my wreck of a truck. It's on its last legs, you know.”

  “Yeah, sure!” I looked at his attire critically. “When do you think you'll be ready?”

  “In a jiffy. I am about finished. Just give me a sec to put a tee shirt on and we can be off.”

  A couple of minutes later, Jason came out in a worn navy tee and clean jeans, red bandanna now tied ar
ound his neck. As we rode to the shelter, I felt the sexy heat of his body next to me. Taking a deep breath, I gripped the wheel of my Land Rover – Paul's wedding gift - and concentrated on the road. This was getting dangerous.

  The Berkshire Humane Society was located at the end of a long service road, past various businesses and warehouses.

  “I'm so glad you could make it,” said Adelaide. “And you brought Jason - how wonderful! Jason, dear, we need those cages cleaned.”

  He nodded and got busy cleaning litter boxes inside the nearby row of cages. Occasionally, he would stop to pet a kitty, whispering something softly. Cats in cages all sat up, waiting for their turn of a daily dose of caress. It looked like Jason was very popular here. He proceeded to the end and then started the next row on the other side of the elongated room, while Adelaide left to take care of a phone call in the front lobby.

  Meanwhile Amy, the shelter director, came in. “He's so great with cats, they just adore him,” she said, as her approving gaze followed Jason's progress. “Besides, he's so much help with fixing stuff and even with cleaning. What will we do without him when he leaves, I have no idea.”

  “What do you mean - leaves?” I asked. “Is he going somewhere?”

  “Oh yes, didn't you know? He's planning on moving away from here as soon as he can.” Amy wrinkled her clear forehead. “He is not comfortable here and I don't blame him. All that suspicion and gossip follows him wherever he goes. He would be much better off elsewhere.”

  “I know, it's hard on him.” I found my eyes following Jason's moves as well. “So, in your opinion, this suspicion is unjustified?”

  “I don't know what happened thirteen years ago, I wasn't here,” Amy said quietly. “But what I do know is that Jason is a kind, gentle soul. All you have to do is watch him with the cats. People like that don't commit rapes or attempted murders.”

  “My feeling exactly,” I whispered. We exchanged a glance and at that moment some kind of deep understanding passed between us.

  “Here you are, Jade,” said Adelaide, entering the room. “Let me show you around and then, you can decide if you are interested in helping us out. We are always in need of an extra pair of hands around here.”