The Dirty Dozen: Damsel Edition

by Kay Maree

  "Ok, but if you think of anything..."

  "Yeah yeah, I watch NCIS - if I think of anything, I'll call right away Special Agent."

  "Detective. I'm with the Sheriff's Department, not NCIS." Jake actually smiled for the first time that day with humor.

  "Can I go now? We need to get to the hospital." Tera looked at Jeremy. "And I have no doubt that Jake loves her, it’s just a very selfish love."

  "Did Lucy have any life insurance?"

  Tera snorted. "Like she could afford that. No, she always talked about getting a policy for Sarah's benefit, but never had the extra cash to pay for it. Her boss had a policy set up for her through her job, but it only basically covers funeral expenses."

  Jeremy wrote down Tera’s contact information. “I really hope your friend is okay.”

  “For Sarah’s sake, so do I.”

  Chapter Four

  Jeremy

  Jeremy stood outside Lucy’s room with Dr. Tieg, the hospital’s trauma doctor, and Fran, his head nurse. Lucy remained in the Intensive Care Unit, with Sarah currently at her side. Jake was in the waiting room, and Tera hovered nearby.

  Dr. Tieg crossed his arms. “The saline content and the organisms found in Lucy's lungs were consistent with normal ocean water. Possibly an aquarium if the owner actually brought transported water, but not likely.”

  Jeremy shrugged. “No aquariums that I saw. I’m going to end up interviewing her friends, one by one. No other signs of trauma?”

  The doctor shook his head. “A few bruises but hard to tell if it was assault. Biggest irregularity is that her skin had none of the characteristics of being under water.”

  Jeremy chatted with Fran when the doctor went back to his rounds. They watched as a man strolled up and peered into the room where Sarah sat with her mother. The detective nonchalantly strolled toward the man.

  "Aww Syn... what did you do?" He lowered his head and wept silently.

  Syn? Short for Synklair? Why would he call her by her middle name?

  The man pulled himself together and straightened. He noticed Jeremy and gave a nod,

  The man lightly tapped on the window. Sarah looked up, and Jeremy saw instant recognition. She ran to the door and collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

  "Jonah!"

  Jeremy sidled over to Tera. Tears streamed down her face as she watched Sarah.

  "I know, you're going to ask me who he is."

  "That would be a yes," Jeremy confirmed. "But I'm more curious why he instantly made Sarah cry when she's been so composed."

  "That girl loves her mama. You know the saying that you can't be your child's best friend because you're the parent? That may be true for a lot of people, but Lucy could do both."

  "I figured that much. Lucy seems like an exceptional woman. But you avoided the question."

  "Jonah is a close friend from Facebook."

  "How close?" It didn't take a detective to figure out that Tera was being purposely vague in her answers.

  Tera paused as she looked Detective Thom right in the eye. "Close enough that he's meeting Lucy for the first time as you watch. Helluva circumstance, isn't it?"

  Jeremy gritted his teeth as she walked away, well aware that she still had not directly answered his question. Sarah had been a pillar of strength, but one look at Jonah had broken her spirit so completely that the man almost had to hold her on her feet to keep her from collapsing.

  Jonah greeted Tera as she went over and rubbed Sarah's back. Their conversation was low and short.

  Jonah took Sarah's chin between his fingers and made her look him right in the eye. Her head blocked Jeremy's view so he couldn't see the man's lips to read what he said.

  Fran pursed her lips. "Mr. Sutton has his eye on the situation and it’s fairly obvious that he has no idea who the man is that his daughter’s obviously so familiar with. Far be it from me to tell you how to do your job, Detective, but I would highly suggest you speak to that gentleman as quickly as respectably possible."

  Jeremy shook his head. "Ya think?"

  He waited until Jonah came out of Lucy’s room and then handed him a card. "I'm investigating what happened to Lucy. Here's my card with my cell number. We need to talk this evening."

  "I know who you are - Sarah told me. I figured you'd be wanting to talk to me. Just come to my hotel, the Holiday Inn Hamilton. I'm in room 204. I'm not going anywhere tonight."

  Jonah held Sarah's hand.

  "If you need anything, you call me. I know this whole situation is weird, but Syn would have wanted you to come to me if there was a need. Or if you just need a shoulder. No matter what, I'll always be here for you."

  "You’re staying?"

  "As long as I can. Now you stay strong, and never forget how much she loves you."

  "She loves you too, Jonah."

  After a tearful goodbye and a fierce hug, Jonah walked away. Jeremy watched Jake return to his seat in the waiting area.

  Sarah sighed. "I guess you're wondering about him."

  "Maybe just a little."

  "Jonah Creer, a friend of my mom’s." Sarah's voice skipped. "They were going to meet after… well, you know. Aunt Tera said she told you about mom's plans."

  "Why did he call her 'Syn'?"

  "That's the name she uses on Facebook. She just wanted to be separate from Lucy, the stressed-out workaholic in a bad marriage."

  "You were okay with your mom's plans? I know this isn't the place to be discussing this..."

  "It's ok," Sarah interrupted. "I love my dad, but he's a user. He never helped mom do anything, just bitched when she couldn't give him everything exactly when he wanted it. Detective Thom, my mother is a wonderful person and she deserves better. I think that's why she’s happier with her family and friends, her life, online. She can be Syn and no one judges her for supporting a deadbeat, no one giving unsolicited advice, she can just be happy and friendly."

  "Did Jonah know the whole story?"

  "Yeah, he was one of the few. Mom confided in him a lot." Sarah suddenly looked at Jeremy with urgency in her eyes. "But understand - she never met him. He's from Canada - nowhere near here, never even been in the country until now. They weren't having an affair. They loved each other but agreed they wouldn't meet until after she was settled on her own. I don't know where emotional bonds fall on the cheating scale, but Jonah had nothing to do with anything wrong in mom's life. All of those problems are a lot older than her association with him."

  "And you also knew Jonah online?"

  "Yeah, through mom. I tried not to pay that much attention to him at first. But then he was always there when she needed him, made her laugh." Sarah choked up. "It was so good to hear her laugh when she was so tired most of the time. Jonah and I slowly got to know each other over the years."

  As she started walking toward Lucy’s room, Sarah turned back. "If you want to know more about Jonah, ask Aunt Tera. Trust me. She knows a lot more about Mom's life than even I do."

  "I'll do that. Thanks again." Jeremy headed toward his car. Having a long conversation with Tera is a great idea. AFTER I go downtown to learn more about Jonah Creer.

  Chapter Five

  Jonah

  Jonah opened the door before Jeremy even finished his knock. "Let's go sit outside. It's too stuffy in here."

  Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of bourbon and headed down the hallway. He paused at a hospitality station to grab two coffee mugs before he went straight down a staircase to the first floor and stopped when he came to a table in the corner of the pool area.

  "Want some?" he asked simply and raised the bourbon bottle.

  "Sure, why not?" Jeremy took out his own smokes and lit one. "Tell me about yourself, Mr. Creer."

  "Psssh...what can I tell you that you don't already know?" Jonah poured the amber liquor and then slide one of the mugs across the table.

  "Details. I know the big
stuff. You're from Toronto, no criminal history, divorced, no children, no traffic tickets. This is your first trip into the United States; first time you've used your passport. Self-employed managing rental properties. That's what I know. Your turn."

  Jonah lit a cigarette before he leaned back in his chair and studied the cop. "I met Syn online a few years ago, we got really close, we had plans to meet when she got free. What else you want to know?"

  "Do you love her?"

  Jonah didn’t hesitate. "Do I need air to breathe?"

  "Anyone you know of that didn't get along with Lucy?"

  "Oh, you mean like her husband? I never knew anyone who didn't like Syn."

  "What do you think happened to her?"

  "I don’t know. She never said anything to me that would indicate HE would have done anything to her. The man had it made, so I can't see why he would have wanted to anyhow. It does bother me that she almost drowned."

  Jeremy cringed. "Why? Everyone seems a little freaked out about the drowning. Jake is the only one who seems genuinely confused."

  "That's because the prick never listened to her."

  "About what?"

  "Hell, about anything if you want to know the truth. Jake lived for Jake, pure and simple. But if he had listened to his own wife, he'd have heard her talk about this dream. The dream that has us all a little freaked out, as you put it."

  "Tell me about it."

  "Short and sweet, she was on a cliff and she knew if she jumped in the water, she would drown. She used to joke when she was having a bad day that she was going to 'go swimming'. Now she almost drowns? It's all just a little weird."

  Jeremy mulled it over. "Has she been any different lately? Any 'I want to go swimming' days?"

  "She was quieter than normal, very withdrawn. But I have to admit, I wasn't around much the last few weeks." Guilt jabbed at him hard.

  "What happened?"

  Jonah fiddled with his mug, then took a long drink from it. He smoked his cigarette and stared into space. "You know how sometimes things just don't work out the way you intended, and it just seems like there's no end in sight?"

  "Sometimes."

  Jonah crushed out his cigarette and looked up at the sky. "I thing Syn just got so tired of everything that going swimming turned into an invitation."

  ~*~

  Jeremy

  Sarah wrote Lucy’s Facebook password on a piece of paper. "I'm sure my father would say I should make you get a search warrant or something, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. That's what mom and I decided long ago and practiced it regularly."

  "Listen, I talked to Jonah, and he said something that I'm curious about."

  "What's that?" Sarah settled into the chair in front of Jeremy's desk.

  "He said that your mother was quieter than usual the last few weeks, that she seemed withdrawn and didn't bounce back like she normally did. Any idea why?"

  "I know her and Jonah had argued about something, but nothing specifically in the last week or so that I know of. But, with me just getting married, I've been tied up more than usual in my own little world. I'm telling you - Aunt Tera is the one you need to talk to."

  "Okay, I will. I'll let you know if I find anything useful." Sarah gave him a grateful smile as she left.

  Jeremy picked up the phone and dialed Tera's cell phone number. It rang twice before she answered. "Did you figure it out?"

  Jeremy chuckled at her greeting. "Not yet, but I'm hot on the trail. I have a question for you though. Sarah said you were the woman to ask."

  "Must be something about Lucy."

  "No, actually I think it has more to do with Syn, even though they're the same person." Jeremy repeated what Jonah had told him.

  "That bastard dumped her a couple months ago. Well, as much as you can break up with someone you've never met."

  "Why?"

  "Jonah has a problem with depression. His ex-wife has been making him responsible for her own worthless life. Playing on his sense of guilt, something like that. One big fault with him and Lucy. They both feel guilty if the wind blows wrong. The ex sent Jonah into a spiral, he pushed Lucy away to protect her, and all he succeeded in doing was putting a crack in her heart that even Jake hadn't been able to do."

  "So why was he here?" Jonah hadn't given Jeremy the feeling that he was a depressed individual, but he knew that sometimes depression affected people differently.

  "She never gave up on him. He loves her - anyone can see that. But the more he tried to push her away, the more she felt he needed her. She didn't want to walk away and abandon him. Lucy was like that; sacrifice what she needed to make someone else happy."

  "What changed?"

  "Honestly, I’d have to say she gave up. Jonah would act better toward her, then push her away again. I think he pushed her away one too many times, and with Sarah starting her own life and not needing Lucy as much, and Jake making her feel guilty, I think she finally cracked under the pressure."

  "Thanks Tera. I appreciate the information." He hung up the phone and sat quiet for a few moments. He had never had a case where there wasn't at least someone they could suspect. Even those who hated Jake wouldn't point fingers at him. Nothing made any sense. What am I supposed to make of the dream?

  Jeremy booted up Lucy's computer. Once the programs loaded, he poked around on her desktop and found a file marked 'Personal'. Clicking on it, a screen popped up to enter the password.

  Great. Now what? He glanced at the password that Sarah had written. Sure enough, the same password opened the personal file.

  Another folder was contained in the bigger file. Jeremy clicked on it and a document opened. He glanced at the bottom of the screen and saw that it was hundreds of pages. He scrolled down the first page and realized it was a diary.

  "You have got to be kidding!" He read down the first two pages, then stretched his back. It was going to be a long day of reading. He settled back in his chair and took a deep breath as he plunged into the world of Lucy Synklair Sutton.

  Chapter Six

  Lucy

  Two years earlier.

  Friend Request Sent.

  Lucy shook her head as she picked up her cell phone to text Tera. Now let's see what you have to bitch about.

  Her cell vibrated within three minutes.

  "Syn? That's it? Not Synklair or Sorceress of Syn, just Syn?" Tera rarely bothered with hellos on the telephone.

  "Be happy I finally reactivated my Facebook account, woman!" Lucy chuckled into the phone. "I don't want to be mousy Lucy online, and I’ve never liked my middle name, so Syn was a compromise. Besides, you have to admit it sounds a little mysterious. Sarah's getting married, I don't have to be just a parent anymore. Goodbye, boring; hello life of Syn!"

  "I am happy you finally joined the real world of adults! And Syn does sound a little exotic, especially since Jake would think you were sinning against him for even being online."

  "Ahhh, so you're saying I joined the real world by creating a cyber identity. Something's wrong with that on many levels. And Jake never wanted Sarah online. Can you imagine a kid nowadays NOT being online? She'd have had no social life at all."

  Tera laughed. "Life revolves around the speed of Facebook anymore. That's why your life has been in such a rut; you haven't been ON Facebook. And no comment Lucy, really. Don't bait me with chances to slam Jake."

  "Yeah yeah, I know how the social websites work, they've just never been my thing. Friendships start and end on a friend's list, drama is detailed in somebody's status, and relationships aren't real until they're Facebook official. I remember all those years I kept up with Sarah and her friends, being the Facebook Nazi to keep them straight."

  Tera sounded excited. "I'm going to send you a bunch of suggested friends so we can get you going."

  "I do have my own friends you know."

  "Yeah, but I have more. Some are business associates through the art gallery, some are old high
school friends."

  "Um, Tera, we didn't go to the same high school."

  "Eh, I'll only send you the cool people." The next instant Tera was gone and Lucy knew it was only moments before she'd have a hundred friend suggestions. Their friendship has survived three marriages and three children; it could survive Facebook.

  Lucy sighed as she looked at the clock. Two hours until quitting time at her small bookkeeping office, and she had nothing to do. It was Thursday, and her boss was out until Monday. She clicked on Tera's page and started absentmindedly reading posts on her profile. She found an event listed and clicked on it.

  The gallery was having a gala featuring all of Thomas Kinkade's paintings. Being a huge fan of his work, Lucy spent the next hour browsing all the art being displayed at the event. She paused on one of her favorites, a painting of a log cabin near a river, A Peaceful Retreat. She couldn't help but comment in the space provided.

  If only life were like this painting - basic, beautiful, and undoubtedly full of love, contentment, and happy memories. Who could want more?

  By the next morning, there was a notification that someone had responded to her comment. Oh Lord. Who did I offend?

  She clicked the notification and her screen again filled with the painting from the afternoon before. Someone named JonnyC had commented after her. Basic and happy? Where's the money and fame?

  I really hate people like that. Why do they think life revolves around the ego?

  She commented back. If that's what life is about to you, I just feel sorry for you, dude.

  Lucy giggled at the 'dude'. Not a word she used regularly, but as Syn, she could be a little more daring. She giggled again. I’ve lived a sheltered life if using the word dude is daring.

  Lucy stared at the painting again after she posted her comment. Would I be happy in a place like that, where I could just kick back and paint, living the simple life?

  As long as she could remember, Lucy had wanted to be an artist and paint whatever flew into her mind as she stared at the canvas. She had attempted a few art classes after she married, but Jake had always discouraged her. Even doing the PTA at Sarah's school had caused a fair share of nasty fights.