Letter to Belinda

by Tim Tingle

  “We are with a college group, here to see the sights. However, I am also a writer, and am here to publicize my first novel, ‘The relic’, put out by Jester Books.”

  “You don’t say! The same novel which is presently the number one best seller?”

  “Yes, that’s my baby!”

  “A colleague of mine read your book, and he said it was a smashing good story, for an American writer! No offense intended.”

  “None taken.”

  “And this was your first novel?”

  “Yes, it is, but I have another ready for publication.”

  “When is your next book signing?”

  “Tomorrow at two, at the Piccadilly Circus Borders store.”

  “I will be there for an autographed copy, and I will tell a few friends as well!”

  “That is kind of you. Do you come here often, to Speaker’s Corner?”

  “Yes, most Sunday mornings I can be found here. I come here to find someone to openly debate me on political topics, but seldom find any takers. Most Brits these days are horribly unconcerned about what is going on in our country, and I try to get them to at least think. But I do enjoy being able to spout my opinions, even if no one challenges me. Where are you staying?”

  “At the Royal National Hotel South.”

  “That is very near to a ripping good pub that I frequent with my friends. A place called Benny’s, about two blocks from your hotel. You can find us there most evenings after six. You must come join us some time!”

  “I just might do that. Thank you.”

  “Well, I must be going. My wife will have my dinner prepared by noon. Would you and your son care to come home with me and eat a bite?”

  “Thanks, but no. We are expected back at the hotel, for a group lunch and meeting, to discuss our plans for the week.”

  “As you will. I will see you tomorrow, at your book signing! Good day!”

  As he hurried away, Travis said, “Well, there is nothing left to see here. We might as well head back to the hotel.”

  “All right! On the subway again?”

  “Yes, on the subway! I think you like the subway, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, it’s really cool!”

  * * *

  They got back to the hotel just in time to join the rest of the group in the dining hall for lunch, which consisted of fish and chips, and a bowl of oxtail soup. After eating, Travis came to the conclusion that travelers certainly didn’t come to England for the food.

  After lunch, Professor Foust went over a whole list of things to do, and not to do while in England, as though he was talking to a room full of grade school children. Travis had no interest in hearing it, so he told his Mom he was going back to the room to call Janice, since he had not called her yet. Then he was going to take a nap, before his meeting with the Jester Books representative that evening.

  “You don’t want to go with us on the double-decker tour bus ride around London?”

  “No, I’ll probably see all I want to see of London over the next four days. Have a good time, and take lots of pictures!”

  “Drew seems to be taken with that girl. What’s her name?”

  “Audrey.”

  “Yes, Audrey. Is it okay to let him sit with her on this trip?”

  “I don’t see why not, Mom. I don’t think she’s an evil influence on him!”

  “She’s a lot nicer than some of these other girls!”

  “Yeah, she’s okay. Just keep him in your sight, as much as is practical. And have a good time yourself, Mom. Remember, this is your vacation too.”

  “I intend to! I’m already enjoying just being here. I can’t wait to see some of the sights later this week. Especially Stonehenge! I have always wanted to go there!”

  “And now you will!”

  “Yes, now I will!”

  14

  Sunday morning broke in Alabama, and everyone at the Lee house was getting ready for Sunday School. Janice had gotten up early and made a huge stack of pancakes for the five kids that were there. Rebecca washed up the dishes and put them away. Now everyone was getting dressed, when the phone rang, and Chris answered it.

  “Mom! It’s Dad, calling from England!”

  She was taking her hair rollers out as she ran to the phone. “Hello!”

  “Hello, Janice? What time is it there?”

  “It’s almost nine in the morning. We’re getting ready for church. What time is it where you are?”

  “It’s almost 3 in the afternoon here. We got here this morning and went to the hotel. Drew and I went out for awhile. We ate lunch at 12:30, and now I’m going to take a nap, while the others go on a tour of London. They gave us a one week subway pass. Drew was having a good time this morning, riding the subway, and stopping at every station to see what is happening on the surface.”

  “Is your Mother with you?”

  “No, she couldn’t handle the steps going in and out of the Subway. She went with the other adults, on a double-decker sightseeing bus ride through London. Like I said, I’m about to take a nap. I’m supposed to meet a representative from Jester Books for dinner tonight, to discuss my book. Oh, did you know ‘The Relic’ is presently the #1 Bestseller in England?”

  “No! Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I talked to the publisher, and saw it in the London Times! This might be a good time to get a contract on my next book.”

  “That’s great! Just read the fine print carefully.”

  “My first book signing will be tomorrow afternoon at Piccadilly Circus.”

  “You are going to a circus?”

  “No, I said the book signing will be at a Border’s bookstore at Piccadilly Circus! It’s a big intersection, with a fountain in the middle, and cars just whirl around it non-stop. It’s called a turn-about. Tomorrow afternoon that is where my first book signing will be, at Piccadilly Circus.”

  “So you have talked to the people at Jester Books?”

  “Yes, like I said, over the phone. I have a dinner appointment with their representative this evening, to work out the details. Is everything okay at home?”

  “Yes, fine. Oh, let me ask you something. Did you tell Joey he could use that casket out in the garage?”

  “Yes I did, as long as he takes care of it. After all, that was your anniversary present to me last year, when you thought I was dead!”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  “It’s not every husband who gets such a thoughtful gift from his wife!”

  “Hey, don’t remind me! I feel bad enough about that already.”

  “That’s okay, I’ll use it eventually. Before I go, is there any big news items to report locally?”

  “Not that I know of. Why? Are you expecting something?”

  “No, just checking. I like to keep up on things back home. Okay, just wanted to let you know we got here, and are having a good time. I’ll call you again in a few days. Love you!”

  “Love you too.”

  When she hung up, Rebecca asked, “Was that Dad?”

  “Yes, he says they are doing fine. He asked if there was anything big in the news this morning, and I told him no. Is there anything in the local news this morning?”

  “I don’t know. Why? What has he done now?”

  “That’s what I was wondering. We’d better take a look at it. Joey! Where is Joey?”

  Calvin replied, “He went to the garage for something.”

  “Well, go tell him to come take out this kitchen garbage like I told him to do!”

  Calvin found Joey in the garage, looking at their Dad’s casket. “Mom says to come empty the kitchen garbage.”

  “I’m busy. Can you do it for me, Calvin?”

  “I’m not doing your job!”

&nbs
p; “Aw, come on, I’m checking out this casket. We’re going to use it Wednesday night.”

  “In the church play?”

  “Yeah, Dad said I could, but we’ve got other plans for it too, after church!”

  “What are you going to do with it?”

  “You’ll see, if Mom will let you go with us.”

  “Where?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but Cory said it’s going to be a hoot!”

  “Cory from church?”

  “Yeah, he said his Dad is going to let him use his old truck to come get the casket. On the way home with it, we’re going to make a few pit stops!”

  “Pit stops?”

  “Yeah, and if you go haul the garbage for me, I’ll ask Mom to let you go with us.”

  “This better not be a trick!”

  “It’s no trick. I can’t guarantee that she’ll let you go with us, but I’ll ask her.”

  “So what are you doing now?”

  “I’m just un-piling the junk off it, and dusting it off. Getting it ready to go.”

  “Okay, I’ll take out the garbage for you, but you’ll owe me!”

  15

  Miranda arrived at the hospital in Marietta, Georgia about 4:30 A.M., and found Fay asleep in the waiting room. She was told by the nurses that Kay was doing fine. The doctor would be in to see her in the morning. Miranda went to Kay’s room and watched her sleep for awhile, then got in a recliner and went to sleep herself. She had had a long, long day.

  The doctor finally came around at almost noon, and examined Kay, and told her she was good to go home, so she was checked out. Miranda went with her girls back to their apartment, near the Georgia Tech campus.

  They examined their car, and found that it was still safe to drive, though it did not look so good.

  Fay couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Mom, we can’t be seen driving a piece of junk like that! Can’t we just get a new car?”

  “No, this one is still new, and it’s drivable, so make the most of it.”

  “But Mom . . .”

  “It’s either drive this car, or walk! The choice is yours. The insurance will pay for the repairs, and for a replacement car, while this one is being repaired, so live with it!”

  “What good is it to be rich, if you don’t want to use the money, Mom?”

  “I’ll use the money, but I’m not going to throw it away foolishly! Sometimes you have to remember how things were before you got the money, and make prudent decisions, based on common sense.”

  Both her daughters rolled their eyes. Kay said, “Whatever!”

  With both her daughters safe, Miranda knew she had to get back home, because she was worried about how the pool project was going. She took her girls out to eat lunch, then left at 2 P.M., heading back to Alabama. She sensed that it was best not to mention the fact that she was having a pool put in (and especially the fact that she was putting it in to hide a body), so soon after denying their request for a new car. Her daughters already accused her of using the word prudent only when she wished to deny something to them, and then forgetting the meaning of the word, when she wanted something. And they were probably right, but life was unfair sometimes. She had been on the short end so many times, that she wasn’t going to let her own daughters shame her into not using the money for what she wanted.

  As she drove back to Alabama, she worried that in her brief absence, someone had somehow found the body she had buried in the floor of her pool. Because she was not there to watch over the site, she imagined all kinds of scenarios in which someone would just happen to stumble across it. Desperate for news one way or the other, she turned on the radio and tuned it to a Birmingham station, thinking that perhaps if the body was found, it might already have made the news. And if it had, what would she do? Go into hiding? Deny any knowledge of it? Make a run for the border? There was not much she could do, other than just go on home and face the music. She couldn’t run from the law forever.

  Listen to her! Already conceding that she was caught! Most likely, no one had been to her house, and the body was still safe. If things had gone as scheduled, the cement had already been poured, and now it was history! All she had to do was clean up the mess in her freezer, and back porch (or better yet, dispose of the freezer, and the chain saw. Let’s not forget the chain saw!), and there would be no link between her and the missing Judge.

  But even if the cement had already been poured, how did she know that the Judge’s remains were still there? How did she know that someone did not, for whatever reason, dig him up? What a silly, and paranoid thought! But once again she had to concede that Travis was right. She needed the peace of mind that she could only get from watching the cement flow over the Judge’s burial spot. She needed to know that he was really there, and that he was going to stay there! Kind of like the closure one got from being able to bury a loved one’s remains, she needed the closure of knowing he would never be found. What a time for her to get a call from her daughters! At one in the morning, right in the middle of burying a body, she gets this call! What were the chances of that happening? It was setting an uncomfortable tone for this whole mess. It was the confirmation of Murphy’s Law, that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. It was starting to happen, and she had the uncannily disturbing feeling that it was going to get worse.

  It was almost 5 P.M. when she exited the interstate at Bessemer, and made her way to Kellerman, anxious to see about the progress on her pool. As she passed the home of her retarded neighbor, Lennie, she saw the reflection off a pair of binoculars in the front window. She wondered if Lennie was watching her at that very moment. Most likely, he was, because he simply had nothing better to do than keep up with what happened in the neighborhood. Within five minutes after she got home, the phone would ring, and it would be Lennie, because she knew he was watching.

  When she drove up to her home, she saw that the contractors were still there. She unlocked the door and went through her house, and out the back door, on to the deck, where she could overlook the progress on the pool.

  She was amazed. Yes, the cement had already been poured, and now the workers were cleaning and landscaping the sides of the pool, while the tile men were busy hauling in their tile for the next phase of the construction. She saw the supervisor talking to another man, and went down to pool side to talk to him.

  “Oh, here is Ms. Monroe, the owner. Ms. Monroe, this is the man from Arlington Tile, who will be doing the tile work, starting tomorrow, after we remove the cement forms.”

  “It looks great! When I left, it was just a hole in the ground. Now it looks like a swimming pool!”

  “I looked for you yesterday, but no one was home.”

  “Yes, I had to go to Atlanta unexpectedly for a family emergency. But I’m back now. Everything is fine.”

  “Good to hear that. We needed to get your approval on the tile colors. Since you were not home, I told them to use light blue on the bottom, and white on the sides.”

  “Is that an often used color?”

  “Yes, it is more or less the standard for hotel pools. I didn’t know if you wanted your pool to be different.”

  “No, standard colors will be fine. I just need it finished before next Saturday.”

  “Yes Ma’am. Then the tile laying will start tomorrow morning.”

  “My, your people work fast!”

  “We have big incentives!”

  “But you are not sacrificing quality for speed, are you?”

  “No Ma’am! This pool will meet all the standards that any of our pools meet. And our satisfaction guarantee is exactly the same. Any problems related to construction for the first three years, we come back and fix free, even if we have to dig it completely up, and start again!”

  “Let’s hope you don’t have to do that.” (She really hoped they didn’t h
ave to do that.)

  “Oh, by the way, this morning when we started pouring cement, we found a couple of digging tools in the bottom of the pool. My guys said they didn’t belong to them. Are they yours?” He pointed to a digging fork, and a pick, propped against her deck.

  Miranda’s heart skipped a beat. They were her tools all right, but she couldn’t claim them. She had overlooked them in her mad scramble to get the body buried and get over to Georgia.

  “No! Not mine! Why would I leave my digging tools in your pit?”

  “Then that’s strange. Who would leave digging tools in our pit?”

  “I don’t know. I wasn’t even here last night after you guys left. My daughter called from Atlanta and told me that they had been in an accident, so I left for Atlanta immediately.”

  “Then that is definitely a mystery. Someone, for some reason, was in your back yard after you left last night.”

  She couldn’t claim the tools, or she would be admitting that she had been down in the hole burying something. She couldn’t have that. She had to throw suspicion away from herself, so she asked: “It could have been local kids doing one of their pranks. Did they do any damage?”

  “No, nothing that we could tell. Was there anything stolen from your house?”

  “I haven’t looked, but I will.”

  “Wait a minute, there was someone out here this morning, while we were pouring cement! He rode up on a bicycle and knocked on the front door. One of my guys talked to him. Hey Jake! Come here a minute! I think Jake went and asked him what he was doing here.”

  Jake was wiping sweat as he walked up.

  “Jake, you talked to that guy that showed up here on the bicycle this morning. Do you know who he was?”

  “He said his name was Lennie, and that he was looking for Mrs. Monroe. I suggested that he knock on the back door, so he did. But I was watching him the whole time. When he didn’t get an answer at the back door, he left.”

  “Yes, I know a Lennie. He’s a retarded man who rides a bicycle around our neighborhood. But he’s harmless. He wouldn’t steal anything.”