by Mary Coley
“I’ll grab the blouses she borrowed and be on my way.” Mandy lunged from the room, avoiding the man’s attempt to grab her arm. She took the front stairs two at a time and rushed down the hall. The linen closet door stood open; the shelves empty. A few steps further, the storage closet doors were also open and the shelves empty, wiped clean. She ran to the master bedroom and into the master closet. Clothes still hung on the racks, but the shelves above, where Jenna had stored out-of-season clothes and shoeboxes, had been cleaned out.
A burly moving man followed her into the closet. “Boss says to get you out of here. He’s called the police.”
Mandy plucked a few items from the clothes rack. “These blouses are mine.” She pushed past him and raced from the bedroom.
She clattered down the stairs, the man only a few steps behind her. She dashed into the room Jenna and Sean had used as an office. A young man with long hair was packing books away, clearing the shelves of photographs and knickknacks.
Quickly, she scanned the titles of the remaining books. Natural History of Oklahoma? As far as she knew, Jenna wasn’t into natural history. Mandy removed the book from the shelf and clutched it to her chest with the clothing she had grabbed from upstairs.
“What are you doing?” the worker asked.
“Just leaving.” Mandy rushed down the hallway and out the front door. Two men were loading the washing machine into the moving van.
Mandy pitched the clothing into the back of her car and threw the book onto the passenger seat. She floored the accelerator and zoomed out of the neighborhood.
Her cell phone rang.
“Where are you? What are you doing?” Mike’s voice was tense.
“I’ve been to the Wades’ house. A moving crew is packing everything up, taking it to storage. And the blood stains are gone.”
Mike’s voice quieted. “Where are you now?”
“Driving. Just left. They called the police. The man in charge had a contract, signed by Sean. I’m not positive it was his signature, though. Where are you?”
“Finished at the police station. Can you pick me up? Since my truck’s a crumpled heap in the police impound, it’s difficult for me to meet you anywhere.”
“Okay. Be there in about ten.” Another call was beeping in on her phone. Will’s name flashed on the digital screen. “Gotta go.”
She clicked over to the new call as she pulled to the curb and parked. “Hi!”
~ Chapter 13 ~
Will
He heard her voice and the pain in his gut eased a bit. She was safe. She hadn’t done anything irreparable yet.
“Hi yourself. What’s going on? Tried your office line. Billie said you were AWOL and Germaine’s not happy.” He didn’t know Allen Germaine personally, but Mandy had told him plenty of stories about him.
“Germaine and I have parted ways. I walked out.” She chuckled.
“You’ve quit? Mandy?” Will’s voice rose. Maybe she had done something irreparable. Quitting wasn’t something she’d normally consider without pondering for a long time, making a pros-and-cons list, and consulting her horoscope. But the past 24 hours were unusual. Starting with that damn painting and going straight to explosions and drive-by shootings.
“Doesn’t sound like me, does it?”
At least she agreed with him on that. “No.”
“Things are not good here, Will. Jenna’s disappeared and so has Sean. Her office is empty. Her cell phone has been disconnected. Sean doesn’t answer his phone, and now moving men are packing up their things. And somebody totaled Mike’s car early this morning while we were at the Wades’ house trying to find Sean.”
Will processed this information. Jenna had disappeared. Sean had disappeared. It had been 24 hours since he’d talked to his buddy. Sean’s daily call was behind schedule, but not enough to be concerned. However, the moving van was a problem. For Sean to pull the plug meant something truly big had happened. Was it the painting or something else?
“Mike again, huh?” He knew she would believe he was jealous, that she would believe the worst of him, even without cause.
“Aren’t you worried about Sean and Jenna? Will, they’ve vanished.” Mandy’s voice had a quiver to it.
“They’ll turn up somewhere, eventually. I’ve known Sean for a long time. He’ll get in touch.”
“If you’ve known him for a long time, tell me where he is. And tell me why he didn’t seem to know anything about where Jenna might have gone. He was worried last night.”
“There’s a lot he doesn’t know about Jenna. She’s a big mystery to him. That’s part of what makes her so intriguing. But it’s getting old.” He was exaggerating, but all was not roses in paradise for the Wades.
“They were having marital problems? She didn’t say anything to me.”
“And she wouldn’t. She didn’t talk much about the first twenty or so years of her life. What did she do? Where did she live? Who were her friends? How can you trust somebody like that, Mandy?” He’d never trusted Jenna, but she was married to his best friend. He tolerated her, and he often reminded Sean that he’d married a wild card.
What had happened during all those years Jenna wouldn’t talk about? Did Mandy know something he didn’t? “Did you and Jenna ever talk about keeping secrets from a spouse or significant other?”
“We talked about whether or not your spouse should know everything about you. I told her, only the important things.”
“What’s important? Previous relationships, lies you’ve told, drug use, crimes you committed?” Will drummed his fingers on the table where he sat. He wasn’t sure he wanted to have this conversation right now, when he couldn’t see her face.
“Jenna told me she believed it wasn’t necessary to tell everything if it didn’t have anything to do with you now and what you want out of life and who you love.”
“Was Sean demanding she tell him about her past?” Will knew Jenna’s secrets were an issue, but he couldn’t imagine his friend insisting his wife spill her guts if she didn’t want to. He loved and respected her.
“Jenna told me nothing earth-shattering had happened, she just didn’t like remembering those years. The past didn’t make any difference to her and Sean as a couple.”
“Anything else?” Will’s fingers drummed faster. He had to get to a meeting, but he wanted to hear Mandy’s response. He had his own concerns about the secrets he was keeping from Mandy.
“The big question is, can a marriage, or any relationship, survive if there are big secrets between the couple? I personally don’t think so.” Mandy’s statement hung in the air. “My heart aches for Jenna. Her secrets don’t matter to me.”
He felt as if he’d been speared. The two of them had talked only a little about high school and college experiences. It sounded like Mandy was wondering if he was keeping secrets from her. “We need to talk more about this, honey. But I’m wondering, did she ever say anything concrete about her past?”
Mandy clicked her fingers. “That’s it. She told me once she never wanted to hear the name Jandafar again. But she said it on her message today. She told me to go there.”
Jandafar. Will’s mind whirred. Pieces of separate puzzles were coming together. He’d heard that name before, too. Will’s concern grew.
“Mandy, listen carefully to me.”
“I’m listening, Will. I’m also thinking. This is confusing.”
“Could be you’ve got to let her go.” His fist clenched; his knuckles were white.
“Let her go? You mean, accept she’s disappeared and something has happened to her? How can you ask me to do that? She’s my best friend!”
“Did it ever occur to you this might be dangerous? Your buddy Mike’s car was totaled. And he was shot. The two of you could have been killed in the explosions. Is this worth losing your life?”
She didn’t respond.
“Do you not realize what the thought does to me?” The words poured out of him. “And I can’t be there with you!
Damn, Mandy. I love you—and you’re driving me crazy. If I could catch the first plane back to you I would, but then both of us would be unemployed. Think about what you’re doing.”
~ Chapter 14 ~
Mandy
Mandy closed her eyes. This was all too much. Jenna had confided in her, when she so rarely shared anything with anybody. And she had called this morning with a desperate plea. Jandafar. Lamar. What did those names mean?
And what about the book? She grabbed it from the passenger seat and flipped the book open. The name “Molly Bergen” was scrawled across the inside front cover. Who was Molly Bergen? A friend? A relative?
“Are you there?” Will asked.
“Will, I’m sorry. I’m upset. I wish you were here. Mike’s not much help.”
“Who is this Mike person, anyway? You’ve never talked about him. Did I meet him at an office party?” Will’s voice had an irritated edge to it.
“He’s someone I get thrown into projects with. He’s a creative—a graphic artist. Not my type.”
“Oh, so I have nothing to worry about except that the two of you are getting blown up together and shot at.”
“I think Jenna’s in trouble.”
“I’ll come home. You may be in danger and I’m too far away to help. If you won’t stop looking into this, I’m on the next plane. I’m serious.”
If Will left this conference, he’d lose his job. And he was right: both unemployed would be bad news. Even if she gave up her apartment and lived with him, it would be hard to pay the bills.
“Please don’t leave the conference,” she begged. “I don’t want you to risk your job for this. My job wasn’t all that great. But you love your job. Don’t sacrifice it because of me.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll tone it down. I won’t do anything dangerous, just research, okay? I’m going to try to find out about Jenna’s past. Get a handle on what that painting might have meant to her. Okay?” She was promising him something she probably couldn’t do.
“Tone it down, baby, please? I’ll be there Sunday.”
Through the phone, Mandy heard a door close, and voices.
Will’s voice quieted. “Maybe I’ll hear from Sean. Maybe we’ll both find out what happened. You know, he can run his insurance fraud investigation business from anywhere. Something scared her, for God knows what reason, and he’s pulling things up and moving to a different locale. Simple explanation, Mandy.”
“You make it sound simple. But it doesn’t explain everything.” Mandy started her car again. “I’ll check in with you tonight. What time is your dinner?”
“I should be back in my room by ten o’clock. That’s Eastern, an hour ahead of you, remember?”
“Sure. I love you, Will.”
“Me too, Mandy. Be careful.”
Mandy clicked off the phone. She signaled and pulled into traffic. What if Will was right and Sean and Jenna had decided to move because Jenna felt threatened? It was a logical explanation, and a lot less scary than thinking either one or both had been kidnapped or fallen victim to a dangerous plot.
She checked her watch. Mike would be hanging out in front of the police station, waiting.
~ Chapter 15 ~
Mike
Mike got up from the bench in front of the police station and sauntered to Mandy’s car. “’Bout time. Get delayed on the highway?”
“Will called. He wants me to drop this whole thing. Says it’s too dangerous.”
“Well, frankly, even though I haven’t met your boyfriend, I think he’s right. I wish he’d talked you into dropping it before my truck was totaled, and before my head injury.” He latched his seat belt and checked his head in the vanity mirror. “The cop had lots of questions. He didn’t like the idea that the drive-by happened near the two explosions and we didn’t report it.”
Didn’t like it was putting it mildly. His questioning had been relentless. But Mike had stuck to his story.
“You told them everything?”
“I would have been crazy not to. Most likely, I’d be sitting in a cell somewhere singing for an attorney.” The lies rolled easily off his tongue. Tell them everything? They didn’t know the half of it. And neither did Mandy.
“Did they believe you?”
“Let’s say they didn’t have anything on me, no reason to associate me with either explosion. I was clear enough about the fact that I’d been in the neighborhood. An innocent bystander. So, is Will coming back to sit on you?” The boyfriend could be a problem. Mandy as an information source would probably dry up.
“I promised I’d lighten up. Stick to research. So, research it’ll be. I didn’t have much luck finding anything at the house. The moving process was too far along. But I grabbed this book. Struck me as odd Jenna would have it on her bookshelf.”
Mike took the book and quickly flipped through the pages. “The Natural History of Oklahoma? Yeah, I’d say that’s strange. She’s not even interested in animals and plants and stuff, is she?”
“That’s why it seemed odd. And look at the name on the inside cover. Molly Bergen. Ever heard of her?” Mandy asked.
“Can’t say that I have. Weird. Maybe it’s Sean’s book.” He set it down on the console. Molly Bergen. Would Mandy find the connection between that name, Jenna and Jandafar? He hoped not.
“Don’t think so. He’s not a nature guy either. But there’s a reason it was there. Maybe there’s a connection with Jenna’s message, the names Jandafar and Lamar.”
His throat clenched. With the internet, it was too easy to find anything. People included. Like himself. “Is there a library in our future?” He hated libraries. Too quiet, and too many stale old books and dried-up librarians.
“Maybe. Aren’t you going back to work?” Mandy flipped on her blinker and took the ramp onto the inner dispersal loop that circled downtown Tulsa.
“Hey, that’s an idea. I’ve taken a sick day. Head injury, remember? What’s your excuse?” He had called the office from the police station to check in and give his reason for not returning to work. The last thing he needed was his so-called boss on his back.
“I think I’ve been fired, or maybe I quit before they actually fired me. Anyway, with Jenna gone, there’s no one to convince me to stay.”
“You probably won’t miss much except your gym membership. It’s a cool gym.”
“You would bring that up. And you’re right. I should go clean out my locker before they decide not to let me into the building.”
“Drop me off at my place, would you? I called the office and told them I’m too dizzy to even ride up an elevator.” He needed to make some calls to clear up a few things, like why the idiot had totaled his truck.
His compensation for this so-called “little” job had gone up about twelve grand.
~ Chapter 16 ~
Mandy
Mandy’s footsteps echoed in the empty women’s locker room of the employee gym. It was too early for mid-afternoon Pilates classes. Chlorine and sweat permeated the air.
The locker she shared with Jenna was on the far end of the first row. She worked the combination lock and opened the gray metal locker.
The top part was hers; the bottom, Jenna’s. Her workout clothes and gym shoes were stacked neatly on the floor of the locker. Mandy grabbed the gym bag hanging from the back-panel hook and stuffed everything into the bag.
Jenna had tucked two pairs of socks and a blue sports bra into a net bag on a side hook. As Mandy removed the bag, an envelope fluttered to the floor.
Mandy opened the envelope flap and removed a picture. Two blond-haired girls of about the same size stood with their arms locked together in front of a man and woman. Behind them, wooden steps led to the porch of a house.
Did Jenna have a sister?
Mandy tucked the photograph back into the envelope and stuffed it into the gym bag. Behind her, voices sounded in the hallway. She removed the lock from the handle and stepped into one of the dressing rooms.
Two women came into the ar
ea. Door locks clicked on two bathroom stalls. The women’s lighthearted conversation continued.
Quietly, she slipped out of the locker room. As she passed the windows onto the swimming pool, she glanced in. Daylight from the skylights reflected on the smooth water of the empty pool. She would miss her swims and her workouts. But there’d be another gym, someplace else, just like there’d be another job.
But she didn’t expect to ever have another friend who cared about her like Jenna.
Mandy pitched the gym bag onto the passenger seat, started her car, and drove out of the parking lot to the street. The clouds had thinned, but puddles still lingered near the curbs. Behind her, tires squealed. A white Denali loomed in the rearview mirror.
Mandy changed lanes twice and turned a corner before the SUV had time to shift to her lane and follow. She drove into a convenience store parking lot and parked between two panel vans, then ducked low in the seat.
Two minutes later, her cell phone rang.
“So, what are you doing now?” Mike asked.
“I’m avoiding that white Denali. They tried to follow me. And who knows what they might have had in mind—a little road rage? I’m sitting it out in a QuikTrip parking lot.” She dug into the gym bag and removed the envelope and the picture. “I found something interesting in our locker at the gym.”
“What?”
“A picture. I think it might be Jenna with her family, the mom and dad, and maybe a sister. Do you know if she had a sister?”
“You’re asking me? Don’t think I ever actually talked to her...”
“Right. So why are you risking your life and your property to help me with this?” After she had talked with Will this morning, she had begun to wonder why Mike cared about what had happened to Jenna. Was it only because Mandy had brought him into it?
Mike cleared his throat. “Didn’t you ever hear of someone doing something helpful for the sake of being helpful? Give me a break.” Mandy snickered, and he chuckled. “Seriously, though. You’ve been my buddy at work, unlike a lot of people. I’m glad to help. Even though your man Will might knock my lights out when he gets back from wherever he’s gone. That is, if we’re still alive.”
