A.L. Jambor - Where's Audrey? (12 page)

“How’s Nana Grace doing?” Mel asked.

“She’s worried. I’m trying to keep her occupied, but she keeps asking if you saw Audrey.”

“Tell her I miss her. Tell her I got stuck at Lisa’s and haven’t had a chance to go back to the mobile home park but I promise I will before I come home.”

“Do you think you’ll be back by Christmas?”

“I don’t know. I miss you. I want to be there for Christmas.”

“Call me when you know. I miss you, too, Mel.”

When Mel hung up, she felt sad. Nana Grace was worried. Mel was trying to spare her, but her imagination was probably worse than what Mel knew. She thought about what Conner had said, that Jason was in the county jail. That meant he wasn’t home. The home was empty.

“Do you need something to wear?” Lisa asked when Mel emerged from the bedroom.

“Yeah. I have dresses, but I feel cold. I want something that will cover my legs.”

“There’s nothing wrong with your legs,” Lisa said.

“No, it’s not that. I’m just cold.”

“Cold! You should be in New York right now. Come on, Mel! Once you start dancing, you’ll warm up.”

“Yeah, but before that, I’ll freeze. Do you have something else?”

“I may have a pair of leggings, or you could wear tights.”

“Let me see the leggings.”

“They’re in the second drawer.”

Mel went to the dresser and looked in the middle drawer. She found a pair of black leggings. She went through the closet again and found a black, silk shell. The leggings were spandex and when she put them on, they hugged her butt.

Why didn’t I think of these before?
she thought.

When she emerged from the bedroom, Lisa made a face.

“You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

“I do not.”

“We’re supposed to be having fun, remember?”

“I’m not really in the mood for fun.”

Lisa looked at Mel’s face. “You don’t want to go out tonight, do you?”

“Not really.”

Mel’s phone rang. She looked at the caller. “I’ve gotta take this.” She went back into the bedroom and closed the door before answering. “Hello, Conner.”

“How was the beach today?”

“We had a good time talking. I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“Did you get my message?”

“Yes. My grandmother is looking for a power of attorney.”

“They picked up Jason. He’s spending the night in jail.”

“That means my aunt’s house is empty.”

“Mel, don’t go getting any ideas. Legally, it’s his house.”

“We could look in the windows.”

“Don’t go near the home. Someone will see you, then I’ll have to put you in a cell next to him.”

“I wasn’t planning on going alone.”

“Did you think I would go with you?” Conner asked.

“He’s under arrest. Can’t you get a search warrant or something?”

“Not for animal abuse. The dog was found outside the home.”

“Oh. So we can’t get inside.”

“No, and I better not catch you trying to.”

“Okay.” She paused. “What will happen to him?”

“He’ll be arraigned and bail will be set.”

“Will he go to jail?”

“I doubt it. He’ll probably get probation and fines. Whatever the statutes allow. Or he could plead to a lesser charge.”

“That sucks.”

“Big ones.” Conner paused. “Like I said, don’t let me catch you near his home.”

I wouldn’t dream of it,
she thought. “I’m going to a club with Lisa. I won’t have time to snoop.”

“A club? Which one?” he asked.

“I have no idea. Lisa’s in charge of that.”

“Be careful. The beach is full of idiots this time of year.”

“We can take care of ourselves.”

“Yeah, but still, be careful. Don’t drink and drive. The patrols are out in force right now and you will get picked up.”

“I promise. Cross my heart.”

“Will you be in Largo tomorrow?” he asked.

“Why?”

“I’m off. I thought we could have lunch.”

She felt a tingle rise up in her stomach. “I can be there. What time?”

“Well, if you’re going out tonight, why don’t we make it for two.”

“Where should I meet you?”

“In the sheriff’s parking lot. Like before.”

“I’ll be there.”

She hung up and held the phone to her chest. She had to admit she liked him. She also had to admit that her aunt’s home was calling her name.

Mel called Vera and told her she wouldn’t be staying with her that night, and Vera sounded disappointed. Mel told her she would stop by for a visit before she left Florida and that seemed to appease Vera.

She left the bedroom and found Lisa sitting at the kitchen table fixing her makeup. She sat across from her and smiled.

“The guy who’s in my aunt’s home is in jail. The house is empty.”

Lisa looked over her handheld mirror. “You have that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“That ‘Let’s go see what’s in my aunt’s house,’ look.”

“It’s dark. We could look around without anybody bothering us.”

“And if the guy next door sees us and calls the cops?”

“The people around there go to bed early. We could park a block away and walk over. Come on, Lisa. Please go with me.”

“Do you still want to get something to eat?”

“Well, yeah.”

“So we’ll go to your aunt’s after we eat?”

“Yeah.”

Lisa put the mirror down. “Can we go to a club when we’re done snooping around?”

Mel smiled. “Absolutely.”

Chapter 16

Conner clocked out of work and headed home. He kept thinking about Mel. He was glad she’d agreed to have lunch with him. When he drove home, he passed Holiday Oaks and thought of driving in. He wanted to check out the house, too, but knew the consequences if he were caught. He didn’t want to screw up this investigation. If Jason Jr. had done something to Audrey Glenn, Conner wanted him to pay.

Conner lived in an apartment building a few miles from the sheriff’s office. His one-bedroom unit was on the second floor. He liked the quiet. No one walking over his head.

He changed out of his uniform and into a T-shirt and jeans. He opened his refrigerator door and looked inside. Nothing appealed to him. He thought about calling Mel to see if she and her friend were eating out. He could join them. But she had already agreed to see him the next day. Would she feel like he was stalking her if he called again?

He sat on his sofa and turned on the TV. He scrolled through the channels and found nothing of interest.

This is stupid
, he thought. He pulled out his phone and called Mel. It went to voicemail. Maybe she was in the shower, or maybe she just didn’t feel like talking to him again and ignored the call.

He looked at the time. It was six-thirty. Jason Jr. came into his mind. That home was just sitting there – empty. He could open the lock as he had with Jason Sr.’s place. The people there had seen him before. They knew he was a deputy. Technically, though, it would be breaking and entering.

Shit
, he thought, and grabbed his jacket off the kitchen chair. He made sure his apartment was locked before heading to his car.

They used Lisa’s car to drive to Largo. Mel didn’t want to use hers in case Conner drove through the park. Just thinking that made her feel guilty, but the need to know what was inside that house trumped her conscience.

“Where should I park?” Lisa asked.

They were two blocks from the home. “We can park in the parking lot by the pool. It’s just up ahead.”

Lisa pulled into a spot and they got out. She followed Mel to the pool area and past the clubhouse.

“It’s really dark here,” Lisa said.

“Just stay with me.”

They came up behind one row of houses and walked between two to the street. A dog barked. They crossed the street and went between two more homes before getting to the back of Audrey’s home. The Mercury was parked in the driveway.

“I think this is it,” Mel said. “We have to go to the front to be sure.”

Lisa was growing excited. “This is kind of fun.”

“As long as we don’t get caught.”

“So old people live here?”

“Some are old, some are just like your father.”

They walked past Audrey’s. The streetlight in front of the home shone on metal numbers 298.

“This is it,” Mel said.

“So how do we get in?”

Mel turned and went back up the driveway and stopped in a dark spot under the carport. “I’m not sure.”

“I thought you had a key.” Lisa said.

“Why would I have a key?”

“It’s your aunt’s house, right?”

“I don’t have a key.”

“So, what, you want to break in?”

“I was kind of hoping you’d know how.”

“Why would you think that?” Lisa said.

“Because you break into your father’s house all the time.”

“That’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“I’ve got a pick for that lock. That doesn’t mean it will work for just any door.”

“Can you try?”

“It’s too dark. If we shine a flashlight on it, we’ll be seen.”

“You’re gonna be seen anyway, ladies.” A light flashed onto their faces. Mel recognized Conner’s voice. “You just had to come here.”

He turned off the light and came over to them. Mel could see he was not in uniform.

“So did you,” she said.

“That’s different,” he said.

“How is that different? You’re not in uniform.”

“Yeah, but, well, it’s just different.”

“Who is this guy?” Lisa asked.

“He’s a cop investigating my aunt’s disappearance.”

“Unofficially,” Conner said.

“Yeah, unofficially,” Mel said.

“So, are you gonna arrest us?” Lisa asked.

“He’s not gonna arrest us,” Mel said. “Are you?”

“I could take you in for trespassing. But since I’m here
unofficially
, no, I’m not gonna arrest you.”

“Can you get inside?” Mel asked.

“I think so. Keep an eye out for me.”

He went to the side door and shined his light on it. He turned off the light and took his picks out of his pocket. He managed to get them inside the keyhole and felt for the tumbler. When he got the door opened, he smiled.

“If we go in, nobody touches anything or moves anything.”

Mel and Lisa nodded, but it was too dark to see.

“Did you hear me?” he asked.

“Yes, we won’t touch anything,” Mel said.

“Why don’t I stay out here?” Lisa said.

“You’ll be our lookout,” Mel said as she followed Conner inside.

Once inside, Conner turned on the flashlight. They walked across the kitchen floor to the living room.

“This is where I was the other day,” Mel said.

“Did you notice anything about the kitchen when we walked through it?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

He turned around and went back into the kitchen. The floor creaked and the wood gave a little as he walked over it.

“That doesn’t feel right,” he said.

He ran the flashlight around the floor. There was an area rug under his feet. He handed the flashlight to Mel, moved off the rug, and rolled it up. Someone had cut a piece of the vinyl flooring out, exposing a plywood floor underneath. The rectangular piece looked newer. It had an edge, indicating it was not part of the original floor.

“This part has been replaced,” Conner said. “It looks pretty new, too.”

“Why would he cut a hole in the kitchen floor?” Mel asked.

“Why would a dog try to dig around the edge of the home?”

“Oh, God,” Mel said. “He couldn’t have.”

Conner rolled the rug back in place. “Let’s go.”

She wanted to look in her aunt’s bedroom, but Conner was leaving. As he walked to the door, he brushed against the wall and Mel heard something fall to the floor. She picked it up. It was a key ring full of keys. She kept it and when she got outside, put it in her purse.

“What happened?” Lisa asked.

“That Jason guy cut a hole in the kitchen floor,” Mel said.

“Why would he do that?” Lisa asked.

“To hide something,” Mel said.

“But this thing,” Lisa waved at the home, “doesn’t sit on the ground.”

“He’d have to stand in the hole and dig so no one would see him,” Conner said.

“What was he trying to hide?” Lisa said. She sensed Mel was upset. “Oh.”

Mel was quiet. She could feel tears forming in her eyes and didn’t want to cry in front of Conner. She thought about Nana Grace. She didn’t want to have to tell her Audrey was gone.

“Let’s go,” she said and began to walk away. Conner went after her.

“We’re gonna find out what happened,” he said as he grabbed her arm. “I won’t let this go.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said, trying not to look at him.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Mel nodded and pulled her arm away. Lisa passed Conner and waved.

“Nice meeting you,” she said.

Conner put out his hand and touched her arm. “Keep an eye on her.”

“I will,” Lisa said.

“I mean it. Don’t let her come back here alone. She’s gonna get in trouble. We need to do this right so we can get this guy. She could screw up the investigation.”

“And here I thought you cared about her.”