Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished (26 page)

“
I’m sorry Sheriff Foster,
but I can unfortunately not recall much about that day.” Len said
lifting a wrench and fiddled in the engine again.

“
If you could please just
spare us a moment of you time.”

Len stood up and placed the wrench on
the radiator. He grabbed a cloth out of his pants pocket and wiped
his hands.

“
I hope this won’t take
too long, I‘d like this car on the road before I go to work
tomorrow. I don’t have the privilege of gallivanting around for
days without worrying about work.”

“
It won’t take too long.
The day of your arrest you told me that I didn’t deserve to be
sheriff and that I had run Martin out of town after messing around
with his wife. Do you remember that?”

“
I don’t remember telling
you that, but I do remember hearing something like that almost
three month before that. Long before Martin left town, although I’m
sure you had something to do with that.” Len admitted.

“
Where did you hear
it?”

“
Some time ago I was in
the bar when Sheriff Parker came in. He was upset about something
he heard.”

“
Did he talk to you about
it?”

“
A few days earlier some
of the men in the bar were talking about you and Janet having a
long time affaire and that Christopher was your son.”

“
What did Martin
say?”

“
He didn’t believe it at
first but the night I’d seen him he had a chain that he found in
your house.”

“
What chain?” Andrew asked
shocked.

“
Some piece of jewelry
that he bought for Janet some time earlier.” Len
assured.

“
But it still doesn’t make
sense.” Andrew looked at Davis that was only standing one side
saying nothing.

“
After he found the chain
he started to believe the stories I think.”

“
How was his mood when he
left?”

“
He was ranting and raving
the whole night. Shouting and being loud, cursing at everyone and
picking fights. Naturally no one would fight him of course. They
just stayed out of his way as much as they could. It was in the
early hours of the morning when he left. By the time he left he had
way too much to drink. How he got home I wouldn’t know, but
apparently he got home and it was that same night Janet fled with
your whelp.” Len said and took oil from the shelf against the
wall.

“
Did you know Martin’s
back?”

“
I heard you arrested him
for the murder of his wife and that kid.”

“
Yes.”

“
Well if you ask me, I
don’t think he would’ve done it if you didn’t mess around with his
wife.” Len was cold and angry.

“
I didn’t have an affair
with Janet, neither is Christopher my son. DNA tests proved that.
Maybe you should find something else to gossip about when you’re
drunk. If you ask me it’s your gossip that has killed Janet and
Christopher.”

“
Well whatever, I’ve got
work to do.” Len said picking up the wrench.

“
Thank you for your
time.”

Andrew left the garage and instantly
the rain soaked him. The sky was darkening early than he had
expected. The wind’s brisk and cold. He walked fast to his vehicle
and drove back towards the office while Davis followed.

Soon the divers would be here then he
could start searching for Janet and Christopher’s’ bodies. He
started to doubt that any of the residence would help him taking in
consideration the rain, wind and cold. The last time he had dragged
them out in this conditions they came up empty-handed and with two
injuries, one that resulted in a death.

Andrew headed down the main road and
stopped at a diner. It would be wise to eat first, considering that
he had nothing to eat the whole day. Davis parked next to him and
took up the opportunity himself.

*~*~*

*VIII*

As twice before, Janet appeared in the
upstairs passage of Helen’s house. Christopher was walking behind
her quietly, his head hung and he wept softly. Janet issued a
spine-chilling mourning scream that sent Helen to her feet in the
living room. Christopher stopped weeping and looked up excitedly.
He darted down the passage and into his old room. He stopped and
looked around. He walked to the toy box and flung the top off.
Silently he started to play.

Janet walked into her old room and sat
on the bed. She kept looking towards the door and then to the
bathroom door still half opened. She stood up, pacing the room and
walked out towards Christopher’s old room. She glanced down the
stairs as she passed it. She looked straight at Helen who had now
moves to investigate the chilling scream she had heard moments ago.
She moved slowly towards Christopher and stopped at the
doorpost.

Christopher called out and stood up.
He dropped the toys he was playing with and walked past his mother
into the passage and ran into the bathroom. He stood a moment and
turned back towards his mother weeping softly. He called out loudly
again. He was looking for someone, but he couldn’t understand why
she was gone. He stood beside his mother for comfort.

Helen walked up the stairs slowly, she
expected Janet to run down the stairs and knock her down. She
stopped midway and looked up at Janet standing at the top of the
stairs.

Janet issued a moaning, humming sound
and looked down at Helen.

“
Where is he, find him and
make him pay.” She sang in a ghastly whisper.

“
We did find him. He’ll
pay dearly for what he has done.” Helen insured.

“
Find us. Find us
soon.”

“
We’ll find you soon. I
assure you that.”

Janet turned and walked back the way
she came, Christopher wept behind her as they left and disappeared
at the end of the passage.

*~*~*

Chapter Eight

*I*

Arriving at the office Andrew walked
down the passage to the holding cells. He met with Mel who’s in
charge of the cells. Andrew had shed his wet jacket but his shoes
still squeaked as he walked over the tiles in the passage leading
to the cells. His mind’s focused on the events to follow. With only
a hand full of people to help him, he wasn’t sure how the night
would end. He was walking deep in thought and didn’t see water
droplets on the floor. He slipped, and grabbed for the nearest wall
and paused, waiting to regain his balance. He turned to see what
he’d slipped on.

It was dry. Nothing appeared out of
place.

He didn’t think much of the slip. Only
shook his head and headed through the door to the cells. The
officer accompanied him down a long passage that houses a few cells
on either side.

“
Good evening Mel it’s
nice and cool tonight.”

“
Good evening Sheriff. Yes
it is. Do you want to take Martin out now?”

“
Yes. It‘s time for him to
go down to the lake. Is he ready?”

“
Well I’m not so
sure.”

“
What do you mean? It’s
not a difficult question.” Andrew said started towards Martin’s
cell.

“
No it’s not that
sheriff.” Mel said scratching his head.

“
Come on spit it out.
What’s the problem?”

Mel seemed unusually nervous. He was
tall and skinny, in his late thirties and clean shaven. He had dark
hair and overgrown eyebrows that made him look harder then he
really was. He was a soft spoken kind of guy with little dimples on
each cheek. Tall, dark and handsome, his uniform fitted perfectly
and he always looked too neat and tidy.

“
I took a walk, when I got
back Martin was laying on the ground. I first thought it might’ve
been withdraw symptoms for the alcohol abuse. But since I woke him
up he‘s been rocking and mumbling weird kind of stuff that sends
shivers down my spine.” Mel started slowly down the passage towards
Martin’s cell with Andrew close behind.

Andrew stopped in front of the cell
and looked hard at Martin who didn’t even notice him standing at
the bars. Martin was pacing up and down in the cell mumbling
something that sounds like gibberish. He seemed out of place and
confused like a wild animal trapped in a cage. He was looking,
waiting for a way out.

“
What do you make of
this?” Mel asked.

“
Maybe some sort of break
down.” Andrew said stepping in closer. “Martin.” He
called.

Martin didn’t respond.

“
Martin!” Andrew called
louder.

Martin looked at him coldly and hard,
he was looking right through him. He grunted and started to pace
again. Andrew wondered if it’s wise to open the cell releasing
something he might not be able to control. Should he get Doctor
Scotts out here to check on Martin first?

“
Do you think this is a
trick?” Andrew asked turning to Mel.

“
Do you think you should
take him out?” Mel asked concerned for Martin’s state of
mind.

“
He’s declared fit, but I
think this is just a small set back.”

“
What do we
do?”

“
Get him out this thing’s
dragging for too long. It’s now or never. Maybe he’s trying to
block us from taking him to the lake. I think you’re up for
baby-sitting duty, Brat Russell can help you, and he was kind
enough to offer his help tonight. Before we leave, there’s a stun
gun in my office just in case. You can get it on the way out. It
doesn’t look like you have anything better to do, do
you?”

“
Sure.” Mel
said.

Mel stepped in against the bar and
produced a ring of keys from his belt. He unlocked the cell and
stepped in. He walked up to Martin and took him by the arm. Martin
snapped out of his trance with a jolt. He looked up at Mel and
smiled. It’s more of a cold heartless smile like someone that was
about to pull out a can of whip ass.

“
You’re not going to give
us a hard time now are you Martin?”

“
No.” Martin said between
mumbles.

Mel placed the handcuffs on his wrists
and cuffs his hands behind his back just for in case. Martin was
cooperating. In the back of Mel’s mind he knew Martin was planning
on pulling something out of his sleeve. He might even try to make a
run for freedom. Something he wouldn’t let happen.

“
Are you ready to show us
where you dumped Janet and Christopher?” Andrew asked.

“
They’re in the lake, near
the rock face.” Martin said and exited his cell with Mel holding
firmly onto his arm.

They left the cell door open and
walked down the passage. Andrew walked behind Mel and Martin. He
stopped off at the counter and ran to his office and collected a
thicker jacket and three raincoats from the storeroom. Andrew also
grabbed the stung gun. He realized that if Mel had gone for it, it
might take longer for him to search. Mel was bigger than Martin and
the chances that he would pick a fight with Mel were smaller. They
left the office and walked into a lighter rain than when Andrew
arrived. He dressed quickly and handed the other raincoats to Mel
and Martin. Mel dressed into his and just hung Martin’s over his
shoulders.

“
Let’s get this over with there’s a storm coming.” Andrew
said walking out to his vehicle.

*~*~*

*II*

According to prior arrangement Andrew
arrived at Helen’s house and the nearest access point to the rock
face. Andrew met a larger group than he had expected. Six small
moored rowboats were at Helen’s private pier. Amazed Andrew found
the diving team did arrived and was already in the water. Mr. Craft
and Tom were already in a rowboat off the pier directly above the
position of the searching divers. They were slowly making their way
towards the rock face. Tom and Mr. Craft stayed close by and kept a
watchful eye out for Janet or anything that might complicate the
search.

Andrew placed the volunteers in the
rest of the boats. Andrew, Mel, Brat and Martin drove by vehicle to
as close to the top of the rock face as possible. Walking the rest
of the way Andrew and Brat led the way. Martin and Mel were close
behind. Fighting through dense bushes and a curtain of rain Andrew
kept looking back to see which way Martin was pointing. Following
their flashlight they reach the rock face where Martin pointed to
an area just to the side of the rock face.

The area Martin pointed to was very
overgrown and hard to walk through. It led to a high drop to the
water below. Andrew anchored him rope and inched forward until he
got through the bushes and looked over the edge to the water far
below. The wind was ripping through his ears and the rain almost
blinded him. He could barely make out the boat far below and shone
his spotlight down towards the water. He found a space where he
could stand comfortable without the aid of the rope holding him up.
Brat Russell followed the rope to where Andrew stood guiding the
volunteers and Tom to the most likely place where the bodies might
be. Brat anchored himself with his own rope to prevent him from
slipping on the wet and slippery traitorous rocks under foot. He
stood next to Andrew and shone with another spotlight into the
murky water far below.