EIGHTH INSTALLMENT OF ...THE LAKE...by b. Malin
END OF CHAPTER 3
The next day after Robert had left for work, Sarah decided to call up Mac, her boss at the Newspaper. "Hey Mac, it's Sarah I want to run something by you, see what you think? And so she filled him in on the the suicide of Danielle Jordan. Mac was silent for a moment, "So you think she was killed? Even though the case has been closed for almost two years and the police ruled it suicide... What have you got for proof, that it wasn't"? "I don't Mac, call it a gut feeling, but I'd like to interview some of the towns people that knew her...see if I can fill in some of the blanks...I just need your approval to write it as a human interest piece". "Sure, Sarah, why not but just be careful, because if it wasn't a suicide, and it was murder...that person isn't go to sit idly by while you hunt him down and have him put behind bars". They said their good by's with Sarah promising to fax a rough draft of her findings.
Sarah was on her way to the Wellington Inn, she had just finished her Yoga class when she saw a young man of medium build, with black wavy hair and almost black piercing eyes going into the Hardware store. Why does he look so familiar? Did she know him...but from where?Without thinking she decided to follow him. She quickly looked around the store, the place wasn't that big...oh where was he...ah, he was over near the hammer and nails. She approached him silently, pretending to be looking for something. He startled her when he spoke, "Can I help you miss...you look confused". "Oh, Sarah signed, I'm not very good at pretending...I followed you in here because you look like someone I might know...I think". She felt herself blushing and realizing how foolish she must sound. He smiled warmly as he said, "I guess I just have that kind of a face." "Yeah, maybe that's it" Sarah said smiling back. "Are you new here"? he said. "Kind of, she replied, we bought the Jordan house out at the lake". "Really, I helped build parts of it...yes, that deck was all my work" he said sounding proud. She could detect a slight accent. "Where are you from", I hear a slight a slight Spanish accent. "I am from Spain. I just got back from my country, my mother took ill, and I went home to take care of her... she has since died...and now I am back here once more." "I see"...Suddenly she felt excited, the reporter in her was starting to kick in. He must have know both the Jordans.
"I'm starting to interview people who came in contact with Mrs. Jordan, and certainly you must have...making that big deck and all...she rushed on...I'm just wondering what she was like, I know that she was a successful writer and new mother, but what kind of a person was she"? He smiled softly, and said, "so you think a carpenter like me would personally know such a woman"? He seemed amused. "Who else have you interviewed"? "No one really she sighed, "The truth of the matter is...she took a deep breath, I don't believe that Danielle, Mrs. Jordan committed suicide..."You don't"? he replied looking surprised. "Why that happens in my country all the time...let it go"...He now seemed to be waving her off. "I've got to go now...he was saying, I've got a job to do", he said as he started to walk to the front of the store where the cashier was. Sarah stood there watching him go, feeling like she'd made a fool of herself. Surely she was a better reported then what she just displayed.
"Hey, she called, as she rushed up to where he stood waiting on line. What time are you free this afternoon"? "I'm busy all this week and I'd really rather not be involved". he replied back. "I could keep it quiet, just between you and me...she felt he knew something. He looked silently at her, almost like he was studying her features. "Ok, he sighed...give me your phone number, I'll call you next week, but no one is to know...understood...I could loose my job here, and I can't afford that. Do you understand"? She nodded her head. Now if you'll excuse me, he said as the clerk handed him his change. "Here's my phone number" Sarah said as she handed him a small piece of paper. "Nice meeting you, hey what's your name? Mine's Sarah". "Mine's Jose" he said as he put her number in his shirt pocket and walked out the door. Well now I feel better, she thought to herself, like the good reporter that I am. She'd keep her promise not to tell anyone of their meeting including Robert...He'd kill her she laughed to herself if he found out what she was up to.
The sun was shinning brightly as she ran across to the Inn to pick out a delicious dinner to serve to Robert that night. Before entering the Inn, she felt the baby kick for the very first time and couldn't wait to share it with Robert, as she called him on his cell. He was delighted and hoped they were both staying out of trouble. "Of course we are darling...we're just out for a stroll downtown, and I'm about to pick up dinner". "Buy lamb chops honey, with those wonderful sweet potatoes and apple sauce and if they have brownies with that fudge sauce...hey I gotta go, I've got a client due in five minutes. Love ya," click and he was gone.
Sarah felt happy, oh so happy as she went into the Inn to place her order.
To be continued...
