Chapter Two
Four cars formed a convoy back to the Michner residence; Brian’s, Andrea’s and the lieutenant’s with another police vehicle taking up the rear.
The short drive seemed to take forever. Andrea’s anticipation grew with each corner or street they passed. The solution to the puzzle of her friend’s whereabouts seemed far off. She wanted the Michners to greet them on their return to their home with a simple explanation for their absence. She wanted it so bad, she could almost taste it. No one noticed the mustang following a few car lengths behind.
Lieutenant Kurshner pulled his car into the Michner driveway, followed closely behind by a black and white police cruiser. Brian parked his car on the street just as Andrea pulled in on the opposite side. As the worried couple walked toward the house, the police officer driving the lieutenant’s squad car shut it off. The lieutenant walked beside Brian and Andrea up to the door of the still silent house. No one greeted them.
The lieutenant snapped on plastic gloves. He rang the doorbell. No answer. He gingerly placed his hand on the doorknob of the house, careful not to smudge a print if it existed on the knob. He told Andrea and Brian not to touch anything.
“We’ll need to take your fingerprints so we can eliminate them from any we might find inside.” He spoke as if the conversation had never been interrupted with the drive from the police station. He entered the unusually quiet home. He scanned the room and then turned to the uniformed cop just emerging from the second police car.
“Sergeant, radio for a forensics team. We’ll want them here asap.”
“You do think something bad happened.” Tears pooled again in Andrea’s eyes. Brian placed a comforting hand on her arm but she shrugged it off. She didn’t want to be comforted. I want Diane to come walking out of that kitchen. A silent tear slid down her cheek.
Brian, Andrea and Lieutenant Kurshner didn’t have long to wait. Within minutes, two more black and whites pulled up to the curb outside with a third car in between. Several officers and two suits walked into the house. One of the detectives carried a large bag which he deposited in the center of the living room carpet.
“Make sure you dust for prints each step of the way into the house.” The man shook hands with Lieutenant Kurshner while he barked orders to his team. “and take scrapings of all samples of blood droplets. Well Bryce, tell me what we have here.” He snapped on plastic gloves.
Blood, they found blood? Andrea felt sick. We should have called the police last night. She looked toward Brian. “I didn’t notice any blood, did you?” she whispered.
Brian spoke in equally hushed tones. “No but then I wouldn’t know what blood looks like.”
The Lieutenant walked with the detective through the house toward the kitchen. Andrea’s tears continued unchecked down her cheeks while Brian looked on with dazed confusion. This nightmare was real. She had a hard time realizing she wasn’t dreaming. She watched policemen spread a fine dust over furniture and then whisk it off to reveal prints that Diane would have scrubbed to erase had she been there. The lieutenant returned.
“Folks, this is Lieutenant Smithen. Rory, these are the people who reported the Michners missing. Brian Strait and Andrea Wilton. Close friends.”
Lieutenant Smithen reached toward them to shake hands. “Tell us what’s out of place.”
“There’s a lot of stuff that isn’t where it usually is. But we. . I mean…I didn’t move anything and I didn’t see Brian move anything.”
“I picked up one shoe…” Brian turned to the lieutenant. “…one shoe in the corner of the living room and that was just before we left. I didn’t think anything of it. Just a shoe.” He squared his shoulders and turned his back to Andrea.
“Show me but don’t touch anything.” The lieutenant waved his hand for Brian to precede him toward the front window. Andrea followed.
One of the policemen picked up the shoe gingerly, careful not to smudge any prints. As he turned it over, a small round pebble fell out and rolled across the floor. “Was this in the shoe when you picked it up earlier?”
“I didn’t turn the shoe over so it could have been…I don’t know. Could this mean something?”
“Well, it could mean something or it might mean nothing. We’ll know more when the lab is finished here.”
Lieutenant Smithen picked the stone up at the same time as he pulled a plastic bag from the pocket of his sports jacket. He placed the pebble into the bag and sealed it. Then he tucked it back into his pocket. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Andrea and Brian led the way. As they approached the first bedroom, they gasped. Clothes were scattered everywhere. Nothing hung in the closet and the dresser drawer was open and empty.
Both police lieutenants, along with members of the forensics team, scrutinized each of the bedrooms. They dusted for prints, and picked up anything that looked as if it did not belong. They took pictures of each room.
Andrea took a quick look around the upstairs before returning to the first floor. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped from her body and replaced upside down. She moved quietly, with sad, doe-like eyes into the kitchen. Plates, pots, and a table set for a family dinner greeted her just as before. An officer motioned for her to join him and he quickly explained the procedure for fingerprinting. Andrea reluctantly extended her right hand and the process began. An involuntary shiver walked quickly up her spine, tickling her back bone. This new experience she’d rather not have.
Ten minutes later she re-entered the small blue and white checked bedroom on the second floor, wiping the ink off her hands. “Your turn Brian.”
Brian nodded in acknowledgement. “Lieutenant, how long will this take?”
“Since you are both here anyway, why don’t you walk me through the rest of the house and point out any discrepancies. Then the two of you can leave for home after you get the prints done. We won’t know anything until after the lab comes back with their report, and that could take a couple of days.”
“That long?” Andrea placed her right hand on her hip punctuating her impatience. “The Michners could be anywhere by then. Can’t you hurry the process?”
“Procedure.” The lieutenant moved down the hall toward the stairs. Andrea followed, waiting for a clearer explanation. “We need to be thorough and that always takes time.”
The trio descended the staircase followed by Lieutenant Kurshner. “We’ll place phone calls to the hospital…
“We’ve already done that.” Brian was firm in his response clearly siding with Andrea about speed.
The lieutenant continued impatiently. “… the airport, and all other means of leaving this town. After we get their plate numbers from the data base, we’ll put out an APB on their car. That can be done while we’re waiting. Now walk me through and then get out of here. Leave the police work to us.”
After they had pointed out anything they thought important for the lieutenant to know, Andrea followed Brian into the kitchen. She watched as his fingers were inked one at a time just as hers had been. Just a few hours ago, we were planning on having a conversation with them, and now here we are getting fingerprinted. Andrea sighed She watched Brian walk from one appliance to another wiping the ink from his fingers. His hand moved to touch first this one and then that, but he pulled back each time. He did not appear any happier than she. The duo moved down the front hall to the door leading outside.
“Andrea, I know we don’t know each other really well but we need to work together, try to trust each other.”
“You’re right, I don’t know you. B-b-but I guess you’re also correct in that we’ve got to stick together. All right, truce.” She held out her hand for a handshake and Brian grabbed hers in a tight grip. “Besides, I never heard Diane say anything but nice things about you.”
“Same here. Trent valued your friendship. Call me, if you need anything, ok?”
“Uh – sure. Sure, I’ll call. Lieutenant, will you call us if you find out anything? By the w
ay, which one of you will call?” Andrea and Brian were just about to reach for the doorknob when a plastic gloved officer opened it for them.
“I will.” Lieutenant Smithen looked in their direction. “This is my case now.”
“We’ll be in touch.” Brian and Andrea gave a half-hearted wave as they walked through the open door. They paused, with shoulders slumped, on the front porch and then walked down the drive towards their cars.
•
Smithen watched the two worried people through the front window. He wondered how they were involved, if they were. He also wondered what they hadn’t told him. They gave all the appearance of genuine concern, almost fear. And yet they were adamant when they said the Michners had no enemies. Someone didn’t like them. The blood told that version very clearly.
As his detective sense worked in overdrive, he also noticed a black car parked across the street about half a block away. He could see two men sitting in the front seat. They watched the house as if they had a personal interest in the goings-on.
“Sergeant, go out the back door. See that car just down the street? See if you can get a plate number.” The sergeant walked to the back door.
•
Knuckles whitened as his hands gripped the steering wheel. Jason smoldered with rage. So she wouldn’t go out with me but she has time for this shmoe! Well I’ll show them. He ignored the restraining hand and the tone of displeasure from his partner. With the car still in park, he revved the motor. His thoughts of failure consumed him. A rage in his head drowned out all sound. Women threw themselves at him. But not this one. SHE refused to go out with ME. His false sense of self left a bruised ego in its place. I’m usually the one who ignores them.
Weeks of work had gone into developing a relationship with this woman. His partner grabbed his arm again but Jason shook it loose, intent on the task at hand. His rage burned. It’s not supposed to be like this. I seem to have no control over this broad. I thought I had succeeded is getting her to like me. He floored the gas pedal as he shifted into drive. I’ll show them.
•
Andrea shrieked, “Brian, watch out!” The car picked up speed. Brian watched, mesmerized, as the vehicle headed straight for him. Halfway across the street, headed toward his own car, he darted for cover. The offending car’s right fender breezed past his leg missing him by a fraction of an inch.
“Hey.” He shook his fist at the careless driver. The thought of ‘what next’ crossed his mind as he watched the car disappear around the next corner. He dusted off his pants. Andrea ran to his side.
I’m fine, no thanks to that idiot.” He saw her look of panic disappear.
“I thought that guy would hit you for sure. Some people just don’t know how to drive. Boy, what next? Are you sure you’re ok?”
“Sure. I’m fine. But I won’t be if I don’t get some rest tonight. I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted. See ya later.” He waved his hand, smiled, and proceeded to get into his car. She did the same. As she placed her car in gear for the trek home, she thought about the quiet life she used to lead before yesterday. Wondering what to make for dinner was all I used to worry about. Now, the Michners are gone without a trace and Brian could have been hit by that car.
•
The lieutenant, unable to get a license number, wrote down a description of the car. Something about the way that car drove seemed deliberate. His long years on the force had his instincts in overdrive as he returned to the task of searching for clues. That car may be connected to this case. But how?
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