New Developments

Harold and his sweetie had disappeared from  the area. No one seemd to know where. Or Noone was willing to say.

                                                                 Part 20

I was not in great need of money. My books had sold well, and I could easily go without income for a few years. My desire to write a new book was born of my need to be productive. As I looked at to date my two efforts at writing were feeble.  I could hear my father’s scolding lectures from the time I started school. “Talking about what you are going to do is a piss poor substitution for doing it.”

Sometimes doing things was also piss poor. Like the two books I started—neither going anywhere. If I had an iota of sense I would leave this – What did I call it yesterday when I was talking to Jake?  The asshole of the civil world. I could leave now that I was no longer a murder suspect. I think I could.

I called the police station. “Mike Marlings. Please”

“Who’s calling?”

“Conrad Murdock.”

“Just a minute. I’ll see if he’s available.”

Or is willing to talk to me, I thought and realized I was paranoid. I waited  and waited and waited. Just as I was about to hang up Mike Marling’s voice came on. “Connie, what’s up?”

“Wondering if it’s ok for me to on for me to leave?”

“For how long?”

“Forever.”  Silence.  I continued, “I thought you had eliminated me as a suspect.”

“That’s right. But I thought you had agreed to help solve this.” Silence. “You did agree, didn’t you?”

“I guess I did. But for the life of me I don’t know what more I can offer.”

“We have develpoments.”

“Developments. What developments?”

“Can you come by headquarters? I’ll fill you in.”

“On what?”

“On what’s new. This afternoon. Say around 2. Can you make it?”

At 2 I was settled in Mike’s office. At 2:05 he came in. “Mr, Marlings,” I said.

“Mike. Now Connie—I can call you Connie?” I nodded. “Well Connie, the developments. This is not for general knowledge yet. I’m sure you’ll be prudent. That includes Jen and Jake.” I nodded. “Well we have a second murder. Harold’s other woman.”

“Sweety Pie?”

“If you mean Callie Everson. Yes. Can’t say   I have heard her called that.”  He laughed. “Jen’s name for her. Right?” I nodded. “Sounds like Jen.”

“She said Harold and Sweety Pie had gone missing.”

“They had. Now only Harold’s missing. Callie’s been found. Dead. And not from natural causes.” He tapped his desk top with his pen. “Interesting.  Wouldn’t you say? Harold’s two women—both carrying his babies- are dead.” His lips spread; his eyes fastened on me. “Still want to leave?”