I'm sitting here watching the grass get greener by the second. Now you know what I do for excitement and that Spring is trying so very hard to push into the Bluegrass... can't wait to see new born colts running and playing over the hills!

Chapter Four
~~~~~~~~

The puddle jumper jumped one last puddle and landed with Sue holding her eyes tightly shut. Flying in a large jet was one thing, but that bore little resemblance to the past hour and a half of being buffeted by winds that would have gone practically unnoticed in a larger craft. And when they weren’t being pushed around by mother nature, Bobby’s knees were making permanent impressions in her back. She knew he couldn’t help it, so she didn’t complain, but by the time the tiny plane puttered to a stop her lower back muscles were crying out for relief.

She stood and stretched as best she could given the limited space in the tiny cabin; laughing at Bobby who was nearly bent double as he made his way past her. He descended the wobbly stairs and held out a hand to help her down.

Feeling the stinging rain against her cheeks, pushed by a brisk and equally stinging wind, Sue wondered that they’d been allowed in the air at all. Vaguely aware of the conversation Jack had conducted with the pilot prior to their flight, she’d simply decided to ignore it and leave their fate in God’s hands. D, and more importantly the victims, needed them here as soon as possible, and that was all she really had to know. Grabbing the handle of her suitcase that the pilot sat next to her on the tarmac, she waved away Jack’s offer of assistance with a smile. “I’ve got it this time.”

He’d picked her up at four thirty that morning and stood rubbing his eyes in the middle of the living room while he waited for her to gather a few last minute items. Even she wasn’t a morning person at four thirty and she knew he had to be suffering, so she offered to make some coffee to keep them awake during the ride to the airport.

“That’s OK, the coffee shop was my first stop; there’s a cup waiting for you in the car.”

His thoughtfulness had continued as they arrived at the airport and settled into the miniscule plane for the short trip, first taking charge of her suitcase - they’d only been allowed one apiece - and stowing it in the small compartment, then keeping up a running dialogue to calm the jitters that had laid claim to her upon seeing the size of the plane. His attentiveness served to make her feel even more guilty than she already did for dodging his question the night before.

It was a simple question - why hadn’t they stopped for dinner after work in so long? On the surface it was simple; but the churning it produced in her stomach said otherwise. She couldn’t answer him, because she didn’t know how. The last five months had held any number of opportunities for him to step across the line they’d drawn for themselves, but he never offered more than looks that lasted too long or a hug when the day had gone all wrong. Telling herself that it didn’t have to be Jack’s responsibility to make the first move, she had tried a couple of times to engineer opportunities to say something… do something. But her plans had met with an interruption on one attempt and downright disaster on the other. She’d waited for him one winter afternoon; sitting in her car with the heat blasting on high to keep her toes from freezing, watching until he came out of the elevator. Climbing out of her car, she was just about to call out to him when he looked up and suddenly took off running. She’d turned just in time to see her car rolling forward - straight for the concrete pillar across the way. In the frenzied aftermath, she gave up on asking him out to dinner and chalked up her inability to broach the subject of “them” to the very real possibility that it simple wasn’t meant to be.

Eventually, she found herself pulling away from him in favor of spending time by herself, or with Luce and other friends; finding it hurt too much to constantly be in his company and not be able to show her feelings. Lucy had noticed too, and had made a couple of ‘casual’ comments about how Jack was never around much anymore, but she had ignored them as best she could and concentrated on work, or church, or the Little Bookworm’s Club… anything but Jack.

But now, here she was in his company 24/7 for at least a few days. She could only hope Bobby and Tara would be sticking close and allow her time to figure out what was going on in her head… and her heart.

She smiled as she tightened her grasp on the luggage handle and fell into step beside him as they both hurried toward the warmth of the large black SUV waiting near the small metal airplane hanger that apparently also served as office, terminal, garage, and waiting area for the rural airport, seeing as how it was the only building around.

As they approached, a man climbed out and nodded in greeting. “Agent Hudson?” He gripped Jack’s hand when he nodded in the affirmative. “ I’m Agent Wilham, call me Josh. Good to meet you. And you must be Agent Manning?”

Bobby stepped forward and engulfed the smaller man’s hand in his. “Bobby. And this is Agent Williams and Special Investigative Analyst Thomas.“ He waited until Wilham greeted the two women and then got down to business. “Dimitrious Gans has been in contact?”

“Just got off the phone with him as you landed, and I talked to him last evening as well. He’s anxious to get down here himself.”

Jack joined in. “Yeah, he had a bureau obligation to take care of, but he’ll be flying in tonight. We don’t want to wait, though; mind if we go back to your office? We can make sure we’re up to date with all your information and get your advice on search parameters. D… Agent Gans… wants us out there as soon as possible.”

“Absolutely. Let’s get your luggage loaded and we’ll move out.”



Bobby and Tara were to work their way to the south, while Jack and Sue headed west. Working the area in ten mile grids, they would be coordinating with three other teams brought in specifically for this case, and would systematically interview the owners or operators of every gas station, convenience store, motel, and fast food place in the grid. So far, every sighting had been in such an establishment, and they promised to be their best bet for tracking their quarry. There were scores of tiny back roads crisscrossing the Kentucky hillsides, but they would be sticking to the main roads until there was another sighting or they hit pay dirt and someone they questioned had seen the duo. They were all praying there would be another sighting soon; there were five missing girls that they might still be able to help, and if the sighting yesterday was correct, it was very likely that there was now a sixth. Tara hadn’t had time to run a search for a missing persons report filed that matched her description in the area where she was seen with the suspects, but that would be rectified now that they were on the ground. When they first became involved, the general consensus had been that the girls were abducted and most likely used as “personal entertainment” for the suspects… and that might still be true… but the fact that they’d seen money, and large sums of it, change hands made them think the girls had been sold.

Sue silently glanced toward the empty back seat of the SUV and wished for Levi. The plane had been too small for her to bring him, so he was keeping Lucy company back at the apartment. She understood, but it made a difference being without him and she promised herself to spoil him a little when she returned home. He might not know why he was being pampered, but it would make her feel better.

“Lost without your leash?” Jack was watching when she turned his way.

“A little. But I’ll get used to it.”

“Would it help if I drool every once in a while?”

She snorted. “No, really, it’s OK. Don’t put yourself out for me!”

Chuckling, he put the vehicle in gear and eased down the gravel drive, following Bobby and Tara in their matching SUV. They turned opposite directions out of the drive and Jack honked a ‘see you later’ send-off as he accelerated away.

“Do you think we‘re doing the right thing? Splitting up like this?” Sue looked over her shoulder at the gleaming black Suburban growing smaller in the distance and felt an immediate loss.

He nodded slowly. “We can cover more ground this way. Don’t worry, we’ll be in constant contact with them.

“I know.”

Jack reached over, settling his hand on her forearm. “Bobby and Tara will be fine, just focus on us… I mean… what we have to do.” He finished with a quick glance to see her reaction to his words - but she turned away to look out the window- and then shifted back to the road.



“Officials are warning the public not to try to apprehend the suspects on their own, but to call the number on your screen with any information. The two men are to be considered armed and dangerous. You can call the tip line anonymously, law officials are simply interested in your information, not your identity….”

The correspondent continued with her report, but Chet’s mind was whirling and the rest was lost in the buzz of confusion. There had to be thousands of black trucks matching that description in these hills, surely this wasn’t the same one? Surely it wasn’t the same two men. And surely Kristie wasn’t with them…

My stomach is doing flip-flop just from the plane trip


I'm glad they're working the case separately, that give Jack and Sue more time alone if you know what I mean


Grass? Green grass? What's that????

Ohh... Tina I don't know what to say, only Keep going!!! this is excellent!

Tere

Why couldn't this just be so much easier for Jack and Sue? I swear, just lock them in a closet and see what develops!!!

Be careful guys...please...be very careful...

I'm with Marlo...what the heck is green grass???
Josy

Now that is a possibility that never entered my mind. If that's the case, at least the girls aren't dead...but who could they be selling them to? ***shuddering*** The guys better stick close to Tara and Sue!
And poor Chet....seeing that news clip...he's got to be feeling really bad right about now! This sure sounds like one of those quips that just sort of sneaks out of your mouth without your mind realizing it...you know....that reveals your true feelings? And poor Jack, he doesn't even know what he's done to elicit that kind of response. Goodness, since he chuckled, I don't even think he picked up on that hidden undertone!

Lynn

Our grass is getting green, too, and trees are budding and blooming. Kind of strange after having ice storms a couple of weeks ago!!

I'm ready for Sue to let something slip that Jack will actually PICK UP ON!! Guys can be such . . . GUYS sometimes, can't they?

Enjoying the story tremendously!! Looking forward to much more - especially the parts in the car, alone, on country roads, with Jack and Sue . . .

Don't you just love Freudian slips? I think if we pay attention to the things people correct in their speech we could do so much with that. Imagine if Jack had inquired more about the comment about Jack's eyes back on the show. We would have probably had a whole differents Endings and Beginnings!

Paula

I'm really feeling bad for Sue right now. First the airplane and now the emotional roller coaster ride with clueless. OK the cutest hunk of clueless ever but still clueless. For now! I'm depending on you Tina to give him a wake up call. Of course with this scary case I should be careful what I ask for.

I have to say the image of Sue getting Jack's attention and him running when it was because of her car rolling, had me rolling. Poor Sue.

Chet seems like a nice guy. I loved the old girlfriend remark. Kristie you must be PMS'ing or something. Stay safe. Somebody find this poor girl.

Oh shucks!!!! This can't be good news. The same two men, the same vehicle, and Kristie, can't be, can it???

Tina, you sure know how to give us suspense, the hint of a glimmer of hope, a road trip and all our fav couples trying to solve a mystery.

"She snorted. “No, really, it’s OK. Don’t put yourself out for me!”

I think Sue knew exactly what she was saying -- geez Jack, wake up and smell the coffee!

Donna

Poor Sue ... Trying so hard not to love Jack, when we all know that's impossible

Em

Chapter Five
~~~~~~~~

Sue pulled the ladies bathroom door shut and headed for the front of the building, swinging the key on it’s large ring on her middle finger as she walked. Jack was leaning his hip against the SUV, his eyes on the quickly moving numbers of the gas pump. From the look on his face, he was having a difficult time accepting how much it would cost to fill the tank of the large vehicle. He’d already complained about how much gas the goliath was guzzling; now he’d really have something to rant about.

Pushing open the heavy glass and metal door, Sue first handed the key back to the young woman behind the counter and then headed to grab a couple of bags of popcorn and bottled lemonade. Not her first choice for a snack, but the selection was limited to say the least. She paid and turned to find Jack standing behind her.

“I think your supposed to have a moon pie and an RC cola in these parts. They’re going to have you pegged as a tourist in no time if you insist on eating that.”

“I am a tourist. Well, not exactly, but I’m not a local.”

“Moon pies are nasty anyway.” The cashier interjected her opinion and nervously eyed Jack. Sue missed her words, but followed Jack’s gaze as he looked in surprise toward the teenager.

“I’m sorry?”

“Moon Pies; they’re disgusting. Every body from out of state that passes through here wants to try them, but they’re sort of an acquired taste. Stick with the popcorn, it’s better for you anyway.”

“Thanks, I think I will.”

Jack paid for the gas, wincing as he signed the credit card slip. They’d better find these guys fast or the bureau’s gas bill alone would make headlines. As he pushed his wallet back into his pocket, his phone rang and he answered as he walked back into the early spring sunshine. “Hudson.”

“Jack, it’s D. Wilham just called, they’ve had a sighting just to the south of you.”



Finally the rain ended. The sun popped out and the heavy black clouds that had filled the skies for nearly three days moved on; replaced by fluffy white. Chet stood outside a bar and grill just a half a block up the street from the convenience store, absently listening to tires splashing through the water filling the pot holes laying in wait for unsuspecting motorists. His brain buzzed; trying to reason through the information he‘d just seen and getting nowhere in his head. He kept trying to tell himself that he was being paranoid… that couldn’t be the same truck; things like this happened to someone else, but something deep inside him was arguing back.

He pushed away from the wall and looked around him, seeing his surroundings clearly for the first time. The grill was a mom and pop affair; offering the usual array of greasy spoon menu items. When did he eat last? He pulled back the sleeve of his jacket and checked his watch… eleven forty-five. Five hours had passed since he’d gratefully accepted a couple of doughnuts from the YMCA building manager where he’d spent the night. He peered through the window of the restaurant, supposing the lunch crowd would be filtering in soon; he might as well beat them to the punch. Maybe he‘d think better on a full stomach.

A bell jangled over his head, announcing his entrance to the waitress straightening a stack of menus and sliding them into a wooden bin mounted to the wall next to the door. “Hey sweet cheeks. Joining us for lunch?”

“Umm, yeah, but I’ll just sit at the counter.”

“Can I see your ID?”

He pulled out his warn billfold and flipped it open, holding it still while the brunette eyed his photo and the information printed next to it.

“Yep, looks like you’re legal. Grab a seat and Dave’ll be with you in a sec.”

Chet nodded his thanks and shuffled toward the counter covered in mint green laminate and trimmed in chrome. The stools were round, with matching green vinyl and chrome trim. The place might serve alcohol now, but it’s original purpose was decidedly less potent, unless you were talking calories. The fifties were alive and well here and he half expected to see Beaver and Wally come strolling in for a malted any minute. He slid onto a stool, flattened out the laminated menu in front of him and scanned it for something cheap but filling, but his eyes were still seeing the image of that black truck on the TV screen.

Hunched over as he was, he didn’t know who the hand belonged to that clamped onto his shoulder.

“Try the cheeseburger. It’s only two forty-nine and it’s pretty big. Good too.”

“Newman!” To have only met the man that morning, Chet was extremely glad to see his friendly face. “ I thought you were heading home.”

“Oh I am, but I had an errand or two. And I’m a lousy cook, so I make it a point to visit Camille for lunch every day.” He gestured toward the waitress. “She’s spoils me, saves my table for me and won’t let anyone else sit there. Care to join me?”

“Ahhh…”

“Oh come on. You don’t want to sit here all by yourself. Where’s the fun in that? Come on.”

Newman caught Camille’s eye and signaled that he’d be having company at his table for lunch. She smiled and came over as they scooted their chairs up close.

“I see you’ve met our most famous citizen.”

“Famous?” Chet looked to Newman for an explanation, who rolled his eyes and waved his hand in front of his face.

“Pay her no attention. She’s high on onion fumes.”

“I’m no such thing. Tell him.”

“No... it’s embarrassing.”

“Tell me what?” Chet could almost forget his troubles… almost…listening to them.

“Newman here‘s a famous songwriter.”

“One song Camille. I‘ve sold one song twenty years ago, out of a zillion I’ve wrote over the years.”

“That’s cool. You didn’t tell me you wrote songs.”

“Well, we only rode together for an hour or two, kinda hard to work in everything you’ve done in eighty-two years in that amount of time.”

“Newman! You been picking up hitchhikers again? No offence kid.”

Chet shook his head. He didn’t think of himself as a hitchhiker, even though he’d been doing exactly that. He’d never even considered hitching a ride in the past, but Kristie’s disappearance had pushed his hesitation about such things aside.

“So, how ‘bout it? Feel like a cheeseburger?”

I think I'm confused.. but that's okay... must be the onion fume

Is Newman a good guy or not?

Ok, so this Newman write songs...interesting

Tere

I think my dad's the only person I know that truly likes Moon Pies with RC cola . . . no tourist, he.

I can't wait to hear Newman's story. I'm glad Chet caught up with him . . . I think they'll make a good pair. I'm still working on the assumption that they're both good guys, since the "preacher" is mentioned in the song.

Now, about this seeming rift between Jack and Sue . . . don't YOU start holding us hostage, Tina!!

More, please?

Well I never heard of moon pies but I did drink RC Cola.

Now I'm tired tonight and I can't seem to wrap my mind around this. Why did he have to show his ID? That isn't something they would ordinarily do in a little berg.

At first I thought you had written the songwriter of your song into the story, Tina; but, I googled it and it was written by Eddie Rabbit, so I guess not.

Lynn

I'll skip the moon pie (although, I use to be able to get coconut ones at a local grocery store. Now that was a treat!) But I sure could go for an ice cold R.C. Cola...You know the kind, iced down in a aluminum washtub all day long (That's the way they use to serve them at the closing session cook-out for Vacation Bible School when I was growing up.)

Kim

It sounds like Newman might be Chet's guardian angel. I'm thinking and hoping they're both good guys too.

You eat moon pies gee, and here I always thought that was another name for cow puckies.

I just love the education I'm getting reading these stories.

I'm with Anne. It sounds to me like this Newman guy is looking after Chet. And at least he has someone to watch his back if he is, because not only is Chet out on his own, but he seems young to be traveling cross country.

There was an old song back in the 1950's called "Give Me An RC Cola And A Moon Pie" by Big Bill Lister. BTW, moon pies are yukky, but an ice-cold RC Cola is hard to beat!

I must have short term memory loss -- I forgot who Newman is. I'd better go back and re-read. What's with showing the ID? Hmmmmmmm . . .

Donna

Can I say I am confused...probably my migraine confused all things up!

Euh...what is a moon pie???? Please, we don't throw tomatoes!!!!
Josy

Anyone else picturing Newman from Seinfeld? I can't help it

Em

Sorry about your migraine, but if you look on www.moonpie.com, you can read up on the history of Moon Pies! Really! It's the official website!

I also read that similar treats are named "Scooter Pie" in Northern Regions, "Whoopie Pie" in New England, Wagon Wheels in UK, Australia, and Canada, Mamut in Mexico, and can be compared to Mallomars. This information courtesy of Wikipedia (in other words, take it or leave it, but it's interesting!)

Sometimes it's nice to be a librarian . . .

(Do you think we're digressing from the story just a tad? Sorry, Tina!)

I can't stop laughing. I hope I don't offend any moonpie lovers.

1) Has it's own official wedbsite

2) "Scooter Pie" this means I did eat moon pies, and I liked them and to think what I thought that meant.

3) Regina, thank you for the education ( I think) that one could only get from a Librarian.

4) and most importantly TINA GET BACK HERE ASAP. WE NEED YOU!!!!

I'm with Jack - Sue, focus on "us"!! I wonder if she has thought about what he said yet!! They're literally out in the middle of nowhere!! I would think now is the time to maybe make that move!!!

I'm glad Newman found Chet!! Both of these are wonderful characters, Tina, and I'm betting that they are both good guys!! I wonder how close they are to Jack and Sue or Bobby and Tara???

I don't like moon pies either but I have to agree that ice cold R.C. Cola is great!!!


Lynn and Donna, I think this was an old fashioned malt shop at one time, but now they are using the lunch counter as a bar. In order to sit at the bar you have to be of age to drink.

Joy

I guess I'm in a minority here. I absolutely LOVE moon pies. The lack of nutritional value makes it that much more of a messy, guilty pleasure.

You know what else is a guilty pleasure of mine, although much cleaner? You GUESSed it... shower scenes. I can't wait.

Paula

Bingo. Right on the nose Joy. Sorry gals, I guess I didn't 'splain clearly enough. Sometimes I think because I know what I'm trying to say, you'll know it too.


Recipe for Moon Pie:

Cut two 3.5" circles from 1/4" thick plywood
Flatten one 30 day old, air dryed marshmallow.
Glue marshmallow between plywood circles.
Melt 3 cups parafin and 1 tablespoon bitter chocolate, stir well.
Dip plywood/marshmallow in chocolate mix, let harden.
Package after a minimum of 3 weeks.
Sell to unsuspecting customers as "tasty treat"!

Ughhh.

And if you don't like that recipe, I think someone said they thought a moon pie was another name for a cow pattie... that sounds about right too. Hard to believe there are versions of it all over the world. Mankind can be downright strange.

Paula, I worry about you.

But I agree with everyone about an ice cold RC... that's about as good as it gets on a hot summer afternoon. That, or an Orange Crush with crushed ice, from a honest to gosh soda fountain . Like the one they turned into a bar in this story... Pity.

Chapter Six
~~~~~~~~

“So you didn’t see a girl with them?” Jack continued his questioning, trying to pull more information out of the man than he realized he knew.

“No, I didn’t even see one of them, not really - just the back of his head - but the other one looked just like your picture there, only a little heavier and his beard was more gray. Like I told those other agents, if there was a girl, she never came in the store.”

Another pair of agents had made the discovery that their suspects, or at least one of them, had visited the tiny grocery early that morning and now several teams had converged in the area. They milled around outside and had fanned out in either direction up and down the two lane highway, showing their photos in every business nearby.

“So I guess I don’t really have to ask if you’ve ever seen him before.”

“No. But I’m not usually at the register. Kary’s out sick today; she could tell you if they’ve been around before.”

“We’ll need her address, and we’ll also need to see your security videos for the last two days.” Jack looked toward the camera hanging just over his head and pointing at the entrance to the small grocery store. "You have one covering the parking lot too, by any chance?”

“As a matter of fact we do. But neither one of them is the clearest you’ll ever see.“

Grimacing his understanding of the quality they could expect from the videos, he turned away from the tall angular man whose manager’s name tag was hanging upside down but still declared him to be ‘Bob’.

Sue had wandered over to the door, watching the comings and goings in the parking lot. Her thoughts seemed to be far away and he passed a hand just inside her field of vision in order not to startle her.

“Let me guess, he didn’t recognize either of them.”

Jack just stared at her with a sympathetic gaze, knowing she was feeling this case closely.

“Sorry, I’m just having a hard time keeping perspective on this for some reason.”

“You don’t have to apologize, but you don’t have to keep it to yourself either.”

Giving him a sad little grin, she nodded and inclined her head toward the manager now waiting on a customer. “So what did he say?”

Jack cleared his throat and looked down at his shoes. “Umm, you’re right, he doesn’t know who they are, but we really didn’t expect him to. They’ve been traveling from one small town to another, there’s no reason to think he’d know them.”

“True. But I keep hoping they’re headed back where they came from and sooner or later someone will recognize them; be able to tell us where we can find them.”

“Doesn’t matter if someone knows them or not. We’ll still find them. Come on, let’s get the security tapes and find the local sheriff’s office. We’ll watch them there and then send them on to Wilham.”



An hour later, Jack reached over and punched the power button on the tiny TV in the office of the county sheriff who had willingly turned it over to them, doffing his hat to Sue as he’d left on some errands. “All that for another shot of their truck… no license plate, not even a side view of his face. And no sight of a girl.”

“Do you think….?”

He glanced at her with a wary look, not wanting to consider what had happened to the girl spotted with them in West Virginia. A long time ago he’d learned that you had to keep thinking positively while preparing for the worst. “There’s nothing to suggest that she isn’t OK.”

“Except that she isn’t with them.”

“We don’t know that both of them were at the store. The other one could have her at a motel or something.”

Turning worried eyes back to the blank screen, she sat staring at it as if it would come to life and give her the answers. Taking two strides to her side, he grabbed her hand and pulled her from the metal chair. “Come on, let’s go visit the regular cashier, maybe she can help.”



“Oh that’s Mad Larry. Why’re you looking for him?”

“You know him?” Jack stared wide eyed at the petite girl standing in the middle of her living room in flannel pajamas and sporting a red nose that proved her call in sick was justified.

“I- I don’t really know him, but I’ve seen him a few times at the club. I‘ve never seen the other guy though.”

“Club?” Sue perked up; the girl’s information sounded promising.

“Well, we call it a club. Anybody from somewhere bigger than an ant hill would laugh at it. It’s called Beebo’s…over on Halcomb. It’s really more Honky-Tonk than anything else, but it's fun.”

“And Mad Larry hangs out there?”

“Sometimes. Listen, I don’t even know if that’s his real name, but it’s what I’ve heard people call him.”

“You mean his mother didn’t name him ‘Mad’? Sue couldn’t resist. Jack scrunched his face in a grimace and shot her a sideways glance.

Kary Matthews looked from the handsome dark haired agent she’d had the unfortunate luck to meet at a time when she looked her worst, to the blonde with the soft voice. If she knew her romance novels - and she did - something was brewing under the surface. She cleared her throat; a necessity in her condition to be able to speak at all, and brought them out of the moment they seemed to be enjoying. “You know, Beebo’s is pretty hick, but they serve a mean steak, you ought to check it out. Tonight’s oldies night.”

“Oldies huh? So did you bring your go-go boots?” Jack’s imagination conjured up an image of Sue in white boots, a la Nancy Sinatra.

“Darn, no room in my suitcase. How ‘bout you? A leather jacket and white T-shirt maybe?”

Jack heard Kari suck in her breath and turned a curiously concerned look her way. “You OK?”

“Me? Y-yeah. It’s just this cold; takes you by surprise sometimes and you can’t get your breath.” She wheezed out the sentence, mortified to think he might guess the real reason behind her sudden lack of breath. The thought of this guy in a crisp white ‘T’ and a leather jacket was enough to rob the breath from even the most hardened man hater, which she was definitely not.

“Listen, I need to rest so I can get back to work tomorrow. You got anymore questions?”

“Just a few more. How many times do you think you’ve seen this guy?”

“Umm, three or four maybe?”

“And was Mad Larry ever with anyone?”

“Nope. He’d usually hook up with somebody before the night was over, but I don’t think he comes in with anybody, and I’ve never seen him with the same girl twice.”

“How long has he been coming to, uh, ‘Beebo’s’? Jack consulted his notes to come up with the unusual name.

“Ummm, I’m not sure. It’s probably been a month and a half or so since the first time I saw him. He kind of comes and goes. We won’t see him for a couple of weeks and then all of the sudden he’ll be there every night for a week, then gone again. But you might ask Janey. She’s a waitress there and I think she’s got a thing for him. She could tell you more about him than I could.”

A thought struck Sue and she tilted her head to the side.“You say he’d usually hook up with someone while he was at the club. Have you seen any of the girls he’s left with? I mean afterwards?”

“A couple of them. I remember one of them was bragging about him a couple of nights later, but it was funny ‘cause he came in later that night and completely ignored her. Janey thought it was hilarious.”

Sue shook her head at the thought of Janey’s pleasure in the other woman’s humiliation. Females could be so cruel when it came to men. A mental image of Jessica with her coal black hair and eyes charging in on their live came to mind unbidden. Her presence had produced enough insecurities on her part to make her doubt herself when it came to Jonathon and what she knew instinctively to be true. She’d had more than a few uncharitable thoughts about that particular woman.

“Do you know the name of the woman he went out with?”

“Janey could tell you.”

Sue’s expression lighted and she smiled at Jack excitedly as they walked back to the car. “We have to find that woman.”

Me, too!!


Me, too!!


Me, t--Wait. That doesn't make any sense... I agree!!

Paula (just woke up.)

Are they searching for Chet and Newman???

Oh Wagon Wheels...now I understand...thanks Regina
Agreed...not the best in taste...prefer Joe louis

Tina alos said:

Can I say tears rolled on my cheeks...geez, I totally agree with that recipe!!

Now,
Yummy !!

Hope Jack and Sue will finally go forward...and I am not totally talking case wise...personal wise...euh, do I make any sense ???
I don't think so...time to go in bed!
Josy

Tina, I don't think it was that you didn't 'splain it clearly. I think it's my age creeping up on me -- the old brain arteries must be hardening!

Donna

Um... yeah... I think I'll just stick with whatever may be left of the chocolate bunny I got for easter...OH, yay! Only the feet left, now!



I'm right there with Kari... YUM!

Hey, wait a minute -- I had white go-go boots and when I first met my husband he was wearing a leather jacket, a white T-shirt and riding a Harley 125. Hmmmmmmmm. . . am I dating myself? Oh, the stories I could tell.

But, I digress. Sorry, Tina. This is really a wonderful story and I can't wait for more. May I also say I love the song Kentucky Rain and the way Elvis performed it.

Donna

Poor Kary. I'm sure she'd not the only woman to be overcome by just being near Jack. Thanks for the great mental picture of Jack in a T-shirt and leather jacket. Scrumptious.

Moon pie recipe --PRICELESS

Mad Larry




This is so Jack and Sue.

White go go boots and black leather jacket with white t shirt on Jack - love the image of Jack. The go go boots crack me up, and yes I did have a pair. Donna, if you're asking about us dating ourselves, remember they are talking about oldies but goodies right

Recipe for moon pies and here I always thought they resembled that description because I froze my Scooter Pies aka Moon pies.

You betcha Anne!

I can't believe my youngest daughter likes Moon Pies! And yet her culinary tastes are those of some of the present fancy-schmancy gourmet foods. Go figure!

Donna

Poor Kary!! To be sick and see Jack for the first time, and then, imagine him in a white T with a leather jacket!! It's a wonder she didn't expire on the spot!! I wouldn't have been able to stand if I were sick and Jack was in front of me!! You have to have all your wits about you and even then you're going to swoon!!!

I hope this Mad Larry is one of the guys they're looking for!! Is he taking his victims mostly from that Honky Tonk???

Tina, thanks for the recipe for Moon Pies!! It's really helping my diet - when I think of chocolate I'm trying to immediately think of your recipe!! This trick should be good for about two minutes!! I'm not too good at tricking myself!!!

Joy

Reading fanfics is proving to be very educational. Moon pies/Wagon wheels -- I think I've had one or two when I was a kid and didn't know any better. The chocolate coating tastes like plastic, right? That was a few posts back it was I'm all caught up so you can post any time now...and don't skimp on the shower scenes! We can handle them!

kav

Thanks for reading ladies, I realize this isn't very fussified at the moment... but I promise we'll get there... along with some angsty moments as well. With a song like Kentucky Rain, I couldn't just jump right into fluff (in other words... shower) from the get-go!

Things are going to get a little busy for me in the coming days. I'll try my best to post every night, but it may not work out that way. My father was admitted to the hospital last night - he's doing OK, but he's 80 and has heart problems, so your prayers for everything to go according to God's will would be appreciated. And to make things a little more hectic, my sister and her two kids just left for Florida on a trip with the school band, so I'm helping to take care of her pets while she's away. At least the work load at my job has settled down a bit!

JOY! Wonderful idea! A moon pie diet would have me shedding pounds in no time!



Newman watched Chet down the last of his fries and wondered if the plate was safe from his appetite. “How long has it been since you had something to eat, boy? You want something else? Mack makes an apple pie that will make you wanna’ smack your momma.”

Chet grinned at Newman. The man sure didn’t talk like any preacher he’d ever met. “Nah, that’s OK. I gotta make my money last; who knows how long this will take.”

Newman waved Camille over and ordered two pieces of pie, complete with vanilla ice cream. Chet opened his mouth to protest but Newman‘s waving hand quieted him. “Don’t worry, it’s on me.”

“Newman, I…”

“It’s just pie, don’t get all mushy on me.” The old preacher grinned and watched the younger man as he struggled to accept the offer. This one had a problem accepting help. Too bad; he had a feeling the boy was in need of much more than pie and ice cream.

“So, where you heading next? Did you get any information over at the Stop-n-go?”

Chet face fell. For a few seconds, he’d pushed his quest to the back of his consciousness, but Newman’s word brought it crashing back in on him. The black truck was back too, menacing in it’s grainy appearance on the TV screen in his mind’s eye.

“You’re much too young for such heavy thoughts.” Newman’s words were quietly spoken, but they penetrated deep. “Why don’t you tell me? When you climbed out of my car, you were worried, but you weren’t scared. That’s changed hasn't it?”

Chet looked up; wondering how the man knew so much. “What makes you say that?”

“Son, I was a country preacher for 43 years. I saw every problem you can imagine and I held enough hands and dried enough eyes for twenty men. After awhile, you get to recognize the look of a troubled mind. You had that this morning when I picked you up, but now,… now it’s different. The look that just crossed your face is one that I haven’t seen many times, but I remember it well enough.”

Chet stared at the table, trying to swallow the saliva that gathered in his mouth and added to the uncomfortable fear that had wormed it’s way into his gut. “I think Kristie might be in trouble. Real trouble.”

“You mean… more than you thought she was in this morning?”

“A lot more“.

~~o~~

“Jack, D. Where are you?”

Jack juggled the phone from one hand to the other and answered his supervisor. “Heading to grab a bite of lunch. What’s up?”

“Grab something to go; you need to come back to Agent Wilham’s office ASAP.”

“What’s goin’ on?”

“We just got a tip on who the girl with them might be.”

~~o~~

With just two chairs to be had in Wilham’s tiny office, both he and D stood while they allowed the two men who’d come in an hour earlier to sit. The older man protested, but the younger one looked to be in shock and had simply slunk into the chair as it was pushed into position behind him.

Bobby and Tara arrived first, crowding the office even more. “Bobby, Tara, this is Chet Lathrop and Newman Meade. Chet, these are two of the people who’ll be helping look for Kristie. There are two more on their way. I’ve briefed all of them, but when they get here we’ll ask you to tell us everything one more time.”

“Right.” Bobby nodded and offered his hand, first to Newman and then to Chet. “We appreciate you coming in Chet.”

Chet looked from Bobby to Tara - normal looking people. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but when the sheriff Newman had taken him to see had immediately got on the phone and then announced that the FBI wanted to talk to him, he somehow envisioned larger than life characters with black suits and dark sunglasses. Too many movies he supposed, but he was oddly disappointed. Surely it would take larger than life people to help?

Chet expelled a long breath and fingered the photo in his hand . “Thanks.”

Tara stepped forward and laid a hand on Chet’s shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can to help.”

As Jack and Sue’s SUV pulled up the drive, Wilham excused himself and slipped out only to reappear with a couple of folding chairs from the insurance office next door under each arm. When introductions were out of the way, and everyone was settled knee to knee around the small room, D propped himself on the edge of the desk and looked to Chet with a reassuring smile. “Just tell them everything you told me.”

Feeling like a recording, Chet opened his mouth and for the third time in less than 2 hours, related the whole mess to perfect strangers. As he finished, he handed the ragged photo to Tara, who sat next to him. “This was taken in December.”

The young man’s hand shook as she accepted the photo, and Tara smiled encouragingly. “We’ll need to get some copies of this. Do you have any others?”

Chet produced another shot from his wallet, showing a laughing Kristie held tightly in his arms. He hadn’t looked at it in awhile, and he felt his chest tighten and eyes begin to sting as he handed it over. “That’s from last summer, on her birthday.”

“What about Kristie’s parent’s? It’s possible she went back to them…” Bobby questioned.

D shook his head. “Chet called them first thing and was told Kristie hadn’t come home. I phoned before you got here and was told the same thing. We’ve got an agent on his way to talk to them now to see if they can give us any information on where she might have gone… old friends, that sort of thing.”

No one except Newman noticed Chet’s shoulder’s sag or his head drop into his hands as he sat leaning forward in his chair. He noticed the change in body language and was the only one prepared when the boy turned a tear stained face to the agents and strangled out, “Is she dead?”

I got teary at that part. Poor Chet. I'm glad he and Newman are in good company - and you can't get any better than this group . . . now where did you say they were meeting . . . .?? I could pick up the RC's for them . . . .

Sorry to hear about your dad being in the hospital, Tina. I'll be praying for him, and for you.

They look like what we call "Wagon Wheels" here in Canada...I don't think I've eaten them since grade school...there's probably a reason for that.


BTW, enjoying your story immensely.

- RSL

Poor Chet!

Kim

Normal people? Are Bobby's dimples normal????

Chet, those normal people will help... right Tina?

Yikes -- I feel for Chet. His fear has increased tenfold now that he knows. But at least he's given the team a lead and we know they're going to help, right Tina? My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. Take your time and post as you can...we'll be right here waiting.

kav

Incredible story Tina. I feel so bad for Chet but am glad the team is on the case. At least that gives a glimmer of hope, right?

Sorry about your dad, and I will be praying for God's best for him. Sounds like you need some prayers too with all that's going on. Take your time with the story. We definitely will be waiting for more.

I believe one of the best things that has happened to Chet is to have met Newman!! Now the other good thing is having the team there to look for Kristie!!!

Tina, I'm sorry to hear about your father and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Take your time. We really are a patient bunch, even though we tend to get carried away occasionally!! LOL

Joy

I will be praying for you and your father, Tina.


I like the character of the preacher, and it is nice to read that he and the team are there to support Chet.

Poor Chet. I know he feels so miserable.

Take care of you and yours Tina -- we'll be right here.

Donna

Your family is in my thoughts, Tina.

Chet's lucky that the right team was put on the case. Let's just hope that Kristie isstill alive out there somewhere and there's still time to get to her.