Page 37 of Traces of Kara

“This is Detective Grant, Williamsport Police. Is this Mimi Stone’s phone?”

A sigh came through the phone. “It’s Ted.”

Mitchell Grant rolled his eyes. “Ted, is Mimi around?”

“Not at the moment. Is there a problem?” Ted asked.

“No, no problem. She was looking for Kara earlier. Just thought I’d check and see if she’d located her.” There was nothing in particular about Ted that Grant disliked, but the sound of his voice turned his stomach.

Silence.

“Ted?” Grant’s eyes traveled to the ceiling. “Ted!”

“Yeah, can’t you hear me? This darn phone. The reception stinks. Sorry.”

Another gap in the airwaves.

“Mitch?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Good. I heard she’d gone in to report Kara as missing. Sorry about that. Mimi jumped the gun. You know how she is.”

Grant pursed his lips at Ted’s sarcasm. He remembered the hot summer evening when he’d received a panicked phone call from Mimi. She’d run off a few years earlier to get married to an out-of-towner. No one had heard from her in years, not even Charlene. She’d spoken in a rushed, shaky voice, said she’d been living just across the bridge in Clear Springs, and she now had a daughter. She said the girl had been on a school field trip and had been accosted by a boy. “Al’s gone,” she’d cried into the phone. “He said he couldn’t handle the drama anymore.” Grant remembered how his heartbeat had quickened at the sound of her voice. She’d needed to have a protection order put into place without involving Kara. Grant had sought the guidance of Detective Cordon, the most well respected, well connected, and discreet law enforcement official he knew. Mr. Cordon, currently retired, toothless, and a tad senile, had been the one to connect him with the courts. He’d worked with his West Virginia contacts, and they’d proceeded in court without Kara present. That had been easy, as minors weren’t required to be present. Three years later, it was simply a matter of a few under-the-table promises to have it discreetly reinstated. He’d continued reinstating the order every three years until his contact in the courts had retired. The PFA had lapsed two years ago.

Mimi had moved back to Williamsport, and he’d been there to comfort her. While he had hopes of something long term, she’d shied away from his advances. I can’t. I have to focus on Kara, she’d said. She’d been dead set on making sure the move didn’t scar the girl for life. Grant wasn’t so sure she’d succeeded. Kara still had a mistrusting air about her. After Ted came into the picture, Mimi’s focus had changed. Why Ted and not him, he’d always wondered.

Detective Grant breathed deeply. “You sure? Nothing out of the ordinary has been going on?” Mitchell hadn’t taken Mimi on her word so many years ago. He’d done his own research, pulled a few favors. Her husband had left her, but what he’d learned about Mimi was not at all what he’d expected. Mimi had never confirmed or denied his findings. She’d only responded with, “My past no longer exists.”

“I guess Kara found out about Daryl and took off,” Ted said.

“All right, then. If Mimi needs…anything…she knows where to reach me.”

Grant clicked End and drove toward Daryl Stahl’s house.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Well, there goes my evening.” Jackson hung up the phone on the desk and took an employee roster from the top drawer of the desk.

“What’s wrong?”

“Paige and Joe were in Roanoke and their car broke down, so they’re out. We haven’t seen Keith, so who knows if he’ll be in. I tried to reach Tom, but couldn’t.” He let out an unhappy laugh. “Looks like I’m holding down the fort tonight.”

Ted put Mimi’s phone back in her purse. “Well, you’re stuck with me until Mimi comes back.” He sat in the other chair, looking at his watch. “Where is she, anyway? Maybe I should go find her.”

Jackson shrugged. “She can’t have gone far. It takes a while to get to the bathroom. It’s on the next level down. Besides, women take forever, don’t they? I know Nancy does.”

He looked at his watch. “I hope she gets back soon. Mimi’s pretty worried about Kara, and if she wants to go looking for her, we need to do it before it’s pitch dark out. Isn’t it strange that Kara didn’t call in sick or something? I mean, is this typical for her, to just not show up?”

“It’s not typical for Kara, but Ted, you know how women are. With all that’s going on with Daryl and Kelly? In this town? Honestly, I don’t blame her for wanting to hide out until the storm passes.” Jackson put his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “If it’s her job you’re worried about, she’s a good employee. Her job is here for her, and I trust Kara’s judgment. If she needs a day, she’s entitled to it. Don’t worry. When she shows up for work tomorrow, I’ll have a talk with her, just so she knows we all support her and don’t think anything less of her for Daryl’s indiscretions.” His stomach rumbled. It was almost seven p.m.

He took out his cell phone. “Better call the wife,” he said, and hit speed dial.

“Hi, hon. Hon? Can you hear me?” Jackson looked at his cell phone. “Nancy?” He hung up. “Damn service.” He picked up the phone on the desk and dialed her phone number. “Nancy? Sorry. Yeah, you know the reception out here, I should know better,” he rolled his eyes at Ted. “Hey, I have to stick around for the shift tonight…Yeah, I know.”

Ted heard Nancy’s voice. He smiled.

“Yeah, I know. So, I was thinking maybe about some dinner.” He winked at Ted, listening to Nancy. “Hello, Nancy?” he yelled into the phone. “Sorry, sweetie. Oh, yeah, I forgot about your Bunko group. Okay, well, don’t worry about it. I’ll find something.” He listened. “No, no, it’s fine. Ted and Mimi Stone are here. We’ll get something.”