Murder off Route 82 by Jane Suen

Author:Jane Suen [Suen, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jane Suen

Chapter Nineteen

I called Deputy Chat Walkins from the hut. He remembered me right off the bat. I told him Mrs. Landon had updated me with the latest about Sallie Rae’s phone call and asked if the search team had been called off. He pretty much confirmed what I had thought. Sallie Rae is alive, and she isn’t missing. They’d taken her off the missing persons list. Deputy Walkins had also been in touch with Midway campus police, and the authorities there were doing the same. Before I wrapped up the call with Deputy Walkins, I mentioned we’d found Sallie Rae’s ring on Snake Mountain.

Sallie Rae had said she needed some time and wasn’t ready to come home. I’d told the sheriff’s deputy that classes would end tomorrow, followed by the beginning of the five-day fall break. On Sunday, the students would be coming back to campus. I decided to keep looking for Sallie Rae during that time. Best case scenario, she’d be back with Mrs. Landon soon. Worst case, she wouldn’t show up on campus by Monday.

The mention of school reminded me to call Professor Reynolds. The announcements were on the radio about Sallie Rae. They were succinct and attention-grabbing, thanks to my mentor and teacher, whom I’d admired and had learned from immensely. He didn’t answer when I called, but I left a message with an update about Sallie Rae and my conversation with the deputy.

Bob had been watching me and listening, leaning forward with one leg up, the tip of his right cowboy boot resting on the edge of the wooden bench outside the hut.

“All done?”

“One more.” I held up a finger and flashed my special smile, having saved the best for last.

I called my mom and explained Sallie Rae’s situation and apologized that I hadn’t called earlier to firm up my own plans for fall break. I preferred to wait until I had more concrete information rather than make plans and then have to break them. A brief silence gave away her disappointment, but Mom said she would be happy to see me when I did make it. She was my chief supporter and incredibly understanding. She wasn’t into guilt-tripping or being critical.

When Bob realized who I was talking to, he stepped off the bench and walked away to the edge of the clearing to give me some privacy.

I appreciated this man’s patience. He had suggested stopping here, and I sure made maximum use of it. I tapped to end the call, and a thought popped up as Bob ambled toward me again. “What about you, Bob ... any plans?”

His eyes dimmed as if someone had pulled the cord on a light.

The bit of information I knew about Bob’s family was shorter than his one-liners. “You going home for fall break?” I pressed more gently this time. I wasn’t going to barge in on his personal life. He needed to know I respected him, regardless.

Bob finally spoke, shaking his head. “No. No.”

I didn’t pry and instead belted out a throaty laugh.

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