Hostage to Fortune by J A Whiting

Author:J A Whiting [Whiting, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whitemark Publishing
Published: 2019-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

Later in the day, Ian and Claire met John Wilby in a pub in Cambridge to discuss where the case stood.

“Have you found out anything new on my mother’s case?” John sipped from a cold mug of beer.

“We’ve been interviewing people who knew your mother and father,” Ian said. “We’re going through the case files and we’re trying to add more facts and details.”

John looked crestfallen as his shoulders drooped. “I don’t know what I was expecting. It’s been more than two decades. The police couldn’t solve it back then. Leads have gone cold. It’s unlikely anything new will turn up.”

“Cold cases do get solved,” Claire encouraged the young man. “There’s always the chance that something new will turn up, that someone will recall a little detail that years ago, seemed insignificant. One little thing can make all the difference. That one thing can be the turning point.”

John gave a nod. “I can’t give up. Not yet.”

“We’ll keep digging,” Ian said.

“Have you talked to Jackson?” It seemed hard for John to get his father’s name out of his mouth.

“We did,” Ian told him.

“Did he stick to the same story he’s been telling for twenty-five years?”

“Pretty much. We aren’t free to discuss with anyone the interviews we do with witnesses or suspects.”

John nodded. “Did he tell you why he thought it was a good idea to leave an infant and a three-year-old alone in the house that night?”

“Jackson wanted to drive around to look for your mother,” Ian explained.

“Ever the selfless man.” John’s eyes clouded. “Jackson didn’t care about me or Kim. I imagine him frantically driving around in the dark. Not frantic that my mother ran out of the house and was gone. Frantic because Jackson didn’t want any negative publicity sticking to him.”

Ian and Claire sat in silence, not really knowing what to say.

“My mind is always thinking about it,” John said. “I think back on the night and try to recall the sounds and sights of the experience. I was too little to correctly process what happened, but maybe, I’ll remember something new that will be able to help with the investigation.”

“Why do you think you told officers that your mother was in the church parking lot that night?” Ian questioned. “Do you think it was because she often helped out at church and you pictured her there?”

John considered the possibility. “I don’t know. I don’t know why I thought she put the car there. I don’t even remember saying that to the police.”

“And what about what you said about a cat?” Claire asked. “You said your father kicked the cat, but your family didn’t own a cat.”

Again, John shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t recall telling the investigators that either.”

Claire smiled. “It’s okay. You were very little. Kids get confused.”

John’s face looked pained. “I was there when my mother got hurt. Why can’t I be more helpful? I must have heard or seen more than I can remember.”

“Would you be willing to speak to a hypnotist?” Claire asked gently.

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