My Novel: Chapter 9

Running:

I no longer run--except run a household, run errands, run around like I'm crazy when I'm running late...

Writing:

I gave up writing about 3 years ago and have been considering taking it up again. To start, I've decided to post one of my novels in my blog one chapter at a time...

Welcome! If this is your first time stopping at my blog, and if you're interested in my novel, you'll want to start with chapter 1 and come back to this post.

Secrets at Midnight

Leona Palmer Haag

Chapter 9

Matt pulled onto the freeway heading north. “Marshall reached your husband.”

Jenn faced him. “What did he say? Let me guess. 'Keep up the good work, Washington. I'll insure your wife is safe if you'll take out another policy on her. I'll deduct it from your paycheck.'”

“Actually, he told him to come home. He told me to make sure I packed your passports.”

“They're in a box under the bed—you’re fired.”

He leaned over and opened the glove box. Jenn gasped at the little black folders. She grabbed them and flipped them open. “How did these get here?”

“Kevin isn't haphazard. He found them.”

“He snooped through my house?”

“Every inch.”

“It's private property. Did I give permission? No!”

Matt rubbed his forehead, pushing back a headache. “You said you stepped on a dead woman behind your trash. We expanded the search perimeters.”

“To the inside of my house? You—Kevin—had no right to snoop.”

“We did it anyway.”

Jenn huffed in silence for several minutes. Matt knew the action well—she’d developed it years ago. It signaled she’d paused to figure something out. Until she opened her mouth he’d remain in the dark—a peaceful place—before she released a tornado. When she spoke, it was calmly. “Has it occurred to you that maybe I don't believe this myself? How many people find a body in their backyard? It was late, you know. Or maybe I wanted Nick home and made it up. Maybe I ran out of things to fix and invented something different than needing help with my air conditioner or disposal. Maybe my sanity broke and I called you to fix it, but now you’ve gotten carried away and you’re the crazy one.”

Laughing, Matt thrust his head back. “Come on, kid, you're what, thirty-one now? Have you ever lost it? I mean, ever really, truly lost it? And when did you take up lying? Could you pull off a fib all night? Maybe you’d manage one tiny half-lie for two minutes max, but it wouldn't make you cry. You’re rock solid and steady.”

Her head bobbed in thought. “Okay, it happened. I know what I saw and I can’t deny it, but there's no evidence except my word and the stupid nightmares and flashbacks plaguing me. You said so yourself.”

“I lied.”

The air thickened so suddenly that Matt thought Jenn might choke as she gasped for a breath. “You lied?” she eventually squeaked. “I’m lost.” She glanced out the window as if seeking her bearings. “I’m missing something. When? What did you say? What lie? Be specific.”

He studied traffic compacting into rush hour. “The woman lost the tip of one of her jewel-encrusted fingernails. We found it. A snapped twig had fibers on the end, and they’re not from a police uniform. Apparently they’re from black cotton/spandex clothing. Do you know any men who wear spandex?”

“Football players, but….” She shook her head.

Good—she hadn’t passed out. He didn’t need to give mouth to mouth resuscitation.

“Where are we going?”

 “North.”

Her eyes scrunched. “North isn’t a where. Chicago is a where. Are we meeting Nick?”

He hated to disappoint her, but that wasn’t their destination. “We’re going someplace safe. You can’t stay in your house during the investigation.”

Jenn waved at an approaching sign. “Take the next exit. There are a couple decent hotels near my work. I’d rather not fight traffic tomorrow morning.” When he passed the exit she grasped his arm. “Can’t I pick my hotel since I’m the one ousted from my home?”

He shook his head, then glanced at her, visualizing steam escaping from her ears, but she only gazed out the window as more exits passed before muttering, “Don’t forget I have to be at work before six tomorrow morning. I'm opening until the end of the month.”

Unwilling to tell her she’d have the next few days off, Matt remained silent. The last person he wanted in danger was the kid he’d adored since she’d cooed at him. She’d grown up inch by inch, and without bidding, he remembered memorable moments. She’d grinned at him and as a result he’d climbed the old willow tree and shimmied out on the limb to tie a rope swing because she was too chicken to do it herself—a height issue—and at age eleven he’d developed a strong enough crush to oblige. A year or so later she’d become the girl who fixed his flat bike tire just to prove she could—without knowing he'd tricked her into doing it to check if she liked him enough to give it a go. After more time elapsed, Jenn sat on the warped front steps of her mom’s faded green trailer home and waved when he left to pick up his date. She’d hollered, “Have fun Matt, but don't kiss her unless you want me to give your pucker a fat lip.” Loyal to a kid with holes in her jeans, he hadn’t kissed the girl dressed to impress—or dated anyone afterward—until Jenn wasn’t a possibility anymore.

“Portland.”

She blinked several times. “Oregon? That Portland?”

“Yeah. Take a nap. You’ll drive later.”

“Does Nick know where we’re going?”

“No.”  He glanced her way and found her chewing her bottom lip. He wondered what she'd turn loose when she’d gathered enough force. He wasn't sure how, but he'd survive the F-5 she’d unleash.

It surprised him when she quietly said, “It’s occurred to me there's a whole lot you're not saying. We've got a very long drive ahead of us—obviously—so you'll have plenty of time to share details—every last one of them.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d like the major points within two minutes and supporting bunk within twenty.”

He chuckled, knowing he wouldn’t divulge anything. But Jenn wasn't finished. “Or you can bet I'll bail out. I'll call the police, the FBI and the CIA because it’s beginning to feel very much like I’m being kidnapped.”

He laughed but didn’t answer. Jenn was capable of keeping promises, but he was an expert at persuasion.

She sucked in a long breath. “Don't try to gag me or tie me up or I'll suspect you were behind the trash can last night committing a heinous crime.”

He drove in silence for several miles, listening to rubber burning across asphalt and thinking about Jenn’s threats before saying, “I was.”

“You murdered that woman?” She scooted away, hugging her door.
            “Investigating. Me and Kevin, remember? You were there.”

She signed and rolled her eyes. “Start talking Matt. Give it to me straight. Leave out the crap about wanting to play cop before defecting to sell insurance.”

A smile spread across his face. “Ah, life insurance—a very good business.” He glanced at her, but remained quiet for many miles despite her constant demands for explanations.

End Chapter 9

Wow, chapter 9 was very short! I've gotta love that! Stay tuned for chapter 10. As you can see, this book--at least the characters--are going somewhere!

Thanks for remembering my novel Secrets at Midnight is copyrighted.