38 comments/ 81464 views/ 9 favorites Wenatchee Ch. 05-06 By: coaster2 Ch. 5 The Dead Zone Summer in the Wenatchee Valley is predictable. Dry, sunny, and hot! Which is fine when you're living in a nice cottage on the Columbia River with a beach in your front yard. It's not quite as good when the shop doesn't have a proper air conditioner, and with the traffic in and out of the store the inside temperature gets pretty warm. I never heard a whisper of complaint from either Jana or Jimmy. Mind you, on most days they were dressed in t-shirts and shorts. By the July 4th weekend, we had all become pretty comfortable with each other. Jana was getting over her shyness. She was also dressing a bit more like the girls her age would. Jimmy was demonstrating that he had quite a sense of humor to go along with his computer competence, and Terry was happy as hell that he wasn't being pressured every day to get more work done. The boys elected to stay at the cottage on the holiday. No surprise. The quantity and quality of nubile young ladies was quite sufficient to keep them occupied. I drove into town to partake in the festivities and meet some of the civic leaders. Our business was well known and it was good PR to be visible. I was interested in the vintage vehicle display and spent some time looking at many of the automobiles from a past era. Most were fifties, sixties, and seventies cars that had been either restored or modified. There was some exquisite work on display, demonstrating the talent of the builder. I stopped at a display of a farm tractor and fruit cart. It was a 1930's era John Deere and it was beautifully restored and painted in its trademark green and yellow. I wasn't really paying attention to anything but the tractor when I heard a familiar voice. "Hi, Mr. Nelson." I turned toward the voice and saw Jana standing there, dressed in gingham, and looking every bit the farm girl from decades ago. "Hi, Jana. Is this your tractor?" "My dad's. My grandfather once owned it, and Dad restored it. He's very proud of it." "He should be. It looks terrific." We'd pretty much run out of conversation material when a woman, close to my age, stepped around the tractor and approached us. "You must be the famous Mr. Geoff Nelson," she said, holding her hand out. "I'm Jana's aunt, Gisele Ardien. I've heard a lot about you," she smiled as I gently shook her hand. "I don't know about famous, but I am Geoff Nelson," I grinned. Aunt Gisele was a fine looking woman, nicely dressed in a summer outfit, and very attractive. Her face looked European somehow, I thought. Perhaps the darker complexion, or the deep brown eyes. "You've transformed my niece in a very short time," she claimed. I looked at Jana and she was blushing and looking very uncomfortable. "I've got to help Dad, Mr. Nelson. I'll see you next week at the shop," she said hurriedly, then escaped to parts unknown. "Just how have I transformed Jana," I asked Gisele. "Well, to begin with, you gave her a job that she truly enjoys and makes her feel much better about herself. Secondly, she's working side-by-side with a young man of her own age group and it's doing wonders for her self-confidence." "Ah ... that would be Jimmy Rideout. He's a very bright young man. They make a great team." "Yes. I think Jana has a crush on him but is far too shy to tell him. However, her time at your business has helped a great deal. I can see the difference even in such a short time." "Yes. I can too. I'm really pleased about that. I think she could be a very valuable asset to the business when she gets over her shyness. And she looks very pretty in that period dress. I wish she would dress a little more like her age group, but I dare not say anything to her about it." "Don't worry. I'll look after that," she grinned. Her clothes have been her protection mechanism. They ward off unwanted attention. There's a reason for it, but that isn't important. What's important is that she's beginning to enjoy herself and feel good about herself for the first time in years. I thank you for your helping make that possible." "Someday I'll tell you about how her hiring came about. It wasn't a conventional decision." "I'd like to hear that. Perhaps we can have coffee or lunch some time when you're not too busy." "I'd be pleased to." I gave her my business card. "Call me when it's convenient and I'll make time." I was aware that I was smiling and enjoying the presence of Gisele Ardien. She reached out and touched my arm lightly, smiled, then turned away and walked behind the display. It was the first time in more than a month that I had been conscious of an attractive woman and the thoughts she could stir in me. The holiday had been on a Sunday, so the shop remained closed on Monday and we enjoyed the long weekend. The boys had found a couple of new friends in Orondo and were showing fairly impressive tans. Their new friends were both attractive young girls and very polite as well. I was introduced to them and found out they were local; both their parents were in the tree fruit business. I had put Matt in charge of Ross. He was eighteen and I wanted him to be responsible for both his brother and himself. I couldn't watch them when I was at the shop, so I had to trust they would behave themselves and not get into trouble. They had never given their mother or me any reason to think they would be a problem, but I was happier if Matt was riding herd on his brother. Terry had come up to the cottage the week after July 4th and after watching Matt handle the boat, gave his permission to use it without my being there. I wasn't totally sold on the idea, but I had a long talk with Matt and Ross about it and had them promise me that they wouldn't do anything that would cause Terry or me to regret giving them this freedom. It was a matter of trust and both Terry and I were sticking our necks out for them. I think the message got through to them. Normally, mid-summer was a bit slower in the business, but not this year. Terry and I had worked on two submissions for the school board and the local college and were happy that we received the contract for all of the college facilities and almost half of the school district. That changed the amount of work we had, since the systems had to be ready to go when school resumed. When Terry and I sat down and looked at the extra business, it was obvious we were going to be very busy. Jana and Jimmy would be going back to school and we had visions of working nights and weekends to keep up. We needed more staff. "Terry, what if we keep Jana and Jimmy on part-time? Maybe a couple of hours after school and some weekend time. At least that would help us from working ourselves into an early grave." "Yeah. Makes sense to me, Geoff. But even so, that won't be enough. If we do a real good job with the school board, they'll give us the rest of the district. We'll be right back where we started. I don't want to lose those kids, but we need permanent staff. At least one person. Maybe two." "Well then, I guess I'd better get busy and start looking. First though, let me talk to the kids and see if they're willing to work part-time." I caught up to Jana and Jimmy at lunch and sat with them. "You guys have done a terrific job for us this summer. I can't tell you how much difference you've made. Now, we've got some new business and we're going to need help year around. Terry and I were wondering if you'd like some part-time work during the school year?" "Sure," Jimmy said immediately. "What kind of hours?" "Well, that would be up to you. You have your studies and you do need some free time for yourselves. What do you think would work?" "I don't know," he responded. "I'd need to think about that and check with my folks." I saw Jana nodding. "I'd need to talk to my Aunt and Dad. But if I can, I'd really like to keep working here." I smiled at both of them. "Great. Let me know what works for you. In the meantime, I'm going to start looking for one or two permanent employees. This business is suddenly growing ... and I think it has something to do with you two," I grinned. Two days later we had worked out a schedule. The two students would come to the shop after classes for two hours each day, then a full day Saturday. That would give them and us eighteen more hours to help cut down the workload. Terry and I would open the shop on alternating Saturdays. The larger problem was finding a full-time employee. I thought about it for a while, and then returned to a proven resource. "Mr. Drummond, it's Geoff Nelson calling. I just wanted to let you know that both Jana and Jimmy have turned out to be a big help to our business. In fact, we're keeping them on part-time when they go back to school." "That's great to hear, Mr. Nelson. In truth, I have spoken to both their parents and they are very pleased with how they are doing. It sounds like Valley Computer Systems is a very good place to work." "Nice to hear that, sir. Actually, I have another request. I'm now looking for one or two new full-time employees. I wondered ... with your experience ... if you knew of anyone who might be suitable. I'd love to have two more Jimmys or Janas." He laughed. "Well, nothing comes to mind right off hand, but give me some time to think about it. I've had a lot of bright students go through my classes and maybe I can find one or two who might fit. I have your number, so I'll call you back. By the way, congratulations on obtaining the contract for the college. You were clearly the best bid of any of them, and not just because you were local." "Should I assume you were on the selection committee?" I asked. "Good assumption. The last thing I wanted was someone making the decision who didn't know what was required. I'm pretty confident that we've made a good choice." "Thank you, sir. We'll work hard to confirm your decision." When I hung up, I was pleased with myself. I had an inside friend at the college and it had helped us get the contract. Now we had to make sure we didn't let him down. It only took a day before Mr. Drummond called me back. "First of all, we've been talking to each other enough that I feel I can call you by your first name if you'll call me Lowell." "Of course. It's Geoffrey, but almost everyone calls me Geoff." "Great. Now down to business. I have a question for you. Do you have any problem hiring the handicapped?" "Well, I haven't really thought about it, but no ... not really. I mean ... the issue is can they do the work and can they be here regularly. Other than that ... well ... what are you thinking?" "Some years ago I had a very bright student who was accepted at West Point. He received his commission and ultimately chose to become a career officer. Two years ago he was wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He lost both legs. He resigned his commission and came home, but he hasn't had much luck getting on with his life. "Some of it was self-pity, and some of it was shame for not being the whole man he once was. His wife left him and he started drinking. Some of us who knew him decided to make him our personal project. We've got him back to sober and at least looking to get on with his life. I think your business might be just the solution. "You'd need to convince yourself that he has the ability to do what you want done, but I'm fairly confident that he's turned his life around. I guess the only other question is, would you be willing to talk to him?" "Wow. That's quite a story. Look ... Lowell ... this shop isn't wheelchair friendly. Is that going to be a problem?" "It shouldn't be. He has two prosthetic legs and a special set of crutches. He's fairly mobile, but he'd need a place to sit for most of his work." "That shouldn't be a problem. Why don't you have him call me and I'll set up an interview." "Very good, Geoff. I'm grateful and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by him. His name is Bernie Redmond, but most people call him 'Red.' When you meet him, it will be obvious why. Thank you again. I'll be thinking about anyone else who might fit your needs. I'll call you if I do." "Thanks, Lowell. Let's hope Mr. Redmond works out. I'd like to be able to help a vet, especially a disabled one." This was going to be difficult. What if he couldn't really do the job? I'd have to turn him down and I'd feel like shit doing it. Would the booze problem come back to haunt me? Then I'd probably have to fire him. More trouble. I'd better talk this over with Terry. "Well, I can see your worries, Geoff. A former alcoholic, and he's disabled. His wife left him, and that wouldn't be good for your manhood. But ... you know ... you're pretty good at figurin' people out. Better than me, that's for sure. I think this is one of them deals that you've got to go by your instincts. That don't mean you won't make a mistake ... but what the hell ... if it works, you've got a good employee and I get to stay home every Saturday," he chuckled. It was Terry's way of telling me to use my own best judgment, and if it didn't work, he wouldn't be climbing down my throat telling me "I told you so." Mr. Redmond phoned me the next day, exactly at ten o'clock. "Mr. Nelson, my name is Bernard Redmond. I understand you are looking for someone to fill the position of computer specialist. I'd like to apply for that job." His voice was clipped and accent-less; clear and distinct. Very military to my thinking. "Yes, Mr. Redmond. I've been expecting your call. I wonder if we can get together for a few minutes to discuss the operation and the job description. When would be convenient for you?" "I can make myself available at any time, sir. Would this afternoon be too soon?" "No ... that would be fine. Would three o'clock be suitable?" "Yes, sir. Fifteen hundred hours. I'll be there." I smiled at the time reference. He seemed enthusiastic and anxious to impress. This afternoon would be interesting. Promptly at three o'clock, the front door opened and a big, red-headed man on crutches worked his way in, closing the door behind him. He was a handsome fellow with a clean shaven square jaw, well dressed in khakis, a polo shirt and a ball cap with a military insignia on it. He removed his hat and using the crutches, walked his way toward my office. I went out to meet him. "Hi, you must be Bernard. I'm Geoff Nelson." I held out my hand without thinking, but Bernard took it firmly and shook it. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nelson." "Bernard, we're pretty informal here. Please call me Geoff, and I'll continue to call you Bernard, unless you'd rather I call you Red," I grinned. "Most of my friends know me as Red." "Then Red it is." He seemed to relax a bit as we went through the formalities. He had a folder tucked under one arm and he passed it to me. I opened it and it was a résumé, and it was very thick. I set it aside for the time being and looked at him. He was clear eyed, clean, neat ... pretty much what you would expect from a soldier. A former soldier, that is. He looked fit and was able to get around on his artificial legs and crutches fairly well. It didn't look like that would be a problem. "How did you get here?" I asked. "I drove. I have a van that's equipped with hand controls. I have a restricted license, but I can drive anywhere in any state." We were off to a good start and asked him about his background in computers and in the military. He had been well schooled, not just in the local college, but in the Army as well. He wasn't specific, but I got the impression he had been involved in special operations where his company's computer skills were required. He mentioned tackling Taliban and Al Qaeda communications codes and transmissions, but was vague about what he or his men actually did. In the next half hour, we went over what we did and who we did it for. Some of the work was mundane, and some was very complex. I told him I was hoping some time in the future I would be able to add a couple of new capabilities to the company; programmable logic controllers and security systems. When I mentioned that, I saw his eyes go slightly larger and an eyebrow lifted. I told him what the job paid and what the hours were and he was happy that it was within his expectations. He was currently living with his brother, but wanted to be able to have a place of his own. I didn't take me long to decide he had what it took to do the job. On top of that, I liked him. He was a nice guy that had a couple of horrible things happen to him. I could relate to his anger when his wife left him after finding out that he had lost his legs. She nearly took his manhood with her. He admitted to the drinking and the grim days that he endured putting a stop to it. He knew it only happened with the help of his friends. Friends like Lowell Drummond and Red's brother David. He was past that now, and more confident about his future. What he needed was a job that would restore the rest of his self-esteem and give him a sense of future. With Terry's approval, we would give him that opportunity. "Terry, I'd like you to meet Red Redmond, our newest employee. Red, this is Terry Jackson, owner and my very good friend." "Nice to meet you, sir." "It's Terry, Red. We're pretty informal around here as Geoff has probably told you. Welcome aboard. I heard you served our country. I'd like to personally thank you for that." They shook hands and a few minutes later, Bernard 'Red' Redmond walked out the door. He would be back in the morning to start his new job. "You feel pretty good about him, do you?" Terry asked as we watched him work his way into his van and drive off. "Yeah. I do. I think we've got another winner," I said, turning to Terry. I looked up at the clock and it was after five. I had spent two hours with Red Redmond and the time had raced by. I was on a mild high as I locked up and headed for my car and Orondo. I'd have a nice cold beer when I got to the cottage and met with the boys. After supper I called Lowell Drummond and told him we'd hired Red. I thanked him very much for the referral and said if he had any more like him, to send them over. Our collaboration was working very well. I had almost forgotten about Gisele Ardien until she walked into the shop on Friday morning. She waved to Jana and walked to my office. "Have you forgotten we were going to have coffee one morning?" she asked directly, but with a smile. "No. But then, I thought you were going to call me. No matter. Is now a good time?" "Of course. I wouldn't be here otherwise." I walked back to the rear of the shop. "Terry, I'll be out for a few minutes." "Okay, Geoff." I showed Gisele to the door and we left. As the door closed, I saw Terry standing in the door of his office with Jana, watching us. Jana had a nice smile on her face. "Nice to see you again, Gisele. How are you?" I asked as we walked toward the diner on the corner. "I'm fine, Geoff. I don't have to ask how you are. I hear you have two new contracts, that you've hired my niece part-time and you've found a new full-time employee. All that adds up to success. Congratulations." "Thank you. But how do Jana's mother and father feel about her working part-time?" "Well ... I convinced her father that it was a very good thing for her and he agreed. Her mother passed away some years ago and I've been a surrogate mother to her since then." "Oh ... I didn't know that. I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been hard on her." "Very hard. She was only seven when it happened. She withdrew into herself and became quite detached. Paul, her father, is my brother. He didn't know how to cope with her, so I came out here to help him. I'm afraid I wasn't really the answer. She didn't know me very well, so I could hardly become another mother to her. However, over time, and especially since you've come along, things have changed for the better." Wenatchee Ch. 05-06 "I think you're giving me too much credit. Maybe Jimmy had more to do with it than me." "Yes," she laughed. "That's possible too. But whatever, I've seen a big change in her this summer. She's coming out of her shell and beginning to enjoy herself. She's even starting to dress a little better. I hope you noticed." "Yes, I did. But I didn't dare say anything. Maybe I should compliment her though. What do you think?" "I think she'd swoon if you did that," she laughed again. She had a lovely laugh and her eyes sparkled when she did. It was one of the things that made Gisele a very attractive woman. "Swoon? Do girls still do that?" "Of course. It may be an old fashioned word, but it's not an old fashioned reaction. Apparently, Jimmy has noticed the changes and told her she looks nice. It wouldn't hurt if the boss noticed too." "I promise I will. You mentioned you came 'out here' to help with Jana. Where are you from?" "As far from here as you can get, almost. Northern Maine, very near the Canadian border. Our family is originally Acadian and lived in Nova Scotia until the British drove us out. Over the years, many ended up in Louisiana, but our family moved to Vermont and then Maine. Paul came out here because he wanted to grow apples and the soil in Maine was poor. He's done very well for himself." "And you?" "I came out when a love affair went sour. I needed a place to hide, and my sister had just succumbed to cancer. I felt I was needed here and so I came. I've never regretted it for a moment. This is a wonderful part of the country." "I agree. I've lived here all my life. Don't know that I'd ever want to leave." We talked and before I knew it, we'd been there for a half-hour. "I'd better be getting back to the shop. I'd like to do this again sometime, Gisele. I enjoyed our conversation." "I'd like that too. If we don't hear from each other for a couple of weeks, one of us should call the other," she said. "Well, the way my life is right now, I can't tell two weeks from two months, so maybe we'd be just as well off if you did what you did today; just show up. Unless there's an emergency, I'll drop what I'm doing and join you." She gave me that great smile again and nodded her agreement. "Okay then, it's all on me." We parted on the sidewalk in front of the shop and I walked back into the store with a smile on my face. Jana and Jimmy were watching as I walked by and I swear I could hear a girlish giggle as I did. Gisele was right, Jana was coming out of her shell. By the end of July I hadn't heard anything from Pete, so I gave him a call. "Any word from Joyce's lawyer or the court?" "No, not yet. I was looking at the docket list and I'm guessing we'll get our day in court in early September. Summer is always a bad time for filing. What about you? What are you going to do when September rolls around?" "I've talked to Terry and I'm going to stay at the cottage until the divorce is settled. I'd like to arrange it with Joyce for Ross to stay with me and I'll drive him to school and back at night. I don't know if she'll go for that though. I'll have had them for three months, so I'm sure she'd be missing the boys. I know I would. "Matt's off to college the last week of August. He needs to be there for orientation and getting his dorm and books and things. I've been thinking about buying him a car. I haven't said anything about it, but I'm driving him to Eugene that week, so I might stop in Portland and do that. No state tax, you know, so I could save some money that way." "It's going to be different for you, Geoff. Matt and Joyce gone, you living on your own ... maybe with Ross, maybe not. Think you can handle it?" "I don't know, Pete. I think I can, but ... I guess I'm going to find out." "I'll keep in touch, friend. The minute anything happens, I'll let you know." Ch. 6 Upside Down August turned out to be one of the hottest on record. The growers fretted about sun scorch and finding enough labor for the harvest. My parents had that all looked after. It was a family affair, and we would work early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid the heat of the day. The packing houses stayed open late to receive the totes, knowing they had to be cooled quickly to preserve the fruit. Terry knew my schedule and we worked around it at the shop. It was a week to ten days that I would be involved, but not every day. I knew as my parents aged that sooner or later they would have to hire help. They were delaying that day for as long as they could, wanting to keep it in the family. It wasn't just the harvest, it was the pruning, weed control, spraying, pollination, and all the other details associated with operating an orchard. Gisele had dropped in a couple of times for coffee and we resumed our conversations. I was learning more about Jana and her father as well, but both of us could see the changes in the young woman. Whatever the motivator was, she was dressing much more attractively, opening up socially, and generally smiling a whole lot more. She loved her job, and she told me so regularly. She and Jimmy were a great team, each helping the other problem-solve. I wondered more than once if there was something happening with the two of them. Pete called just before I was to leave for Eugene with Matt. "Hi, Pete, what's up? You finally hear from Joyce?" "Uhhm, not exactly. I don't know how to tell you this, but Joyce has disappeared." "What? What do you mean -- disappeared?" "Just that. She's gone. She didn't show up for work this week. Someone at Koch phoned her parents and her parents phoned Ocsana. I guess they checked the house and there was no sign of her and a bunch of her clothes and personal things were missing, along with her SUV." "You don't suppose she just took a vacation and forgot to tell someone?" "Does that sound like Joyce to you, Geoff?" "No ... no ... you're right. So ... what next?" "Well, apparently there's an audit going on at Koch, and it may be that Joyce is involved in that, but no one is saying anything." "What does involved mean?" "There may be some ... irregularities in some of the accounts. I don't know anything for sure, yet." "Oh, shit ... no! She wouldn't ... would she?" "You know her better than I do, Geoff. Would she?" "I don't think I know her at all any more, Pete. In the last four months it's like she's a completely different person. Oh brother ... the boys are going to be devastated. Divorce is one thing ... but theft? I think I'm going to shut up about this until we know for sure or unless someone says something to them. They've got enough on their minds right now. They don't need more grief." "Yeah. I have a couple of sources at the cop-shop, so as soon as I hear something, you'll know. Better the boys hear it from you than read it in the newspaper or see it on TV." "Yeah. Thanks, Pete. Jesus ... what next? This is turning into a fucking soap opera, pardon my language." "No problem. I understand. You've been keeping your cool very well for guy who's been under as much pressure as you have. Just sit tight until I get more details." I didn't get much sleep that night. I was trying to understand just what my wife was thinking if she had done what Pete implied. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if it was connected to the money she had held back from me. Was she building a nest-egg to finance her escape? What the hell had triggered the switch in her brain that made her do anything like what I was imagining? As usual, far too many questions and damn few answers. We were up early the next morning. Matt and I were leaving for Eugene and with my parents tied up in the harvest, Joyce's parents were taking Ross until I returned. I didn't have the time to talk very long to Nora and Mike, but I knew they were very worried about Joyce, and that was without knowing about any possible wrongdoing at Koch Motors. I suggested we would talk when I got back in three days. It was a five-and-a-half hour drive to Portland at this time of the year. Over Blewett Pass, through Ellensburg, Yakima, then west along the Columbia to Portland. I decided to stay overnight in Portland, explaining to Matt that I wanted him to have some transportation while he was at school, and the big city was the best place to shop. When he got over the shock, he immediately agreed. It took half a day to find a car we both agreed on. In fact, it was a late model mid-size crew cab pickup with a V-6 and four-wheel drive. It looked like it had been city driven, with not quite forty thousand miles and no signs of abuse. We bought it at the dealer who originally sold it, so I was a little more confident that it wouldn't be a lemon. Years earlier I had arranged with my bank for a line of credit that I often used when I was working with my parents at the orchard. It had almost nothing outstanding on it, so putting down nearly eleven thousand dollars wasn't going to be a problem. After the insurance and license, I gave Matt a check for twenty-five hundred dollars to look after other expenses, telling him I expected it to last until the New Year. I think he was so stunned that I had bought him the truck that he would have agreed to anything. Naturally, he drove it to Eugene with me following in my car. Two years earlier I had purchased a Subaru Outback, wanting the all-wheel drive for the hills leading up to the house. Snow in the winter was common and it proved to be a good investment when I put the winter tires on. Matt was a responsible young guy, and I was fairly confident that he would treat the truck with respect and not do anything stupid with it. The drive back to Wenatchee was an all-day trip. I bent the speed limits a bit and got back in a little under seven hours, even with a couple of pit stops. As I drove along, I wondered if I should be moving back into our house. If Joyce had taken off, it would change everything in the divorce, particularly if she had committed a crime. I might not have to give up my beautiful home on the ridge. It wasn't long before I was ripping myself for being so selfish, thinking of how her disappearance would benefit me. I was feeling guilty about it, yet ... something told me that the bad news had only begun and I was in for another rollercoaster ride of emotions in the not-too-distant future. Once again, it was hard to keep my thoughts straight. Ross started his senior year in high school, the first few days riding in with me from Orondo in the morning and home again late in the afternoon. At the end of his first week, we packed up our belongings in Orondo, and moved back to our home. It was the third week of September when Pete Mahoney called me and asked if I could come to his office. I agreed, of course, but dreaded the likely subject of the meeting. "Come on in, Geoff. We'll meet in the board room. I've got a guest you will want to talk to." I walked into the board room and saw a middle-aged man in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and dark tie, sitting at the table. He rose when we entered. "Geoff, this is agent Sam Hildebrand of the Seattle office of the FBI. He has some news about Joyce." I was speechless as I shook hands with the agent. "Have a seat and relax, Geoff. I think Mr. Hildebrand is going to help clear up a lot of the mystery about Joyce's actions." "Mr. Nelson, I understand you have been in the process of seeking a divorce from your wife, Joyce Alana Nelson, formerly Fielding. Is that correct?" "No ... not exactly. She had filed for divorce from me." "Yes ... that's right ... my error. To make a long story short, we are investigating your wife for the embezzlement of funds from Koch Motors and Koch Credit Services. We were alerted to the theft by Wenatchee Police who were called in by Koch Motors when a preliminary audit revealed the theft. Subsequently, we have determined that your wife has left the area, and we believe, the country as well. She is traveling under the name of Alana Fielding, and has a passport and other credentials in that name. "Her company vehicle was found at SeaTac airport parking and the date she entered the lot was August 20th, at nine-oh-seven in the evening. We know she boarded a flight to Mexico City, then we think she boarded another flight to South America, possibly Brazil. We have not been able to confirm that yet, but we strongly suspect that is where she went. Beyond that, we do not know where she is at present." I was in shock. I couldn't get my head around what he was telling me. Joyce was a fugitive and had flown the country to escape prosecution. It all seemed just too preposterous to believe. "Are you sure about this?" I asked finally. "Yes ... quite sure. There is a warrant out for her arrest and all our international contacts have been alerted. The company's audit confirms at least a half-million dollars is missing, most of it in the past year. We have been unable to trace the money, but we suspect it is in an offshore account, possibly the Cayman Islands." "I can't believe this. It's just so improbable. This is so completely out of character for her. This whole thing ... the divorce ... the money ... her running away ... it just doesn't make any sense," I said, shaking my head. "Believe me, Mr. Nelson, we see this kind of thing more often than you might think. The temptation can sometimes be too great to resist. In the meantime, if you have any contact with your wife at any time, please contact me immediately. Please don't think you can handle this yourself. It is now an FBI matter." I nodded, still baffled by my wife's behavior. The agent rose, shook Pete's and my hand and left the office. "This just gets crazier and crazier, Pete. What does it all mean? What happens now?" "As far as the divorce goes, her petition will die after she fails to show. That means there's no divorce unless you file yourself. I'll have to check to find out how long it would be with no response from Joyce before the petition would be granted, but I think it might be six months. Sometime next spring, you'd be a free man again." "I wonder if I'll ever be a free man again, Pete. When this hits the media, I'm afraid for what might happen to the boys and Joyce's parents. They don't even know about the theft yet." "Yes they do, Geoff. Hildebrand met with them this morning. He was following up to see if they had any contact with her. That let the cat out of the bag and he had to tell them the whole sad story. I think you should call the Fieldings and see if everything is all right." "Yeah ... sure. I'll have to call my parents, too. I don't suppose the FBI talked to them did they?" "Not that I know of." "I think I'm going to need a big stiff drink before I have those conversations." I was right. Nora and Mike were devastated at the news. Their daughter was being sought by the FBI and other agencies for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was no more believable to them than it was to me. As I sat in their living room watching their world fall apart, I knew just how they felt. My parents were similarly devastated that they could be so wrong about someone they loved and admired. The divorce had colored their view of Joyce, but just the same, they never in their wildest imaginations thought anything like this might take place. I sat with Ross and explained some of what was going on with his mother and he was shocked and upset. "But Dad, she can't just run away. What about us? She's our mother. There must be some mistake," he cried, tears streaming down his face. "I hope you're right, son. I really do. For now, all we can do is wait and see." He nodded, not looking at me, but accepting that it was the only choice. That just left Matt for me to inform. I got a strange reaction from Matt when I told him about the FBI and his mother's disappearance. He was angry - angry at her. How could she do this to us? When he calmed down I told him about our moving back into the house and he was happy about that. Even though he wouldn't be there until the Christmas break, it was home base and it gave him a sense of comfort. I couldn't get over how empty my life felt now. Joyce was gone. Matt was away at college, Ross was in school all day and often out with his friends on weekends. I was incredibly lonely and really feeling the loss of my wife more than ever. I had resigned myself to the fact that Joyce would never be back. She was gone forever ... either on the run ... or when caught ... in prison. The only relief I had was at the shop. Terry, Red, Jana, and Jimmy became my safety valve. People to talk to, to work with, to be near. It helped, but it wasn't enough. "Hi, Gisele. It's Geoff Nelson. How are you?" "Fine, Geoff. I'm sorry to hear about your wife, though. That must be very troubling." "Yes ... but there's nothing I can do about it. In the meantime, I thought I'd call you for a change. I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me on Friday evening. There are some very nice restaurants in town." "Oh ... that's very nice of you, Geoff. Yes ... I'd be pleased to have dinner with you." "Great. Do you have any preferences? I like almost everything," I assured her. "Well ... I'm the only one in the family that likes Mexican food, so if that's okay, why don't we plan on that?" "You bet. I know just the place. Can I pick you up a six-thirty? Is that too early?" "No ... six-thirty is just fine. Do you know how to find our place?" "You're not far from my house, as I recall from Jana's application. Up on Canyon Drive." "That's right. I'll see you at six-thirty." When I hung up I felt good for the first time that day. Gisele was someone I could talk to and not have to worry about keeping a confidence. Our off-and-on coffee meetings had become addictive and I wanted them to continue. The idea of inviting her to dinner had been percolating for a while, and in my blue mood, I decided to take the chance. Her acceptance picked me right up. "Ross and I have moved back into our house," I told Gisele. "I'm hoping it will give both of us a bit more stability. I'm worried about him particularly. He's very upset with what's happened with his mother." "I understand completely. Sometimes not knowing is worse than knowing. Do you think it would help if I kept in touch with you and him? I'm only five minutes away from your place." "I know it would help me," I grinned, "but I'm not sure how Ross would take it. I guess we can give it a try and see what happens." "Good. I'll let you get settled for a week or so before I just happen to drop by. I might bring Jana with me. That might help." "Yes, it might. Good idea," I agreed. I was admiring my dinner partner as we sat waiting for our dessert. She was a very positive person and I found I felt better when she was around, in spite of the turmoil my family was going through. I began to think of her as a possible girlfriend ... perhaps even more. Then I would catch myself, ashamed that I was thinking so quickly of replacing Joyce. "Watching you is like watching clouds, Geoff. Your expression changes as each different thought passes by. One minute it's pleasure and the next it's pain. Is that what it's like?" I nodded, my eyebrows raised at her perceptiveness. "Yeah, that's exactly what it's like. Right now, I'm confused. I don't know what to think about Joyce ... my marriage ... my future. Everything is up in the air and I have no idea where the pieces are going to fall. There's little I can do about it, so I'm forced to sit and wait and see what happens next. "Part of me wants to get to know you better, and part of me says it's too soon, maybe even wrong. I apologize if I'm being too forward, but you are a very attractive woman and I'm still married." Wenatchee Ch. 05-06 She was smiling as I confessed my interest and uncertainty. "Well, that's plain enough. You're interested in me ... and I'm interested in you. I'm assuming that sometime in the future you will be single again and I just want to make sure my name is on the list of possible new partners." I looked at her in surprise. That was very direct. No messing around with vaguely disguised hints. It demanded a response. "Right at the top," I said without really thinking about it. It was true. Gisele would be the first person I would want to date if and when I was free to do so. "There you go," she smiled broadly. "I got what I wanted and I didn't even have to drag it out of you." "Jeeze, Gisele. I hope you don't think I'm easy," I kidded. "Of course not. We're just having a bit of fun between two adults who like each other and get along well together. The serious stuff can come later." "How much later?" "Now don't get overanxious, Geoff. We're still at the beginning stages. I have a feeling we'll know when the time is right." Our conversation was light-hearted on the surface, but had serious undertones to it. It surprised me that it was so easy to fall into this situation. I was going to have to discipline myself to keep from rushing into something I might regret later. "There go those clouds again," she said. "Having some doubts?" "No ... warning myself not to rush. How is it that you're so easy to talk to? You've got me verbalizing my thoughts. You're a hard person to keep a secret from." "Good, I'm glad to hear that. But then, I don't think you're the kind of guy that keeps secrets from people he trusts." "Hmmm. I suppose that suggests that I trust you. I guess I do, come to think of it." We were sharing a Black Forest Cheesecake as we bantered back and forth. I was really enjoying the joust and, of course, the company. I guess it showed because Gisele made it plain she was enjoying it too. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be with her. I'd been without female companionship for more than five months and that was the longest I had gone since I was a freshman in college. Married or not, I was attracted to this woman and my big head was passing that information along to my little head. Great Expectations, the classic Dickens story, told of a boy who strove to rise from his humble beginnings to become a gentleman in English society. My great expectations were to rise from the ashes of my marriage and rebuild my life with a new partner. The lovely lady sitting across from me was definitely a candidate. "There you go again, Geoff," she chuckled softly. "The clouds thing?" She nodded. "I don't recommend taking up poker as a pastime. Your eyes light up when a happy thought appears." "I'm that transparent, am I?" She nodded with a wry smile. "So what am I thinking now?" "You're wondering what it would take to get me into your arms ... if not your bed." I don't know what my facial expression was at that moment, but whatever it was it provoked a reaction in Gisele. "Oh my ... a bulls-eye," she said with surprise. She looked flustered and took a quick sip of water to calm herself. "This was your game, remember?" I reminded her. "Touché, sir." She was regaining her composure, but had blushed mightily. I decided to up the ante. "So ... what would it take?" "Let's just say you're heading in the right direction." "Good. I'll settle for that. After all, I'm a married man, and I have to be careful of my reputation." "And I don't?" she said, feigning an indignant pose. "A true gentleman would never endanger a lady's reputation. It's just not done," I said in what I thought was an English accent. "I'm not so sure about that, but maybe it's time we went. I've enjoyed this evening very much. It's a good start for something more ... don't you think?" I drained my coffee and picked up the check. "It's a very good start," I said seriously. To be concluded Editing by ErikThread and Dave T with my thanks for their thoroughness and helpful suggestions. Any errors are mine.