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Authors: Joan Mauch
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it
happens all the time and not to worry about it, but I don’t think Izzie would
do that. She loves the job. Besides if she’s gone, why’s her car still in the
parking lot outside her apartment?”
“I don’t know.” Zac scratched the stubble on his
face. “You said neither a neighbor nor the apartment manager have seen her and
that her mail’s piling up?”
Jackson nodded.
“Then something’s not right, bro. Let’s drive
over and see what we can find out.”
****
An hour later they were at the police station
filling out a “missing person’s” report. There was little information Jackson
could provide other than what Izzie had told him about herself. Leaving Morris
Stone’s phone number and asking to be notified if they learned anything, they
returned home no wiser than before.
Chapter 24
The next morning at the TV station, Jackson was
about to head out the door, camera in hand, when the unmistakable sound of
Morris Stone’s gravelly voice stopped him.
“Taylor. Over here.” The man didn’t sound
pleased.
Mentally ticking off the stories he’d covered the
previous day, Jackson couldn’t imagine what the problem was. It wasn’t unusual
for someone to call in complaining. They’d expected to be in a story that
hadn’t run. The photographer—in this case, Jackson, made them look bad, or
didn’t get the story right, or misquoted them or…you name it. Usually
management blew it off saying complaints came with the territory. But Stone’s
tone of voice said the mistake was significant. With a sinking feeling, Jackson
set the camera down and headed for his boss’ office.
“You wanted me?” Jackson summoned up his most
innocent expression, hoping to minimize the damage.
“Close the door.”
Whatever it was, Jackson was certain it wouldn’t
end with a compliment like the last time. He’d scarcely managed to sit down
when he was pummeled with the gruff tone his boss used when he was angry.
“The police came to see me this morning,” he began.
Before Jackson had a chance to react, he added, “ Wanna know who gave them my phone number? Oh, yeah, that would be you.”
Since there seemed to be no question involved,
Jackson thought it best to keep his mouth shut.
“So, now, I gotta ask why my photographer goes
out and reports one of my employees missing and makes it look like I don’t give
a crap. Can you answer me that?”
Jackson was about to respond, when Morris Stone
continued. “They questioned me for half an hour, like I was somehow responsible
for her. How am I supposed to know why some ditsy broad quits? For all I know
she met the man of her dreams and went riding off into the sunset.”
The longer he talked, the more animated he became
until Jackson feared the man would strike him. He clutched the sides of the
chair and waited.
“Now I ask you, Jackson, why would you
deliberately go out and do something like that? Tell me that ’cause I gotta say, I don’t understand.”
Jackson’s mouth was bone dry making speech difficult.
He licked his lips. “I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble, it wasn’t my
intention.”
“ If? The man says— if he caused me any
trouble . The police treated me like I was some kind of damned suspect. We
don’t even know if the girl’s missing or holed up somewhere with her latest
squeeze.”
When Jackson didn’t say anything, he continued,
“Well, we don’t know, do we? Or is there something you’re aware of—and if so,
speak up.”
“Uh, well, it’s just that things don’t add up,
that’s all.” Jackson said.
“What things would that be?”
“Well, for instance, her car’s in the parking lot
of her apartment and it’s covered with leaves and bird droppings.”
“So?”
“So, Izzie loves that car. She’d never allow it
to be in that condition. I know for a fact she wouldn’t.”
Morris Stone heaved a sigh. “That’s all you’ve
got? A car covered with bird shit? You filled out a missing person’s
happens all the time and not to worry about it, but I don’t think Izzie would
do that. She loves the job. Besides if she’s gone, why’s her car still in the
parking lot outside her apartment?”
“I don’t know.” Zac scratched the stubble on his
face. “You said neither a neighbor nor the apartment manager have seen her and
that her mail’s piling up?”
Jackson nodded.
“Then something’s not right, bro. Let’s drive
over and see what we can find out.”
****
An hour later they were at the police station
filling out a “missing person’s” report. There was little information Jackson
could provide other than what Izzie had told him about herself. Leaving Morris
Stone’s phone number and asking to be notified if they learned anything, they
returned home no wiser than before.
Chapter 24
The next morning at the TV station, Jackson was
about to head out the door, camera in hand, when the unmistakable sound of
Morris Stone’s gravelly voice stopped him.
“Taylor. Over here.” The man didn’t sound
pleased.
Mentally ticking off the stories he’d covered the
previous day, Jackson couldn’t imagine what the problem was. It wasn’t unusual
for someone to call in complaining. They’d expected to be in a story that
hadn’t run. The photographer—in this case, Jackson, made them look bad, or
didn’t get the story right, or misquoted them or…you name it. Usually
management blew it off saying complaints came with the territory. But Stone’s
tone of voice said the mistake was significant. With a sinking feeling, Jackson
set the camera down and headed for his boss’ office.
“You wanted me?” Jackson summoned up his most
innocent expression, hoping to minimize the damage.
“Close the door.”
Whatever it was, Jackson was certain it wouldn’t
end with a compliment like the last time. He’d scarcely managed to sit down
when he was pummeled with the gruff tone his boss used when he was angry.
“The police came to see me this morning,” he began.
Before Jackson had a chance to react, he added, “ Wanna know who gave them my phone number? Oh, yeah, that would be you.”
Since there seemed to be no question involved,
Jackson thought it best to keep his mouth shut.
“So, now, I gotta ask why my photographer goes
out and reports one of my employees missing and makes it look like I don’t give
a crap. Can you answer me that?”
Jackson was about to respond, when Morris Stone
continued. “They questioned me for half an hour, like I was somehow responsible
for her. How am I supposed to know why some ditsy broad quits? For all I know
she met the man of her dreams and went riding off into the sunset.”
The longer he talked, the more animated he became
until Jackson feared the man would strike him. He clutched the sides of the
chair and waited.
“Now I ask you, Jackson, why would you
deliberately go out and do something like that? Tell me that ’cause I gotta say, I don’t understand.”
Jackson’s mouth was bone dry making speech difficult.
He licked his lips. “I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble, it wasn’t my
intention.”
“ If? The man says— if he caused me any
trouble . The police treated me like I was some kind of damned suspect. We
don’t even know if the girl’s missing or holed up somewhere with her latest
squeeze.”
When Jackson didn’t say anything, he continued,
“Well, we don’t know, do we? Or is there something you’re aware of—and if so,
speak up.”
“Uh, well, it’s just that things don’t add up,
that’s all.” Jackson said.
“What things would that be?”
“Well, for instance, her car’s in the parking lot
of her apartment and it’s covered with leaves and bird droppings.”
“So?”
“So, Izzie loves that car. She’d never allow it
to be in that condition. I know for a fact she wouldn’t.”
Morris Stone heaved a sigh. “That’s all you’ve
got? A car covered with bird shit? You filled out a missing person’s
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