married, died, their parents, siblings. When he was writing the names from the wedding announcement, he noticed a familiar name. Evelyn. That was his mother’s name. Did Mae know his mother? Or was Evelyn a different person?
The Amstead family tree was next. Mark Amstead’s mother had remarried. Her former husband’s name was Bernard York. York. Mae Ponder’s maiden name was York. A connection to both couples.
Mason looked at his watch—two o’clock. He’d forgotten breakfast and lunch. No wonder he was getting the shakes. The only other time he missed meals was when he studied for college finals. Opening the fridge, he found a red delicious apple a tad past its prime, sliced cheddar cheese, beer. He made a mental note to get groceries later in the afternoon. In the cabinet, he found a can of tomato soup. He opened two drawers before finding the can opener.
Ten minutes later, he was back to work. The York name meant something to him. But from where? He decided to call his father.
“Hey, Dad .” Mason took a deep breath. “Does the name York mean anything to you?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Working on a case. The name came up and I thought it sounded familiar.” Mason didn’t like lying to his father, but he couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet.
“Don’t know any around here. Sorry I can’t help you. I’m missing the game. Talk to you soon.” Walter hung up.
H is dad was surely hiding something now.
Minutes later, the phone rang. Mason hoped his dad had changed his mind and wanted to chat.
“Hey , Mace. Question. Can you run a background check on someone?” Carl asked.
“What’s going on?” Mason felt concerned Carl was in some sort of trouble.
“Katrina’s been acting strange. I know it’s only been two weeks, but something’s off.”
“I thought this was something serious. I—“
Carl interrupted. “It is serious. I really like her.”
“Look. I can’t run a background check on someone without an official case file —otherwise I lose my job. And I’m not losing my job over a woman you’ve known two weeks.” Mason was already regretting it, but he decided to ask, “Why do you think something’s wrong?”
“I can never call her, she always calls me. I can never pick her up, we always meet at the restaurant, movie or bar. I…I think she might be married or something.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “Did you ever think that she might be very cautious? Maybe she wants to make sure you’re not a serial killer first. There are some strange people out there.”
“I’m no serial killer.”
“I didn’t say you were. Get a grip.”
“I do sound paranoid, don’t I?”
“Yes you do. Why don’t you ask her to go on a double date this weekend?”
“Fine. I’m seeing her tomorrow. I’ll ask her then.”
“Feel better?”
“A little. Later, buddy.”
Mason did think it was strange the way Katrina was acting. Carl was a handsome guy, good job. Mason wondered whether Carl knew where she grew up. Maybe she had lived out east and wasn’t used to the friendly Midwest personality. He shrugged off the thought and got back to his research.
17 Friday, June 3, 1977 (Sam)
G randfather had been home a week and was still using a cane. I could tell he hated that he wasn’t getting stronger. He let it slip one night at dinner that he was taking afternoon naps. Grandfather was still a mean man, even though he was weak. He found any reason to punish me. He couldn’t hit me hard, but the cane left bruises on my legs.
I heard Grandfather yell . “Where’s my coffee and breakfast?”
“Be right there , Grandfather,” I shouted back. Today was a happy day. I was leaving and never coming back. Grandfather wouldn’t live too many more days. The poison was taking its toll. I’d leave the house when Grandfather took his afternoon nap. Only six more hours in this dreadful place. I had to control my happiness. I slowly walked down the stairs just as I’d done the last nine
The Amstead family tree was next. Mark Amstead’s mother had remarried. Her former husband’s name was Bernard York. York. Mae Ponder’s maiden name was York. A connection to both couples.
Mason looked at his watch—two o’clock. He’d forgotten breakfast and lunch. No wonder he was getting the shakes. The only other time he missed meals was when he studied for college finals. Opening the fridge, he found a red delicious apple a tad past its prime, sliced cheddar cheese, beer. He made a mental note to get groceries later in the afternoon. In the cabinet, he found a can of tomato soup. He opened two drawers before finding the can opener.
Ten minutes later, he was back to work. The York name meant something to him. But from where? He decided to call his father.
“Hey, Dad .” Mason took a deep breath. “Does the name York mean anything to you?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Working on a case. The name came up and I thought it sounded familiar.” Mason didn’t like lying to his father, but he couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet.
“Don’t know any around here. Sorry I can’t help you. I’m missing the game. Talk to you soon.” Walter hung up.
H is dad was surely hiding something now.
Minutes later, the phone rang. Mason hoped his dad had changed his mind and wanted to chat.
“Hey , Mace. Question. Can you run a background check on someone?” Carl asked.
“What’s going on?” Mason felt concerned Carl was in some sort of trouble.
“Katrina’s been acting strange. I know it’s only been two weeks, but something’s off.”
“I thought this was something serious. I—“
Carl interrupted. “It is serious. I really like her.”
“Look. I can’t run a background check on someone without an official case file —otherwise I lose my job. And I’m not losing my job over a woman you’ve known two weeks.” Mason was already regretting it, but he decided to ask, “Why do you think something’s wrong?”
“I can never call her, she always calls me. I can never pick her up, we always meet at the restaurant, movie or bar. I…I think she might be married or something.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “Did you ever think that she might be very cautious? Maybe she wants to make sure you’re not a serial killer first. There are some strange people out there.”
“I’m no serial killer.”
“I didn’t say you were. Get a grip.”
“I do sound paranoid, don’t I?”
“Yes you do. Why don’t you ask her to go on a double date this weekend?”
“Fine. I’m seeing her tomorrow. I’ll ask her then.”
“Feel better?”
“A little. Later, buddy.”
Mason did think it was strange the way Katrina was acting. Carl was a handsome guy, good job. Mason wondered whether Carl knew where she grew up. Maybe she had lived out east and wasn’t used to the friendly Midwest personality. He shrugged off the thought and got back to his research.
17 Friday, June 3, 1977 (Sam)
G randfather had been home a week and was still using a cane. I could tell he hated that he wasn’t getting stronger. He let it slip one night at dinner that he was taking afternoon naps. Grandfather was still a mean man, even though he was weak. He found any reason to punish me. He couldn’t hit me hard, but the cane left bruises on my legs.
I heard Grandfather yell . “Where’s my coffee and breakfast?”
“Be right there , Grandfather,” I shouted back. Today was a happy day. I was leaving and never coming back. Grandfather wouldn’t live too many more days. The poison was taking its toll. I’d leave the house when Grandfather took his afternoon nap. Only six more hours in this dreadful place. I had to control my happiness. I slowly walked down the stairs just as I’d done the last nine
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