A Small Gray Dot

I glanced around. Watching the front wouldn’t be a problem. There were plenty of places from which I could do that but if they decided to make a back exit, I saw no good position from which to watch both entrances. I would have to search for a location that covered both. I did another quick scan hoping to see a likely spot that could be put to that use and saw a possibility, but then, a gust of icy wind wrapped itself around me, teasing the back of my neck just as a couple of the shadowy figures whispered past. That settled it. There was no guarantee they were still there and if so would be leaving anytime soon, so I could be out in the cold watching for a long time. I decided on a frontal approach.

I crossed the street, and a light on the porch that was apparently motion-activated blinked on as soon as I started down the driveway. I stepped up to the door and gave the bell a firm push. In a few seconds, I heard footsteps and a shadow fell across the frosted sidelights of the door. Whoever it was had undoubtedly gotten a good look at me on the surveillance system and from the sound of it, decided to come to the door.

The porch light in my eyes and the one behind him from inside obscured him slightly, but when he opened the door, I recognized the man to whom I had delivered the brown envelopes. He stared out at me through his thick lenses with his eyebrows raised.

“Yes? May I help you?” His voice seemed a little edgy.

I’d not given him my name when I made those deliveries and I didn’t know if he would remember seeing me, but reasoned it was better to start with an alias. I put on my best face and most respectful tone.

“Sir, I’m sorry to disturb your evening. My name is Alvin Smith, and I’m searching for someone, a young lady, and I was told she might be here.”

He gave no indication that he recognized me. Perhaps he didn’t. Though he’d seen me twice, both instances were brief.

His head turned slightly to the left and his eyes flicked in that direction for a fraction of a second, then he said, “Well, Mr. er, Mr. Smith—”

A male voice came from behind him, “Hey, don’t make him stand out in the cold, Doc. Let Mr. Smith in.”

A man who’d obviously been listening, stepped from a room on the right down the short foyer, and stood looking toward us. Dr. Bennett dipped his head and motioned for me to come in.

It was cold but I wasn’t going in. “Thank you, sir, but I only need to verify whether the young lady is here or not.”

He opened his mouth but again the man interrupted him. Ken Talbert I presumed. The light shone on him and I could see him clearly. He matched the description. He appeared to be around twenty-one, maybe twenty-two, certainly no older than twenty-three. And he was cocky.

“If you’re looking for Morgan Effingham, yeah, she’s here.” He glanced to his right smiling and holding out his hand. “Come here, baby, somebody’s looking for you.” He pulled her alongside himself and ran his arm around her shoulders.

She stiffened. She folded her arms and didn’t look at him. She looked exactly like her picture only she was smiling in the picture.

I noted that the doctor looked startled and shot a quick look at Talbert but he said nothing.

I smiled at her. “Hello, Morgan. I’m a friend of your sister’s. She hasn’t heard from you in a while and sent me to see if you are all right.”

Morgan said in a voice that carried a tense note, “I’m okay, Mr. Smith.” She cut her eyes to Talbert who was keeping his on me and didn’t notice. “Tell Maddy I’ll call her. Soon.” She flicked her eyes back to me and came out with a half-smile.

I nodded. “Okay, Morgan. I’ll let her know. Be sure and make that call, though. She’s really worried.”

Talbert was smiling. He gave Morgan a squeeze and said, “We just met, you know, and we’re taking time to get to know each other. But I’ll see to it that she remembers to make the call.”

The doctor glanced at him then back at me, and said, “It was nice meeting you Mr. Smith.”

“Yeah, nice meeting you,” said Talbert giving an unsmiling Morgan another squeeze. He looked smug.

I smiled, nodded, and stepped back. The doctor closed the door as I aimed myself in the direction of the bar.

Chapter Twenty-five

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, FROM MY PERCH ON the opposite side of the street four houses up – and freezing my ass off while lying atop a detached garage next to a darkened house – I watched as a man in a brown jacket and tan pants came down Main on foot, turned on Carter, and approached Dr. Bennett’s house.

He leaned in and rang the bell. The door opened and he spoke to someone inside. In a moment, Talbert stepped out with Morgan in tow. He nodded at brown jacket and said something to Morgan then shot a look at the door where the doctor stood, and nodded. The doctor closed the door. They were too far away for me to make out their words but I didn’t think Morgan had responded to whatever he’d said to her. The three of them moved off towards Main and turned right.