Chapter 8 #2
Seth nodded and carried on in the same quiet tone, “Briefly. Brunette, five feet six or seven, bruises on her face, the side of her neck, and down one arm. They were about two weeks old, with a yellowing and fading appearance. She was wearing white tennis shoes, blue jeans, and a white or gray shirt.”
Allison blinked and turned to look at him. He glanced at her. “I saw her longer than you did,” Allison said. “And I couldn’t have told him half that information. How did you see all of that?”
“I was a cop for my entire career in the Air Force. MWD handlers are security personnel, and we primarily work on law enforcement issues unless we’re forward deployed for base security.”
Allison couldn’t help but notice the way his arm flexed.
Her eyes dipped to his bicep and then back to his eyes.
He winked at her. Mortified, she snapped her head in Ken’s direction and immediately changed the subject.
“She looked way too skinny. Has there been any reports of a runaway or anything?”
Ken frowned and shook his head. “No, nothing. I can go back and look at other counties. Do you think she’s that young?”
“I don’t know.” She looked at Seth. “Maybe twenty at the oldest?”
“Honestly, I’m crap at ages. She could be anywhere from sixteen to twenty-five.” He shrugged. “Sorry about that.”
“No, what you’ve given me is enough. I’ll let the deputies know to be on the lookout for her. Strange she hasn’t asked for help or anything.” Ken looked out the window. “We’ve had a couple of strangers in town lately, but they’ve moved on. ”
Seth leaned a bit closer. “You think she may have gotten free from an abusive situation?”
Sam nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
“I’m going to leave her a decent meal tomorrow and a note letting her know she can trust me.”
“That could be a hard sell, but it couldn’t hurt,” Sam said. “Most people on the run from abusive situations fear everything and everyone. They have no reason to trust.”
Allison sighed; her gut dropped. “I have to try.”
“Please do,” Ken said before turning to Sam.
“Babe, I’m going to head back to the office and start working on this.
I’ll put the description out to see if anyone’s been reported missing locally.
If we can’t find anything, I’ll push it out to the state and nationally.
If we can get her to trust us and get her story, that would help. ”
“I’m done, too,” Sam said. “I’ll leave with you. Seth, it was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to talking with you and your dad.” Ken stood up, helped Sam out of the booth, and dropped money for their lunch. “Tell Corrie the meal was great.”
“I heard you, and thank you,” Corrie said as she approached the table. “Sorry, I was prepping breakfast for tomorrow and didn’t hear you come inside. What can I get you?”
“Nothing for me,” Allison said and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Kathy and I are running in twenty minutes. If I eat anything now, I’ll be in misery.”
“For you?” Corrie looked at Seth. “Sorry, do I know you?”
“I don’t think so, ma’am. I’m Seth Hansen. Chester is my father. I understand he’s been asked not to come here any longer.”
The woman’s face fell. “I hated doing that. Chester was just so out of control. We have our other customers to consider. If you’ve got his temper under control, he’s welcome back.”
“I understand,” Seth said, smiling. “He won’t be spending much time in town anyway.”
Allison nudged him. “Did you want a coffee or something?”
“No, I’m good. Glad we got to talk to Ken,” Seth said.
“Then I’ll leave you two to visit.” Corrie took the dirty dishes in a stack that rivaled the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Allison slid out of the bench and glanced over at Edna Michaelson.
The woman had a smile the Cheshire Cat would have been jealous of.
Allison knew better than to walk out without introducing Seth and setting the record straight.
They were not dating. Although she wouldn’t mind …
No, she wouldn’t start wishing for things that weren’t going to happen.
Touching Seth’s elbow, she tilted her head to the side. He glanced at the table she was indicating and smiled. “The hen party still owns the back corner booth, huh?”
“Some things never change.” Allison laughed as they made their way to her booth.
“Edna, do you remember Seth Hansen?” Allison asked, gesturing to him.
“Miss Edna,” Seth said, balancing the box in one hand and offering the other. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Edna took his hand and beamed. “Of course, I remember you, Seth. How nice of you to come back and take care of your daddy. We’ve all been very, very worried about him.”
Seth smiled, polite and measured. But Allison noticed his eyes didn’t quite match the smile.
“Thank you,” he said softly, then stood straighter, holding his lavender box.
“I see Allison has hooked you up with all the goodies.” Edna’s voice left no doubt that she wasn’t talking about the baked goods. Allison glared at her, but the woman dared to smile wider.
Seth chuckled, obviously noting the exchange.
“Dog biscuits for Gomer, my retired military working dog, and a few goodies for Chester and me.” He turned to the other ladies at the booth.
“Miss Belinda, Miss Doris, it’s good to see you looking so well,” he added with a nod.
“If you’ll excuse me, it’s time to collect Chester and make sure Delbert gets home. ”
“I’ll go with you.” She wasn’t staying for the Edna Inquisition. They said their farewells, and Allison walked out with him. “I’m so sorry for that, but if we didn’t stop by to say hi to her, the woman would have us married by next week.”
Seth chuckled. “Not much changes in a small town.”
Allison glanced across the street at the two men sitting on the bench. “How’s Delbert doing? Your dad used to take care of him.”
“As far as I can tell, he’s still getting along. I made my father a promise that when he was no longer able to take care of him, I would.”
“Delbert isn’t any trouble. Just slow,” Allison said as she walked Seth back to his truck .
“He used to be very smart, or so my dad has told me. He was kicked in the head by a bull when he was a teenager. My family has cared for him for as long as I can remember. Delbert had a small cottage on my grandpa’s place. When he and Grandma passed, Delbert became Dad’s responsibility.”
“You know Mr. Hollister pays for his groceries, and Mr. Marshall lets him stay rent-free in one of his little cabins,” Allison said as they slowed to a stroll, neither one seeming to want to end the talk today.
“Both the Hollisters and Marshalls are good people. They take care of this little town.” Seth looked around. “But it has grown. At least doubled in size since I left.”
“We’re kind of proud of the community it’s become,” Allison agreed as she looked up and down the main street, where she saw Kathy jogging down the road. “There’s my running partner.”
Seth opened his truck door and put the box on the seat. “Is it okay if I call later?” Seth was turned so Chester could only see his back.
She smiled up at him. “I’d like that, but I want to warn you, I might get the idea you like me if you keep this up.”
“I’ve always liked you, Allison.” He winked at her and nodded down the road before he turned and walked up the wooden steps to the front of her parents’ store. “You’d better get going, or you're going to be late.”
She stood there like an idiot watching him walk up the steps before her brain engaged, and she spun, setting out at a quick jog to intercept Kathy.
They fell into step, and Kathy smiled as they passed the store.
Both Chester and Seth waved at them. Allison had to give Kathy credit; she waited until they were out of earshot before asking, “So, do you have any tea for me?”
Allison laughed. “Man, do I ever.”