Chapter 19 #4
Upon arrival there was no debate about what to do with his bike.
Without hesitation he wheeled it inside the single-story, gable-roofed building with Victorian Gothic Revival gingerbread.
Conveniently enough the checkout line was close to the doorway where there was a large, old-fashioned, and rather elaborately decorated cash register positioned front and center on the counter.
The old register reminded Jack of the convenience store in the small Midwestern town where he grew up.
They had had an identical machine. The difference was that back then it was functional.
Behind the antique register was an athletic, youthful-appearing woman who Jack assumed was Janet Huber.
She was wearing a bright-yellow sundress and appeared to be in her early to mid-twenties.
She had a wide, oval, tanned face with small expressive features and bright blue eyes that flashed momentarily in Jack’s direction, seemingly eyeing his bike.
If she cared about it being brought inside, she didn’t say anything.
Instead, she carried on with a conversation she was having with the older woman she was helping check out.
Quickly Jack leaned his bike against the wall to the side of the modern, glass, double entrance doors and then stepped behind the woman.
Conveniently no one else was in the checkout line although there were a number of other people shopping, especially back at the deli counter manned by an older couple.
As Jack waited anxiously, he observed Janet.
She had moderately curly, neatly coiffed hair whose summer cut was short enough to almost give the appearance that it wasn’t hair but rather a blond-colored helmet.
“Can I help you?” the young woman said with a mildly confused expression when it was Jack’s turn. She obviously noticed his empty hands and lack of a shopping basket or cart. Her luminous, cornflower-blue eyes stared directly at him.
“I hope so,” Jack said. “Are you Janet Huber?”
“I am…” Janet said questioningly, wondering who this stranger was.
“My name is Dr. Jack Stapleton,” Jack began.
He hadn’t really thought through what he was going to say or specifically what he wanted to ask the woman.
“I’m a forensic pathologist visiting Dr. Bob.
I was supposed to assist him autopsying your boyfriend, Ethan Jameson, this morning.
I understand that you have talked with Chief Hargrove today, so you are aware that his body has gone missing. ”
“I did talk with the police chief this morning,” Janet said.
“And yes, I know about what’s happened. But let me be clear.
Ethan Jameson was not in any true sense of the word my boyfriend.
We had been living together for a short time, but things were not working out well, although certainly not to the point of me wishing him harm or vice versa.
With that understood, may I ask if the body has been found? ”
“Unfortunately, not yet,” Jack said. “But Chief Hargrove is giving it his full attention. Let me ask you: How do you feel about an autopsy being done on Ethan Jameson when his body is located, assuming it is going to be located?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Are you against the procedure for any reason, religious or otherwise?”
“Of course not!” Janet said with emphasis. “I know autopsies are critical in some circumstances, and certainly this is one of those times. When I was in high school I used to watch CSI every week.”
Jack smiled inwardly, knowing how much that TV show had put forensics on the general public’s map despite its questionable realism. “How about any of Ethan’s close friends? Do you know anyone who would be seriously opposed to his being autopsied for whatever reason?”
“Ethan didn’t have any close friends,” Janet said.
“He’s been a loner since I’ve known him in grammar school.
He had a few acquaintances, John Daniels and Nate Morrison among them, but that was it.
Listen: I’m going to have to cut this off.
There are people that need to check out.
I’m happy to continue this discussion but after-hours. ”
Jack turned around and saw that there were several people standing in the checkout lane.
He held up a finger to indicate he needed a minute or two more.
Turning back to Janet, he said: “I know you also talked with Chief Hargrove on Monday and told him that Ethan was upset that morning about the foreign militiamen.”
“Yes, he acted really angry. He was going to ask them to leave.”
“And it was because the commander wasn’t participating.”
“Yes. The commander and his second in command.”
“And it was presumably because the commander and his lieutenant were spending too much time in their home brewery.”
Janet rolled her eyes. “Yes, that’s what he said.”
“Was this the first time he was angry about this, as far as you know?”
“Heavens no,” Janet said. “It was an ongoing problem, particularly over the last couple of weeks. But to be honest, I wasn’t all that interested in that aspect of his life.
Quite the contrary. But listen, I’m sorry but I need to help these people.
” She pointed over Jack’s shoulder at the customers standing in line.
“Okay, I understand,” Jack replied, stepping to the side.
“Thank you for your time.” With that said, he dashed over to his bike, quickly wrestled it out through one of the glass entrance doors, and leaped on.
Peddling hard in a standing position to get up to speed, he turned onto Main Street.
He was eager to get to the park. As soon as he was able, he glanced at his watch.
He was relieved. It was still just a few minutes before five o’clock, meaning he was going to be late but only by minutes.