A.L. Jambor - Where's Audrey?

Where’s Audrey?

A.L. Jambor

ISBN:978-0-9903636-7-5

Copyright©2014 Amy L. Jambor

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and scenes are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely unintentional.

The replication, uploading, and distribution of this book on the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please only purchase authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Cover Design by Design by Amy Jambor

Photo Credits

Copyright:
ksym / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright:
hanaschwarz / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright:
iimages / 123RF Stock Photo

This book is dedicated to my mother, Grace. She passed on her love of reading to me.

I want to acknowledge the contribution of my friend and editor, Loraine O’Connell. Loraine’s suggestions and knowledge have helped shape my books for three years. Her assistance is priceless.

Author’s note

The following story is fictional. It is, however, based on an incident which occurred in a Largo, Florida mobile home park in 2007.

Chapter 1

Mel Jones tapped the keys on the keyboard searching for a flight to Tampa. Every flight had a layover in Atlanta.

Shit
, she thought. Six hours to fly from New Jersey to Florida. She hadn’t planned on taking her vacation there, but her great-grandmother had called and asked her to and Mel didn’t have the heart to refuse her, especially when Nana Grace offered to pay her airfare.

“I haven’t heard from Audrey in weeks,” Grace said. Audrey was Mel’s great-great-aunt.

“Where does she live?” Mel asked

“In Largo. It won’t take long, dear. All you have to do is go to the trailer and see if she’s all right.”

Mel didn’t know her aunt. She had only met her once, when she was six. She wondered how Audrey would feel if she just showed up on her doorstep. “Did you call the police?”

“They won’t do anything until she’s missing for two days, and I don’t know for sure that she is missing.”

Mel wanted to protest again, but something in Grace’s voice stopped her. She was genuinely concerned about her sister, and Mel was her only family.

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. But Mel’s mother, Linda, was out on the West Coast and Mel’s grandmother, Grace’s daughter, Laura, was on crutches. Besides, Mel had taken her two weeks of vacation and her best friend, Lisa, was using her dad’s time share condo on Clearwater Beach. She had invited Mel to join her, but at the time, Mel couldn’t afford a plane ticket. Now, she could cruise by Audrey’s trailer and then head on over to Clearwater Beach.

“You can stay with my friend, Vera,” Grace said. “She lives in a park down the road from Audrey’s.”

“Why hasn’t she checked on Audrey?” Mel asked, seeing a chance to opt out.

“They haven’t spoken in years. I can’t ask Vera to check on her.”

Mel rolled her eyes. “Okay. I’ll go.”

Now, as she looked at the flights, she thought about driving to Florida. She would save money on a car rental and…no. She couldn’t drive straight through alone. So she began scrolling through the flights again.

Spirit left from Atlantic City and offered nonstop flights. She’d get to Tampa in two hours; she could visit Aunt Audrey and spend, say, an hour or so, then go to Clearwater Beach. It would work.

Mel lived alone. She had since she graduated from Brookdale Community College with a two-year degree. She still didn’t know what she wanted to be, but working as a manager in Starbucks suited her for now. It paid better than most retail jobs, and Mel was a morning person, which meant she didn’t mind getting up at five a.m. every morning.

Getting two weeks off at Christmas was unheard of in retail, but Mel hadn’t taken a vacation in three years. Someone at corporate noticed and told her supervisor she’d have to take two weeks off. If there was no one else available, he’d just have to cover her hours.

Mel wasn’t thrilled with the idea of taking time off since she couldn’t afford to actually go anywhere, but now she was grateful she’d pushed herself so hard. Two weeks in Florida was just what she needed.

She went to her closet and looked at her clothes. Everything in it was for work. She didn’t have normal clothes anymore. Her shoes, too, were for work. Mel sighed. She’d have to buy something to wear. At least a bathing suit. She went back to her computer and began searching for clothes in brick and mortar stores.

Mel’s body was one of those hard to fit bodies that drive women crazy. The waist on this pair of pants fit, but her ass wouldn’t fill the seat. Finding a pair of pants that fit right was nearly impossible without having someone take them in at the crotch. Grandma Laura was good at that, but since her accident, she’d been taking it easy and Mel didn’t want to ask her to do a rush job. She’d have to look for dresses or skirts.

She found two cute dresses at Forever 21 and checked availability at the mall. They had her size! She grabbed her purse. She looked in her wallet. Both her credit cards were maxed out and her checking account held her two weeks’ vacation money. That was for bills. Shit. Now what would she do? Just as she was contemplating calling the whole thing off, her phone rang. It was Nana Grace.

“What will you need for the trip?” she asked.

“The ticket will be kind of expensive because I’m making it at the last minute.”

“I’m going to give you two thousand dollars. Will that be enough?”

Mel began to salivate. She could get the dresses and maybe a pair of cute shoes. “More than enough. Are you sure you can afford that?”

“Yes, dear. Did you find a flight?”

“Yup. I just have to book it.”

“Well, come and get the money so you can put it into your bank.”

“Thanks, Nana. I’ll be right over.”

Two thousand dollars. Mel wondered if she’d ever be able to give her future granddaughter that kind of money without a second thought. Not working at Starbucks she wouldn’t. She decided to use this time off to rethink her career choice and figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

Nana Grace let Mel into her apartment. The year before, Laura had helped Grace move into the senior complex she herself occupied. They lived on the same floor. Grace was spry and had been helping her injured daughter recover from a car accident that had left Laura with a broken leg. She cooked for Laura and made sure her clothes were clean.

“Hello, dear,” Grace said.

“Hey, Nana,” Mel said. She gave Grace a hug. “You look tired.”

“I’m all right. I just got done doing laundry is all. I have a check for you here.”

Grace went to her small roll-top desk and got the check. She brought it to Mel. When Mel took it, Grace held her hand.

“I do appreciate you doing this.”

“It’s no problem, Nana.”

“I’ve very worried about Aud. I tried calling and writing, but she hasn’t responded.”

“Doesn’t she have a neighbor you could call?”

“I’m ashamed to say I don’t know them. And when I call the park office, it rings and rings. No one answers.”

“That’s weird.”

“Indeed. So, do you have clothes to take with you?”

Nana had helped Laura raise Mel. She was always concerned about what Mel wore.

“I’m going to the mall to buy a couple of dresses.”

“I can take in your pants if you buy them.”

“No. It’s Florida. It’s warm. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” Nana leaned over and hugged Mel. “Call me as soon as you get there. I want to know everything that happens.”

“I will,” Mel said. “I’m gonna check on Grandma while I’m here.”

“I’ll go with you. I have to take her clean clothes over there.”

Mel carried the basket and followed Grace. Grace used a four-wheeled walker with a shelf for sitting or carrying things. She moved quicker than Mel expected. Laura was three doors down and when they got to her door, Grace opened it without knocking.