Serial Separation (8 page)

Chapter 20

I had finally completed all my Christmas shopping that morning. Good thing the next day was Christmas. The presents were wrapped and loaded in the car. The freezing temperature wouldn’t hurt the fruit cake I had picked up for Lisa’s parents.

Many of the businesses near the task force office were closed. The wind was really blowing. The heavy, wet snow was now sticking to everything, including the face of the clock tower. I could still read the time. Not bad. I still made the office before 10:00 a.m.

Opening the door to the office, I saw Colleen and Mercedes standing by the reception desk. Neither looked happy. “What’s up ladies?”

Colleen responded, “Mike and the others left for Newburyport Harbor, where a torso was found. He commented it might be Bob Sullivan. A trawler off the coast of Newburyport called the Coast Guard station to report finding a body in their net, and they informed the State Police. Mike wanted to be there when the trawler pulled into dock. They left about an hour ago. Mike left you the dock location in case you want to join them.” Colleen gave me the note with the address.

“Paddy also told me to lock up here no later than noon and to have a Merry Christmas. Both of you have a Merry Christmas. See you on Monday.”

I gave her a hug.

She quickly put on her coat and scarf and headed to the back of the office. “I’ll check things down here, if you could check upstairs for me, Scott?”

“Sure. I’ll make sure things are off upstairs. I might still be able to get a cup of coffee from Paddy’s pot.” I made a quick run up the stairs to check and yelled back down. “There’s enough for a couple more cups. Mercedes, do you want a cup, and how about you, Colleen?”

“She just left, Scott, but I’ll take a cup. Black, no sugar please,” Mercedes yelled upstairs.

The phone rang and Mercedes picked it up. “Task force office.”

“Hi, this is Mike. Colleen, I’m glad I caught you . . . please tell Scott not to try to make it up here; the roads are really bad and getting worse. Just tell him to have a Merry Christmas, and you have one too.”

“Thanks, you do the same.”

* * *

When I returned, Mercedes was waiting, already wearing her coat and scarf. “Here’s your coffee. Everything’s turned off upstairs.”

“It’s all off here. Colleen left us a spare key to lock the office.”

I noticed Mercedes looking like she wanted to ask me something. I still had my coat on and asked her, “Did you drive over? Are you going up to Newburyport?”

“Yes, I drove here, but I’m concerned about the roads. Would you mind if I rode with you?”

“Well, I guess if you still want to go, you can ride with me.” However, if she hadn’t asked I might not have considered going any longer.

“I think that will be better. Your driving in the snow is safer.” She smiled while she buttoned her coat.

“Well, I guess we should leave. I’m parked just around the corner.” I turned the front lights on, locked the door, noticing the wreath already covered with wet snow. It reminded me of a Christmas card.

We walked the snow-covered walk, the bricks already hidden by the snow. When I opened the gate, Mercedes looked back at the office. “Scott, look at the office . . . it looks like a Christmas card!”

I turned and looked back at the building. “It does look like that.” I also noticed how cute the snowflakes were in her red hair and on her coat. It was slick going so I held her arm to make sure she didn’t slip.

While walking to the car, we were quiet and focused on our progress. Newburyport was an hour from the office on clear roads. I’m sure if the driving was bad Mike would have called to let us know.

Chapter 21

I filled the gas tank before we got too far from the office. Most stations would be closed for the holiday tomorrow. We made it out of Cambridge okay, but when we got further north of the Boston area, the roads were considerably worse.

The wet snow was mixed with freezing rain. I directed the defroster on full, but it was hard to keep enough heat on the windshield. The wipers were getting caked with ice. My visibility was getting worse, and the tires were starting to slip taking off at lights.

“Mercedes, I’m not sure we’re going to make it much farther. The roads are getting much worse, and I haven’t seen a plow or sander out yet.”

“You’re doing a fine job, but I’m glad you’re doing the driving. I’d be a nervous wreck trying to see and keep from sliding off the road.”

“If I could keep moving, it wouldn’t be that bad, but every time we stop and get moving again I’m losing the battle.”

I kept up my efforts, but I knew we would never make it, and getting back to Boston would be dicey.

“Mercedes, could you try to get a weather report on the radio?”

“Sure, Scott. I think it’s time you called me Mercy.”

“Okay.” I looked at her briefly. She wasn’t smiling any longer, staring down at the radio. I reached over and pushed one of the station buttons on the radio, and our fingers touched for a brief second. “Sorry.”

“What do you think about the roads?” she asked.

“Mercedes . . . sorry . . . Mercy . . . it doesn’t look good at all. At this rate, if we could make Newburyport, we would certainly miss Mike and the others. I’m really surprised he didn’t call to let me know . . . I bet he called after we left. They are probably in the same pickle returning to the city.”

The lights changed at the next intersection. I braked, but the car started into a skid. I swerved to the left, letting up on the brakes and compensated, but we were then headed to the right side of the road and the intersection.

Fortunately, nothing was coming. We slid into the road on the right. I let the car take us where it wanted to go. We finally came to a stop on the wrong side of that road. I gave it some gas and headed up the street, looking for a place to turn around. The wheels were now spinning, trying to get us up the small incline.

I could see Mercedes with her hand on the dash, trying to see what was in front of us. My headlights were now of limited value, due to the ice and snow. The wipers were caked with ice, and I could only see through two breaks in the ice.

“Mercy, we have to look for a place to pull off the road. If we stop here we’re going to be stuck for some time.”

* * *

I kept moving toward what looked like the center of town. “I think we’re in Topsfield, but I have no idea what’s here.”

Someone must have heard my silent prayer—I saw the familiar yellow arches of a McDonald’s up ahead. It was on the other side of the road, and there were cars coming down the hill toward us.

“I’m going to pull in at the McDonald’s up there and we’ll see how things go from there.”

“Scott, you’re doing okay. I’m surprised we’re still moving up this hill. Do you think you’ll be able to turn in with those cars coming?”

I sensed the fear in her voice.

“If I stop, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get us into the lot.” I tried to time the two cars coming down the road, and our progress to make the turn, but they were going faster than I had anticipated. I elected not to make the turn, but continued up the hill. I could see a lit sign up ahead indicating ‘Tops’ Cabins—Vacancy.’ Without any announcement of my intentions, I turned at the entrance and gunned the gas.

After bouncing when we hit the new driveway, we slid just a little. I realized that if we didn’t make it up this drive, we were going to have problems. I put the car in low gear and gave it some more gas. We managed to get up the drive. We didn’t have far to go, sliding to a stop near a wooden fence separating the drive from a circular row of cabins.

I was amazed that we made it off the road and up the drive. The slapping of the wipers was like a drum beating, or was it the sound of my heart?

Mercedes cheered. “Wow, I can’t believe you got us up that driveway. I take it we’re not going to McDonald’s?”

“I think we were going to be stuck in McDonald’s parking lot, if we had made that turn. Chances are we were going to have to look for a place to stay anyway, but now we’re off the road. They have a vacancy sign, but I wonder if they’re even open since it is Christmas Eve.”

I looked at her for a reaction, but she just stared through the windshield streaks at the cabins. I turned the wipers and lights off, but left the car running.

“Mercy, I think we need to talk. I have about twenty dollars left after filling the tank up. Do you have any money?” I felt very uncomfortable.

She looked at me with just the light of the office sign showing on her face and said hesitantly, “Not much. I was planning to go back to my dorm to pack and take some money I had there. Let me check.” She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out some one dollar bills. “Sorry, this is all I have.”

We both reached the same conclusion—we were going to have to share a cabin.

* * *

They were open and amazed to have customers on Christmas Eve. The owner said he had just watched the weather report; the storm was turning into a Nor’easter, which meant the driving would be impossible. He was surprised we made it off the road and up the driveway.

I registered as Mr. and Mrs. Tucker to prevent any problems, paid with the cash I had, leaving me with six dollars.

I came back to the car with the cabin key. “We’re in luck, they’re open, and we’ve got a cabin. Here’s the key. I suggest you take the key and go to the cabin, number seven, the second one.” I pointed to it. “The first cabin’s heater is not working. I’ll take the rest of our money and get us something from McDonald’s before they close for the night.”

“Okay. We’re lucky we made it here. I wasn’t sure for a while what was going to happen. I knew we weren’t going to get far.” She turned in the seat, putting her boots on, and the red sign out front lit up her bare legs. I thought I also saw the corner of her lips curl.

* * *

I decided to go back to the office to call Lisa at her parents’. I needed to tell her I wouldn’t be there for dinner.

“I’m sorry to bother you again, but do you have a pay phone?”

“Yes, there’s one in the hall over there, but I’m closing in a few minutes . . . we’re full already,” he said, smiling.

I was fortunate I had change left to make the call. I pulled her parents’ phone number from my wallet and dialed. Shortly, the recorded message indicated to deposit another thirty cents for the first five minutes. I thought this might be a long call and wondered if I would have enough change.

Lisa’s mother answered on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Mrs. Anderson, this is Scott.”

“Hello, Scott. How are you?”

“I’m okay, and you?”

“We’re okay. Are you still trying to make it up here?”

“No. The roads are very slippery, and we decided to put up in a motel.”

“Oh, I’m so glad . . . I was worried about you and Lisa. She’s not here yet. She called about an hour ago, and said she was going to be able to make it . . . but we’re not sure any longer.”

I realized I had said “we’ to her. “Please let Lisa know I called. I’ll give you the phone number to the motel, and my room number is seven.” I gave her the number, but realized Lisa would have a problem reaching me.

“Will you be able to stop by tomorrow?”

“It looks like the storm is going to hit us hard. I’m not sure how the traveling will be, but if I can make it, I will. Please wish Lisa a Merry Christmas and you folks as well. Please tell her that I’m safe, but stuck on Route One in Topsfield. We were heading to Newburyport. A body was discovered, but we never made it there.”

“We’ll tell her you called and you’re safe. Merry Christmas, Scott. Please be careful, and we’ll see you whenever you can make it.”

After I said good-bye, the owner was waiting near the door to lock up. We wished each other a Merry Christmas. I went back out into the night. I could see the lights were on in the cabin, but I needed to make McDonald’s before they closed.

The short walk was extremely slippery. Going down the driveway to the end of the parking lot took longer than I expected. I wondered how I was going to make it back up the hill, but first things first.

The lights were on in the restaurant, and I saw a couple of people pushing mops. I scared the two young boys when I stomped my feet at the door. “I hope you still have some food . . . do you?”

“Five minutes from now what we had would be thrown out. All we have is a few burgers and fries.”

“I’ll take what you have. How are you guys getting home? It’s really bad outside.”

“We know, but we couldn’t leave until the owner told us we could close. He gave us the word a few minutes ago, which is why we’re cleaning up. You can have the food. We already closed the register. We were only going to throw it away anyway. The owner lives near us and is giving us a ride home in his four-wheel-drive Jeep.”

“You guys are life savers; here are a couple of bucks for you. Merry Christmas and thanks again.” One of the clerks put a soda on the cardboard tray and double-bagged the food.

“Can I please have another soda? There are two of us.”

“Misery loves company,” the other clerk said, pushing the mop pail toward the restrooms.

Chapter 22

The yellow arches lit up the snow, but I could barely see my earlier footprints. The wind was driving the wet snow into my face, making it feel like needles. I tried to pay attention to my footing and realized that I should have worn my boots instead of shoes. The wet snow had already soaked my shoes, and I could feel the moisture on my socks.

The walk back to the cabin gave me some time to think about my predicament.
I was not seeing Lisa for dinner and probably not Christmas Day either. I had little money and
. . . just then the yellow illumination went away and the only light I had was the red sign, which now read ‘No Vacancy.’

I was carrying the tray with both hands when I slipped and fell on my side into the wet snow. I had no idea how I managed to steady the tray. Fear, most likely.

I went down once more; the only thing injured was my pride. I could see red all over my coat and pants, reflecting off the wet snow. I must have looked like a bloody snowman in the red light. I laughed out loud, but I think I would have rather let out a scream.

When I stepped up to the cabin door, I kicked the bottom and the door popped open. Mercedes looked at me, either shocked at what she saw, or trying to see if it was me.

“Oh, my God, you were gone so long I wondered if you could even make it back. I kept watching for you, but all I could see was white. Let me take the tray.”

“Thanks. It was tough going.” I stomped the snow off my shoes and took off my coat, which was almost frozen in my shape. I stood it up beside the door.

The cabin’s warmth hit me, which was a sharp contrast. It was a pleasant first impression, enhanced by the table lamps. The cabin had a high ceiling of knotty pine, and the far wall was a stone fireplace.

I hadn’t noticed the condition of the food tray, which she had placed on the table. It was a round snowball with two pillars. I could sense Mercedes watching my reaction to the cabin. I finally looked over and noticed her striking image. She was now sitting up against the headboard of the bed with her arms folded.

I guess we both reached the same conclusion simultaneously, and we both started laughing. I realized I had left one thing out of my earlier assessment—I wasn’t alone.

* * *

Literally and figuratively, the ice was broken. Mercedes jumped off the bed, rushed to the bathroom, and returned with a towel. I wiped the melting snow from my face. She took the food tray to the bathroom and cleaned off the ice and snow. I had my shoes and socks off by the time she returned. My hands were pure white, since I hadn’t worn gloves.

“Scott, you’re my hero.”

We both looked at each other and laughed at how ridiculous that statement was, but I was glad she said something. I couldn’t think of any correct words to say, but added, “I can’t imagine how Santa does it.”

She leaned over and opened the bag, but what I smelled was gardenia. She picked up my shoes and socks, placed the shoes on the heater vent, and put the socks in the bathroom.

I felt the food wrappers to see if there was any heat coming from them, and tasted a fry . . . it was only slightly warm. She pulled up the other chair and we dug in.

“Merced—Mercy—we were very lucky to get this food. They were just cleaning up and were about to throw the food away. They didn’t even charge me, but I’m not sure what he put in the bag.”

She took the contents out and we had a total of five hamburgers and cheeseburgers. We focused on the food before it was totally cold.

“Scott, I’m serious about your getting us here. I still can’t believe you made it up the hill. We’re lucky to have this place; an hour ago I would have pictured us freezing to death in the car, maybe even off the road. My only problem is whether Santa will be able to find us.”

I smiled; my mind went to our sleeping arrangements. I was glad my mouth was full so I didn’t have to respond. When I finished and washed it down, I said, “I can’t believe it either. We should never have tried to make it to Newburyport, but I’m glad I’m not alone.” I thought about how that sounded, but it didn’t come out as I had intended.

She put her hand on mine, staring at me. “Scott . . . do you know how to light a fire?”

I looked at her to try to understand whether she was picking up on what I said.

She just smiled. “There, a fire,” she said, pointing at the fireplace.