THE BLUE STALKER (15 page)

The sun shined in Ella’s eyes as she drove to Mr. Jenkins office.  I’m glad I’ll be driving toward the east this afternoon on my way home.  This bright sun almost blinds me, she thought.

Mr. Jenkins office was on the third floor.  Ella looked at Mr. Jenkins card reading room 315.  She noticed the room number directions on the wall and headed to the right as the arrow pointed.  She stopped in front of Room 315 adjusted her purse on her shoulder. As Ella opened the door it creaked. At the front desk sat a brunette with her hair pulled
back in a pony tail.  She giggled as the door creaked when Ella shut it. 

“That door is my alarm system.  If I’m in the back room when someone comes in I can hear the door squeak.”  She said as she chewed on her Juicy Fruit gum. 

             
Ella knew from the fragrance that filled the room it was Juicy Fruit.  Ella’s favorite chewing gum as a young girl.

             
“Do you wanna see Mr. Jenkins?”  the young lady asked.

“Yes, I have an appointment at one today.”  Ella informed the disorganized receptionist.

             
“Oh, there it is right here at the top of my appointment calendar.”  She told Ella.

             
“You’re the Smith lady.  Mr. Jenkins, she as she pushed on the intercom button.

             
“Ms. Smith is here.”  She told him.

             
“Send her in.”  Mr. Jenkins requested.

             
“Go right through those swinging doors and turn to the right and through the first door.” she told Ella.

             
Ella was a little put out at the not so professional way she was treated.  I will get this taken care of and out of here, she thought.

             
Mr. Jenkins politely stood up and shook Ella’s hand.

             
“Have a seat, ma’am.” he told Ella.  “That’s my granddaughter in the front office.  Please excuse her she isn’t very professional but we are trying to teach her to take care of the front office.  Her mother ran off with some looser and left her with us.  Our son works out of town and we pretty much are raising her.  Enough of that I just needed to make an excuse for her.”

             
“Ms. Smith,’ he began.  “You are the only heir to your parent’s estate.  Your father made all the arrangements before his untimely death.  You have been getting a monthly check from your trust fund for years.  Now, the entire estate is yours.  Your father’s law office in San Francisco is in charge of everything.  I’m the messenger.  Your parents were very wealthy; your father has stock in many of the major companies in the country.  Mr. Blair has been handling your parents stocks for many years.  You have inherited millions.”  Mr. Jenkins informed her.

             
“What!” she exclaimed.  “I knew my dad left mom and me with enough but I never thought millions.”  Ella said almost out of breath.  “What do you mean by millions?”  Ella asked. 

             
“I can’t give you an exact figure but it’s well over fifty million.”   Ella lay back in the chair trying to catch her breath.

             
“Can I get you a glass of water?”  He asked as he fanned Ella.

             
“That would be nice.” She thankfully said.  Ella grabbed the glass with both hands.  Her hands shaking so bad water splashed over the rim.

             
Mr. Jenkins had everything in order.  Ella signed a few documents and Mr. Jenkins handed her a packet.

             
“All your accounts with the account numbers are in this packet.  I suggest you retain an attorney in your area to help you with your finances.”  He told her.

             
“Have you been paid for your service Mr. Jenkins?”  Ella asked.

             
“Yes, everything on my part is taken care of.  You will find the receipt in your packet.” he told her. 

             
Ella walked out of the office feeling numb.  She knew her parents always gave her the finest of everything and were very charitable.  In her wildest thought she never dreamed they were millionaires.  Millionaire…I’m a millionaire. She thought.  As she fanned herself.  She remembered the cliché Maria always said.  ‘If I’m dreaming, please don’t pinch me.’

             
She must keep this to herself.  I think I will buy a new car, maybe a sports car.  No people will think I have money and I don’t want that to happen.  I want my life to continue just as it is.  Ella laughed to herself as she turned the radio up rocking out all the way home.

ELEVEN

             
Upon Ella’s arrival home Maria handed her a handful of messages from delivery people.  Much of the merchandise she purchased in San Francisco was arriving tomorrow.  Juan still had the back room to finish.

             
Since the Mill’s don’t have a phone she summoned Juan to ask him to go over to the Mill’s apartment and ask if they could help tomorrow with receiving the merchandise.  unpacking and stocking the shelves. 

             
“Juan, tell them to be there at eight sharp.” 

             
She called Alicia to ask her to also help.

             
“You bet I’ll be there.  I want my work table set up my way.”  Alicia told Ella.

             
“That’s fine with me.”  Ella assured her.

             
Ella excused herself and retired to her room early.  She had much to think about and needed the rest.  The past few days she had been on an emotional roller coaster. She laid her mother to rest, closed up the house, made love with her ex-husband, and to top it off she became a freakin’ millionaire.  She finished with her shower, slipped on her gown and crawled in her warm bed.  Oddly, she slept well.  Six am came early.  Ella crawled out of bed, made her way to the bathroom.  Turned on the shower and brushed her teeth while she waited for the water to warm up.  She stepped in the shower and let the water spray on her face.  If this doesn’t wake me nothing will, she thought.  Ella dried off and put on a pair of jeans; a red plaid shirt buttoned and tucked it in.  Brushed her back and secured it with a barrette.  Finished up with a pair of warm socks and pulled her cowboy boots on stuffing her jeans down in the boots.

             
As Ella drove up to the storefront there sat Alicia on the step with a cup of coffee in her hand.  Ella stepped from the car.  Alicia with a loud voice b䥄
啎
"
a
rted out.

“What the hell woman! You look like a damn cowgirl.  All you need is a cowboy hat.”

             
Ella smiled and said, “These are my working clothes.” 

             
Ella found the shop keys in her overstuffed purse.  She unlocked the door as a delivery truck was driving up. 

“We’ve got our work cut out for us today.”  She told Alicia.  About that time Ron and Susan came walking up and Juan pulled in front sporting his new red truck.  The ladies started unpacking the many boxes.  Laughing and talking about their trip to San Francisco.  Looking over every item remembering who liked what.  Ella asked to bring all the floral tools and supplies to the back room.  And Susan to start thinking about how she wants to arrange the display case of costume jewelry and shelves out front.

             
There was so much merchandise and supplies you could hardly get around the small store front.  They opened, pushed and shoved boxes from one spot to another all day.  As they progressed the boxes seemed to disappear one by one.

             
The men started on building shelves in the back room.  They made a trip to the lumberyard and picked up the materials they would need.  The day was filled with the sound of hammers banging, power tools buzzing and boxes being ripped open.

             
The refrigeration man arrived and started building the cooler box.  He also delivered a free standing cooler box to display fresh flowers in the front of the shop.  Many people enjoy picking an arrangement out of the cooler box and taking it with them.  Others prefer to place an order they usually pick from a floral design book and have it delivered.

             
Ella and her crew worked for days on getting the store ready for the opening. Juan and Ron still had work to do on the back room but there would be time to finish after the ‘Grand Opening’.

             
Ella placed an announcement in the local paper inviting the town folk out for refreshments and a drawing for ‘One Hundred Dollars’ and many other gifts.  She had the local printer make up some cards asking for the name, address and phone number of her guests.  These cards will be used for the drawing.  Not only will the guests have a chance to wind nice gifts Ella will have their name, addresses and phone number for a clientele base.  Ella with a degree in business is quite the entrepreneur. 

             
Mark Brandon heard about the “Grand Opening’ and dropped in to see Ella.

             
“You gonna run the show yourself or do you want some help?” Mark asked leaning on the counter making eyes at Ella. 

             
“What do you suggest?”  Ella asked pushing his elbow off the counter causing him to loose his balance.

             
“Well, for starters who’s gonna MC this event?”  You need someone to hand out the prizes.”  Mark told her.

             
“I hadn’t thought of that.” she confessed.

             
“Well, young lady you are looking at the best MC in town.”  Mark bragged strutting around with his shoulders back causing his gut to hang over his oversized belt buckle. 

             
“Okay, you’re on.  What’s your going rate?”  Ella asked trying to be professional.

             
“For you Ella maybe a dance at the Wilson’s annual barn dances.” 

             
“It’s a dance, I mean…a deal.”  Ella said with a big smile.

             
Mark soon got tired of watching people work and made his way to the door letting it slam behind him. 

             
Just as the door closed behind Mark.  Alicia spoke up.  He’s sure stuck on himself.  Wonder why he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”  He’s sure hitting on Ella.  We better watch out for her.”  Alicia told the others.

             
“Don’t go staying up nights worrying abut me.  I’ve run the best of them off.  Can’t you tell I don’t have a man?”  Ella laughed.

             
Everyone went back to work. Ella inspected the front showcase and was totally amazed.

             
“This display case looks fantastic Susan.  You are very talented.”  Ella told Susan as she glared in amazement at the case.

             
“Thank you Ella.”  Susan shyly said.

             
This is the work of a professional, Ella thought to herself.  I know professional work when I see it.  As she gazed at the display case she wondered why Ron and Susan were in town.  What brought them here?  Why with her talent is she living in this out of the way town?  She could work in the city and make good money.  This was all a mystery to Ella.

TWELVE

             
A black helicopter circled the small compound deep into Mexico.  Only desert creatures, vegetation and Mexican men under the rule of the body smuggling Mexican Cartel live in this desolate God forsaken desert.  A dusty road twisting and turning like a venomous snake through the desert leads to their hideout.  They’ve made the run many times to the states without getting caught by the Border Patrol at the Arizona border.  The Mexicans searching for a better land pay a good fee to be driven over the border and into California by way of Arizona.  Some make it, others die along the way.  Whether it be from dehydration or the evil hands of the mad men escorting them.  The Mexicans know it may be a ride to their death or a ride to a better life.  They will take the risk time and time again.