The Promise (13 page)

              Elie smiled wanly, “It’s a good thing you’re left-handed, then!”

              “We need to arrest that guy as soon as we pull you out of there.”

              “You have no legal case, Mike? I’m not a high school girl.”

              “Yeah, but he didn’t know that. I can assure you, you’re not the first one he has engaged like that, either.”

              “Well, give me a little time to build a real case against him. Hopefully, we will find Allison and put this guy away for a long time. Two birds with one stone.”

              “Speaking of birds, tell me about Raven, Elie.”

              The agent paused to gather her thoughts. She wanted to be clear on how she described her encounter with Raven the previous day. “Well, she’s an interesting individual. Uppity, somewhat gothic, a little scary and,”

              Gallagher leaned forward in his chair, “And?”

              “Potentially violent,” Elie finished her sentence.

              “Because of her encounter with Allison Taylor right before the disappearance?” her partner concluded.

              “Not just that, Mike, but the way she looked at me and talked to me. There was something in her eyes. She’s mean.”

              “Mean enough to make Allison Taylor disappear?”

              “Hmm, I don’t know, maybe with a little help from her friends. I think she’s involved in, “The Promise,” So,”

              “And, you mentioned when you called me that she said something significant about Archer Taylor?”

              “Yes. She indicated that Arch Taylor hit on her, as in flirting, and that’s what the fight between Allison and her was all about. Interesting, huh?”

              Gallagher sat there speechless, “Archer Taylor and a high school girl?”

              “Yep, Raven also said it was no secret that this was not an isolated event. That the old man hits on a lot of the girls.”

              “Well, I’ll be damned.” Do you believe her, Elie?”

              “I don’t want to, Mike, but she doesn’t appear to be the lying type. She seems pretty straightforward.”

              “So, that’s why the fight with her and Allison?”

              “Yeah, there is a little more to Arch Taylor than we thought before.”

              Gallagher replied, “Well, Raven didn’t like Allison, but her dad may have some skeletons in his closet that he didn’t want exposed.”

              Elie again, “Maybe that’s why he keeps calling so much and puts on that demanding front of his?”

              “Yeah, it may really be fear, of being exposed.”

              She reasoned, “Is his fear related only to random high school girls or what he did to his daughter?”

              “Time will tell, but this tangled web just keeps getting more and more complex. We have some dysfunctional people here, Dr. Oden, Raven, Arch Taylor, his loopy wife, Justin Shaw, even Allison herself.”

              “Do you have a favorite from that list, Mike?”

              The detective paused as he leaned back in his chair. “I try to stay objective, but, I have my theory. We have to do a little more digging here.”

              Elie surmised, “I’m putting my money on Raven at this point and Dr. Oden as the national creep of the year.” She shook her head, “Well, I have to study English Lit. See you around, partner.

              “Speaking of literature, the lab came up with what looks to be a phrase from what looks to be a literary piece. They found it in the drainage area by the library.”

              “What makes them think it’s related to Allison, Mike?”

              “It had a piece of black hair entwined around it. The same black hair that was mixed with Allison’s on the sidewalk.”

              “What’s the phrase?”

              Gallagher straightened out the paper and read it carefully,

“WHETHER TEMPTER SENT OR WHETHER TEMPTRESS TOSSED THEE HERE ASHORE, DESOLATE YET ALL UNDAUNTED.”

              Elie frowned, “Hmm, I’ve heard that from somewhere. It sounds so familiar. But I can’t place it.”

              Gallagher went to his computer and typed in Google. Within seconds he had his answer.

              “It’s a quote from, ‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe. But, why this specific quote? What is all this about a tempter sent or a temptress tossed? I’m not a literary giant, here.”

              Elie looked carefully at the wording, “Hell, I’m no giant, either. We should Google a modern day translation of it, can’t hurt.”

              They found some help on one of the sites and read the explanation carefully. It included the lines before and after the sentence giving the investigators a context to work from,

Now the speaker starts to get seriously worked up and starts full-out yelling at the bird, calling him a "Prophet" and a "thing of evil" 

The narrator then backs off on the evil thing a little, moving back and forth between assuming that this bird has come straight from Satan (the "Tempter") or that it has just been blown in at random by a storm.

The next line emphasizes the strangeness of the bird, who is all alone, but seems unshaken ("desolate yet all undaunted").

It also reminds us of how completely miserable our speaker is, stuck in a "desert land enchanted" alone in a "home by Horror haunted". All he really wants is a little bit of hope, some possibility of comfort.

So he asks the bird a typically pompous, bookwormish question: "Is there balm in Gilead?" It's a Biblical reference, basically meaning, is there hope in my future, a possibility of comfort, peace, etc?

Predictably, the bird shoots him down with "Nevermore."

              “Fascinating shit,” commented Gallagher. Whoever sent this phrase to us is one miserable SOB.”

              Elie laughed in agreement, “Do you think!”

              Reading the explanation again prompted Gallagher to comment further, “The phrase, ‘stuck in a desert land enchanted alone in a home by Horror haunted’ tells me we may be dealing with a psycho here who is fast losing hope.”

              Elie responded, “If this is the kind of person who took Allison then she is in a world of trouble.”

              He may be holding her in a dungeon-like environment and until he deals with his pain, she will be in a lot of pain.”

              His partner cautioned him, “If it is a him,” Mike.

              Gallagher slowly shook his head, “This is a very dark note with horrifying imagery.”

              “Yes, It is that.” She replied.

              They sat there for several seconds absorbing the note. Finally, Gallagher spoke, “Nevermore. I pray that isn’t the end of finding Allison Taylor alive.”

              Elie rose from her chair, “Keep the faith. We have a lot of work to do. I need to get back to school.”

              “Have fun in Lit class. Steer clear of Dr. Creep.”

              As Elie got to the doorway she turned back to him, “One other thing, Gallagher.”

              “What?”

              “I don’t want to believe Archer Taylor had anything to do with this disappearance. I like the man.

He is a little high-strung, but he seems to love Allison very much. And, I don’t want to believe he hit on young women, either. I want him to be an honorable dad. I want him and his daughter reunited.”

              “Elie, the hardest part of homicide is that we don’t always get what we want. I hope your wishes come true, though.”

              “See you later, Gallagher.” Elie smiled and headed back to her new school.

Chapter Seventeen-Archer Taylor

             
Ever since he was a young boy, Arch Taylor was a driven individual. He hated failure of any way, shape or form. Everything in his life was calculated to achieve success.

In kindergarten, he impressed his teacher with his, “show and tell” performances. On one occasion, he brought in a dead raccoon he had killed with his sling shot.

As mortified as the instructor was, she had to smile as Arch laid it outside the school building and described in detailed how he killed it.

“This coon was huntin’ our chickens and I said to him, ‘enuf is enuf!’ He tried to run, but I got him with a rock. He squirmed a bit in the mud, but, I just waited him out and here he is!”

              On another occasion, the precocious six year-old boy brought in part of his grandfather’s iron lung.

When he informed his teacher that he had to hurry and do the exhibition before his elder relative died of oxygen loss, the chagrined teacher quickly gave him an “A” and told him to replace the piece immediately!

That was Arch Taylor.

              In junior high school, Arch would buy his friends broken furniture, fix them up and re-sell them for a profit.

He seemed to have a knack for mixing and matching bed and dining room table parts and making even more creative designs.

By the time he was in high school, Arch had $5,000.00 in his savings account from his little business. That was a lot of money for a youngster in 1975.

When Arch started college, he had his first store, “Homely Designs,” and he was on his way.

At the tender age of 26, Arch Taylor started, “Home Buys, Inc.” and within a few years, began setting up his mega-stores all over the Southeast.

He became a millionaire within four years and a multi-millionaire soon after that. Home Buys, Inc. now included 114 superstores and several hundred ordering outlets in malls nationwide.

Arch had not only lived the American Dream, he had showcased it for all to see. He was a proud man and worked as hard as a fifty six year-old adult as he had at any other time in his life.

It cost him his marriage and took him away from his beloved daughter, but that is all Archer Taylor ever knew in his life.

Work.

              For those who knew him well, Arch was an incredible friend who took care of them quietly and humbly.

If someone needed a little extra cash, Arch would drop him an envelope without a word. If a friend needed an operation they were struggling to pay for, there was Arch working out a deal with the resident hospital.

He was a very generous and loyal friend.

But, if you crossed him, as some tried to do, you saw a far different side of Archer Taylor. He could cut you off at the knees if you pushed him into a corner.

Threats and ultimatums did not faze him. He was not afraid of anything. The little boy who conquered a raccoon would confront any individual, political group, competitive company or even a personal business associate.

That is one of the reasons his ex-partner, Redding Shaw, is now a silent partner.

Shaw went behind Arch’s back to cut a deal with some Japanese investors to put stores in several cities including Tokyo and that was the last time he had any power with Home Buys, Inc.

He remains a junior partner, but he no longer possesses any leverage.

The bitterness between the two men is apparent. But, like southern gentlemen, they are cordial and friendly at company functions.

If you look a little closer, you will see the tight lines forming around their mouths when they greet each other.

Arch won, Redding lost.

This was a typical score in Archer Taylor’s world.

              Detective Mike Gallagher had one question for Mr. Taylor when he called in that afternoon. As he listened to the anxious father harangue him about what a lousy job he was doing, Gallagher waited for his opportunity to spring his question.

When it came it had the force of a brick being thrown through a priceless tiffany window,

“Mr. Taylor, can I ask you something?”

Before the driven head of a conglomerate could even respond, the detective verbally sent him spinning,

“Any truth to the report we have here from one of the high school girls at the Colony that you were hitting on her romantically, sir?”

Hearing several curse words and a lot of slamming noises on a desk, Gallagher calmly waited for his answer,

”That is preposterous. I would never compromise myself with a young girl in any circumstance. Who’s making this charge?” Arch thundered.

              Gallagher kept his cool. He had expected that response.

“I can’t reveal my source, Mr. Taylor, but the accusation provoked an argument with the girl in question and your daughter, Allison, the day before she disappeared.”

Taylor shot back, “Oh, I know who it is. That damn Raven girl. She’s not honorable, Gallagher. I wouldn’t spit on anything she said. My daughter should have done whatever was necessary to shut her deceitful mouth!”

              Gallagher pressed him, “So, you deny that you ever came on to her in any inappropriate way, or to any other girls at that school, then?”

              “Of course, I deny it. I’m not going to even discuss this outrageous accusation. Wait until my lawyer hears about this. He’ll make mincemeat out of that smarmy, little wench.”

              Gallagher held the phone away from his ear as one obscenity after another spewed from Archer Taylor’s mouth.

Finally, he spoke firmly to the man, “Mr. Taylor, there’s no need for an attorney. I am just checking out a statement, that’s all.

Let’s not get legally crazy here, sir. It was something we had to consider because of the timing of the statement. So, I take it your answer is no?”

             
That last question ignited Taylor’s anger again into a raving frenzy of verbal fireworks. Gallagher even smiled at some of the words which sounded profane but were a mutated blend of several curse words mixed together.

After awhile, Allison’s father calmed down and the detective thanked him for his forthrightness. “I appreciate you taking a moment to discuss this with me, Arch. I would also appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to the young lady at this particular time so it won’t compromise our case in any way.”

As another barrage of curse words turned the air blue, Gallagher started laughing and said, “Well, you have a good day, too, sir,” and gently put the receiver back into its cradle.

Officers at desks could hear the shouting from across the room.

The detective smiled with more than a little bit of irony, Guess he’s under a lot of pressure. He’ll be fine.”

Gallagher began to sing a song from the from the 70’s, “It’s so nice to be with you, I love all the things you say and do…”

Laughter erupted. It was a nice moment of relief for a case that had begun to entrap all of the policemen in the pressure cooker of expectation to solve it.

Chapter
Eighteen-elie and dr. oden part Deux

             
Following class, Elie was on her way back to her room when Malcolm Oden suddenly appeared, “Hello there, Bree!” he smugly smiled, “Miss me?”

Elie glared at him and began to walk past him when he grabbed her arm firmly and jerked her back. “I asked you a question, young lady. You are being rude.”

Elie felt pain in her upper arm and stopped and looked at him. “Can you blame me for not wanting to talk to you? After that stunt you pulled on me in the room the other day?”

The reprehensible administrator mocked her, “Cut the drama. You and I both know you were responding to me. Let’s get in my car and,”

              Elie pulled away. “I wouldn’t get into your car if I was dying and you were my only ride to the hospital!”

              Another scornful laugh from Oden, “I don’t believe you. I saw the look in your eyes when I was talking to you. You wanted me as much as I wanted you.”

              “Is that right, Dr. Oden? Well, look into my eyes right now and tell me what you see. Look hard. Concentrate.”

              As the assistant headmaster leaned forward to see the expression in her eyes, Elie moved her muscular leg up quickly and accurately kneeing him in his most vulnerable, male place and sending him reeling backwards in extreme pain.

”Oh my god, you little bitch!” he seethed, being careful not to yell too loud for fear someone would hear him.

“Ayyyyyyuhhhhh, god, that hurts!”

              Elie laughed and walked quickly away saying smoothly over her shoulder, “You know you wanted that as much as I wanted it. Or, maybe I wanted that a little bit more?”

Giggling she left him hunched over as he tried to catch his breath.

She was laughing so hard, she almost ran over her roommate who was crossing over from another hallway.

              “Verna, I didn’t even see you! How goes it, roomie?”

              Her roommate smiled. “It goes very well. I was just nominated for the honors program at the American University in Paris. It’s an incredible opportunity.

Only one student per school is accepted. It’s going to come down to either me, Colleen Massengale or Taylor
Haines. I hope I get it.”

              “I’m happy for you, Verna and proud to be the roommate of someone potentially famous!”

              “Well, you are too kind. Just keep me in your good thoughts. I really want this. My parents would be blown away!”

              “It’s a done deal! You’re the best. Come on, I’ll treat you to dinner at the cafeteria.”

              “Uh, Bree, there is no charge for dinner at the cafeteria. We pay by the semester.”

              “Exactly Verna, that’s why I offered. See how smart you’re getting by the moment. The city of lights won’t have a chance!”

              Her roommate laughed. “Let’s go eat some frog legs.”

              “I was thinking snails.”

              “Ewwww, enough of this silly talk. I think they’re having pizza tonight, with a salad.”

              And, with that, the two roommates locked arms and headed off to dinner.