For a long while, Lauren sat in the car staring off into the distance. She had left the prison and driven to the shady spot she liked to think of as her hideout behind the old church. It was the same spot where she hid while she reviewed the files looking for anything that could help her with Jasper’s case. Now, she just sat there thinking about Jasper and feeling helpless.
She knew he was up to something. She had no idea what that something could be but it was definitely serious. Jasper was going to get out of that prison. She was sure of it. She just didn’t know how he was going to do it. Also, she was sure whatever he was going to do was going to have a very bad outcome because he made love to her in the prison rather than out of it.
“What are you up to, Jasper?” Lauren was sure that if he planned on sneaking out to see her, they wouldn’t have bothered to sex it up in that prison cell. She was sure that Jasper’s plans didn’t include her or leave room for them to see each other outside. “I just hope it’s not some kind of suicide mission.”
She fought the urge to call Georgie and try to convince him to fill her in. Several times she picked up her phone and stared at it, only to put it back in her lap again. Then she started to cry. The thought struck her that she didn’t think to take a photo of her and Jasper together. It was her one shot and she blew it. She was already forgetting what he looked like, much like when someone dies and the one left behind mourning has that momentary lapse where they can’t remember a thing about the one that died. Before Lauren knew it, the windows of the car were fogging up. Then she realized they were fogging because she was sobbing.
In the throes of her sobs, Lauren’s phone slipped from her hand. After fifteen minutes she calmed down and searched between the seats for it. As she stuffed her fingers deeper between the cushions, she felt something. She reached for it, struggled then finally managed to grab, what felt like, the paper between her fingertips. She withdrew her hand carefully, like pulling a plastic rib from the old board game, Operation. As her fingers brushed the side of the driver’s seat, she heard a loud angry buzz in her head. Game over.
But it wasn’t game over. It was a collection of photos stuck together. They must have fallen from the file the last time she was parked here.
Lauren turned on the interior car light and looked at the photo but between her tears and the glare of the harsh light against the photo paper, she could barely see the details of the photos. It was a room or a few rooms, perhaps an apartment. Carefully she flipped over the photos and read the label on the back, ‘Lucas Jackson Apartment Study’. Lauren frowned. She flipped the next photo over, ‘Lucas Jackson Apartment Bedroom’. Then the third, ‘Lucas Jackson Apartment Garage’.
She turned the overhead light off and started the engine. Once warmed up, Lauren drove to the nearest coffee shop where she could get a coffee and a better look at the photos. She had never noticed them in the file before but maybe, just maybe there was a reason she found these photos tonight.
***
“Need a refill, hon?” The waitress with the hot pink lipstick and the orange hair smiled down at Lauren. A steaming pot of coffee teetered in her shaky hand. Protectively, Lauren covered the photos with her hands.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” She smiled up at the waitress and watched her shrug as she turned to go. Lauren pulled her hands back and stared at the photos. She had them lined up across the table and was first studying one at a time, then she looked at all three of them as a whole picture.
She found nothing useful or unusual in the garage or bedroom photos. The study photo, however, bothered her. It was as if something was out of place but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Nothing in the photo stood out as being unusual but collectively something didn’t feel right.
Lauren took her phone out and took a photo of the picture. Then she tucked all three in her jacket pocket. Looking at her phone, she zoomed in on the photo and with her finger moved the screen around checking every inch of it.
Then she saw it. It was right there, staring at her.
Lucas loved horses. His study was full of them. Brass bookends of horses heads held up collections of books. Oil paintings of horses in fields adorned the walls. He even had little wooden carvings of horses that adorned the bookshelves. It was all very masculine … except for the stuffed, brown horse that sat on the shelf staring directly at the photographer. “What the?” Lauren questioned herself. Lucas didn’t have any children and this stuffed toy, which could have been a cute gift given to him by Misty or another lover for that matter, sat there slightly tilted on the shelf. The fur of it was dark so it blended with the books and the wood to a degree. It was the type of object that would either bring a lot of attention to itself and be a conversation piece or it could go unnoticed completely. Lauren noticed it because she had seen that same horse somewhere else. She just couldn’t place where.
She dropped some money on the table and headed out the door. It was late but she needed to pay someone a visit.
***
Misty Wilkes sat on her couch with tears in her eyes. She held tightly onto a photo in her fingertips and each time she looked at it, she dabbed her eyes with a tissue and sniffed. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a knock at her door startled her.
“Misty? Misty Wilkes? Are you there?”
It was a woman’s voice at the door. Misty stared at the door probably a bit longer than she should have considering the pouring rain outside. Still, she wasn’t expecting anyone and she didn’t recognize the voice. She set the photo down against an opened, half-empty bottle of wine and padded barefoot to the door. Rolling up on her toes, Misty peered out the small, glass window in the door. She didn’t recognize the woman.
“Can I help you?”
Lauren held up the photo of Lucas’ study to the glass window.
“I’m Jasper Connor’s lawyer!” She was shouting over the rain as it pummeled the wooden roof of Misty’s porch. “Do you still have this stuffed horse?”
Misty swung the door open, “You’re Jasper’s lawyer? I thought Darla Lovell was his lawyer.” Quickly she ushered Lauren inside and closed the door behind her. “Wow, you’re soaked. Go on and take your jacket off. I’ll get you a towel.”
Misty’s little dog came yapping toward Lauren. It jumped up on her legs and bounced around her, snapping at the raindrops that attempted one last escape as they raced down Lauren’s coat toward the floor.
“Uh, cute dog. What is it?” Lauren asked as the white fluff ball relentlessly jumped trying to get to Lauren’s face but missing by a few feet every time.
Misty shrugged as she handed Lauren the towel and took her coat from her, “Some kind of scrappy mutt.” Then to the dog she barked, “JC! Sit down … DOWN I said!” She reached for the dog and lifted him up into her arms. The dog immediately lapped Misty’s face then panted against it thrilled to finally be licking someone!
Lauren pressed her wet face into the towel and breathed. It smelled like berries. Misty probably had some kind of potpourri in her linen closet.
“Your dog’s name is JC?” She moved the towel toward her hair and began patting it.
Misty blushed and nodded, “Long story. I’m sorry, what did you say your name was again?” JC, clearly satisfied that he was served some attention, was now struggling to get out of Misty’s arms. She set him down and watched him trot off to busy himself with a toy.
“Lauren. Lauren Holden. I work for Darla.” She fibbed a little. “I saw Jasper at the prison earlier. He’s doing well, for now.” Lauren held the towel in her hands and looked over at the dog. Misty named her dog JC. She wondered how that went over with Lucas.
“I got the dog after Lucas died. He’s still a bit of a puppy, a little over a year now.” Misty said as if reading Lauren’s mind, then she forced a smile.
“Why don’t you come on in and I’ll get you something warm to drink. Have a seat. You prefer coffee or tea?”
“Tea, please. Black is fine. Maybe a little sugar if it’s not too much trouble.”
As Misty made her way into the kitchen, Lauren looked around the Living Room. It was comfortable. Dark rustic tones made the room feel cozy and warm. The TV flashed some sitcom but the sound was turned all the way down. The opened bottle of wine sat next to a half empty glass atop of the dark brown wooden coffee table. The color label on the box the coffee table came in probably read ‘espresso’.
Lauren took a seat on the dark olive sofa. She sank in a bit. The pillows were oversized and fluffy. Her eyes moved toward the wine bottle and the photo Misty had leaned against it before she answered the door. Glancing toward the kitchen, Lauren’s fingers reached for it. It was a photo of Jasper with his muscular, tattooed arm around Misty’s neck. Her fingers were entwined with his. They were both years younger and smiling two of the biggest smiles Lauren had ever seen. Lauren couldn’t help but smile when she looked at the photo. Their smiles were infectious, but she felt that pang of sadness again realizing she’d neglected to take her own photo with Jasper back at the prison.
Misty came in with the tea, “I hope you don’t mind. I nuked it to get it hot faster.” As she set the tea and a sugar bowl down in front of Lauren, her eyes moved to the photo. “Oh, that was a few years ago. We were at a party at the Brass Monkey. Jasper and I were still a thing then. He was so handsome back then – still is.” A mischievous twinkle glinted in her eyes, “That boy’s got a way with the ladies, as I’m sure you know.”
Lauren set the photo back and shrugged, “Yes, I’m sure he’s got his charms.” She tried to sound like his charm didn’t affect her. Little did Misty know, Lauren still had Jasper’s seed inside her. At least, she hoped she did. Lauren tended to the tea as she found her mind wandering back to their love making. She shook the thoughts away quickly lest she’d start to tear up from the realization it would probably never happen again.
Misty took a seat beside her, “So, Lauren Holden. What brings you out here in the middle of this rain? You wanted to see a horse?” Misty looked confused.
Lauren held the cup in both hands using its heat to warm her, “Yes. I noticed in the photo of Lucas’ study that he had this stuffed toy horse on the shelf. It just looked out of place. Do you know if you still have it somewhere?”
“I do. Lucas’ study is exactly as it was. I’ve had no reason to pack it up yet and sometimes I like to just sit in there with his things. Makes me feel like he’s still around, you know?”
Lauren smiled to her and nodded, “I’m sure it’s comforting.”
The whole house was comforting. Lauren instantly felt relaxed and welcome in Misty’s home. Misty, herself, was relaxed and comfortable to be around. Lauren liked being near her.
Misty took the picture of her and Jasper in her hand and rose from her seat, “C’mon. I’ll show you the room. What’s so special about this horse, anyway?” She headed up the wooden steps with Lauren and tea cup on tow.
“I had this crazy idea that it’s not really a stuffed animal but a camera.”
Misty stopped at the top of the stairs and looked at Lauren, “What do you mean a camera?”
Lauren stopped too, “I know it’s a long shot but there are these little cameras that fit into stuffed animals. They are called …” Lauren paused as she thought of the name, “… Nanny Cams. A parent would stick the Nanny Cam stuffed toy on the shelf and record the activities. You know, to make sure that the nanny wasn’t mistreating the children.”
Misty nodded once then resumed her pace to the study, “Interesting. I didn’t know that existed. Lucas just brought it home one day. Said he thought it was cute and put it on the shelf.” She pushed the door to the study opened and flipped on the light. “It should still be here, but I doubt that’s what it is.”
When Misty flipped the switch, lighting up the study. The rain was thrashing against the windows. The room was immaculate. Lucas must have been a neat-freak. Without wasting much time, Lauren went to the bookshelves. The stuffed horse was there looking her directly in the eyes as if to say, ‘What took you so long?’