Janet and Mark work things out
Part 8
The next morning they slept late. Mark was up first and ordered coffee. When Janet awoke she was covered. Mark had pulled the spread over her when he had gotten up.
Janet sat up and looked around. When she saw Mark she smiled. "Glad last night wasn't a dream," she smiled. "What time is it?"
"Just about 8:30. I've called in and told them I'm taking the day off. I want you to do the same. We have several things to take care of today. I know they could wait but I don't want to. Now make your call please and get a shower while I order breakfast.
When Janet was in the shower Mark called the front desk. He asked that whatever they left in the room be moved to the Bridal Suite. The girl checked their reservation but reminded him it was only for the night. That done Mark was transferred to room service.
As Janet was showering a worried Hilda pulled into her daughter's drive. She had already called Janet's office and been told her daughter was not at work and had not called in. That worried Hilda. The fear that Janet had become the victim of some undesirable man was too much. She was going to check on her daughter. If she found her daughter had a man in the bedroom, Hilda would demand to meet him. She was a little relieved to see no strange car in the drive.
Ringing the door bell three times with no answer, Hilda used her key to go inside. What she saw frightened her. There on the entrance table was Janet's purse and phone. Fearing the worst Hilda started to retreat and call the police. She would have but for the fear Janet was badly injured and the delay might be deadly. Hilda fought her panic and began to search the house.
The breakfast table had plates with half eaten portions on them. The balance of the food was still in the paper take out container in the center of the table. That was something else to add to Hilda's anxiety. Janet was not one to leave a mess like that. Moving on to Janet's bedroom she saw the bed was neatly made but several drawers were half open like the place had been searched. Looking in Janet's bath room and finding it empty, Hilda searched the rest of the rooms. She had saved the master suite for last. It took all of Hilda's will power to step into that room.
The sight made Hilda break down. Through her tears she saw a messy bed; two wine glasses on the night stand. One glass empty, the other with lipstick on the rim was a quarter full. Hilda knew that Janet had not slept in this room since Mark had left. Even after the new furniture and remodel work, it was still not where Janet slept.
Thinking she had no choice Hilda ventured deeper into the room. She looked for signs of a struggle or blood. Hilda saw none. She looked on the far side of the bed and even under it. No Janet. At the moment not finding her daughter was as bad as finding her.
Into the master bath, Hilda didn't leave a stone unturned. She opened the door to the commode before heading into the walk in closet. There Hilda found a drawer open. It was the top drawer in one of the built in chests. It was empty but that didn't strike Hilda as unusual for most of this closet was empty. Janet just stored a few of her seasonal clothes in it.
Finding no Janet, either alive or dead, Hilda walked back to the door leading to the garage. There she found Janet's Mercedes parked. Now it was time to panic. Wondering if she should call the police Hilda went to the kitchen phone. There on the counter under the cordless phone mount was a tablet. On the top page was written, 'call Emma P' with a telephone number written under it.
Hilda picked up the phone and dialed the number. Emma was standing beside the phone about to call her doctor's office to make an appointment. She recognized the number and answered expecting Janet to be on the other end. "Hello stranger, been a long time," Emma said with a smile.
"Hello, this is Hilda Emerson; I'm Janet Parker's mother. I'm trying to locate Janet. I fear something terrible has happened to her. I found your number by her phone. I was about to call the police. Please can you tell me where Janet is?"
"Mrs. Emerson, this is Emma Parker. I recognized the number but as you can tell I was thinking it was Janet on the line. Why do you want to call the police?"
"I don't know what else to do. Janet had taken up with some...some... man I guess. When I came to get her for church Sunday there was a car in the drive. It was a cheap plain white Ford, the kind a policeman or public servant might drive, but it had out of state plates. That might make him some kind of traveling salesman or maybe a man on the run. When Janet didn't come to the door I let myself in. She came out of the hall to the master bedroom in just a man's shirt. I meant that is all. It barely covered her and not with any modesty. Janet was very vague and sent me on. She promised to explain it all later."
"Did she?" Emma asked.
"No, that's the problem. I came back by after church just in time to see her leave with someone in a yellow sports convertible automobile. They zipped off so fast I couldn't catch up. I called several times Sunday night but got no answer. All I got on her cell phone too was the machine."
"But that was Sunday morning you say?" Emma was a little concerned. She had not made her call till Sunday at 10 a.m. And she knew Mark had a white Ford but the yellow sports car was news to her. Emma wanted to know more. "Go on why are you worried now?"
"I call her first thing Monday morning. Janet is always early to work. She was late and when I did get thru to her about 11 she said she had a meeting and would explain it all later. She just said bye and hung up. Monday night she didn't answer the phone at home or her cell. I called Tuesday to her work and did barely get to talk with her again. She still refused to say anything to me about who she's seeing. I think she must be ashamed of him or her actions. I am just so worried. You hear of women that are lonely that men take advantage of. Now today, her secretary said Janet hadn't made it in and she hadn't heard for her either. I got no answer here today so I came over. And what I found confirmed my greatest fear."
"What did you find Mrs. Emerson?" Emma asked almost afraid of the answer.
I found the door locked but Janet's purse and cell phone on the entrance table. Her car is in the garage. There was spoiled food on the table, a messy bed in the master bedroom, and Janet's room had been ransacked. I know someone has taken advantage of Janet. You don't think she's..." Hilda began to cry.
"Mrs. Emerson I have a good idea what's going on but I'm not completely sure. Give me half an hour, if I can't find them you can call the police."
"Thank you Emma, that is all I know of you, but thank you all the same."
"Mrs. Emerson this is Emma Parker, Mark's sister-in-law."
That surprised Hilda for it was Jeremy, Emma's husband that had represented Mark in the divorce. But at that moment Hilda would have talked to the Devil himself to find out where her daughter was.
Emma called Jeremy. She asked first if Mark had a small yellow car. Jeremy confirmed that he had in fact purchased one but Jeremy hadn't seen it yet. Then she asked if Jeremy had heard from Mark today. Jeremy said that Mark had called to say he had a legal issue to handle. He had offered to help but Mark refused saying he would not be needed. Jeremy surmised that Mark was finally going to change his driver's license from Washington to Tennessee.
Emma tried Mark's cell phone but got no answer. She tried his apartment but got nothing but voice mail. With the time about up Emma found and called one last number. If she had no luck there Emma would have to call Hilda and tell Janet's frantic mother all she knew. The phone rang and was answered, "Bentley Imperial Hotel, how may I direct your call?"
"I am trying to reach a Mark Parker, is he registered there?"
"One moment please," Emma could hear typing in the background, "Yes we have a Mr. and Mrs. Mark Parker as guest here. May I put you thru?" The clerk had seen the flag and knew what it meant.
