C Weaver - Silent River

Robert lifted his face; his eyes narrowed to slits.

“If this was a cartoon strip,” Jake remarked, “steam would be rising out of your ears, and a whistle would be blowing out of the top of your head.” A smile spread across Jake’s face.

“What are you laughing about? This isn’t a laughing matter,” Robert ground out between clenched teeth.

“I agree there’s nothing funny about murder, even if we don’t have a body or bodies. This is serious stuff. I think Babs is expecting you to ask her out. I overheard her quizzing one of the other women in the typing pool if they’d heard any news of you going to the dance.”

“Jake, I said I would think about it.” His eyes narrowed on Jake daring him to continue.

Jake pressed on. His voice, light and casual, as if they were talking about the weather. “Do you think at some point the Stevens family met any or all of James’ friends? You know what I mean, a cosmic instance where everything collides and from that something happens?”

“Jake, you’re nuts.” The constant changing of subjects threatened Robert’s sanity. It showed in the erratic way his hands continued over the crease, or lack of it, in his slacks. He forced his hands to stop moving.

“I mean the theory of evolution is that there was this big bang and we all came to be.”

“You don’t believe all that crap, do you?” Robert frowned at his friend. Had Jake stepped over the edge somehow and Robert not seen it coming? Was the medication affecting his brain?

“No, but the moment you ask Babs to the dance, it might be the thing that opens this case.”

“What are you talking about?” Robert enunciated each word as he stood, leaning his fists on Jake’s desk, glaring at him.

Jake threw up his hands in mock defense. “Look, I’m just saying there are a couple of things that might make sense here. If we could find some incident where the Stevens family had some meeting with Calvin’s friends, there might be a line of connection there. I’m not saying there is a connection. I could be grasping at straws, but if there was, we should see where it takes us. What if Calvin asked his friends to come over and move his stuff out? They might have met the family.”

Robert shook with frustration and disbelief. “I get that point, and I agree. It’s a possibility that there might be some chain of evidence through James and his friends. After all, they’re all here, Calvin is not, but he has an alibi.”

“Right. We need to see if there is a chain of evidence. Now back to Babs. When are you going to ask her? Lorene wants to know.”

“Lorene, is it? It sounds like YOU want to know.

“Okay, so I’m nosy. I don’t care if you don’t marry her; I think you need to explore the dating scene again. It might take that edginess off you.”

Robert moved to the door. “GO HOME! Go and see your wife and leave me and my life alone.”

“That’s it, Robert, you don’t have a life. You go to work and go home and sleep. That isn’t a life, it’s an existence,” Jake shot back.

“I like my life the way it is.” The bold statement was lost on Jake

“No, you don’t, it is just a safe cocoon. At some point in time, the animal has to change and work its way out. If not, it dies in the shell. Be careful of what option you choose. I don’t want to lose my friend and partner.”

With that comment, Robert turned and strode out the door, careful not to slam it. He heard a soft chuckle and, “I thought you were going to drive me home.”

Robert turned back and opened the door, “Come on. I should send you home in a squad car. I might stop and kill you myself before we get there.”

After taking Jake home, getting him up to the house into Lorene’s care, he headed back to the station. He stood at his desk, pondering the last bit of advice Jake gave him. The last option was not one he wanted either. He’d seen cops break under pressure, letting the job and the incidents get the best of them. The idea that he lived in a cocoon was a little much, but true. The work had taken the place of living. He didn’t socialize with the rest of the team. The guys had stopped inviting him to their BBQs and card parties. Jake was the only one who wouldn’t let him slink off into his hole. Before he could talk himself out of it, he made his way to the typing pool room.

It was lunch or break. Most of the women were away from their desks. Barbara sat talking to a couple of the other women behind her.

“Excuse me, ladies. Barbara, may I speak to you a moment?” He smiled at the three women, showing his dimples. They all grinned and nodded, bobbing their heads up and down.

Barbara followed him away from the group to a water cooler on the far side of the room. She filled a paper cone and turned to him

“Yes?” She waited, sipping from the cup, leaving a little red ring of lipstick on the paper.

He cleared his throat, then pressed on. “I was wondering if you had a date for the Policeman’s Ball.”

“There’s been some talk, but I haven’t been officially asked.” She gave him an encouraging smile.

“Then I would like to officially ask you to be my date at the Policeman’s Ball.” It came out in a little breathy rush.

Barbara gave him a smile that reached the corners of her eyes. “The answer is yes.”

“Great, I’ll make early dinner reservations, then we’ll go to the party.” His confident grin had slid to a nervous grimace.

“Why, thank you.” Her soft voice touched him, caressed him, “I think that would be fun. You can tell me all the details later.” She squeezed his arm and turned to go back to her desk.

“Ah, right, I—ah—will do that. See ya’,” he turned and almost rushed out of the room, but he forced himself to amble to Jake’s office. He dialed Jake’s number, and Lorene said he was resting, but handed Jake the receiver anyway. “Okay, I did it, and she said yes.”

“And you’re still living, breathing, and walking. It wasn’t so bad, was it?” Jake leaned back in his chair and locked his fingers behind his head.

“Okay, it was bad, but I made it, and we are going to dinner before the dance. Do you and Lorene want to go too?” Robert asked hopefully.

“Sure, let me know where you want to go.” Robert could almost see Jake smile.

“I was hoping you would take care of that part and let me know.” Robert ran a hand down his thigh, stilling the trembles. He didn’t realize until now how weak his legs felt.

“No problem, I’m sure Lorene will have some idea where to go. She can call Babs, as they’re already friends.” Jake yawned into the phone.

“Rest. I’m going to set up a meeting with the first group of boys in a day or so.”

“All right.” Came the answer through another yawn.

“Jake? Thanks.”

“Welcome.”

The time had come to call James Corbett. Robert opened the folder with James’ information. What did he really know about this kid? He wasn’t much of a kid at twenty-nine. He hadn’t matured. He acted like a young, college frat boy. He coached a college boys’ basketball team. It couldn’t pay much, so what did he do for money?

“Whose bio are you burning holes in?” Jake asked as he sat down across from Robert.

“Don’t you have a desk?” Robert looked up.

“I do, in fact, have one of those. It’s in much better condition than yours. You have more information about the case. I think talking it out works better than us trying to do the same thing alone.” Jake crossed a leg over his knee and smiled at his friend.

Robert raised one eyebrow. “You think so? I see you’re feeling chipper. You must be over your toothache, or has Lorene been good to you?”