The Pursuit

Four

Three days passed since they found Jane Doe in the forest. Three nights Maggie hasn't slept soundly. The police investigated on the property for those days. They could not identify the girl they found. She had no documented fingerprints, and no documented dental records. Who is that untraceable? They announced they would release a sketch of the woman out to the public to garner information about her.

Two detectives came back to interview Maggie and her father about their whereabouts on the morning of the discovery. They also dug into their evenings. They assured them both that they weren't suspects but just wanted to weed down people who may have witnessed the crime. Maggie asked to be interviewed privately, not wanting to share the details for her evening with her father nor know the details of his.

On day four since the discovery of Jane Doe, Maggie prepared her breakfast and brewed her tea. She found herself wondering about Sam again and the sensations she felt with him. She brought her mind back to the way his gaze locked with hers as he entered in and out of her, almost as if he knew her body for years. She closed her eyes and leaned against the sink and waited for her kettle to be ready. She envisioned Sam with her and his arms wrapped around her, kissing her neck, his hands caressing her skin. Shivers whirled through her body. Her kettle alerted her back to reality. Who was Sam Bryant?

Her father appeared  in the dining room and she watched him ready his bag through the mirror over the buffet cabinet. Maybe he knows the Bryants? He should know just about every property in town. "Hey, dad?" she asked out, watching him in the mirror. His back to it. "Random question".

"Yup, I'm all ears honey", he answered still focused on his papers.

"I met this guy on Friday, nothing serious, don't get the dowry out", she smiled.

"Don't tease Maggie, never nice to tease!" he shook his head in the mirror but didn't turn.

"He introduced himself to me, as any casanova does", she stated and walked towards the kitchen table, filling her thermos with hot water. She looked back up to the mirror. "He said his last name was Bryant", she watched as her father stopped his movements and stiffened himself as though a cold chill ran through him. "Do you know any Bryant's in town?" she asked knowing he recognized the name.

He relaxed and continued collecting his gear. Maggie turned back to put the kettle back on the counter. Why did he react  like that? "Can't say I do hun, not ringing any bells in the ole noggin", he lied. Liar! What do you know? "Maybe  he's new in town?" He came  into the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek, "I gotta head out, I'll be back for dinner!" He smiled at her and picked up his thermos. "Oh!" He turned around,  "Don't forget Sarah is coming over for dinner tonight!" A little excessive with the excitement pops, calm it down tiger.

He disappeared out the door and she silently counted down the hours until she got to meet the elusive Sarah.