Mystery on the Bayou

                                                                                      Chapter 19

                                                                                    A Place For Us                                                                                          

     The months passed.  Essie and Olivia had a grand summer, swimming at the local swimming pool, roller skating at the roller rink in town, and hanging out with other teens in the neighborhood.  Carl Masters, the former owner of the gambling house in New Orleans was still on the run, but it was thought by Sheriff Matthews and the F.B.I. that he was deep in hiding somewhere because neither the Sheriff's departments across the United States nor the many F.B.I. agents on the case had been able to find him.

     It had been months since Ron Current's brother had been killed on the order of Carl Mathews, so Ron and Grace had made the decision to move into Ron's very large home at the edge of town, where Essie and Olivia could have their own room.  They reasoned if Carl Masters came after them, well, Ron's house was not known to him.  Graces' house was.  Carl had sent one of his men out to keep an eye on Jessie's and Grace's houses shortly after Ron's brother Randal was killed.

     Plus, Ron's house had six bedrooms, three and one and a half baths, Large living room with fireplace, a dinning room, den, large kitchen, exercise room, and game room which would come in really handy with two active girls in the house, wondering what to do on a rainy day.  So on the Saturday which fell on the third of September, Doogie Strum, Floyd Bloom, Grant Bass and Pete Starkey helped Ron and Grace move Grace, Essie and Olivia's personal belongings and Grace's furniture to Ron's much larger house on the edge of the city.

     Jessie, Ron's mother and a few of the women who attended Grace's church helped pack up pictures, kitchen items, lamps and all the other items in the house, other than furniture, which was left to the guys to do.  The women were following the men over to Ron's house when Grace's was cleaned out.  Everyone helping the couple move out were staying at the new place to help the Bride and Groom put things away.  Ron and Grace were providing pizza's for the group of friends as a "Thank You" for their help.

     Everyone started at seven o'clock in the morning moving things out.   And at one o'clock in the afternoon everything in Grace's house had been taken to her, Essie and Olivia's new home.  The reality that Grace was using to sell her house, had placed a sign in the yard where passers by could readily see it.  She gave the sign a look before getting into her mother-in-laws car.  Mrs. Current pretended not to see the tear in her eye and drove away.   The pizzas that Grace and Ron promised were delivered around Two o'clock, and everyone was eager to sit down and fill their stomachs.  "I'm going to miss you being right next door," Jessie said, while feeding Cocoa a bit of pizza.

     "Well, since Ron and I are working again," Grace started, "I'll still need you to keep an eye on Essie and Olivia.  I realize they are thirteen years old, and if Carl Masters and maybe some of his men were not out there somewhere, the girls could stay alone.  But I just don't feel I can chance it," she ended.

     "You're doing the right thing," Jessie told her.  Grace gave her a smile, while Ron's mom totally agreed with Jessie.  The other women there thought moving to Ron's house was a good idea too.  Cocoa even gave out a couple of shrill squawks; Jessie said through laughter, "I guess Cocoa thinks you're making the right decision too.  "If my vote counts for anything," Ron said, "I do too."  Grace gave him a kiss on the cheek.

     Essie and Olivia had spent the night at the house of one of Essie's friends.  Her friend's mother was dropping Essie and Olivia off around two thirty in the afternoon; and Mrs. Tripper was right on time.  The two girls came running in, their eyes wide filled, with what everyone there considered sheer terror.  Essie and Olivia immediately ran to their mother and father and said in unison, " We saw Carl Masters!"

     Everyone's jaw dropped and no one knew what to say for a minute or so.  They all just stood there gaping at the two girls.  "Where?" Ron, Grace, Jessie and some of the others asked.  Before anyone could answer, Sheriff Mathews, Deputy Clark Cruise, and Deputy Mike Snow came through the open front door, that someone had forgotten to close.  Essie had phoned him after she had spotted Carl Masters.

     Without a greeting to anyone the sheriff said, "All exit roads out of town will be blocked off.  Our neighboring county Sheriff Departments are on their way as we speak.  Mike and Clark have notified all of our citizens in town to stay in their homes with their doors locked, and all the shops, Convenience Stores, Banks, etc. will be closed until Carl Masters is apprehended."

     "Clark and Mike will stay here with you all until Carl Masters is captured.  Which I feel will be fairly soon.  Any questions?"  No one said a word.  But Grandma Current hurried over to put her arms around Essie and Olivia.  Jessie was already behind the girls speaking comfort to them.   

     "I'm hoping that the "For Sale" sign in your yard Grace, may cause Carl to think that you all left town for parts unknown.  I know it's a slim chance, but we can hope and pray that's the way he'll see it.  If he does indeed think you all are gone from here, I believe he will try and leave, I'm depending on him trying to leave rather quickly, and then we'll have him at one of the blockades."

     "I don't think any of us can ask for more than you're doing Frank," Ron told him.  Nearly everyone nodded in agreement.  "I'm amazed Essie that you could spot him that quickly," Grace said, "You'd think he'd be clever enough to wear a disguise."  Essie grinned at her audience, "He did," she said.  "Well, then I for one am confused," Doogie told her, smoothing his goatee, "How did you know it was him?"

     Sheriff Matthews spoke before Essie could.  "Hey you all, I've gotta go and meet up with the other Sheriff's Departments.  Clark and Mike will make sure no harm comes to any of you.  See you all later."  Then Frank gave a wave on his way out.  "Okay Essie," Clark said, "go ahead and answer Doogie's question."

     "Well, Carl Masters was dressed as a hobo.  It was a pretty good disguise.  But he forgot to cover up in some way, a large strawberry birthmark on his right cheek."  Everyone laughed.  "Obviously we're not dealing with the smartest "Bulb in the Box" here," Deputy Mike said.  Everyone laughed again.

     "I take it you knew about the birthmark from passing out all those flyers," Jessie said.  "Yeah," Essie replied, "For good or bad, I don't think I will ever forget Carl's Masters' face."  When Essie was done speaking, Ron thought it was time to change the subject.  "Well.... Mike, Clark, as you can see, God has been really good to me, so I have two bedrooms with your names on them if this thing goes into the night time.  "Thanks Ron," Deputy Clark said.  "Yeah, thanks," Deputy Mike echoed.

     The deputies looked around the large living room, where furniture that would go in nearly every room was setting.  Clark whispered something to Mike and then after a nod from his partner, he said, "We'd be happy to help get things in order."  That would be great," Ron told his two friends.  "Great!" Mike said.  "Help yourselves to some Pizza." Ron offered.  Clark and Mike both grab a paper plate and a few pieces.  Mike looked appreciatively around the pretty living room and said, "I've always wanted to see the inside of this house."  Everyone laughed again, and it felt good.

                                                                              End of Chapter 19