The Boy and the Bookstore

Chapter 17- John Henry Hohmer

Pete and Sam pulled up to a small house in a community neighborhood. There were some plants in the front yard. There was a lady two houses down that was out in her front yard working on her flowers.

“This is the only lead I got so don’t ruin it. It is kind of interesting though” Pete said.

“What do you mean? Summarize it for me.” Sam sat looking at the lady who hadn’t realized them.

“I looked into Henry Wellmeyer. There is no Henry Wellmeyer. At least not anywhere around here.”

“He used a fake name for the media… interesting. You figure out his real name?”

“I’m not positive but I found a guy with the name John Henry Hohmer. I had to look through some divorce papers and I found this name with a Carly Hohmer on the day you said he turned in his divorce papers. So I looked into her records. She has a ten year old son. From everything you’ve told me this is the only lead I got. I couldn’t really find much on the name John Henry Hohmer in such a short time. I got some internet clips about some amateur racing stuff. I didn’t meet him so I don’t know if he fits the profile or not.”

“Huh… well he’s a 41 year old overweight guy. Not that you have to be an athlete to be a driver I guess. You run a credit history on him?” Sam asked.

“Are you really that interested in this guy?”

“You’ll look through divorce records but not run a credit check on him?”

“Everything I did was public record. That other stuff takes time. You know I’ve been busy with Cam. That’s a higher priority right now. I’m actually getting some cash from that. You haven’t paid me for anything.”

“Oh shut up. Just wait here.” Sam said getting out of the car and walking down towards the lady that he assumed was Carly Hohmer. He took a few steps into her grass and said hello to gain her attention. She stopped watering her flowers and turned around and looked at Sam. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a light zip up navy blue sweater over a plain white shirt. She was wearing short jean shorts and a white graphic tee shirt that was too big for her. She looked him up and down first.

“Well you don’t look like a salesman. What can I help you with?” She asked.

“I don’t mean to bother you but I’m looking for a man I met the other night. He left his credit card at the bar and I wanted to return it to him. He told me to call him Henry but his card says John Hohmer. I looked him up and this is the only address I could find.”

“Yeah John used to live here. We’ve been separated for a while now.”

“Oh I’m sorry to hear that.” Sam said pretending as if he didn’t already know. “Well do you know how I might be able to find him?”

“Yeah he is over at his brother’s house on the weekends a lot. I’ll get you the address.” The lady walked inside and came out with a piece of paper a few minutes later. “If he’s not there his brother will probably know where to find him better than I will.”

“Thanks. You’ve been a big help.” Sam said walking away.

“Just out of curiosity” the lady yelled after Sam. He stopped and listened. “Why didn’t you just mail it to the address you found?”

“Because he actually told me he had gotten a divorce and I didn’t want to give a crazy ex-wife his credit card. I don’t think anyone deserves that. That and if I was wrong about the address who knows what somebody might do with a credit card.” Sam said and walked back to the car. He got in and handed Pete the piece of paper with the address on it.