The Heirloom Ring: Haunted Book 3

Chapter 7

Destiny’s POV

We looked up the Blackwood’s phone number. It didn’t take Mark very long to find it. Mark is really good at computers. I would have had no idea where to look. He looked at me to see if I was ready to do this.

I was really nervous. There were big tanker truck size butterflies attacking my tummy, and my body was sweating. I needed to take a deep breath to steady my heart beat.

I didn’t know what kind of reception we would get. How would they feel about me calling for something like this?

My fingers were trembling as I held the phone in my hand and hit the dial icon. Gulping, I put the phone on speaker and looked right at my sweet Mark. He was my rock. I trusted him in everything.

“Hello?” An older woman’s voice came through the other end of the line.

“Hello, is this Tina Blackwood?” I ask. My voice was shaking. I took another breath to hopefully steady not only my voice, but my blood pressure.

Talking to strangers was not my strong suit, and doing it under false pretenses was even worse! What kind of a person did that make me?

“Yes, this is Tina. Who is this?” Her voice was kind. I hoped it would stay that way when I asked my next question. However, this did give me some hope that she wouldn’t yell at me. Maybe this would be okay?

We actually came up with a story we needed to stick to. I hope she didn’t get mad at us. I had to tell her as much truth as I could, but obviously most of it was all made up. I didn’t even know Angela. But somehow I didn’t think Angela would be mad at me for telling this little fib to help find her killer.

“My name is Destiny. I was friends with Angela,” I say, looking up at Mark. My arms started to shake a little more. I don’t ever remember being this nervous before. I am normally able to talk to people easily. But I guess it’s different when it’s face to face.

He smiles at me and nods his head. I sigh and clam just the slightest bit.

“Oh! One of Angie’s friends…” Tina sighed in sadness. She somehow sounded delighted and heartbroken at the same time. Maybe she was happy to know that she had people who cared about her, and even if they called her up randomly…

“Yes. We had some classes together. I’m sorry if this isn’t a good time to call…” I didn’t know what to do if she said she wasn’t ready to talk to me right now. I really needed the information as soon as possible. We needed to get this info to the police as soon as we could. We couldn’t have a predator on the loose. What if he did this again?

“Oh, no dear. I’m glad you called. She was such a good girl, and she loved school…” Tina seemed to float off into space for a moment.

I gave her a moment to gather her thoughts before I brought her back and redirected the conversation to where I needed. I wanted to get this done soon so I didn’t end up having a panic attack on the phone with a stranger.

“The reason I called is because she left a jacket with me when we were studying, and told me to hold it for her for  a bit. She said  it was her boyfriend’s. I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend, and I was just wondering if you know who it was so I could return it?” I asked unsure.

I hated lying! Especially to a lady who is clearly grieving over the loss of her daughter. If there was another way to do this I would have.

But, honestly, how else was I going to find out about her boyfriend? Tell her I have her engagement ring and I’ve been having nightmares about her dead daughter getting murdered? I’m not sure that would go over too well.

“Boyfriend?” Tina gasped. She sounded surprised.

“Yes. Has she mentioned a boy? I’d never seen her with one. I’d just like to return his property,” I tried to explain.

Mark squeezes my hand to comfort me and give me the courage I’m lacking right now. I am so glad he is here with me right now. I don’t think I could do this without him. He is so good at helping me like this.

He is always good at that. He seems to read my emotions like a book. It makes it so easy to love him when he is like this. He is just so perfect for me.

“She didn’t have a boyfriend that I know about,” she sounds distressed. “But she did bring a boy around a couple months ago. But he seemed to be up to no good. I had a feeling he was only after her money. I told her to break up with him right away, and she assured me she did!” Tina sounds convinced that was exactly what happened.

“Oh! I see… Well, maybe it was his jacket I have?” I tried to pacify the mother. “Maybe she forgot to give it back when she broke up with him?”

“Well, that might be the case.” She sounded like she agreed with that.

“Do you happen to remember his name?” I asked tentatively. This is what I was looking for. I needed a name to start our search.

“Hmm… Let me think. It was like Robert, or Ronnie… Maybe Richard… Something like that,” Tina rambled.

I looked at Mark in dismay.

“Thank you so much for your help, Mrs. Blackwood. And I am so sorry for your loss,” I said sincerely.

“Thank you dear. I’m sorry I wasn’t much help,” she sniffled.

“Oh, no. You were very helpful!” I insisted. “Thank you so much. Bye,” I finished awkwardly. How does one say goodbye in a situation like this?

“Bye dear.”

“Well, that was awkward,” I giggled nervously at Mark.

He chuckled and leaned over and kissed my head. “Don’t worry, Destiny. We’ll catch him.”

That’s what he said, but in my heart I wasn’t so sure.