A Neat Mess

33. Who is Jessica

Ben was taken aback when he walked into an empty house and quickly realised he had missed the appointment. He wondered if there would be another chance to talk to Pip. Although their last conversation hadn't been pleasant, he decided it might be better to find Jessica first.

Ben also called his favourite private investigator, Adel. She was the best in town and had worked with him on several cases. an ex-cop with connections to reliable sources a reputation for getting results.

It had been two weeks since Ben asked her to find if Jessica was a real person.

"First of all, thanks for the non-existent details you provided; they were very helpful, The Yoga Jessica in Australia!" Adel mocked, her husky voice a reminder of her chain-smoking habits. Though in her late fifties, she looked much weathered.

"I'm sorry, but that's all I knew about her. Not finding her is also an answer," Ben replied.

"Who said I couldn't find her? It was a good challenge. She met with Sam two days ago. If I had known Sam had a thing for older women, I might have taken my shot. Her lover is older than I am," Adel revealed.

"Oh! Are they...? What?!" That wasn't the answer Ben had been expecting.

Adel laughed heartily. "I love playing this game; it never gets old. Alright, back to business. I'll email you the pictures so you can see what she looked like. Ms. Jessica Miles lives at number six, Sunset Boulevard by herself. She's around sixty-seven, originally from Mount Isa, was a teacher and her original name was Karen Kalkadoon. Quite a distinguished heritage name to give up, which raises questions about why she changed it and moved here thirty years ago."

"Can't be good," Ben said.

"It isn't, apparently Karen was a single mom with a six-year-old daughter, and no one knew who the father was. One day, the daughter went missing, and a few days later, her body was found dumped in the river, cause of death was strangulation.

The small-town folks turned on her with a vengeance, convinced she'd killed her own child. Self-appointed detectives, and investigative journalists swarmed around her. They weren't just whispering and pointing; they were in her face, rifling through her shopping carts, sifting through her trash, and even digging up her yard. Each day brought a new invasion, a new headline, a new rumour.

She stayed put, hoping the cops would catch the real killer, but after five years of living under a microscope, she'd had enough, packed up and moved here, changed her name, and tried to start over. Never been remarried... She spends most of her time on holistic shit, gardening, and other mundane activities."

"So, if her daughter had survived, she'd be about Sam's age now. That's awful... no wonder she's so isolated and keeps to herself," Ben said.

"Isolated and keeps to herself? Not at all! She's got a busy life. She volunteers, attends sports events, and travels all the time. She has plenty of acquaintances, and people in her community know and respect her. Plus, she grows her own veggies—some of which are not legal—and even has a stall at the local organic market on Sundays. Your wife, on the other hand, you could count everything she does in a week on one hand."

"Yeah! She is very organised," Ben murmured.

"There's just one thing that doesn't add up. She has a mailbox at a post office about ten kilometres away. She picked up some mail there last Monday. If you've got your email open, check picture number 1026."

"It might be work-related," Ben said.

"In opposite direction. But it's easy to find out. She's only gone there once in the past two weeks, so it's not a regular thing, and since she is a clock-work orange, she'll probably head back there next Monday or the first Monday of the month.

I could do it for you, but it'd be cheaper if you did it yourself. I'd suggest borrowing a friend's car or renting one. People are quick to spot familiar cars when they're up to something secretive."

"Thanks for the advice. Also, can you give me the name of the market where Jessica sells her things?"

"All details are on the email I sent you."

At least Ben was now certain that he wasn't as idiot as Pip had assumed. He decided to visit Jessica on Sunday, then keep watch on Sam's mysterious post office on Monday, and finally talk to Pip at their next meeting. What kind of name was Pip anyway, he wondered.

One benefit of not talking to each other and sleeping in separate bedrooms was that Ben didn't nned to explain where he was going or elaborate on any lies. On Sunday morning, determined to finally meet Jessica, he left home and called out, "I've got something to do at work." Sam was busy getting Jenna ready for her football practice. Ben drove to his office first, watching from the window to make sure Sam wasn't following him again. Satisfied, he took a taxi to the market where Jessica was supposed to be.

The market was busier than Ben had anticipated, especially with the sky darkening and the threat of a thunderstorm hanging in the air. From a distance, he spotted Jessica's stall and was taken aback by how popular her products were. Could he really talk to her about what he needed here, in the middle of all this? Maybe he could invite her for a coffee after work. But that idea quickly faded; what if she mentioned it to Sam? There had to be a reason why Sam had kept Jessica hidden from him for so long. What if Jessica was outwardly charming but secretly troubled—or worse, malicious? Ben realized too late that he hadn't even thought of a plan before showing up here. What was he doing, just winging it like this?

He decided to walk away without saying a word. As he turned to leave, he realized the suburb seemed familiar. It was near the clinic where they had conceived Jenna.

As the rain began to pour, Ben quickly flagged down a taxi and headed back to the office. Staying home all day wasn't an option; he might as well bury himself in work. He decided to keep this whole situation to himself, especially from Pip. She wouldn't understand—not now, not after he'd hired a professional to spy on his wife. Things were spiralling into a web of complications, and Ben knew he had to unravel the truth on his own.

Not far from the markets, Jenna's football game had been cancelled due to bad weather. Sam thought it would be a good idea to pop down to the markets, grab a few things, and say hi to her dear friend. But just as she arrived, she spotted Ben jumping into a cab and leaving.

How did they find each other and what were they plotting against her. What Jessica knew was enough to make Ben's case strong enough to leave her and take Jenna away.

Where was Ben? He wasn't home, and Jenna had been unusually quiet, her energy seemingly spent. Sam's anxiety deepened with each passing moment. She had done it before—packed a bag and left everything behind—but this time, with Jenna, it was more complicated. She couldn't leave Jenna behind, nor could she take her without being pursued. Sam needed a solid plan. This time, she couldn't trust anyone.