The Cold Road (Book 1)

Chapter Four.

The sun sat lazily in the sky, now and then crossed by clouds that covered the road in darkness as James drove. He passed no other cars on the long highway back into town. Scattered houses appeared between splotches of trees, an array of bright colours and blurs between auburn, moulting trees.

The threat of the ransom note hung over his head, except it wasn't a ransom. The kidnapper wanted nothing in exchange for Lindsey. He had her and he would keep her. In five days, Lindsey would be dead, unless he found her first.

Sooner than he expected, the small town of Damascus appeared before him and he was applying the brakes to pull to a stop at the lights. A couple of cars passed him, heading in the opposite direction. A woman pushing a stroller crossed the road next to him. She looked at him, a faint flicker of recognition crossed her face and she smiled. The light turned green and he turned down towards a dead end street.

Backer Lane was a street that ran almost parallel to the creek. On the corner of Backer Lane and South Shady Ave was the Damascus Middle school. It was a large property right next to a park and a baseball diamond.

Moments later, James found himself waiting outside the door to the Principal's office. He studied the abstract painting on the wall opposite, of a tree and a setting sun. He shuffled on the bench outside the door, then stood up and paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the painting. How many years had it been and that painting was still there?

At least 10 since the first, and last, time he had ever been sent to the Principal's office after a supposed fight with the school bully. The school bully was his best friend, Theodore. It was a friendly game. He'd broken Theodore's wrist by mistake. Or, rather, he'd bent his own wrist backwards, Theodore had copied and snapped his own. Theodore's mother complained that he'd forced Theodore to do it.

James glanced at his watch. Last time he had been kept waiting as well. He had to sit in the hall until his own mother arrived before the meeting could begin.

At last, a middle aged man with shiny black hair and a short sleeved, white shirt and black trousers approached.

'Sorry to keep you waiting, I had a little business to attend to first,' the man said. 'Harrison Miller,' he introduced himself.

'Yeah, can we talk in your office? 10 years on and your bench still hasn't improved in comfort,' said James with a wry grin.

Miller smiled and unlocked his office. 'So what can I help you with, detective? My secretary didn't give much detail, just that a police officer wanted to see me.'

'I'm currently investigating the disappearance of Lindsey Perette. She went missing this morning.'

Miller stared at James, his mouth gaping open and closed. 'Lindsey Perette's been taken?' he said in a hushed whisper. He stammered, 'what happened?'

'I'm afraid we can't disclose too many facts, Mr Miller. As I said, she disappeared this morning, and I was wondering what you know about her. Uh, friends she may have hung out with, places she would go, anything we could use to try and find her.'

'Well of course I'll help. Um, the devil didn't take her, did he?' Miller asked in another hushed whisper.

James stared blankly at the man. He shook his head. 'No, no I don't think the devil had anything to do with it,' he said, slowly shaking his head.

'Oh thank god!' exclaimed Miller. 'Well, uh. About Lindsey? Well, she's smart girl. Very creative, in fact her teacher Lucille Jackson could probably tell you more about her than I. I oversee all the children here, but I don't actually teach. My time spent with them is every once in a while when I check in on the classes or they are sent to my office. From what I have seen, she's a smart girl. But I've never really seen her around, if you know what I mean? On breaks and such, she doesn't seem to join in. But, as I said, you should speak to her teacher, Ms Jackson. She can tell you far more than I can.'