Mystery on the Bayou

                                                                                        Chapter 8

                                                                            Trouble on the Bayou                                                                                    

     June was coming to an end and in a week the month of July would make itself known.  Essie ran out of the houseboat that morning and knocked on Ron's door.  Jessie had breakfast ready and no one could eat until he was in the kitchen.  And Esther was hungry.  After pounding on the door for five minutes and looking in the living area window, and seeing no one, she ran back into the house calling for Grandma.

     "What's the matter child?"  Jessie asked her as Essie ran to her side, after letting the screen door slam.  "Ron doesn't answer his door!" she wailed.  "Calm down kid.  Maybe he's in the shower," Jessie said calmly.  "Let's wait a few minutes and we'll go knock again.  I'll take my key, so is he doesn't answer this time, we can go in and find out what's what."

     So Esther and Jessie waited for more than five minutes and then Jessie covered up the frying pan with a lid, to keep the breakfast she had made warm.  Then the two of them made their way to the trailer; Essie running, her grandma walking along with her cane; and as usual, her pet parrot Cocoa on her shoulder.

     "Hurry Grandma!" Essie said, as Jessie fiddled with her keys, "I have a bad feeling about this."  Jessie got the door unlocked and then gave it a light push, and she and Essie went inside.  Everything was a neat as a pin.  Ron's bed was made the kitchenette was spotless, and the empty shower stall was sparkling.

     "Where did he go?" Essie asked Jessie, "The sheriff told him to stay home."  Jessie had picked up a note, on what went for a kitchen table, between two booth seats.  "I think this note will tell us the story," Jessie said, unfolding it and reading it aloud

Dear Jessie, Essie and Grace, 

     I realized last night that I can't stay here anymore and put you all in danger like this.  There is a killer out there and if he has to come after someone, it should be me.  I want to thank you all for what you've done for me.  Please pass my thanks onto the sheriff Mrs. Jessie, and Essie tell your mom thank you for me also.  I hope to see you all again someday.  Take care of yourselves.

                                                                                                         Please pray for me,    

                                                                                                                                 Ron

     "What do we do?"  Essie cried.  Jessie put an arm around her and said, "We call the sheriff."  So they walked out of the camper, very sullen indeed.  Jessie immediately got on the house phone when the two of them got inside and called the sheriff.  "Hey Frank, this is Jessie.  "Hi Jess.  What's up?"  "Ron's gone," Jessie told him.   "What do you mean gone?" Frank asked.  "Just what I said sheriff.  He left us a note."  "I'll be right over," the sheriff said, ending the call.

     "Well, I'm going to go pray for Ron,"  Essie said, running to Grandma's bedroom in tears.  Jessie didn't call her back.  She knew the teen had developed a "Buddy" relationship with Ron.  She wondered how Grace  would take this news.  She knew that Grace and Ron were attracted to each other, from the first time they met.