After the Storm (Chapter-14)

Carissa and Paul were feeling bad about the girl dying right after they had made a call to her. They had a lot of investigation to do on their own. Paul didn’t think there was much need to go through the other names on their phone number list. The people with the answers had already been discovered. They had breakfast and then tried to find as much information about Michelle Walker as they could.

Paul said, “We can keep an eye on the reports coming in about Michelle and see if they uncover any information that will help us.”

While they were sitting there, Paul’s phone rang, and when he answered the voice on the other end identified itself as the Colorado State Police.

Paul replied, “Hello, I am Paul, Paul Daniels. How can I help you?”

The voice on the other end asked, “How do you know Michelle Walker?”

Paul was a little nervous talking to law enforcement, given his previous experience locally.

He replied, “I really don’t know her. I called her yesterday because I got her number from a call list. Someone stole my cell phone and when I got a new one and checked the calls made on the old one and her name was one that was called from my stolen phone. I thought she might know who the thief was.”

The officer asked, “Did she know?”

Paul said, “She gave the name Richard Hartley but we couldn’t find any information about him. She said he lived in Cedar Rapids and traveled for work and that was how she met him.”

The Colorado State Police thanked Paul and said they would be in touch.

Carissa said, “The Colorado State Police may do some of our investigation for us. You can bet your ass they will investigate us.”

Paul said, “I still may need my lawyer yet.”

Paul checked his phone to see the security camera views at the accounting office and could see most of the staff had arrived at work.

Paul said, “I guess since it is my company, I should go show up there.”

Carissa replied, “It would set a good example if you did that.”

Paul knew that Carissa would have to leave soon. He had hoped they had some answers before she did but that didn’t appear likely. Paul was pretty sure that Richard Hartley was the guy who left him for dead on the highway. He was less sure of what role the guy who hung up on him played in the whole scheme of things and he didn’t know what that might be. He hoped to at some point see a photo of Richard Hartley to see if that triggered some memory recognition.

Carissa said, “I will have to go home soon, so we may want to work on getting you a car.”

They made a stop at the car leasing dealership and Paul went in to talk with them one more time. This time went better than the last and they had received word of mistaken identity and that information had also been given to the state to rescind his death certificate. Paul learned there were a lot of things you couldn’t do when you were dead. Paul found a crossover vehicle that he thought had everything they needed for the office, including space to haul supplies they might buy at office supply stores.

Paul made the deal, signed the paperwork, and told Carissa that he would meet her at the office. They parked in the parking lot and Paul walked over to escort Carissa inside the building. He had become very fond of her and he was beginning to feel sad that she would have to leave soon. He hoped they could find some answers in the days she still had left. Evelyn greeted them as they walked through on the way to Paul’s office.

When they were safely inside Paul’s office, he opened the security app on his office computer and looked through the captured video footage. Nothing out of the ordinary was there, so he closed the app and sighed with relief. Perhaps he misjudged Evelyn and the staff, it didn’t seem there was anything going on now.

Evelyn came into the office and announced, “You have a visitor standing at my desk.”

Paul looked out and saw a tall slender blonde with an expensive tan, outfit, and nails. He told Evelyn to show her in.

She walked into Paul’s office, offered her hand to shake, then introduced herself as Jennifer Hartley, the wife of Richard Hartley.

Paul asked, “How can I help you?”

Jennifer said, “I may be able to help you more than you can help me.”

She opened her purse and Paul immediately had visions of pistols and bullets flying everywhere. He was quite relaxed when she laid a cell phone down on his desk.

Jennifer said, “Richard has gone. He told me he was in some kind of trouble and needed to get away, but he left this behind. I found it at the top of his closet. It gave me your contact information and I didn’t know what kind of trouble he was in.”

Paul replied, “I don’t know what kind of trouble he is in either. Since he had my phone, he is more than likely the man who stabbed me and left me for dead on the highway.”

Jennifer held up her phone with Richard’s photo on it and asked, “Is this him?”

Paul looked at the photo but had to explain about the memory issue after the attack.

Paul did ask if she could forward the photo for his records.

Jennifer agreed and said, “Richard didn’t leave under the best conditions and I have the belief he has left the country. It has been a day and a half and I think he is already out of the country.”

Paul thanked her for the photo and for having the guts to bring the phone in and tell her story. Paul studied the photo and tried hard to force a memory of that man, but for now, no memory surfaced. He had the phone back and he would check through it for clues.

Carissa said, “Since you don’t have professional experience in investigation, do you think it would be best for professionals to handle it?”

Paul replied, “Being professional just means you get paid for it, it doesn’t mean you are any good.”

Carissa admitted that what Paul said was true.

She said, “I can look through the phone if you like, or you can since you are more familiar with it.”

Paul took the phone and looked through the call log, which showed the same numbers they had received with the printout. He looked through the text messages which showed “Richard” had been having an affair with two other women, and they had sent revealing photos to him. Paul quickly figured that Jennifer had already seen the texts and images and that had as much to do with her bringing the phone in as anything.

Paul showed Carissa, who said, “Richard has been a busy boy.”

Paul replied, “I guess attempted murder really gets him going.”

Carissa responded, “Oh come on, you know he was doing these girls long before he tried to leave you for dead. Besides, we only assume he is the one who tried to gut you like a fish.”

Paul said, “I just put two and two together with the fact that he had my phone, and that is the answer I come up with. I just wish I could remember him as the guy, but there is still nothing there.”

Carissa said, “Perhaps the other girls would give you some information if they were told about his other women”

Paul replied, “I think that sounds like a good idea, but I doubt it gives me any definite proof of what he did to me or even more importantly, why.”

Carissa said, “You are correct about that, the why is what I would like to know. Who would benefit most from you out of the picture?”

Paul replied, “I can’t figure that part out. I have no wife nor any heirs. I don’t have any business partners. If something happens to me, the employees are given a severance package and the assets are donated to charity.”

Carissa smiled and said, “Unless Richard worked for one of the charities, it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Paul said, “I guess we need some more information about Richard. It might help fill in the blanks.”

Carissa said, “Give me the phone and I will see what I can do.”

Carissa took the phone and looked up the messages from the girls and marked down their numbers. She called the first one she found by the name of Priscilla and when the phone rang Priscilla answered.

Carissa said, “Hello, my name is Carissa and it looks like we had the same boyfriend till I threw the weasel out. His name is Richard, correct?”

Priscilla confirmed all of the questions.

Carissa continued, “I loaned that weasel two thousand dollars and he skipped out on me and I find your number along with the number of at least two more in the phone he left behind and then I discover he stole the phone.”

Priscilla replied, “That sounds like Richard, he told me someone loaned him the phone, but it makes sense he stole it. He kept some clothes and things here but he hasn’t come back for them.”

Carissa said, “Could I come and have a look, maybe something there I can trace his whereabouts with, that will lead me to my money.”

Priscilla said, “I think your money was used for tickets to Honduras. I found a receipt for two tickets to Honduras, so there is a good chance that one of those other girls on that phone will be using the other travel ticket and the hotel room as well.”