Letting Go (Chapter-1)

Michelle

She had been thrown into a dark, inescapable nightmare within minutes - like a dense fog refusing to dissipate even when the wind rushed through to break it. She had slept through her alarm after a restless night’s sleep, and when she finally arrived at the restaurant he was already in the parking lot, watching for her from the inside of his car. He didn’t get out to meet her until she was opening the front door.

“Michelle?”

“Yes, yes sir, that’s me.”

“Officer Kyle Hulsey, nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

She locked the door behind him. They sat at a small table near the back, close to the front counter so no one would think the restaurant had opened early. After turning on the coffee machines she sat, folded her hands, and smiled at the man across from her as if nothing was wrong. As if smiling would make it better.

He spoke to her calmly, stating facts she already knew.

“We had a case of child abduction yesterday in this area, and are led to believe that the abductor dined here last night, when you were serving.”

She could see he was watching her closely, sensing the nervousness she felt from being questioned by an officer for the first time. He leaned forward and continued.

“Remember now, this is not your fault. I’m just here for information.”

This was true, it wasn’t her fault. But she had waited on the man and watched him leave the restaurant, gripping the girl firmly by her wrist. The girl was small, probably ten or eleven. Her hair was blonde -

“Or was it brown? I don’t remember,” she told him, “it was a busy night and I had four tables to cover, and--”

“Okay, okay, let’s slow down and start from the beginning. I’m going to need an official statement from you,” Officer Hulsey said, relaxing his posture and leaning his elbow on the table, “Start with your name.”

She took a breath, “Michelle Rowen, my friends call me Mickey - like the mouse, I guess.” The officer gave a small smile at this, urging her to continue, “It was a long night, so I don’t remember too much. I think he was wearing... green? And the girl was in a yellow shirt. He ordered a large pepperoni pizza, small sprite, and a water.” The officer scribbled on a small notepad. “No alcohol?” Michelle took a second before responding. “No, sir. No alcohol. He left quickly - pretty soon after I brought the pizza. They didn’t eat much. I think they each had maybe a slice, and didn’t take it to go,” she paused, remembering having to throw the pizza away after they left. The officer nodded slightly, as if everything she said affirmed facts he already knew.

“The man, what did he look like?”

“Like I said, he was wearing green...I think.”

“Yes, yes. But what about his hair? Eyes? Ethnicity?”

“Oh, right,” Michelle unclasped her hands and sat up straighter, “Pale skin, for sure. Dark hair but, I mean, it was dark in here so…”

“And eye color?”

“Brown, maybe?”

The officer wrote without looking up from the paper. “Tall, short, fat, skinny?”

“I mean I didn’t see him leave, but he seemed tall. And muscular, I guess.”

“Okay,” he said, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a folded piece of paper, “the girl. You mentioned she may of had brown hair…”

“Like I said, I don’t know. It was dark, and I was tired, and--”

“Do you recognize her?” He unfolded the paper and lay it down flat on the counter. It was a picture of the girl - blonde hair, blue eyes, and a huge smile with a gap between her two front teeth - dressed in a pink shirt and jean overalls.

“Yes, yes that’s her,” Michelle replied, turning her eyes quickly away, “I’m sure.”

Officer Hulsey refolded the paper and took a deep, audible breath. “Do you know anything about their whereabouts after leaving the restaurant? Which way they went? Maybe a type of car you saw them drive away in?” Michelle closed her eyes and paused. She opened them and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall to her right. Seven forty-five. She still had things to do before opening the doors at eight. “No, I’m really sorry.”

Officer Hulsey stared at her for a moment. “Could I have a small coffee, for the road?” He asked, putting his notepad into his jacket pocket, without veering his eyes away from hers. He followed Michelle to the counter. As she poured his coffee into a paper cup she could feel sweat accumulating on the palms of her hands. She didn’t sweat often, but when she did it was profusely. She wiped her hands with a napkin and turned to him. “Would you like any cream?”

Officer Hulsey was staring at her hands, now firmly grasped around a crumpled napkin. There was a moment of silence between them. “Just black,” he finally said, “I wouldn’t want to hold you up any longer, you seem in a hurry.” He gave a small smile that made Michelle feel uneasy. She stood up straighter, placing the napkin on the counter behind her and picking up his coffee. “No, I just have to open soon and haven’t rolled the silverware yet.” She put a lid on the cup, passed over the coffee, and took three dollars in exchange. “Fifty cents is your change.” Michelle said, feeling two quarters slipping in the sweat of her right hand.

“Keep it for the tip pool,” replied Officer Hulsey, gesturing to a glass jar beside the cash register. Michelle nodded politely, dropped the cents into the jar, and followed him to the front door. She unlocked it and stepped aside, feeling her heart slow down as he walked passed. Then he paused beneath the door frame, pulling a pair of sunglasses from his jacket.

“What time do you get off today, Michelle?”

Michelle’s eyes grow wide as she turned to look at the clock. “Uh...around three-thirty, maybe four?”

The officer nodded slowly and put on his glasses. “Perfect. I’ll come by at three-thirty so we can chat again. When you’re not in such a hurry. Have a good morning.”

Michelle gave several quick nods and locked the door behind him. As he walked across the street to the parking lot she watched, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, keeping her gaze steady until his car was nothing but a small speck at the end of Blanchett Road.

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