least a day, maybe longer, leaving DCI to do the work. With Hester still in Iowa City, that meant that Agent Hal Greeley was the only one left in our county to do any interviews, and probably meant that the search for Rachel was going to be his main project, and he didn’t knowanybody in the county. That was crucial, because many of our citizens will be somewhat less than candid with any cop, but with a state agent by himself … not good.
I got Hal on the phone and offered to help interview. He was going to the Bockman house first. I had another cup of coffee, some peanut butter toast, and I was ready to go.
Or so I thought. I realized that I didn’t remember Bockman’s first name. Or her maiden name. I hated to do it, but I called the school and asked for Sue. She had to be called away from class, so she would have to call me back. She did in about two minutes.
“Carl, are you all right?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, you scared me to death!”
Uh-oh. I should have thought of that. I was home on sick leave with a head injury, right? What would be the first thing she would think? Dummy.
“I’m sorry, dear, no, I’m just fine. Look, what I need is Mrs. Bockman’s first name.”
“Who?”
“You remember, was in my class in high school—a year behind you. Hefty gal, about five ten, was in extracurricular speech with us one year, then went to school in Iowa City for about one semester … then quit? Married that Bockman who lives north of town about three or four miles?”
“Oh, that would be Tammy Bockman’s mother. Her first name is Helen. She was a Floyd, wasn’t she?”
“Sure! Okay, thanks a lot.”
“Did you have to call me out of class for that?”
“Yeah, it was important. Look, I’ll tell you tonight, okay?”
“All right. I love you.”
“I love you, too. See you around suppertime.”
“You’re going someplace?”
“Just a ride with one of the state officers, no big deal.”
“Should you be going out?”
“Hey, I feel fine.”
“I think it’s stupid. Let somebody else do it. You’re on sick pay, stay home and be sick.”
“I’ll be okay, and there’s nobody else available.”
“There never is, is there?”
“Look, I’ll be all right. Nothing dangerous or anything like that. Just an interview I don’t want to miss.”
“An interview for a better job?”
I forced a laugh. “No, afraid not.”
“All right,” she said, sounding resigned. “I’ll see you for supper, or whenever you get home.”
“Okay, bye.”
Now I was ready to go. Helen. Yes, good old Helen. Now that I thought about it, she had to leave the U of Iowa because her mother had a stroke, and her dad needed her at the farm. Her sister had been through law school by that time and had left the area for good. I remembered hearing that Helen was pretty bitter and resentful about that … probably with reason, because Helen probably could have done very well in school.
Hal picked me up, and I filled him in on Helen on the way out to her place. We got there about 13:25.
Helen lived about three-fourths of a mile from Herkaman’s place, off the main road and west, or behind, the Herkaman house. The closest farm to Herkaman’s, as a matter of fact.
Helen came out onto the porch to meet us. She looked like she had aged more than I would like to think I have, but still didn’t look too bad. She invited us in, and I introduced Hal. It looked like Helen remembered me, which made me feel a little embarrassed for not remembering her name. She was very congenial, and offered us coffee and cookies, while we sat at a modern kitchen table. I looked around briefly and was impressed. The house wasquite clean and tidy, and most of the interior appeared to have been remodeled, with the furniture being nearly new. Helen was doing well for herself. Then I remembered that her dad had died about three or four years back. She must have inherited a bit of money.
I was kind of surprised that Hal and Theo hadn’t
I got Hal on the phone and offered to help interview. He was going to the Bockman house first. I had another cup of coffee, some peanut butter toast, and I was ready to go.
Or so I thought. I realized that I didn’t remember Bockman’s first name. Or her maiden name. I hated to do it, but I called the school and asked for Sue. She had to be called away from class, so she would have to call me back. She did in about two minutes.
“Carl, are you all right?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, you scared me to death!”
Uh-oh. I should have thought of that. I was home on sick leave with a head injury, right? What would be the first thing she would think? Dummy.
“I’m sorry, dear, no, I’m just fine. Look, what I need is Mrs. Bockman’s first name.”
“Who?”
“You remember, was in my class in high school—a year behind you. Hefty gal, about five ten, was in extracurricular speech with us one year, then went to school in Iowa City for about one semester … then quit? Married that Bockman who lives north of town about three or four miles?”
“Oh, that would be Tammy Bockman’s mother. Her first name is Helen. She was a Floyd, wasn’t she?”
“Sure! Okay, thanks a lot.”
“Did you have to call me out of class for that?”
“Yeah, it was important. Look, I’ll tell you tonight, okay?”
“All right. I love you.”
“I love you, too. See you around suppertime.”
“You’re going someplace?”
“Just a ride with one of the state officers, no big deal.”
“Should you be going out?”
“Hey, I feel fine.”
“I think it’s stupid. Let somebody else do it. You’re on sick pay, stay home and be sick.”
“I’ll be okay, and there’s nobody else available.”
“There never is, is there?”
“Look, I’ll be all right. Nothing dangerous or anything like that. Just an interview I don’t want to miss.”
“An interview for a better job?”
I forced a laugh. “No, afraid not.”
“All right,” she said, sounding resigned. “I’ll see you for supper, or whenever you get home.”
“Okay, bye.”
Now I was ready to go. Helen. Yes, good old Helen. Now that I thought about it, she had to leave the U of Iowa because her mother had a stroke, and her dad needed her at the farm. Her sister had been through law school by that time and had left the area for good. I remembered hearing that Helen was pretty bitter and resentful about that … probably with reason, because Helen probably could have done very well in school.
Hal picked me up, and I filled him in on Helen on the way out to her place. We got there about 13:25.
Helen lived about three-fourths of a mile from Herkaman’s place, off the main road and west, or behind, the Herkaman house. The closest farm to Herkaman’s, as a matter of fact.
Helen came out onto the porch to meet us. She looked like she had aged more than I would like to think I have, but still didn’t look too bad. She invited us in, and I introduced Hal. It looked like Helen remembered me, which made me feel a little embarrassed for not remembering her name. She was very congenial, and offered us coffee and cookies, while we sat at a modern kitchen table. I looked around briefly and was impressed. The house wasquite clean and tidy, and most of the interior appeared to have been remodeled, with the furniture being nearly new. Helen was doing well for herself. Then I remembered that her dad had died about three or four years back. She must have inherited a bit of money.
I was kind of surprised that Hal and Theo hadn’t
Similar Books
