Chapter 12
Max saw AJ stiffen at the crude phrasing and said, "That's what I was hoping. Since there is no statute of limitations on murder, Woody could reopen the case."
"And what about finding Mrs. Travis and taking a picture to show Ms. Rose?" Lily reminded them.
"I'll see if we have a current address on her," Woody added.
AJ knew where to find LaVon and could have told Woody, but he wanted a chance to talk to her first. He wasn't sure how she would react to the case being reopened at this time. Lavon had gotten remarried, so AJ figured he would have time to talk with her before Woody could find her.
After everyone took their leave, knowing that nothing more could be done that night, AJ, Max, and Meredith made quick work of the clean up, then Max locked up and turned off the lights. Meredith left Max and AJ alone in the bar, saying that she was going to take a shower before bed. Max allowed her to get out of the room before pouring AJ a drink and asking the question that had been on his mind all night, "So, how did you know Carl Travis?"
AJ thought about lying to Max, or trying to bluff it out that he never known him, but instead settled for a half-truth. "We met years ago and became friends before I was transferred away. I was at sea when he disappeared; by the time LaVon's letter reached me, it was six months later. I tried to get leave to come back and help her look for him, but I couldn't get it."
"Why didn't you tell everyone tonight?"
"Because it didn't matter to either case and I thought it would just muddy the waters."
Sunday, 10 August 2003
1000 EST
Max's house
Boston, Massachusetts
"AJ, are you sure that you don't mind that I leave you on your own today to go to the bridal show with Jordan?" Meredith asked her fiancée over breakfast.
"Not at all, Meredith, I know how important this is to you. I will just do some sight seeing."
"Oh! You are a dear, and I love you!" she jumped up from the table and kissed him, then headed to their room to grab her purse so she could meet her niece.
"So, what are you really planning to do while she is with Jordan?" Max asked AJ when they were alone in the kitchen.
"I'm going to see my goddaughter."
"And why would you not want my sister to know that?"
"I had no plans to keep it from her, until last night anyway."
"What did last night have to do with your goddaughter?"
"Her mother is LaVon Trask."
"You mean Travis," Max corrected.
"No, she's remarried, she's LaVon Trask now," AJ told him.
"Trask…Trask…" Max repeated as if trying to remember where he had heard the name. AJ could see the moment it hit him. "Chuck Trask! The owner of the building and parking lot in question!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," was all AJ would say.
"Strange coincidence, don't you think?"
"After last night I do. I had no reason to think there was anything unusual before that."
"So, are you going to tell me how you came to know Carl Travis?"
"No," AJ stated firmly.
"Does Meredith know?"
"No."
"I see," Max stated flatly, he watched AJ get up, take his coffee mug to the sink, rinse it out, and leave the room. He was determined to find out what this mystery was.
AJ pulled out his cell phone and dialed LaVon's number to make sure she was home and wouldn't mind him coming by for a visit. She was excited to hear from him and only sorry that Tuyen was not home. He was invited right over.
LaVon greeted him at the door and asked him to come in. Once in the drawing room she offered him coffee and homemade cookies. Even though she was the wife of a very wealthy man, she enjoyed making treats for her daughter, so always had them on hand.
To be continued….
