CHAPTER TWELVE
It seems that Miss Kane was speaking with a tall Blonde woman approximately mid to late thirties, Officer Norton said. And from what our eyewitness could recall the two women seemed well acquainted. The Officer looked at his notes again to make sure he did not get the information wrong, and he said, yes well acquainted. He motioned to his partner to bring the witness in so that Anna, Derrick and Jack could speak with her. Jack smiled for the first time in days feeling that he really had a lead on what happened to Erica. Mrs.Crowell was an older lady who lived by herself in the apartment building that Jack lived in and she pretty much made it her business to know what was going on. When her husband died last year she felt alone, but her and Jack became fast friends and she thought of him like a son. She always felt safe with him living in the building and he made a point to check on her every couple of days to make sure she was ok.
She came around the corner and into the office and sat in the seat across from Jack so that they were now looking eye to eye. Hello Mrs. Crowell, Jack said, it seems that you have some information that could find Miss Kane. She took his hand and said in a matter of fact tone, she lets me call her Erica. They were all surprised that these two women had even meant, and Jack smiled at the possibility. How well did you know Erica, Jack said in a loving tone that made her feel comfortable. She began by recounting every moment that her and Erica had spent together, from the times that Erica would come over for dinner, to Tuesday night cards. Jackson was smiling inside as he thought about how much he knew about Erica and how there was so much to learn. She is quit a remarkable lady, Mrs. Crowell beamed with pride as if Erica was her own child. And she loves you Jack, she really loves you.
Her statement hit Jackson hard as he once again thought about Erica. His eyes begin to fill up with tears and his heart was heavy. Every one was focused on Jack as he held his chest in pain. They all knew what was breaking down his spirit but they did not know how to help. Mrs. Crowell was the first to react as she put a loving hand on his back and said we will find her Jack, I feel she is waiting for us to find her! Jackson reached down to touch her hand that was still placed on his back and brought it to his mouth and gently kissed it, much like a child would their mother.
It took several minutes for Jackson to compose himself and get back on track, but he knew that he had to stay focused if he was ever going to find Erica. Anna was the first to speak hoping that she could shed some light on this tragedy. Mrs. Crowell can you tell me who the woman Erica was talking to in the Parking lot that night, she paused a moment before speaking again, I know that you might not think it may mean anything, but it could be the difference between finding her or not. Mrs. Crowell looked at Anna and back at Jack as she began to recall the events of that night. Well she said, it was late and I could not sleep because it was hot outside, so I went to open the window and heard this woman in the parking lot crying. I called out to the lady, but she did not respond...and than Miss Kane came tearing around the corner and stopped where this lady was standing. From the way that Erica greeted her she seemed to know her, but I could hear in Erica's tone that it was not someone that she was overly fond of.
She stopped for a moment to catch her breath as Anna placed a glass of water in front of her. She brought the glass up to her mouth, and drank it nervously. Anna nodded her head to let her know that it was ok to continue, but she paused for another moment hoping not to say anymore. It's Ok Mrs. Crowell whatever it is, it will help Erica, Jack said. She put the glass down on the table and began to twirl her wedding band nervously with her fingers. "At first I was not sure what was going on as the two women where tossing insults back and forth at each other, and than she turned around and it all seemed clearer". Who turned around Anna said, a little confused by the woman's statement. Well she said I did know why anyone would be so angry with Erica, but it did not take me long to figure out that they were fighting about you. Jack looked at her a little bewildered about her statement, what do you mean fighting about me, I don't understand. I didn't either Mrs. Crowell said but when the woman turned away from Erica and faced my window, I certainly understood than.
Jack and Anna looked at each other with the same confused expression because neither knew what the connection was between him and these women. There was no question in anyone's mind how Erica fit into this picture but what still remained unanswered was the identity of this mysterious woman and more importantly why would Erica be fighting with her about Jack. His mind was racing as he tried to put the pieces together, but each piece seemed to bring him further away from finding Erica. The more they searched for answers the more questions they had. Jack moved his head forward and brought his eyes together as he often does when he is not sure where something is going. She had sensed his confusion and leaned forward and said in a whispering voice, the woman, the woman was Veronica.
Veronica, NO, She would have told me that she was talking to Erica, Jack said. It was hard to tell if he was trying to convince himself or everyone in the room, but either way it was not working. Are you sure Mrs. Crowell, Jack pleaded with her. She looked at him trying to come up with another answer, but he could sense that she had no doubts. He turned away from everyone so that he was now facing the window. Lost deep in thought Jackson searched his heart for answers, but the more he searched the more confused he became. Well bring her in Jack said, lets find out what she was talking to Erica about and why she did not seem to think that would have been an important thing to tell me. He slammed his fist so hard against the wall that one of Anna's diplomas came crashing to the floor. Damn you Veronica, Damn you!
It seems that Miss Kane was speaking with a tall Blonde woman approximately mid to late thirties, Officer Norton said. And from what our eyewitness could recall the two women seemed well acquainted. The Officer looked at his notes again to make sure he did not get the information wrong, and he said, yes well acquainted. He motioned to his partner to bring the witness in so that Anna, Derrick and Jack could speak with her. Jack smiled for the first time in days feeling that he really had a lead on what happened to Erica. Mrs.Crowell was an older lady who lived by herself in the apartment building that Jack lived in and she pretty much made it her business to know what was going on. When her husband died last year she felt alone, but her and Jack became fast friends and she thought of him like a son. She always felt safe with him living in the building and he made a point to check on her every couple of days to make sure she was ok.
She came around the corner and into the office and sat in the seat across from Jack so that they were now looking eye to eye. Hello Mrs. Crowell, Jack said, it seems that you have some information that could find Miss Kane. She took his hand and said in a matter of fact tone, she lets me call her Erica. They were all surprised that these two women had even meant, and Jack smiled at the possibility. How well did you know Erica, Jack said in a loving tone that made her feel comfortable. She began by recounting every moment that her and Erica had spent together, from the times that Erica would come over for dinner, to Tuesday night cards. Jackson was smiling inside as he thought about how much he knew about Erica and how there was so much to learn. She is quit a remarkable lady, Mrs. Crowell beamed with pride as if Erica was her own child. And she loves you Jack, she really loves you.
Her statement hit Jackson hard as he once again thought about Erica. His eyes begin to fill up with tears and his heart was heavy. Every one was focused on Jack as he held his chest in pain. They all knew what was breaking down his spirit but they did not know how to help. Mrs. Crowell was the first to react as she put a loving hand on his back and said we will find her Jack, I feel she is waiting for us to find her! Jackson reached down to touch her hand that was still placed on his back and brought it to his mouth and gently kissed it, much like a child would their mother.
It took several minutes for Jackson to compose himself and get back on track, but he knew that he had to stay focused if he was ever going to find Erica. Anna was the first to speak hoping that she could shed some light on this tragedy. Mrs. Crowell can you tell me who the woman Erica was talking to in the Parking lot that night, she paused a moment before speaking again, I know that you might not think it may mean anything, but it could be the difference between finding her or not. Mrs. Crowell looked at Anna and back at Jack as she began to recall the events of that night. Well she said, it was late and I could not sleep because it was hot outside, so I went to open the window and heard this woman in the parking lot crying. I called out to the lady, but she did not respond...and than Miss Kane came tearing around the corner and stopped where this lady was standing. From the way that Erica greeted her she seemed to know her, but I could hear in Erica's tone that it was not someone that she was overly fond of.
She stopped for a moment to catch her breath as Anna placed a glass of water in front of her. She brought the glass up to her mouth, and drank it nervously. Anna nodded her head to let her know that it was ok to continue, but she paused for another moment hoping not to say anymore. It's Ok Mrs. Crowell whatever it is, it will help Erica, Jack said. She put the glass down on the table and began to twirl her wedding band nervously with her fingers. "At first I was not sure what was going on as the two women where tossing insults back and forth at each other, and than she turned around and it all seemed clearer". Who turned around Anna said, a little confused by the woman's statement. Well she said I did know why anyone would be so angry with Erica, but it did not take me long to figure out that they were fighting about you. Jack looked at her a little bewildered about her statement, what do you mean fighting about me, I don't understand. I didn't either Mrs. Crowell said but when the woman turned away from Erica and faced my window, I certainly understood than.
Jack and Anna looked at each other with the same confused expression because neither knew what the connection was between him and these women. There was no question in anyone's mind how Erica fit into this picture but what still remained unanswered was the identity of this mysterious woman and more importantly why would Erica be fighting with her about Jack. His mind was racing as he tried to put the pieces together, but each piece seemed to bring him further away from finding Erica. The more they searched for answers the more questions they had. Jack moved his head forward and brought his eyes together as he often does when he is not sure where something is going. She had sensed his confusion and leaned forward and said in a whispering voice, the woman, the woman was Veronica.
Veronica, NO, She would have told me that she was talking to Erica, Jack said. It was hard to tell if he was trying to convince himself or everyone in the room, but either way it was not working. Are you sure Mrs. Crowell, Jack pleaded with her. She looked at him trying to come up with another answer, but he could sense that she had no doubts. He turned away from everyone so that he was now facing the window. Lost deep in thought Jackson searched his heart for answers, but the more he searched the more confused he became. Well bring her in Jack said, lets find out what she was talking to Erica about and why she did not seem to think that would have been an important thing to tell me. He slammed his fist so hard against the wall that one of Anna's diplomas came crashing to the floor. Damn you Veronica, Damn you!