Chapter Six – Many Theories and Few Leads

Alex Jarvis stepped off the bus, waved back at someone and then came walking down the street. He stopped when he recognized Lilly and Chris.

"Hello, Alex," Lilly said.

"Hello," Alex replied. He narrowed his eyes and looked at them. "What is it?"

"We were wondering if we could talk to you for a sec." Lilly pointed at Alex's rucksack. "School's out, eh?"

"Yeah..." Alex seemed wary.

"Have you got a lot of homework?"

"Depends," Alex mumbled. He looked back over his shoulder.

"Anything wrong, Alex?" Chris asked.

"No," said Alex. He looked up and directly at Lilly. "Listen, Detectives, I don't think I can tell you anything about the whole thing. I mean, she was buried when I was still sitting with my harp on a cloud." He turned around and made as to leave, but Chris blocked his way.

"What's wrong, Alex?" he asked. "Why do you react this way? Any normal teenager would be excited about the whole thing, especially in an area like this where nothing ever happens. And they would probably follow us everywhere we go."

"Well, I'm not any normal teenager," Alex replied angrily. "All I know is that you keep turning up, asking questions about things..." He trailed off.

"Alex, I believe there's something you're trying to hide from us," Lilly said rather bluntly. "Maybe you think it's got nothing to do with the investigation, but remember that it's not for you to decide that."

"I'm not hiding anything." Alex avoided Lilly's gaze.

"How do you know the skeleton was a woman's?" Chris suddenly asked, and Alex jumped.

"I... I..." he stammered.

"Don't deny it," Lilly said. "You referred to the skeleton as she. How do you know that?"

Alex faltered. "I heard when Graham told Matt," he said. "I stopped by at Graham's office this morning, and the door was open. Lucy wasn't there, so I..."

"You decided to eavesdrop," Chris said.

Alex blushed. "There ain't no eaves at the sheriff's office," he joked half-heartedly.

"Quoting Tolkien won't make us change the subject, Alex," Chris said sternly, but there was a glint in his eye. Lilly couldn't help admiring how easily Chris dealt with the boy.

"Come on, Alex, let's go somewhere where no one can eavesdrop on us," Chris said bracingly.

Alex hesitated. "Supposing I tell you... do you necessarily have to tell my dad?"

"We'll decide that afterwards," Lilly said. "But if it's what we think, then I don't think it's necessary that he learn."

Alex seemed a little relieved and followed the detectives back to their car. They got inside, Alex in the back seat.

"Care for a donut?" Chris produced a paper bag with two donuts. Lilly had to suppress a grin. She had the strong suspicion that he had gotten them especially for such a situation. After all, it was the most common cliché about the police.

Alex shook his head, and Chris shrugged. "You're better off," he said with a wink. "These donuts must be a week old." He put the bag back into the glove compartment and shut it. Then he turned around in the driver's seat and looked at the boy. "And now think hard, Alex. Is there anything we should know?"

Alex swallowed. "I hate to tell you this," he said. "I gave my word not to tell anyone."

"This is a special situation," said Lilly. "I'm sure you'll be forgiven."

"And you're not gonna tell my dad? Really?"

"As I said, we'll decide that afterwards."

"But you already seem to know what I'm about to tell you."

Lilly smiled. "Let's say, I have a hunch."

Alex swallowed again. "Alright," he said then. "The others all told you that my uncle Jamie left Deansville and never came back, and that he cut all the connections. But that's not quite true. He contacted me about two years ago. Secretly. He said I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, that it was our secret. He said he didn't want to have anything to do with my dad and the others anymore, but that it was different with me."

"Different? What did he mean?"

"I dunno," said Alex. "He said something about the next generation, and that our four families were beginning to die out 'cause none of the others were married. Only the Jarvis's survived. That's what he said."

"Very cryptic," Chris commented.

"How did the two of you get in touch?" Lilly asked. "Did you write letters or e-mails, or did you speak on the phone?"

"Mostly we e-mailed," said Alex. "Jamie didn't want to write letters 'cause he thought Dad might recognize his handwriting. And Sunday works in the post office; she could have seen the letter, too. My e-mail is private."

"But how did he find out your e-mail address in the first place?"

"He called at my school and pretended he was Dad," Alex said. "Asked the secretary to check whether they had my new e-mail address in my file and got her to read it out loud to him. Easy as that." There was a hint of pride in his voice.

"Very savvy," said Chris. "I suppose the secretary doesn't know your dad."

"She does," said Alex, "but Jamie and Dad look very much alike, and their voices also sound similar. I suppose even I would think he was Dad if he just called without saying his name."

"How do you know they look alike?" Lilly asked. "Don't tell me you've met him."

"No, but he told me." Alex smiled. "He told me a lot."

"Did he also tell you why he left back then?"

Alex shook his head. "No, that's the only thing he doesn't wanna talk about. Not at all. He only said that he had a decision to make, and that he decided to leave, and that it was the best he could do under the circumstances. But I don't know what kind of circumstances he meant."

"Could you give us his address?"

Alex shook his head energetically. "I can't do that," he said determinedly. "I've already betrayed his trust because I told you this. But I'm not gonna give you his address. You're cops; I'm sure you can find it out yourselves."

Lilly did not know whether she should be angry, amused or impressed. Strange, the youth of today, she thought. Some of them had surprisingly strong principles. They never betrayed their friends, and they kept their word.

"I understand that," Chris said in this moment. "We're gonna find out by ourselves. And don't worry, Alex. You haven't betrayed his trust."

"When did you last speak to him or write him an e-mail?" Lilly wanted to know.

"The day before yesterday," said Alex.

"So he doesn't know yet what happened here? Why didn't you tell him right away?"

"I didn't have the time." Alex was losing his patience. "Look, I told you what I tried to hide. Can I go now?"

"Yes," said Chris. "And if you want some advice: tell Jamie what happened, and I mean everything. Tell him also what you told us. You'll see, he'll understand you."

Alex's look was skeptical. He said goodbye and got out of the car. Without looking back, he headed for his house.

"Wow," said Lilly and turned to her partner. "I'm surprised. Where did you learn that?"

"Learn what?"

"Dealing with teenagers."

"Nephews," said Chris with a shrug. "My sister has sixteen-year-old twin boys."

"I see." Lilly winked. "Rehearsing for your own kids, are you?"

"First a wife, then kids," Chris replied in the same tone. "And right now I'd prefer to talk about the case at hand."

"Fine." Lilly leaned back in her seat. "What have we learned from Alex's story?"

"Quite a lot, actually," said Chris. "We just have to read between the lines."

"Exactly," Lilly agreed. "We know now that Jamie hasn't forgotten his family; in fact, he misses them so much that he secretly created a link between him and the rest."

"He wants to avoid any direct contact with his brother," Chris mused, "so he gets in touch with his nephew. If only we knew his motives."

"Various possibilities," said Lilly. "Maybe he just wants to know how his family is doing without having to ask them personally. Through Alex he learns everything that's going on here."

"That tells us a lot about his pride," said Chris. "Thirty years, and still he can't make the first step."

"Or he has been waiting for this very day," Lilly continued. "He knew that the skeleton would one day be discovered, and since he supposed the story wouldn't make it into the national news, he had to find a way to learn about it. So he contacted Alex under the pretext of renewing family bonds, but in fact he only used the boy as a source of information."

"This theory only applies if Jamie is our perp," Chris took over. "And it would mean that he's anything but the nice fellow the others described."

"I don't really believe this theory," Lilly said thoughtfully. "It's too easy."

"That's what I've been saying all day," Chris agreed. "What other explanations do we have?"

"Psychological reasons," Lilly said promptly. "He doesn't have any children, right? So he contacts Alex, the closest thing to a son he'll ever have, and tries to get an impression of what it's like to be a father. And if he finds it too exhausting, he can just hang up the phone or close his mailbox. This way he can keep a safe distance between himself and his 'son'."

"It doesn't match his profile, though," Chris said. "Everyone described him as mature, intelligent, creative and good-natured. A person with these characteristics is most likely neither cowardly nor scheming. That revokes theories two and three..."

"... but it supports theory number one," Lilly finished. "If Jamie really is the person he was described as - and I don't see why it shouldn't be so - then pride is certainly a main aspect of his character."

"So let's assume theory number one is correct," Chris said. "He actually wants to see his family again, but he's too proud to take the first step. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." Lilly felt silent and gnawed at her lower lip. "Maybe I won't do anything right now," she said eventually. "We'll ask Nick to find Jamie in Seattle and talk to him. Maybe he can make Jamie return, at least to Philly. And then we could arrange a meeting for Jamie and Alex. This may give Jamie some motivation."

"Jamie is the key to everything," Chris mused. "If he tells us why he left then everything else will fall into place. I'm sure."

"So am I." Lilly stretched and looked at her watch. "It's past four," she said. "Let's go home, Chris. We can talk to Jordan tomorrow. And we still have the older generation."

"You're right." Chris yawned. "I'm tired, too." He started the engine and pulled the car away from the curb. "Let's go home, partner."

XXX

"Detective Vera has been on the phone for hours," Stillman said when Lilly entered the office on the next morning. "He's trying to reach James Jarvis, but apparently that's not as easy as it seems. I sincerely hope that you're not planning to involve him completely in your case. Don't forget that he has another case to solve."

"Don't worry, sir." Lilly smiled. "He just owed me a favor."

"I don't have any objections as long as he doesn't neglect his own work," Stillman clarified. "I know you have a good reason to engage his help."

"Thank you for your trust, sir," Lilly said. "That's true. Vera is simply the best when it comes to getting witnesses to break their silence."

"I see." Stillman nodded. "Then good luck, Detective Rush."

Lilly nodded thank you and made her way to Chris's desk.

"Morning," her partner said. He offered her a smile, and Lilly smiled back.

"Any results yet from Nick?" she asked.

He's still on the phone with Seattle," Chris answered. I told him to come here and report to us in the instant he hangs up the phone."

"Uh-huh." Lilly grinned. "And you used those exact words, I suppose?"

"Not really," Chris admitted. "But that was the essence of what I said to him."

"I see." Lilly leaned against Chris's desk, and they waited in comfortable silence for Nick to appear.

About ten minutes later, the stocky detective joined them.

"Holy cow, this suspect of yours was pretty hard to find," he said. "I must have called at least ten different institutions, and ten very nice secretaries told me I just about missed Mr. Jarvis. He must be a very busy man."

"Apparently," said Chris, unperturbed. "But that's not what you were supposed to find out, Vera."

"Lassing, you're worse than any boss I've ever had," Nick complained. "And you are not even my boss."

"Go ahead, Nick." Chris grinned.

Grumbling, Nick went on. "Well, after forty-five minutes I finally got Jarvis on the line. He was very reserved when I mentioned Philly, and even more reserved when I mentioned Deansville. But when I said what a nice discovery was made there, he suddenly got all excited and demanded to know everything. I told him only what we told the press, and then I said that he would have to come back if he wanted to learn more about the case. But he just mumbled something about too much work and changed the topic."

"Did you tell him that he's a suspect?"

"Let's say, I implied it," Nick said. "I said we're pretty sure that we know whose skeleton we found, and that it would make a good impression if he returned to Philly for the time being until the case is solved. He sounded very nervous and said that he had to think about it 'cause he hasn't seen his family since '67, and blah, blah, blah. I didn't mention the nephew 'cause I thought I'd better leave that to you guys."

"Thanks a million, Nick," said Lilly and smiled at her colleague. "Now I owe you."

"Betcha," said Nick. "I also asked Jarvis quite bluntly why he left, and he refused to answer. Said it was a private matter that was none of my business."

"I can't even say he's wrong," Lilly murmured. Nick did not hear her, but Chris cast her a glance and slightly shook his head. Lilly returned the glance, but she was the first to lower her eyes. Nick did not notice what was going on between the partners.

"So now at least Jamie is informed," Lilly said eventually. "And now let's just sit and wait. I bet he'll call again when he has thought about it long enough."

"Sit and wait sounds good," Nick said. "I'll watch the phone, alright? If he calls, I'll just dispatch the call to one of your cell phones. You guys had better go back to Deansville and go on canvassing your witnesses."

"Is it your revenge because I ordered you about?" Chris asked with a smile.

Nick winked at him. "You got it, Lassing," he said.

"Boys, stop playing," Lilly cut in. "Chris, we have a job to do. Come on, let's get back to Deansville."

XXX

"Detectives," said Sunday, who was again the first to see Lilly and Chris. "It's you again."

Chris offered one of his half-smiles. "But today we're leaving you alone, Sunday," he said.

"Still chasing after Jamie?" Sunday asked.

"We're following multiple leads," Lilly said evasively. "I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to give you more details about the investigation."

"I see." Sunday smiled, but it looked forced. "So who do you plan to target today?"

Lilly cringed secretly. Sunday's tone was joking, but Lilly felt that she was hurt. She would have loved to say something to the other woman that made it clear that she did not feel comfortable at all, intruding this peaceful neighborhood. But she had made a promise to her partner and to herself, and so she only smiled apologetically and headed for the Jarvis's house. When she rang the doorbell this time, Jordan opened. She did not seem surprised.

"Hello, Detectives," she said. "I was already wondering when I'd see you again. What can I do for you?"

"Actually we wanted to talk to your mother-in-law," Lilly said.

"Oh," said Jordan. "Well, she has some guests. My dad came over, and Sarah and Danny Webster. Sheila and Arthur McLaren wanted to come over, too."

"If they don't mind, we'd like to talk to all of them," Lilly said quickly. "In fact, it's even better this way. It saves us some time, and the others as well."

Jordan smiled politely. "Of course," she said. "I'll just go upstairs and tell them you're here. Come in." She stepped back from the door and let Lilly and Chris pass. Lilly had to restrain herself from going into the living room once again and have another look at the pictures. But she couldn't help peering through the door and catch at least a look at them. The intensity of the two counterparts still fascinated her.

"Shall I give you a reproduction of them for your birthday?" Chris asked with a wink.

Lilly jumped, then she grinned. "Am I that transparent?" she asked. "I can't help it. I really love them. They're somewhat... special. I haven't seen any of her other works, but these are definitely special."

"I'd never have thought that you'd convert into a fan of the fine arts," Chris remarked.

"I'm not a fan," Lilly protested. "But when I see those pictures, I can understand why some people are so fascinated with art."

"Maybe you should talk to Jordan about them," Chris suggested. "When the investigation is over, of course."

"Of course." Lilly sighed and turned away from the pictures. "I only wish that it already was over."

"Who knows, maybe the tables will turn on us now," Chris said.

"I hope so." Lilly returned to her partner, and side by side they were waiting for Jordan to return.

A few minutes later they heard her come down the stairs.

"Diane and the others are waiting for you," she said. "You can go upstairs now."

"Thank you, Jordan." Lilly smiled and then went up the stairs. Chris followed.

They emerged into a corridor at the end of which there was a door that stood ajar. Voices could be heard from the room behind it, and Lilly headed for it. She knocked, and when someone called, "Come in!" she pushed the door open and entered.

Diane Jarvis lived in a small apartment that consisted of two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. The door through which they had entered led into the living room. In the middle there stood a large marble table, and a group of elderly people was assembled around it. A deck of cards lay scattered on the table; apparently Diane and the others had planned to play a game of bridge or hearts or canasta.

A tall, majestic woman with full white hair and amazingly dark blue eyes rose from her chair and came towards the detectives. Lilly supposed that she must be Diane Jarvis. Gabriel had her eyes, she noticed.

"Miss Rush and Mr. Lassing?"

Lilly nodded. Somehow she didn't think adding "Detective" in front of their names would make any kind of impression on this imposing woman.

"I'm Diane Jarvis. You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes, ma'am." Lilly had to pull herself together not to feel intimidated. Diane Jarvis had the bearing of a queen.

"These are my friends," said Diane and gestured at the others. "Jonah Donahue, Sarah Webster and Danny Webster."

Lilly nodded at the others. Jonah Donahue, the oldest in the group, actually bowed before her. His hair was white and thin and his face was deeply lined, but his eyes were still sparkling. Lilly could tell that his mind was still working excellently, although his body was beginning to fail him. His hands were trembling slightly.

Sarah Webster, the youngest, was sitting beside her husband, Danny. It took Lilly a moment to remember that these were Sheriff Webster's parents, but once she had remembered, she spotted the similarities between Graham and his father. Both had long faces and rather prominent noses, but whereas Danny had once been blond, Graham had inherited his mother's black hair. Sarah Webster's hair was going gray, but the original black color was still clearly recognizable.

"Sit down, Detectives," said Diane and pointed at two empty chairs.

Lilly and Chris obeyed.

"So," said Diane. "What is it you want to ask me?"

"We'd like to ask all of you," said Lilly. "I suppose that you all know why we're here and what we're about to ask."

"Jordan told us," Diane confirmed. "Is it true that you suppose the skeleton was Natalya Atrochenko?"

"It is as good as safe to assume that," said Lilly.

"So she didn't skedaddle, after all," said Diane. "In a way I am glad to hear that. I was very disappointed in her back then. Rick and I just didn't know what we had done wrong."

"From what the others told us, we concluded that Natalya felt very good here," Lilly said.

"Of course, it is a real tragedy that she was murdered instead," Diane continued as if Lilly had not interrupted her. "It would have been better for her, had she run off as we all thought."

"Well, ma'am, but it happened this way," said Lilly. "And all we can do now is try and find the one who did it. And my partner and I are hoping that maybe you could help us in doing so."

"You're concentrating on our families," Diane replied. "You're suspecting our children to be involved, isn't that true?"

"Not only your children, ma'am," said Lilly as politely as she could. "Everyone is a suspect. And we need your help to exclude those who are innocent from the investigation. Finding out who is not guilty is sometimes more important than finding the perpetrator. I know how distrust and wariness can brew, especially in such a small community."

"Then I hope we shall be of help to you," said Diane graciously. She adjusted herself in her chair and looked expectantly at the detectives. "Ask your questions."

"So far we haven't heard what exactly the circumstances of Natalya's disappearance were," Lilly began. "I suppose you remember it very well. Could you please tell us what was going on that day? Just give us an account of what you did and what the others did."

"Of course, Detectives." Diane leaned back in her chair and began.