Short Stories and Ideas
(c) William Russell January 2, 1986
Setting: A centrally located school in a small town in the mid-west
School has been released 5 minutes. Children are scurrying in all directions, escaping their long day's
captivity toward the freedom of the parks, their friend's houses for a cool dip in the stream and some long
walks to their homes. This day is an unusual day for Karen. Her mother always picks her up precisely at
3:07 on their way to an enjoyable hour at the park. All the school buses are gone. All the children are
gone. 6 1/2 year old Karen is still waiting. She wasn't aware that her mother had been taken to the
hospital and wouldn't show up as usual.
Then Karen heard a voice from behind her, "Karen, Karen, come here Karen. Your mother can't pick you
up today. She asked us, dear, if we would pick you up. We're your Aunt Theresa and cousin Harriet.
Setting: We are at Lexington and 59th St.
After parking the car in front of a hero riding a copper horse on the town green, we cross the street behind
us and proceed up the marble steps. Surging the main door open, we walk down the hall to the 5th door on
the right and knock.
A voice says," come in."
Bill: "Ah, yes, Investigator Mr. Grimms, nice to meet you. This is Margaret and I am Bill. We are here
to investigate the Karen Kimbly kidnapping case. Mr Grimms, Margaret has been assigned to this
case from a special federal task force set up to investigate kidnappings of children with special
abilities. We would like to see her get to work on this immediately. We hope we have your complete
co-operation."
Mr. Grimms: "There is no problem on this end Bill. I've been expecting Margaret and everyone here is at
her disposal. I would like to be briefed on as much as possibler pertaining to your special
investigations."
Bill: "Mr. Grimms, your people will not be necessary other than pointing out the direction to your main
computer terminal and your stored files. Margaret will cover any other details with you that she
feels necessary."
"Margaret, while you're setting up camp, I'll arrange for a hotel room at the Rimsley on Rogers Street
across from the Rooster Restaurant. I"ll hear from you on your designated progress report times."
"Mr. Grimms, thank you very much for your present and future help in this matter. As you will
become aware, it is of a most serious nature. Have a good day."
Bill turns swiftly, passing Margaret, not so much as looking in her direction, with a hard cold, non
compassionate look on his face. Opening the door, he fades down the hall. The sound of his heels become
softer to silent as we hear the large outer doors close strongly behind him. The echo rings to silence.
After a long tedious investigative day at headquarters, Margaret makes her way toward the hotel. She turns
right, passing the park, keeping it on her left. She walks two blocks, turns left. After moving out of sight of
the main street that the headquarters are on, she starts to move swiftly at a fast pace , reaching out for a
car's door that is parked 1/2 block in. Opening the car door, she jumps inside. The door slams and the driver
makes a quick start. He becomes lost in traffic with a few fast street turns.
George: "Well Margaret, did you arrange everything the way we planned?"
Margaret: "Yes, it went along quite easily. There is one complication. I ran into something that could pose
a problem. That is a hot blooded male in his 20's who was trying to turn on to me all day long.
I temporarily put him in his place but in a manner not to draw too much attention."
George: " Ok, keep it under control."
(c) January 3, 1986
Robert: " Damn it George, I just don't believe it. There's something else going on."
George: " Robert, why don't you just give it up. You're always after something that just isn't there."
Robert: "Ah, just like there was nothing there on the police murder on September 20. 1992?"
George: " Well so you're right about a couple things. But this one's going too far. A conspiracy?
Impossible. It would have been uncovered long ago by Internal Affairs. Besides, what kind
of conspiracy?"
Robert: "Are you with me on this or not?"
George: "I never said I wasn't did I? Don't give me any crap, we've got a long drive ahead of us."
Robert: "I know, it's only because I'm too cheap to take the plane. I said I wanted to investigate the
possibilities, not buy the rights to a story. Besides, it's only two day's drive."
George: " What?"
Robert: "Well ok, two days , two nights steady driving."
(c) January 5, 1986
72 hours later George and Robert are pulling up to the Post Office in Portland, Maine. Robert opens the
car door, starts to step out.
"Good morning stranger",softly rings out in his ear.
He proceeds to look from the shoes, then the shirt and finally a smile on a gentleman's face that appeared
not to be necessarily sincere, considering he was in a far away state. This is perhaps how people are.
Besides, he heard about the hospitality and friendliness of the people in Maine. He admired the heavy fur
collar of the coat and fur hat the man was wearing and how much brighter everything appeared outside the
tinted windows of his corvette.
The voice spoke softly again, "You might be better off putting a few shirts on to keep you warm until you
get to Jacob's Department Store. Jake has some real nice coats over there. That's if you're going to stay a
spell."
Robert: "Yeah, right, well, wh.... thanks for the tip. And a good morning to you. Oh, by the way, do
you know where Craig Avenue and Smith Street is?"
man: " Yes, just go up here one block and it's over three blocks to the right, on the left."
Robert: "Thank you very much Mr. Uh..."
man: "Dwyer it is."
Robert: "Well Mr. Dwyer, you have been very helpful, and I'll go to Jacob's Department Store if we
decide to stay. Thanks for the directions."
Knoch, knoch
Ring ring
Robert: "Hello"
"Theresa Kirtz?"
woman: "No, no Theresa Kirtz here"
Robert: "This is 211 Craig Avenue, is that correct?"
woman: " Well, yes it is. Mrs Kirtz had to step out for a few minutes. Oh, you're in luck, here she comes
now."
Robert: "Mrs Kirtz, I'm Robert Bailey. I'm here investigating the misfortune of Karen Kimbly's family. You
know, your niece Karen. Is she here? Can I speak to her?"
Ms K: "Mister, this is a very bad thing you are doing."
Robert: "What have I done to you? What do you mean ma'am? You're well aware that they all perished
in a house fire."
Ms. K: "Good Bye", Slam goes the door.
Robert: "But... but.... Well so much for that."
"George, it's a hit. We hit something big here."
George: "What's the matter, Karen nice looking or what"
Robert: "No, you don't understand, there is no Karen."
George: " What are you talking about. Karen's aunt brought her home here with her to Maine. It's in
the report."
Robert: "Ok, lets go to Jacob's Store. Looks like we're going to be here a while. Tonight we'll settle into
a motel and review the case completely."
George: "You must be mistaken. We got the wrong address."
Robert: "No, no mistake. It is the right address and there's something fishy in Fort Smith and Portland,
Maine. Let's go do some homework. You take over the driving. I'm tired."
George: "Ok, but don't fall asleep on me. There are some big towns here and I might get lost."
Robert: "Ha ha."
George: "Well, what did she say to you. She seemed like a friendly lady from here. I mean, she left
her groceries in the car and came over to you when she arrived."
Robert: "Well, wouldn't you do the same if you saw an out of state plate, one guy on the porch and
one in the car with the motor running? And besides, we make a good judge of people, we've
been trying to turn the air conditioning off for the last 600 miles because we couldn't tell the
snow outside meant it's winter."
George: "I knew that long range fuel tank we have in this thing would get us in trouble some day.
Well, why didn't you tell me we'd have to put damn money up here for coats? If I'd have
known that, I'd have never come."
Robert: "Look it, it's no time to argue, I think we've finally hit onto something after all the dead ends of
the other cases. And we want to be the first team to make something out of nothing, right?"
George: "Well I think this is going to be nothing too, just a misunderstanding."
Robert: " Well is it isn't, you know we're going to get a nice promotion in the department."
Robert: "Hey George, how did you like that desk clerk? Isn't she super?"
George: "Yeah, but she was looking at me. Then again, it doesn't matter who she was looking at, we
have work to do. Bob, let's grab something to eat before we start, alright?"
Robert: "Alright, that sounds good. Let's just get this stuff in the room first. We'll lock it up and go
right down. George, do me a favor will ya? This time don't start your normal bullshit with
the waitress. So far you have everyone believing you're reserved."
"George, ask the clerk which way to the dining room."
George: " Hi Louise"
Louise looks at the registry and responds, "Good evening Mr. Mathews, may I help you?"
George: "Yes, two things. One, I'd like to know where the dining room is."
Robert was starting to feel at ease knowing that George was being polite and not his usual self... and then
the sky fell in as George says, "Louise, would you like to make a baby?"
Robert, hearing this, screams across the foyer, "George get over here now before you get us thrown out.
if you haven't already."
"Sorry ma'am. He embarrasses me everywhere we go. I hope he hasn't embarrassed you too much. As you
can tell, he likes sex. I'm sorry ma'am."
Louise: "But no, that's alright. Ok, right now it's not possible to make babies.
Robert: "Oh, I'm sorry."
Louise: "Don't be sorry, I'm on duty."
Robert: "Ok, George, you're sitting by yourself in the dining room."
George: "Bob, I couldn't help myself. She's gorgeous."
Robert: "You know George, you could be a little more open and not so quiet most of the time. I think
this could help you out with your need to express openly your perverted sexual desire.
(c) January 6,1986
"George, what do you say we just order the special when we get inside and we can get right into
the file you have in that briefcase of yours."
George: "Ok Robert, you ready? Karen Kimbly. At the time of the accident child was 6 years 6 months
old. Mother 27. Father 28. Only living relative to the deceased: aunt, mother's sister. Theresa
Kirtz. Aunt never married. Father killed in house fire. Mother died in auto accident. Father
adopted. Adoptive parents deceased, parents deceased. Karen Kimbly was officially turned
over to her blood aunt, Theresa Kirtz, 211 Craig Avenue, Portland Maine. Case closed."
"Last investigator to work on this case was Harold Polansky. Died in hit and run auto accident in
city of Portland, Maine ..... after leaving Jacob's Department Store. Investigation concluded:
accidental death. No progress report on K677172."
"Well here we are 12 years later. I wonder what the delay was."
Robert: "I guess they had to wait until all the bad drivers either died or left Portland."
George: "Real funny, Where do you suggest we go from here? I'll tell you what. I'll give the aunt a call
in the morning, then we can call this thing in to the office and get it finished before we die too
__ from the cold."
Ring ring........ ring ring......... ring ring
"Hello"
"Mrs Theresa Kirtz?"
"Yes"
George: "This is George Matthews. My partner Robert Bailey talked to you briefly yesterday. I wish to
apologize if we got off on the wrong foot in our investigation yesterday. We would like to
conclude this investigation real quick. Maybe we can do it right here on the phone so we can
close the case once and for all."
Ms. K: "Mister Matthews, I was very upset yesterday over having to grieve again over my sister, her
husband and my lovely niece, the only relatives I had. Now I'm left alone in this world. I hope
you understand my upset."
George: "Well, let me understand this. You're saying that something happened to your niece?"
Ms. K: "Well, I'm sure it's in your original report. My niece died with her mother in the automobile
accident."
George: "No, our report reads that your niece was brought to Portland with you and that this is where
she has been living. She did not die in the automobile accident. The police Lieutenant verified
that you niece was taken to Portland by you in the report."
Ms. K: "What? You're saying my niece is alive? That's wonderful."
George: "Karen may have been kidnapped or gone with pother relatives. Are there any other relatives?
Ms. K: " No, there are not."
George: "Ms. Kirtz, I don't wish to frighten you or give you any undue cause for further worry. I will
only need your signature on my report. I would like to do that this afternoon. We will definitely
keep you posted on any future progress. Thank you very much."
"By the way, if you have a picture of the child, we would be grateful if we could take it with us.
Can't guarantee you will ever receive it back. It could aid us tremendously."
Ms. K: "Yes, I have a picture from her 6th birthday that you can have."
George: "Would 3 PM be ok for me to stop by?"
Ms, K: "That would be just fine"
George: "Fine, see you then. Thank you very much'
"Robert, can you believe this?"
Robert: " All right , so you're better with little girls and old ladies than I am. The important thing is
that you got the information.
George: "Ok Bob, this is the first case that amounted to anything in the last 10 years. I'm ready to
roll with you on it. Finally, not a wild goose chase."
Robert: "Well, where do we go from here? Let's see. Back to town where Karen Kimbly was
kidnapped.
George: " Now wait a minute. You're jumping the gun aren't you? First of all it's only an assumption
that she was kidnapped. Second, we have to receive permission to follow through with the
case. So, let's take one step at a time. Well Bob, give the hotline a call, what are you
waiting on?"
Robert: "George will you calm yourself down! Do you mind going to your appointment with Ms. Kirtz
first?"
George: "Well, ok, yeah, I'll do that. First things first. I'm just too excited I guess."
Robert: " Right, You going to be able to handle the appointment?"
George: "Yeah"
Robert: " Ok, you make the appointment and I'll make the call. That will save time and we can kick
out of here early tonight."
Two hours later Robert was sitting in a black walnut wooden framed , black padded chair staring out the
window overlooking the parking lot of the motel. On the hillside are trees and bushes blocking the view of
the sunset. The only thing to be heard is the forced air heating system mounted just before the thermal
window. There is a sound clicking. Someone was at the door. It echoed through the room, through the
silence like a speaker crackling with an old record beginning to play.
The door starts to sling open. Robert had put the safety chain on as George left. Robert turned abruptly
in his chair, at the same time pulling a 9 mm from his shoulder holster. He hit the deck facing the door in
a prone position, at the same time yelling "Who is it?"
For one minute, all you could hear was the slide of the 9 mm echoing through the room as it forced a bullet
into the chamber. Then a voice sounded out softly, "It's me, George."
As Robert's body begins to calm from the heavy adrenalin flow of his startle response, sweat from his
excitement rolls down his face from his forehead. He returns the pistol to it's holster. He proceeds to stand
and approach the door, releasing the chain. In one motion, he swings the door open. His eyes briefly meet
George as he turns and returns to the chair he had recently flown out of.
He calmly says, "How did you do George?"
And George responds with a delayed voice, "Ok - but what's the matter with you?"
Robert: "Nothing really, I was just a little jumpy. Don't know why. Really don't know why. Or..... maybe
I do. It could be the result of the phone call."
George: "What could go wrong with there report?"
Robert: "Oh nothing, it was very successful. Nothing went wrong other than being taken off the case."
George: "What do you mean taken off the case? This is our case."
Robert: "Well, Jim Morris didn't happen to think so. He said it was just an error in the docket you have."
George: "Oh now wait a minute. We have documentation that this woman never brought her niece here."
Robert: "Hey, what do you want from me? That's the result of the report."
George: "Are you going to settle for it?"
Robert: "No"
George: "Let's go."
Robert: "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
George: "Yeah"
Robert: "You take the front door. I'll take the back door and I'll pick you up on the side."
George: "I'll drop the keys to the room off on the way out."
(c) January 9, 1986
Bob driving
As George is approaching the door of the car at the rear of the motel parking lot, Robert starts the engine.
George jumps in and slams the door shut. The corvette tears out of the lot into the same road that will lead
them to the interstate highway.
Robert: "I don't mean to panic you George, but I think we should get out of this neck of the woods right
away."
George: "Gotcha. Not a bad idea. Is this the fastest we can move?"
Robert: "Yes, unless we want to draw the attention of the man."
George: " Hey, we got credentials."
Robert: "What are we doing? Chasing air? You know we have to be in hot pursuit in order to run over
the speed limit."
George: "That never stopped you out on the flats."
Robert: "Hey, you know the man out there. If he knows he can't catch you, he won't chase you."
George: "I understand these guys up here think it's their mother-in-law running down the road and they
are damn soon going to give her a ticket, if they can."
Robert: "Ok, this is the way it is, all that rhetoric has got to stop. The other inspector didn't get out of
here. I'd prefer it didn't happen to us, so keep your eyes open. Not for the man, but for
someone who wants to get us."