Vital Secrets Vol 1-3

CHAPTER ONE-2

The ringing buzzer signaled the arrival of a visitor.

“Yes?” Stacy said into the intercom.

“It’s Brad.”

Stacy pressed the button. “C’mon up.”

Then, knocking on Bella’s bedroom door, she called out, “Hey.”

“I’ll be out in a sec. The money is on the coffee table.”

Stacy scooped up the cash and met Brad, their pizza deliveryman and her boyfriend, at the door with a kiss.

“Man,” he said, walking into the kitchen, “a tip, and a kiss? How many other sustenance procurement technicians do you treat like this?”

“Sustenance procurement technicians??” Bella said, laughing as she strolled in. “Seriously?”

Stacy mock pouted in the kitchen doorway. “So, are we really your last stop this time, or is your boss going to be a jerk again?”

“Sure thing,” Brad said, putting his arms around her. “I made sure that this was my last one for the night.”

“How’ve you been, Brad?” Bella asked as she got out three plates and some sodas.

“Fantastic,” he replied. “As a matter of fact, I have awesome news.” Reaching for a slice, he continued, “When I graduate next month, I have a job lined up already. I’ve accepted an offer from the biggest accounting firm in Los Angeles.”

Stacy squealed and hugged him. “That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed. “And it fits perfectly into our plans.”

“So, you two are moving to California?” Bella said. “I thought all that was up in the air.”

“Well, we had pretty much decided to leave here already,” Stacy answered. “The pivot point was who was going to offer Brad the best deal, Boston or Los Angeles.”

She took his hand, and continued, “But we really wanted it to be L.A. so I could go to Cal Tech.”

“When are you going?” Bella asked.

“I’ll be leaving to find a place out there in the next week or so,” Brad said. “They want me to start August first.”

“And I will finish out the fall here, then move out there over the holiday break. With any luck I’ll be taking classes at Cal Tech come spring. I’ve already sent my application, so it should all work out,” Stacy finished.

“Well, I have some pretty cool news myself,” Bella said with a twinkle. “I had my interview out at the Metzger Youth Institute today. I think it’s down to me and one other person. Hopefully I will hear something within the next week.”

And Stacy squealed again, and hugged Bella tightly. “That is just so awesome! When would you start?”

“September,” Bella said. “Unless I can rearrange my summer schedule to start sooner.”

***

* * * *

Mikel paused with his knuckles on the door.

God, it’s tiresome having to pretend to give a s**t what people say, he groaned inwardly.

But it was the only way to obtain the information he wanted.

He rapped on the door and entered.

“So, I was just wondering how the tutor search was going,” Mikel said as casually as he could manage.

Wallace looked up from his screen.

“Very well. As a matter of fact, we’ve hired all but one. I am particularly impressed with the languages tutor candidates. They are both fluent in French, German, and Russian and each would give our kids some much needed support in their studies.”

Subtlety was not Mikel’s strong suit. Trying his best to sound nonchalant, he asked, “Was one of them the dark-headed girl that came in today?”

“Why, yes, as a matter of fact she is,” replied the oblivious headmaster. “The single thing that works against her is she’s only a sophomore. Brendan, however, graduates next month, which means we could have him full-time without having to work around his school schedule.”

“I see,” Mikel said, his mind racing. “Glad I don’t have to make the choice.”

He made more inane small talk and worked his way out of the headmaster’s office. Free at last, he surreptitiously glanced at the visitor sign-in log. Brendan C. Jones was written in a strong hand, along with his address.

“Well, Mr. Jones,” Mikel murmured to himself as he walked out to his car, “I’m sorry, but you’re not my first choice.”

***

* * * *

Bella hung up the phone and came dancing into the kitchen.

“You got it, didn’t you?” Stacy asked, holding her breath.

“Yes, yes, yes!!” Bella exclaimed and was immediately knocked short of breath by Stacy hugging her tightly.

The phone interrupted their celebration.

“I’ll get it,” Bella offered.

“Hello?” she said cheerily. Then, “Oh hi Grandpa, I was going to call you later, I have the most amazing news....” Her voice faltered and she grew silent.

“What?” she said, alarmed.

Hearing the change in Bella’s tone, Stacy came out to the living room to see Bella still on the phone with tears in her eyes.

“Okay,” Bella managed. “I’ll be there in the next couple of days. Love you too.”

She hung up the phone, looked at Stacy, and sobbed, “Granma’s cancer came back.”

***

* * * *

“I thought you were going with the young man,” Adolf frowned as he looked at the list.

“I was going to,” Wallace replied, “but he hasn’t returned my calls in three days, so I guess he found a better offer. I’d wager the young lady’s more proficient than he is in Russian anyway.”

Just then his desk phone rang. He answered, listened, offered sympathy, and finished his conversation with, “Of course my dear. We’ll make do until you can get here. Take the time you need with your family.”

Hanging up the receiver, he looked at Adolf and said, “Speak of the devil. That was her. I’m afraid her start date with us may be postponed. Poor thing, she has a family emergency back East.”

***

* * * *

The following evening, on the outskirts of town, a property owner called authorities to report an abandoned car in the open fields behind his place. The policeman responding to the call found the body of a young man in the trunk. The victim still had his wallet and credit cards, and the car was registered to him. There were no obvious injuries, no suspects, no trace evidence, and no witnesses. The murder of Brendan C Jones would become a cold case by the New Year.

***