Page 33 of Concrete Evidence
“I need to stay here until you’ve gone through Colonel Wilkins’s personal effects. If something interests you and I can’t authorize releasing it, I’ll put the item aside until the case is closed.” Shipley pointed to a corner where two cardboard boxes sat. “I suggest beginning with those. We’ve emptied his desk, closet, and placed many non-Army effects inside.”
“Makes sense.” Marc focused on the framed photos positioned on a glass-topped credenza and picked up one recently taken of Mom and his father. They’d been bass fishing, and both held up their catches.
Marc replaced it and studied a photo of Tessa and their father taken near a park, professionally photographed. Another one showed Tessa performing in a high school drill routine. A double frame showed Marc at around three years old on one side and the adjoining showed him receiving his high school diploma. A stranger who had displayed photos of a son he’d left behind. Upon closer examination, Marc confirmed he’d never seen the high school pic. Had his father been there?
Beneath the credenza’s glass top, his father had inserted an article of Marc’s twelfth FBI commendation for his work in the violent crime division. Numbness settled on him.Where were you when I needed you?
“Hey, let me help.” Roden pointed to a plant on the desk, a very sad vine in dire need of water. “I’ll begin by watering Mr. Droop.”
Marc smiled. “Sure. Lieutenant Shipley, are these family photos okay to pack up?”
“All yours. I’ll get you another box.”
Marc nodded at the corner of his father’s personal items. “Roden, after you revive Mr. Droop, want to help me tackle those?”
Twenty minutes later Marc and Roden finished examining papers, more photos, and personal memorabilia that Marc didn’t recognize but intended to keep for Mom. She’d want to see every item—chronological pics of Tessa, letters from Mom written when they were still married and he was away on Army business, and more insights to Marc’s growing-up years. Why had his father kept Marc’s certificates of grade school perfect attendance, scholastic achievements, and sports awards? The pics taken at his college graduation were like a knife had been stabbed into his gut and twisted.
Shipley watched but said little. Perhaps he thought the moment too solemn. What did he comprehend about the father and son relationship?
“I’m sorry he’s gone,” Shipley said. “Colonel Wilkins was highly respected. I’m surprised you and I have never met.”
Avery had expressed the same thing. “Why?”
“He talked about you a lot. Followed your FBI career and your accomplishments. Remember when you spoke at a high school commencement? He recorded every word. Had me listen to it.”
“He was there?”
“That’s what he told me. Are you saying you didn’t know?”
Marc shook his head. “News to me. My father and I weren’t close.”
Shipley shrugged. “Colonel Wilkins had a few peculiar ways. This must have been one of them. One thing I’ve learned as a parent is once we mess up a relationship with one of our kids, restoring it is hard.”
Marc placed the items back into the boxes to load into his truck. He’d never thought of his father as a coward until now.
21
IN HER HOTEL ROOM,Avery checked her email in-box for something from Granddad. She held on to hope as though it were the only lifeline connecting her to him, but only emptiness met her. A flagged email from Craig caught her attention.
Hey, Avery.
Do you have any idea how I can find your grandfather? A couple of investigators from the Army Corps of Engineers were here this morning bombarding me with questions about his whereabouts.
Something is going on, and I have no clue if it’s about his disappearance or Liam Zachary’s murder reported on the news. This has me shook up, and I’m sure you’re upset too. I tried to call the senator, but it goes directly to a filled voice mail box. In fact, I’ve tried calling you, and the same thing happens. I’m worried about both of you.
Why aren’t you here at the ranch? When are you cominghome? Between the ranch and the business, I can’t do all the work myself. In short, I need your help to keep juggling the balls.
Most importantly, are you two okay?
Craig
Craig didn’t have a helpless cell in his body, and he could manage the ranch and business until the investigation cleared Granddad.Slow down.No point taking out her fear on Craig. If he knew the seriousness going on in Granddad’s life and if she had permission, she’d fill him in. Avery reread the email and offered a prayer before she touched her laptop’s keyboard.
Craig,
I’m safe, but my location and phone number are private, per Granddad’s request. I have no idea where he might be. If he contacts me, I’ll tell him about your concern and the investigators’ visit. So very sorry the workload seems overwhelming. Payroll will be handled automatically next week with direct deposits made to all accounts.
I completed a bid for a dam repair and submitted it by certified mail. We have a couple of weeks before we hear about the contract. But the TCEQ might call.
