57 Chevy

By Mike Seigler

Detective John Bloom for the town of Letterson unearths a mystery when a family of three are found drowned in their car. As he investigates he finds that it was no ordinary car and someone still wants it to remain under water some fifty years later.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Seigler
• Release date: Dec 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9780990903710

Mike Seigler

I love the written word in most genres. I took up writing many years ago to record the stories I came up with. I think the telling of a good story and the hour or hours it takes you away from whatever is priceless. Stories make us dream and you have to dream to create those stories that can take you away to other places and times. Let yourself be taken away, read.

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57 Chevy

A Novel

Mike Seigler

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by Michael Seigler

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-0-9909037-1-0

Dedication

Dedicated to all innovators…

Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Email

Author

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Epilogue

Prologue

1958:

Jim Jensen backed his shiny new fifty-seven Chevy out of the barn that doubled as a garage and work area. He used it as his invention area that he compared to Thomas Edison’s in Menlo Park, a two hour drive south. He parked next to the house and sat for a moment listening for the sound of an engine but there was only a slight vibration. He smiled slightly and turned on the electric heaters.

He got out of the car, walked back to the barn, closed and locked the doors. He cupped his hands and blew into them. It was a biting cold February day a perfect day to test his new engine, a special design that would change the auto industry he hoped. It would free the world of using gas he knew but that could be a problem in itself. The few people that he talked to a year ago about what he was building did not welcome the idea.

He knew it might mean job losses and oil companies would lose business but Jim stuck to the bright side of it. Before cars, there were horses, which needed to be fed and could only go twenty miles a day. Then when automobiles were invented, there is now what they call pollution. He looked at his car and knew his invention will not pollute and could go endless miles without the needed refueling. Who would not want that? Jim shrugged his shoulders.

His wife Dorothy came outside from the house with Jim Jr following. She shivered a bit and walked toward the car. She turned back to Jim Jr, did you close the door Jimmy?

Yes mom. Jim Jr said as he trotted toward her.

Are we ready? Jim asked as they approached.

I don’t know what we’re ready for, I just need a few things at the market, Dorothy said smiling and shivering.

Jim loved Dorothy’s smile. He watched her face, as she looked the 57 Chevy from front to back, Jr also.

Looks kind of exciting, I love the red color. Dorothy said.

It’s sexy. Jim said and immediately got a look from Dorothy.

What’s sexy mean? Jr asked.

Dorothy rolled her eyes and looked sternly at Jim. He smiled and shrugged. Jimmy you’re never to repeat that word.

Okay dad, Jr replied.

Let’s get in, Jim said to his freezing family.

Dorothy got in the front passenger seat and Jim Jr in the back. Dad then climbed in the driver’s seat. He looked over at Dorothy who had unfastened her scarf and took her gloves off. It’s nice and warm in here.

Yea dad, I’m roasting back here.

Okay let me turn the heat down. Jim pushed a slider over to the cool side.

Well, let’s start up and go. Dorothy said.

The engine is running, Jim said and put it in reverse.

Hmm, these new cars are amazing, Dorothy, said with a glance at Jim. He smirked at her; he knew she did not know yet.

It’s what I’ve been working on. The engine, don’t hear a thing do you.

Dorothy looked over at him as they entered the road from the driveway. No, it’s very quiet. What did you do?

I reconfigured it so to speak so it doesn’t use gas-o-line. Jim looked proudly over at Dorothy as he picked up speed on the county lane.

Why dad, Jr asked from the back seat. He was actually leaning forward in the middle of the front seat that got him a stare from his mother. He immediately sat back in the back seat.

So there’ll be less pollution from the gas-o-line in the air. It cannot be good for people to breathe that in. You see those pictures from Los Angles California. It is covered in what they call smog. It can’t be good.

But Jim, the magazine also said they were experimenting with something called unleaded gas-o-line which would take out some of the bad stuff in gas-o-line. Dorothy looked over with a smile.

Jim smiled back at her. Yes, but think of not having to spend money on gas-o-line. A car that could go endlessly.

But, dear, there’s plenty of oil in the world to make gas-o-line, the government said that. And, it’s cheap to buy. Dorothy smiled back at Jim.

Yes, but in the future oil may run out, and then what will the world do? Jim replied.

Dorothy waved a hand slightly. Jim knew he won this little tit for tat. He knew Dorothy well enough being married for the last twelve years right after the war. She was the spark that made him want to do more with his life. He was in the tech department of the army during the last year of the big war and learned that there are endless possibilities waiting for the one who took the time to invent them. He was still slightly jealous of one his department workers who invented that suntan lotion during the war. He is worth almost one million dollars, Jim thought to himself.

The county road curved to the right and the 57 Chevy took it in stride. Jim knew he had his one million dollars right here under the hood of this new car. No more long hours of working for AT&T’s Bell-Labs, he thought. He was just so bored with exploring what they call wireless telephone; Jim knew that would not go anywhere. People need their phones at home where it belongs. Wireless? Why would somebody want a big clunky thing with him or her? Jim shook his head.

What’s the matter? Dorothy asked.

Ah, nothing just thinking about work.

Any word on who’s going to get the promotion to department head? Dorothy took a piece of lint off her coat.

Jim kept a serene face. He knew it would be Howard Stevens and his wireless idea. No, no word yet, I’m not getting my hopes up because I work to invent things that will help the world and make us a little extra. Therefore, we live better. It’s just a job there.

Yes, the automatic return for typewriters does bring in a few dollars more a month. Dorothy nodded and smirked at Jim.

It was something he thought of in his spare time to bring a little in to finance the big projects that will put his name in Time magazine someday.

It keeps us a good balance at the bank. Jim replied.

Yes, but, department head will get us that gossip that I some much love, Dorothy finished with a faraway look in her eyes. Jim rolled his eyes.

What’s gossip mom. Jr asked from the back.

Its people who do nothing but talk about everyone else whether it’s good or bad. And if dad gets this promotion at work people from around town will talk in a good way about him and us. Dorothy finished with an uplift of her hand.

Oh, okay. Don’t people already talk nice about us? the boy asked.

Jim put his head back with a smile and glanced at Dorothy who he could see was thinking.

Jimmy, people do like us and talk nice about us but there are different levels. And, if your dad gets this promotion we will go to a higher level of liking. Dorothy finished and took a breath.

Oh, you mean we’ll be closer to god. The boy replied.

Mom and Dad both nodded yes and said, Yes.

It sure is quiet in here. Jr said then continued. Dad how fast can this car go? Johnny Berthum said his dad has the fastest car.

Well let’s see. The road for the next mile is straight enough to find out. Jim looked at Dorothy who gave him a pleading look while shaking her head no.

That did not deter Jim; he wanted his son to brag about his fast car at school. He pushed down on the pedal more than he wanted to and the surge of power lifted the front end up. There was a slightly higher sort of harmonious zipping sound emitting from the engine.

Jim looked down at the speedometer and watched it go up the numbers until he leveled off at eighty miles per hour. The harmonious zipping sounded good as the scenery flashed by. The right side of the car hit a pothole that scared Dorothy. Jim, enough.

He slowed back down to thirty miles per hour and let out a breath. How was that Jimmy?

That was bitchin. The boy said then immediately covered his mouth.

Dorothy at the same moment turned around to look at her son and said slowly, What did you just say.

The boy looked nervous as Jim covered his mouth so neither of them could see him smiling.

I I’m sorry mom. I heard the big boys at school using that word. I’m really sorry mom. I promise I will never use that word again. I’ll take the garbage out for a month.

Jim glanced over at Dorothy with a raised eyebrow. She slowly turned back to little Jimmy. It was probably the excitement of the moment that your father insisted on. But, taking out the garbage for a month and going to church and saying five Hail Mary’s should take care of it.

Immediately Jimmy replied, yes mom. I will do that.

His father behind the wheel looked in the rear view mirror and saw his son smiling.

Alright let’s relax and listen to some music. Jim turned on the radio and immediately an Elvis Presley song was playing. His son in the back seat was moving slightly to the music.

Ah, not that Elvis whoever person. Dorothy said. He’s so rude and crass. Isn’t there any Frank Sinatra. Dorothy turned the dial until big band music was heard. Jim watched his son go from happy movements to still.

Jim turned the car onto a side road that entered a forested area. It looked dark and gloomy as the red 57 Chevy glided along quietly. I don’t know why you’re going this way. The town spent a lot of money on that new bridge. Dorothy said bringing up her coat collar.

I just wanted to take her over Bootleggers Bridge before they tear it down this spring.

Yes, it will be sad to see it go. Dorothy said then continued. We girls used to come here to see if we could find any alcohol that maybe got left behind. She then stifled a laugh.

Well, me and the boys would race to see who could get across the bridge first. Jim said smiling in a dream.

Did you get across first, dad?

Yes, I won and lost. When someone lost you had to fill the others with gas who made it across before you. Jim said still in a dreamy state.

The road curved gently to the right and the bridge was there before them. It was rebuilt numerous times since the middle nineteenth century, first as a toll bridge then open to the public when the town incorporated. It was originally a light wooden bridge then with each reincarnation the wood used was thicker and stronger. However, the last rebuild was in the nineteen twenties and here in nineteen fifty eight it was not useful anymore. In fact, the town stopped doing maintenance on it and some of the railings were missing in sections.

Jim slowed the car as they looked at the decrepit looking structure. Well, let’s take that last ride over her. I did leave a roast in the oven. Dorothy said smiling. That broke Jim from his dream state.

Yea dad, gun it. His son said.

Jim looked from Dorothy to Jr in the back seat. Yes, let’s do it.

Jim stepped on the accelerator and started over the bridge. The structure was heard creaking as the full weight of the car was upon it. The bridge was designed so that it had inclines entering on both sides and then level in the middle.

The upward the car strode up no problem. Then as they traveled along the level surface of the bridge Jim slowed to look at the roaring river below. It was one of the narrowest points on the river so that was the reason a bridge was originally built there but also it was one of the deepest points in the river. Rumor was it went down fifty feet.

The one hundred foot span rocked ever so gently as the 57 Chevy moved across. Dorothy tensed a bit. Jim you, she said softly.

Jr in the back seat was amazed looking down at the flowing river. Wow. He said.

Yes, it’s the mighty Letterson River. They named the town after it. Jim said looking in the rearview mirror at his son.

Yes, we learned that in school. The river use to transport stuff made here to New York. And stuff made in New York was transported here on the river, his son said in monotone. Then as he looked up from the river, he saw something on the other side of the river. In between the trees was something reflecting light. What’s that? Jr asked pointing.

Dorothy looked in the back seat to see where her son was pointing. Jim also looked in the same direction and immediately knew something was not right. He knew that was from the war and could not quite get it clear in his mind.

Dorothy looked at it and tilted her head slightly. Hurry across and let’s see what that is.

A loud boom and crack was heard. Dorothy put her hand to her chest as she saw the windshield crack. She looked over at Jim who was beginning to slump over the steering wheel. Blood was coming down over his face. Dorothy screamed. Jim Jr was wide-eyed and scared.

JIM, JIM, Dorothy yelled as she tried to grab him to get a look. But, stopped as she felt the car taking a left hand turn between missing sections of guardrails. She froze as the car went off the bridge into the flowing river. Upon impact with the river, she flew forward, banged her head on the dashboard and fell unconscious.

Jim Jr hit the back of the front seat. He was dazed when he opened his eyes screaming, MOM DAD MOM DAD. He tried reaching forward to shake one of them to wake them.

All around the car water was climbing up the windows. He looked around at what was happening and knew he could swim and go get help. The water was at the top of the windows as he started to roll down the left side one. It was much harder than he thought it would be with the water pressure pressing against it but he finally got it down about half a foot as water started pouring in. He immediately felt the ice-cold water as it flowed in. He tried to reach