A Grave for Two

By Sallie Powell

Jason was on the run from Chicago to his half-brother’s house in Branson, Missouri. His girlfriend, Lori, had disappeared and he was the last one to have seen her alive. When he came across his full brother, Clay, a police officer, he told him the story. Clay offered to take him back to Chicago and try to find her. While searching, Jason found out about Lori’s family’s past. He was shaken to the core.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Powell
• Release date: Dec 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463974001

Book preview

A Grave for Two

By Sallie Powell

©Sallie Powell 2020

Also available in paperback publication

Gilcrease Publishing, LLC

Cover Design: Rita Durrett

https://www.ritadurrett.com

License Statement

This eBook or parts thereof may not be re-produced in any form, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the authors, except as provided by the United states of America copyright law.

This eBook 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.

A Grave for Two is dedicated to my husband, Bob, and my daughter, Sharon, for putting up with me while I write. Love you both.

Chapter 1

Collin was at his kennel just outside of Branson, Missouri, cleaning when he heard the dogs barking. He looked around just as Jason was pulling up in his black 1997 Jeep Cherokee. Collin walked over to the faucet, turned the water off, took off his rubber gloves, and walked through the herd of Golden Retrievers to greet his brother at the gate. He hadn’t seen Jason for a year.

Jason had disappeared as far as Collin was concerned, until out of the blue he called Collin wanting to spend time with him. Jason was one of Collin’s two younger brothers, the other being Clay. Jason and Clay were full brothers and Collin was their half-brother. Their mother had married a stockbroker in New York, and they had Collin. After the divorce, their mother married a Christian man named Stephen Patterson. From this marriage came Clay and Jason. Collin moved to Ozark, Missouri, to go to Ozark Christian College before Jason had come along.

Hi, Little Bro. How are you doing? Collin asked, and he gave Jason a hug.

Hi, how are you doing? Jason asked him with a half-smile.

I’m fine. Collin responded with a wrinkle in his forehead seeing the concern on Jason’s face. Let’s go in the house, Collin suggested. As they walked into the mudroom, he slipped off his shoes.

They walked through the kitchen door. Want coffee, soda? Collin asked him as Jason set his duffle bag down by the wall and took a chair at the table.

My girlfriend has disappeared. I haven’t been able to contact her for two weeks. Her girlfriend Adriana hasn’t talked to her either. I don’t know what to do or who to call, Jason told Collin, turning and taking in the room.

How about Clay? Collin asked getting a cup for himself and holding one out to Jason while waiting for the answer to his question. He’s a detective, just retired from the St. Louis force." Jason shook his head, and Collin poured both of them a cup.

I’m not sure Clay will want to help me after the fight we had the last time he saw me.

That was what, two or three years ago, before I met you? Collin asked, taking a drink of coffee. When Mom reintroduced us a year ago, he was fine.

Jason leaned across the table and got the sugar from the bowl in the center of the table. Yeah, Mom and Dad were with us.

I doubt if Clay will forgive me for the scene I made in the police station. I was so drugged out of my head, and I called Clay every name that wasn’t his.

Are you clean now? Collin asked him with the older-brother look.

I’ve been clean for a year, starting right after we met, Jason told him. I went through detox, admitted myself to a clinic in Oklahoma. Lost my friends and my brothers, Jason told him shifting in his chair. I felt alone.

Like I said, Clay is moving here to take a position in the Springfield police. We’re not upset with you. Believe me, you would know if we were mad. At least me; you would know if I was.

When did you tell me about Clay? Jason asked, putting his left elbow on the table.

When you called me the other evening, Collin stated.

I wasn’t thinking straight. I was so upset over Lori, I wanted to get away, Jason told Collin. Do you think Clay could help me find her?

He could if she wants to be located, Collin said, sipping his coffee and watching Jason. He stood and started pacing up and down. Have you talked to her mother?

No, I didn’t want to upset her until I was sure something was wrong. There is no reason to upset her only find out later that it’s nothing. I guess it’s not nothing, but I want to know something definite.

Don’t you think her mother is worried that she isn’t answering her phone?

Yes, I’m sure she is, but I don’t want to worry her for no good reason, Jason told him as he put his hands over his eyes and bowed his head and sniffled.

Collin walked over to Jason and put his hands on his shoulders. Clay should be here sometime today, and you two can sit and start from scratch. In the meantime, your room is down the hall, last door on the left. Bathroom is next to your room.

I’m not rooming with Clay, am I?

No, I told him I’d put him up in the kennel with the Goldens, Collin told him with a chuckle. Jason rose, raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head with a smile on his face. His room’s across the hall. Don’t be surprised if a Golden Retriever joins you in bed, Collin told him, smiling. He heard a car pull up and turned to look out the window. A black truck was pulling in the driveway. Looks like Clay just got here. His words drifted off as he turned around to see Jason exiting the hall. Collin shrugged his shoulders, and took his six-foot five-inch frame to the back door.

Clay crawled out of his truck, opened the backdoor of the F-150, and pulled out a suitcase.

Collin towered over Clay as they hugged. Come on in the house.

You got more company? Clay asked as they walked to the house.

Yeah, Jason is here, Collin told him, entering the back door.

Oh, Amanda found me a house. It still needs repair. Not much, just a little, Clay told him. I need to go to Amanda’s tomorrow evening. She got me a roommate. He’ll be here tomorrow evening.

Who is this guy? Collin asked.

His name is Bo, Clay told him. Bo Bloodhound. I think Amanda said he was six months old.

He’ll keep you company, Collin told him laughing.

Amanda is taking him in for his puppy checkup. Lauren wore him out in the back yard. I met Amanda and Lauren at the new house, and they had the puppy with them, Clay told Collin as they walked through the kitchen.

Collin pointed down the hall. You’re in the last door on the right. You and Jason will have to share a bathroom.

Okay, thanks. Let me take this to my room and I’ll be back. Coffee smells good, Clay told him as he walked the hall to the bedroom. He glanced at Jason’s room, and the door was shut. Clay took his suitcase in and set it down. He surveyed the room. This will work. It was in shades of brown. The quilted bedspread was decorated with shapes of horses in full gallop. He turned and started out the door when Jason opened his door and appeared in the hallway. Hi bro, how are you? Clay said, going to him and giving him a bear hug.

I’m fine; doing great, Jason told him as he accepted his brother’s hug. He raised an arm and placed it on Clay’s back. They parted and looked at each other. Jason’s eyes looked swollen and Clay questioned his brother, wondering if he was still on drugs.

I’ve been clean for a year. I admitted myself to a rehab and got clean, Jason confessed.

Let’s go have coffee, Clay told him, patting him on the back as they walked the hall.

I warmed your coffee up, Jason, Collin told him and motioned to Clay’s cup. Collin took his cup from the counter and joined Clay and Jason at the table. They sat in silence sipping their coffee.

Are you still upset with me? Jason asked Clay, turning to look at his brother.

No why? Clay asked, wrinkling his forehead in question.

Because of the display I put on in the police department in front of you? Jason asked.

That was what; two, three, years ago? No, I love you. I hate the drugs you use, but I still love you. You hate the sin not the sinner. Clay could see the relief on his face, but yet there was still something that was bothering him. Are you okay?

I have another problem, Jason said sadly.

Okay, what’s going on? Clay asked as he shifted in his chair to face Jason head on.

Silence.

Fill Clay in, Collin told him, taking a drink.

Jason filled Clay in on the situation with Lori as he felt tears in his eyes.

Clay stood up and turned to walk to the counter where he had seen a note pad, then walked back over to the table and sat. He whipped a ball-point pen from the pocket in his shirt. When did you see Lori last and where? Clay asked as he took notes in his official police manner. What’s Lori’s full name?

Lori Gayle Sellers, Jason answered his big brother. The last time we were together, I picked her up from work and drove her home. Her car was having problems, and she was planning to have two guys we know work on it this weekend.

Where’s her car now? Clay asked, still taking notes.

It’s at Leroy’s house, Jason told him, bowing his head in sorrow.

Who’s this Leroy fellow, and where does he work? Clay asked with his pen ready to write.

The youth pastor of the church we go to, Jason said raising his head.

Collin had to keep from spewing coffee at the answer. Jason was not a church goer. Least of all dating a Christian girl. He was brought up in church with Clay, but when he hit high school and college he got in with the wrong groups. He got into drugs and had gone through rehab before, but it didn’t help. Before the week was out, he was back on meth and heroin. His face looked drawn.

Where did you meet her? Clay asked.

At the hospital in Oklahoma to get off of the drugs. It was a Christian based hospital, and she was there doing an internship for a year from her medical school in Springfield. Her church in Chicago sponsored her. She’s been working at a Christian bookstore hoping that something will open in the medical field.

Clay wanted to ask him if he had been attending church, but right now Lori was the topic. Does she have any family other than just her mom?

She has a brother in an assisted living facility. He was on drugs and now he mentally cannot function. That is why she went into the field of drug rehab. Her dad died in Afghanistan after nine eleven. Her mom is all she has left. Clay, I love her. Do you think you can help?

I’ll try bro, I’ll try, Clay told him. Technically, I’m not connected enough in Springfield. See what I can do. We’ll find her.

Thanks, I love her. I want to ask her to marry me. I need a good full-time job. No one wants to hire a former druggy.

As long as you want, you have a job in the kennel, said Collin. My kennel help were college kids here for the summer. They all left last week. That’s why I was in the kennel when you came up.

I need to find a full-time career job, Jason told him. But until then, just tell me what to do. But you got it. We can do this. Jason told them both.

When we get through with the coffee, I’ll take you out and show you what to do. Golden Retrievers poop a lot, Collin told him laughing.

I’ve shoveled a lot of that in my day, just not from a dog, Jason told them finishing his coffee. Collin told him, I’m not going back out with the wild dogs right now.

Clay, do you think it might be one of her patients that could have done this? Jason asked.

It could be a former patient, Clay said as he took his phone from his pocket and punched in a number. He got up and walked into the den.

Collin stood as he heard someone pulling up the drive. His tall frame walked to the window. My prospective puppy parents are here. Do you want to come? he said as he turned to Jason.

No, I think I’ll wait and see what Clay is finding out. Thanks, Jason told him as he turned to look in the direction where Clay had gone.

Okay, thanks O’Reilly for checking into it for me. Yeah, this means a lot to my brother. Call me if you find out anything about her, Clay told him as he pushed the button to disconnect.

Thanks, Clay, Jason told him as he walked into the room.

Why did you come to Branson if she disappeared in Chicago? Clay asked heading back into the kitchen.

I’m not sure. Guess I was hoping you guys would help. No one has seen her. I need help to find her.

I’m here for you. I don’t have to check in here at the station till next week. How about you and I take a trip back to Chicago, and let me do some snooping around and see what I can find? Clay asked him as he put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. We’ll find her.

Chapter 2

Charlie Davis, I need you to come out and move a grave, Joe said into his cell phone. I know, I know. Somehow this grandmother was in the wrong spot, and the people that own it had an aunt die, and that’s her spot. Her funeral is tomorrow afternoon, and I need you and Dwayne to move the casket and the grave marker to the right location tonight. Yeah, you’re working two jobs, but will you please help me out this once? Okay, thanks. I owe you.

****

Well another pup has a new family, Collin said as he walked into the kitchen and laid down the contract and money for the puppy on the counter. He got a Pepsi out of the refrigerator.

Jason and I are going back to Chicago and see what we can find out about Lori, Clay told him picking up the coffee cups, taking them to the sink, and rinsing them for the dishwasher.

Do you two feel like calling Amanda and Gail and grilling out? Collin asked as he went to the freezer and dug around for steaks.

That sounds good, Clay told him smiling.

You want to see Amanda, Collin told him with a chuckle in his voice, with his head still in the freezer.

Who is Amanda? Jason asked, going to the window and looking out, staring at nothing specific.

She’s a sweet woman I met on a case, Clay told Jason as he looked at Collin. He smiled, remembering the week they had spent together. Clay filled him in on the case. Her daughter had been kidnapped at birth and was found fourteen years later.

Collin found two T-bones and enough round steak to grill out. Clay made the call to Amanda, and they made plans.

****

Hey Dwayne, you ready to go get this over with? Charlie asked him as they both crawled out of their trucks and headed toward the maintenance building. Charlie opened the metal box and removed the key for the small backhoe. Dwayne grabbed two shovels from the rack on the north wall, and they both headed out the door.

Where is this grave, and where does she need to go? Dwayne asked as he laid the shovels over the shoulder of his plaid shirt.

Leon texted the grave site we need to dig up, Charlie told him as he got on the backhoe and started it. Margaret Callahan is who were looking for. Here in the Rosewood section, row 5. He turned the key several times before it started.

The sun was making its exit, but it was still light enough they could see to work. Dusk was just appearing. Dwayne started down the road toward the Rosewood section of the cemetery. He admired the large trees that hung over the drive in a canopy effect. He found the section and turned to see if Charlie was on his way. He walked the row 5 section with a thought that came to his mind. His great aunt always told him as a kid not to walk on the graves because it was disrespectful. He realized where his feet were, and he walked to the left. As a kid, he thought they would come back and haunt him because he had stepped on their graves. He still had the fear of black cats, which he knew was an old wives’ tale, but there was still a fear he couldn’t shake.

By the time he found Margaret Callahan’s grave, Charlie was turning into the Rosewood section