Terror on the Road

By Sylvia Bates-Cunningham

A family in a small southern town thought life was perfect, until their nineteen year old daughter disappeared, on Mothers Day. For years, they grieved; puzzled as to where she could have gone, and waited for her return. A local police chief became entangled in the mystery, and worked diligently on the case. Strange things were happening on a rural highway in Alabama. Evidence found in Georgia became part of the mystery. After an accident claimed three lives on the same rural highway, the investigation came full circle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493103270

Book preview

Chapter 1

MARY’S BIRTHDAY

The Martin household was bustling with activity this morning. It was mid-day, Saturday, May tenth, 1975; the weather was perfect, and they were planning a birthday party for the youngest daughter, Mary, who turned fifteen today. It was to be a surprise, but trying to keep it from her was difficult. She knew something was in the air.

Her sister, Jennifer, and her mother, Rachel, were busy trying to get things together, while at the same time keeping it secret from Mary. But even if they didn’t succeed totally, it would be fun. Mary was so excited because at age fifteen she could get a driver’s permit. She had been planning this for a whole year.

Mary came bounding into the kitchen, excited, Mom, can you take me to get my permit on Monday?

Why the hurry?

Because, because, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life, she sputtered. Please, please, can I go on Monday?

Perhaps I’ll let Jennifer take you. Jen’s a good driver.

Jennifer had never seen her so excited; pigtails flying, she looked so young. Too young to be driving, that’s for sure, Jennifer thought to herself.

At fifteen, Mary was such a pretty girl. She was approximately five-feet, two inches tall and weighted one hundred-two pounds the last time they looked. She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and laughed all the time. Today, she wore jeans and a short-sleeved white T-shirt that flaunted her budding figure. And, as usual, her favorite footwear—flip-flops.

Will you Jen, please, please?

Jennifer still lived at home with her parents, Rachel and Anthony Martin, near Steele, Alabama, along with her younger brother, Randy, who was almost seventeen, and sister, Mary who turned fifteen today.

Jennifer was the serious type. Her younger brother and sister had always looked up to her as one of the adults in the household. At nineteen, she was five-feet, five inches tall and weighed approximately one hundred-fifteen pounds. Unlike her little sister, Jennifer had long dark brown hair and brown eyes. She had a round face with a tiny dimple on each side that always appeared when she smiled. Her complexion was flawless, and in the summertime she always managed to acquire a beautiful tan.

Jennifer had been working for an insurance company, since graduating from high school. She planned to work and save enough money to go to college. She had wanted to start right away, but her parents couldn’t afford the tuition, so she would have to work and pay her own way.

They talked it over and her parents agreed they would contribute as much as they could to her college fund, as she called it. She couldn’t believe it had been almost two years since she graduated. Where did the time go?

But during that time Jennifer had saved enough money to pay for her first year of college. She would continue to work part-time while going to school, and full-time in the summer, until she finished. Thoughts of starting college scampered across her mind, mingling with the excitement of Mary’s birthday party. But she had to put that aside right now.

Theirs was a modest household. Her father, Anthony, worked as a driver for a local delivery company. They barely made ends meet, but managed to have all the things they needed, if not everything they wanted. After all three children had started school, her mother went to work part-time as a school librarian; later, she got a full-time position.

Things got better after that, but Jennifer had learned early on to be frugal, and even at age ten she had a savings account, started from her small allowance. She began baby-sitting when she was fourteen, so she had money of her own to add to it.

It was all worth it, she thought, as she looked back now and remembered the tough times they had been through. She would be starting school in the fall, and she had already turned in her notice at the insurance company that she would be leaving at the end of May. School started in August and she would need the months of June and July to get everything ready.

She was brought back to reality by Mary, jumping up and down, Will you, Jen, Will you?

Yes, I will take you, Mary.

Y-e-e-eh, Mary yelled as she skipped out of the room.

Is she gone, finally? Jennifer said. Ok, let’s hurry before she comes back. C’mon Randy, help us.

Quickly, they set about getting all the goodies together that had been prepared ahead of time without Mary’s knowledge. The birthday cake and perishables were hidden in the back of the refrigerator; chips, plates, napkins and other things were in the kitchen pantry. They hurriedly took everything to the dining room to get ready for the party.

They had invited Mary’s friends and schoolmates and they would be here in about an hour.

Mom, you and Randy go outside and keep her occupied while I finish setting everything up, said Jennifer.

That’s a good idea. Otherwise, she’ll be popping back in here in a minute.

Jennifer finished setting everything up in the dining room; a white tablecloth with Happy Birthday stamped around the edges in different colors, decorated paper plates and napkins, cups and utensils. The cake, which she placed in the center of the table, had white icing with red flowers around the bottom, and several on top around the words, Happy Birthday Mary, with red candles, numbers 1 and 5 in the center. Mary’s favorite color was red and she would love it. She also had a bowl of peanuts and almonds mixed; several plates of finger food, and last but not least, tons of ice cream.

Everything was set and Jennifer went outside to join Mary and the others. Soon it was time. Kids began to arrive and Mary was happy to see them. She was unsuspecting until the third car pulled up and four girls got out. Mary looked at them, turned to look at Jennifer and her mother, a puzzled look on her face.

Then, with a half-grin, she said, You did this didn’t you, what’s going on? They just looked at her and laughed. They had instructed all the kids to stay outside on the patio when they arrived. The screened-in patio stretched across one side of the house, just off the kitchen, with outdoor tables and chairs.

On their way in, the girls stopped at the end of the driveway, where Mary’s father waited to collect the gifts they brought. The driveway from the house down to the street was lined with trees and bushes, and the turn-around where Anthony parked his car was not visible from the house.

After all the guests had arrived, he drove up to the house, and Randy helped him carry the gifts to the dining room while Mary was still outside on the patio with her friends. It worked perfectly. Jennifer slipped back inside to put finishing touches on everything, and hurriedly arranged the gifts before the girls came in. After about fifteen minutes, she poked her head out the door, Ok, Mom!

Her mother called to the girls, Come on girls, let’s all go inside and have soft drinks.

They all came through the door at once, Mary in the lead, excited as usual, with Randy bringing up the rear. She went first to the kitchen, and then saw Jennifer standing in the dining room. She got her first glimpse of the table and the decorations. She just stopped, mouth wide open, and put her hands over her face, Oh, no! was all she could say.

Oh, yes, said Jennifer. We had to celebrate the birthday for a girl who might be driving by Monday.

Mary dropped her hands from her face, walked slowly into the room, and broke out into a big grin. Her friends, who had all been standing quietly behind her, now exploded into screams and laughter, jumping up and down, dancing around. Then someone started singing Happy Birthday… .

Mary got over her shock and joined in the melee’. She opened her gifts, squealing with delight at each one, and afterwards—they all ate cake and ice cream. This is a good day, she said. Thank you all so much.

After she had opened all the gifts, her father came in with one more little package. It was small and flat, wrapped with red ribbon, her favorite color, and she couldn’t figure out what it was. After trying to guess, for what seemed like forever, she tore into it.

Ohhhh. Dad, this is the best present ever! All the other girls ran over and stood around her to see what was the best ever. Then they all burst out laughing.

It was a Drivers Manual. She loved it, jumping around the room, screeching, and ran over and hugged her dad. Seeing the joy and excitement on her face was payment enough for all the work they did.

After the party was over, and the girls left, the family gathered around and finished off the cake and ice cream before cleaning up the table. They hugged Mary and wished her a Happy Birthday again.

Later that night, Jennifer was preparing to go to bed when Mary popped in, Thanks, Jen.

You’re welcome, little sister. Happy birthday.

Thanks. I’m going to bed and read my drivers manual. It’s so wonderful to be fifteen, she crooned as she glided out of the room, arms spread above her head, with the manual in one hand. As an afterthought, she stuck her head back through the door, Remember Monday, she said, and disappeared through the doorway.

How could I forget? Jennifer said, rolling her eyes.

Goodnight Mom. Goodnight Dad. Goodnight Randy, Mary yelled as she skipped down the hall to her room.

Chapter 2

SUNDAY MORNING

It was Sunday morning, May eleventh, 1975, and Jennifer awoke to the sounds of breakfast being prepared. Half asleep, she got up and stumbled into the kitchen where the others were sitting at the table.

Anything left?

Plenty, since you eat like a bird.

Thank you, Mother, Jennifer laughed. She sat down at the table and finished off a pancake. Excuse me, I’ll be right back, she said and hurried out of the kitchen.

She returned within a couple of minutes with one hand behind her back. She walked over to her mother and handed her a small package, beautifully wrapped with a big bow on top. Happy Mother’s Day, she said, and gave her mother a kiss.

Oh, Jennifer, you shouldn’t be spending your money on me, I don’t need anything.

Maybe not, but you need this.

They all watched as Rachel carefully opened the little package. Her eyes lit up as she lifted the gold, heart-shaped necklace out of the box. Oh, it’s beautiful, Jen.

Jennifer took the necklace, put it around her mother’s neck and fastened it in the back, and gave her another kiss, Happy, Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.

Oh, look! It opens up. I can put pictures in it.

Everyone was standing around her now, Yeah, and we know you, Mom, you’ll have it filled up by tomorrow, said Randy, laughing.

Jennifer was not going to church with them today, although she knew they were having a Mother’s Day special after the regular church service, but she couldn’t be there. She had already made plans to meet her friend, Julie Smith, a girl from the office where she worked.

Julie was also starting college in the fall, but her family lived out of town and they wouldn’t get to visit with each other again until after their classes started. They planned to have a day out, just for fun.

Jennifer, you be careful today, it’s the weekend and there’ll be more traffic out there, her father warned. I always worry about you driving on that old road. He was referring to the two-lane highway going toward Cedar Bluff. It had several steep curves, and in some places there were high banks on one side and drop-offs on the other.

I will, Dad. I always watch out for the bad places, and I’m a good driver you know.

Yes, I know. But things can happen, he said. I worry about you driving to work every day. I’ve been traveling these roads for a lot of years, and I’ve seen how quickly accidents can happen. People just get crazy sometimes.

He looked at Jennifer for a long moment, then walked over and gave her a big hug. That’s for being such a good daughter. I love you very much, and I’m proud of you, Jen, he said, using her pet name. We’ll see you back here tonight.

Ok, Dad, see you about eight.

Don’t forget tomorrow… , Mary reminded her.

Jennifer laughed. Yes. Tomorrow.

Everyone was standing out front, watching, and waving as she drove away.

*     *     *

MEETING JULIE

Her friend, Julie, was waiting when Jennifer arrived in town. They met at a little sidewalk café that was a favorite of all the towns-people. There were metal tables outside, with white table cloths, and chairs with green cushions. The café had a walk-up window where you ordered your food, with a green and white stripped awning overhead.

Hi, Julie.