Ila Looking Out: An Experienced Goods Detective Squad Mystery, #2

By Barbara Schlichting

ILA LOOKING OUT begins with a brief quote from the 'Song of Hiawatha' written by Walt Whitman. I quoted him because the book is about undying friendship.  Two women and two men who have known each other a lifetime and enjoy fly-fishing and have always been loyal to each other. The main plot is of a former classmate who went missing in fourth grade. Fifty years have passed, and they are now nearing seventy. The two men are detectives for the Minneapolis Police Department, the women are retired. The four fly-fish in the Minnehaha Creek which flows into Minnehaha Falls. They discuss the case, friendship, while fishing. The other aspect of it, is that the women will fish up in northern MN, Ely, the beginning of the Boundary Waters. There is folklore based on truth of an old woman who had once lived in a small cabin in Ely and would make root beer for all the travelers. She is called the Root Beer Lady. There is a book written about her. Patty is an author and will sell books and fish in northern MN. Through a bit of mayhem, the missing friend is located. She will connect with the four while fishing. With her rod and reel ready, Ila will tell her story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Schlichting
• Release date: Apr 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9798218400248

Barbara Schlichting

Barbara Schlichting was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota where her First Ladies Mystery Series is set. Dolley Madison: The Blood Spangled Banner. Barbara graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1970. Later, she and her husband moved their family to Bemidji. She attended Bemidji State University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary education and special education. Barbara also likes to write in other genres. Whispers From The Wind is her first poetry book which has poems for all ages. Barbara has been known to travel too much, and read while not paying attention to her husband. However she has had an English penpal for over fifty years.

Book preview

ILA LOOKING OUT

Barbara Schlichting

Enjoy other books by Barb

Enjoy these books by Barbara Schlichting

SINGLE TITLES

THE FORGER

THE BROKEN CIRCLE

WHITE HOUSE DOLLHOUSE MYSTERY SERIES

SPANGLED TO DEATH

WORD TO DEATH

CLUED TO DEATH

SUFFRAGETTE TO DEATH

HISTORICAL FICTION

BODY ON THE TRACKS

POETRY

BLOOD RED

BIKE WITH ME

PICTURE BOOKS

Red Shoes by Barbie Marie

Martha Washington: HER FIRST FEW DAYS AS FIRST LADY

NON-FICTION

IMMIGRANT SNAPCHAT-history of the postcard

THEATER PLAYS

CORRESPONDING LIVES 2023

FROM PEN TO HEART 2024

Minneapolis, Minnesota

In the beginning

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Back in the time of the Great Warriors, the elder woman, Nokomis, was actually the maiden, Minnehaha’s, mother. Nokomis Junior High was thus named for this elder along with a nearby lake where the children loved to swim and play in the summer and catch fish for eating. The story goes that an Indian brave named Hiawatha carried his maiden, Minnehaha, across the rushing water of the creek bed, saving her from tripping and falling over the great falls. Many years later, a statue was placed at the creek bed in Hiawatha’s honor. The peaceful and beautiful Minnehaha Falls is now operated by the Park Board for the City of Minneapolis. The area with all of its abundance, which once brought the first Americans together, has now scattered the wizened elders to all ends of the earth but have returned to the sacred place where the elders once lived, loved and raised families.

The distribution of the water flow has not changed over time, it still flows from Lake Minnetonka to the great and mighty Mississippi River. The people are drawn back for they love the waters and to visit the ancestors of the trees, animals, birds and fish.

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Most people wouldn’t go fly fishing on a day like this—rainy and cloudy. Windy was the way to describe the weather. Patty really didn’t care much at all about the rain because the fish would bite anyway, and she had a monthly date with three high school buddies—Maggie, Ronnie, and Mark who was working at the moment. In fact, they’d known each other since way back when. Patty’s grandma used to make lunch for Ronnie and his brother years ago before there was such a thing as school lunches. The boys taught the girls to fly fish. Mark, tall, dark, and handsome with his long arms and strength from being a detective with the Minneapolis Police Department, gave poetry to his movements and swiftness with the cast. Once a month, for as long as the seasons allowed, they’d meet at Minnehaha Creek and fly fish. Sometimes they’d catch a nice trout. The trout would do its best to swim away to save its life, but the hook snared it just like a criminal. The policeman nature in Mark and Ronnie would say so.

As Patty drove toward the favored location to meet her friends, she didn’t give a thought to the creek, where it began or ended, only to her beloved classmates and what would be the catch of the day. A paved road a few blocks farther and labeled, Nokomis Avenue, was the destination.

With her waders over her shoulder, rod case, and tie box, Patty parked where her dad used to bring her to suit up and wade into the water. Now she parked right beside one of her friends and shut off the engine. She grabbed her gear and hiked across to the boulevard near the Minnehaha Creek. There was a bench used by mostly fishermen.

It’s about time you got your skinny ass down here, Ronnie hollered. He pushed back his glasses and eyed the fishing hat Patty wore. Where’d you get your hat from? A garage sale?

Be nice or I'll whoop your ass! Patty’s long, gangly legs and arms made her a perfect fly fisherwoman. Her sunglasses and hat hung down over her fair, sensitive Norwegian skin she kept covered with sunscreen. She felt slicked down like a salad.

Patty, don’t listen to him. You’re right on time. Maggie flicked back the rod, adjusting the line. Almost had one.

Tickle it more, Patty said. She set her pole down and newly tied flies. For your information, I came here yesterday in that horrible weather. She pulled up her waders and belted them tight, slipped into her boots. Opened the rod case, tied on the fly, and said, All set.

Patty trudged into the water, pulled out the line, held the rod back, and sent the line flying forward while adjusting, teasing the fish. The glitter of tied feathers sparkled across the water.

Storm clouds on the horizon, Ronnie said. His deadeye shot, which did him well as a sniper for the Minneapolis Police Department, worked the fly across the rushing water. Soon, fall weather. He brushed back his curly brown hair and grinned. We can always go ice fishing.

True, but be quiet. Winter comes too soon, Maggie said, reaching her arm out. I need to tie more flies. I’m all thumbs. They don’t turn out as nice as yours, Patty.

The afternoon sped by. No one caught a fish.

We’re skunked, Ronnie said. Say, I’ve got something to tell you two. He began reeling in as the other two followed suit.

What is it?

Let’s go and have a burger at The Howe. It’ll put me in the right frame of mind to tell you what’s been happening lately.

Any hints? Clues? Patty asked. She followed them out of the water and removed her waders. I ready for one too after all that work.

Hah! You barely had a bite, Ronnie said. He started for his car. Last one there buys the first round.

You’re on! Patty climbed into her car.

The Howe Bar and Grill was an old neighborhood bar hangout that had once been called Marge and Ole’s, located two blocks from Howe Elementary School where they’d attended school. As Patty drove, she wondered what had Ronnie so excited. All three were alone. Ronnie’s wife had passed away ten years ago, and he never remarried but had two children. A boy and a girl and three grandchildren between them. In Patty’s mind, she thought of him as still good looking—always was and always would be. Brown, curly hair and he wore glasses. Soft, pleasant voice and very quiet, shy. Maggie, on the other hand—Patty always knew what Maggie was thinking because she never held back. Maggie blurted out whatever was on her mind. She had rosy, blushing cheeks. She needn’t wear any makeup besides the red lipstick. Smart as a whip, which made her a wonderful former nurse. Nothing ever got past her, and Patty was pretty sure that neither of them had a clue what Ronnie had on his mind. Patty parked near the other two cars and went inside the eating and drinking establishment.

Patty slid in beside Maggie and looked at Ronnie.

How come Mark didn’t make it? Workin’? Maggie asked.

Always.

What’s up? Patty said. She glanced at the waitress who nodded.

The waitress walked on over and took their order of three beers and cheeseburger baskets.

Let’s have it, Maggie said. I’m tired of waiting. My head’s spinning.

I suspect that it won’t stop for quite some time after you hear this, Ronnie said. You know I haven’t retired, right? He glanced at each. The waitress set the beers down, and he took a swallow. Ahh, good. Much needed.

Honestly, Maggie said. Get on with it.

Ronnie cleared his throat and said, Remember the little girl, Ila Key, stolen right from inside of her house? A long time ago.

Ila? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a very long time. What about her? Patty asked. If this is what I think it is, I’m in.

You don’t even know. Now, listen up. The lead detective in the cold case department has decided to look into it, Mark’s superior.

We’ve been out of high school fifty-one years. This happened back in grade school. Patty took a swallow and started picking at the paper on the bottle. You know, wasn’t there a little grandma who made her lunch? Back when we didn’t have school lunches?

Yes, and she was questioned, and is long gone by now. Ronnie moved his empty bottle aside and ordered another when the waitress brought them each their burger. You see, there’s few clues to go on. I told Mark that I’d speak to our two old buds about Ila.

He should be here too. Mark is always the life of the party, Maggie said.

What do you want to know? Patty asked. We could look through photo albums.

Was there any little thing about her, physical or not?

She had those tiny fingers on the one hand. Maggie bit into her cheeseburger. After a moment, she said, Probably caused from medication her mom took during pregnancy.

They were like nubbins, Patty said. She took a bite.

Absolutely. Ronnie continued eating. Tell me all the information that you can remember.

Ila was quiet, shy. She kept to herself. I remember open house in fourth grade when we came with our parents and Ila with the little old lady who made her lunch, Patty said.

What do you remember, Maggie?

We played jump rope a lot. I biked over to her house but she never had a bike. I always thought that was kinda weird. Everything about that girl was weird. She could walk and balance a book on her head. She shook her head. Seriously? Who does that?

Wasn’t there a note left behind? Patty asked.

Yes, in Finnish, I believe. It said, ‘She’s mine.’ Ronnie kept eating.

That’s weird, Maggie said.

What’s always bothered me is that I still have her doll. Can you believe it? Patty said.

You do? Ronnie’s eyes opened wider. Why? After all of this time?

"Seriously? Sixty-three years later and you still have her doll? Maggie said. Incredible."

You’re nuts. Ronnie scratched his whiskers. So tell me, do you still play with it?

Shut up, Patty said, frowning. "I left it behind when I married.

That's good to know, Ronnie said. He worked on his burger.

Quiet, dum-dum. Mom died and she’d packed it neatly in a box with a message. The note was really rather cryptic.

Spill.

You two will meet again. Keep it. Patty shrugged. Strange. And Mom wasn’t the type of person to say something like that. It’s strange, really. It makes me wonder if Ila had kept mine or hidden it somewhere.

She wasn’t, Ronnie said. Your mom scared me. She knew what I was thinking before I did, like when she told me, ‘Don’t you dare drag race on Lake Street with my daughter in the car.’ How did she know that I planned to race up and down Lake Street that night? He shivered.

If I were you, I’d get rid of that doll, Maggie said. It's like voodoo.

No way. Especially now that Ila’s case is reopened. Patty shook her head, removed the hair band, and pulled her hair back again with it. There’s something to this. My Barbie had the black and white swimsuit, blonde ponytail, and black heels. Ila’s wore a black evening gown, and it had black hair and black heels. It’s in perfect condition. I quit playing with it when Ila went missing. Somehow it didn’t feel right playing with it anymore. I put it in a shoebox and kept it in my closet.

And now, here we are. Ronnie stared out the window a moment before speaking once again. Here’s the thing. At the time the house was searched top to bottom. The aunt who she called mommy, and the little old lady were interviewed. Both were deemed innocent.

Interesting, Maggie said. Patty, do you remember which hand had those fingers?

It was her right, wasn’t it? Ronnie said.

That’s how I remember it, Patty said.

She wrote with her paper upside down sometimes, remember? Maggie said. It’s all coming back.

Slowly, Ronnie said.

We’ll have to keep our eyes and ears open, Patty said, but for what reason? Will she ever be found? Why did she sit in front of the window?

That’s something we may never know, Ronnie said.

You sell your books all over the state and beyond, Maggie said. Keep an eye out for someone with nubbin fingers.

Has DNA been done on the note?

Sure and shows matches with Finnish DNA. The name led us to a cabin near Orr, next town over from Ely.

Really? Now, that’s an interesting spin, isn’t it? A place to begin a search, Patty said. What else?

Nothing was found.

Oh dear God, that could mean she was sold into slavery or stuck in the backwoods until she starved to death, Patty whispered. I’d really like to see the cabin. Maybe there’s something there that’d catch my eye?

You’re kidding me? That sounds off the wall, Patty. Maggie finished her beer. What’s next?

Mark is working on several different angles of investigation.

That’s it? Patty said. I don’t believe it. You’re holding back.

Nope. What I want from you two girls is to think back and see what pops into your little heads.

Where exactly is the cabin located? Patty asked. I have a book fair up in that neck of the woods next weekend. I’m gone for almost a week. I’ll be in Two Harbors and then Grand Marais selling."

It’s been searched. No one lives there now, but it had once belonged to Ila’s dad’s family but was subsequently bought out by a distant family member. I don’t have any good reason why I couldn’t give you the address since no one lives right on the property. I’ll speak to Mark first. It’s his decision.

Okay. For now, Maggie, let’s you and me take a stroll down memory lane and walk around the playground? Patty said.

Sure. Hopefully it’ll jog out some the dust in the upstairs attic, Maggie tapped her temple.

Speak for yourself, Patty said. This sounds like a great adventure.

All right you two, Ronnie said. He glanced at the clock. I’ve got to punch in.

When are you retiring? Maggie asked. You should’ve a long time ago. Look at the fun Patty and I are having. Mark should too. He works too hard.

We have some serious fishing in front of us to do, Patty said. There’s plenty of big ones waiting for the four of us.

I’d like a rainbow trout from a river in Colorado, Maggie said.

You’re stealing my bucket list. Patty slid out from the bench seat. I want to fly fish in Montana.

Ahh, no, not this again. You two always try to outdo the other. Ronnie chuckled. Call me if anything pops into your mind.

Will do, Maggie said.

Patty walked out the door with Maggie after paying for their bill. Ronnie was right behind at the counter paying for his bill.

Ronnie climbed into his car, and they waved to him as he drove away.

Do you want to walk to the school or drive? Patty asked. I need to walk.

I’ll meet you there. I hate walking all the time.

Suit yourself.

Patty took off slowly, then jogged the two blocks to the school. While jogging, her mind played through that horrible day. It was sixty-something years ago when it was announced Ila was living someplace else and won't be attending school anymore. Several days later, Patty overheard her parents discussing the danger of leaving her and her younger sister home alone. Her mom quit work and became a stay-at-home mom until Patty started high school. Patty teared up inside because of the unfairness of the situation. Her mom had worked as a nurse, and unable to be hired back in the same position, she was forced to take a lesser job in a grocery store.

The love of old friends was strong. She dearly missed Ila even though it'd been years since she'd thought about her.

Patty found Maggie in front of the main school doors with her eyes cupped against the glass, peering inside and down into the hallways.

Do you actually think you can see anything?

Ya never know, smartie pants, Maggie said.

Let’s walk around back.

Together they followed the brick building to the back playground that was fenced, so they walked the perimeter.

Remember running around the block for gym class? Patty said. At the time I didn’t like doing all that running, now I jog and run constantly. Who would’ve thought I’d be doing that?

Yes, I remember. It darn near killed me, Maggie said.

What did Ila like to do? Did she run? Did she do the high jump? Balance beam? I don’t remember, do you? Patty asked. Maybe art?

It’s really hard to remember back that far, isn’t it? Maggie said, stopping. I think she daydreamed an awful lot because she was always in front of the window.

Patty pictured Ila sitting in front of the big front window and staring out. Was it herself or Ila who had daydreamed the most of their future, or had they dreamed of the past and saw the people who had once followed the creek? 

Looking across the street and studying the houses, Patty finally turned back to Maggie and said, I think it’s our quest to discover what happened. Don’t you?

You mean, like destiny?

Yes. Destiny.

The two finished walking and went over to Maggie’s car where they stood for a minute.

I feel that it’s up to us, but I don’t remember much, if anything about her, Maggie said.

I’m going to start by digging up old pictures, so I can remember what she looks like, Patty said. But first I’m driving by her house. Do you want to come?

I don’t even know if I remember which house was hers. Maggie gave Patty a sidelong look. You’re probably right about everything. You usually are, just like that mother of yours was. She made me shiver sometimes. Okay. I’m in. Get in the car, and we’ll transfer to your car since you remember where she lived.

Ila lived a mere five blocks from The Howe. Patty parked across the street, and they sat in the car for a few minutes, studying the people walking by and children playing.

Really, nothing has changed much, has it? The only difference that I see is the style of dress and people walking with a cellphone rather than a transistor radio like we carried around, Patty said. That, and the different colors. It’s fun to see all the newcomers. Where it once was Scandinavians, it’s multi-cultural.

"That’s all true. I never gave it a thought. We live in our own little world and don’t pay much attention to anything else. And to