The B Girls

Flashback





Driving through the UGA campus to the building housing Dr. James Dawson's office was like entering a time warp.

This was her native habitat. The place she'd been formed. Not this specific campus but a series of college campuses where her parents had been employed.

They'd assumed she'd follow them into academia. Maybe biology instead of English or sociology instead of history but without doubt she'd find a home in the world of ideas and theories. A world where it was easy to loose sight of the concerns of people who produced things instead of ideas.

Lucy sighed. She'd married a car salesman instead and left the insulated world of intellectual snobbery behind.

Her parents had never forgiven her.

Lucy wasn't sure she'd forgiven herself.

At twenty she'd been sure she was on her way to making the next big discovery in archaeology. Not in Egypt or even South America but right here in the good old USA. Somewhere out west, New Mexico or maybe Arizona.

At twenty-one she'd put on her cap and gown to accept her BA in history.

A week later she'd put on her wedding gown and promised to love Gary until death did them part.

Well, they were parted and neither of them was dead.

Now she was going to have to decide whether she wanted to hide out in academia or find a way to make a living in the real world.

Franklin Hall was apparently one of the few places on campus where parking was only nearly impossible rather than completely impossible and Lucy lucked up on a space in her second pass through the lot. She parked Belle's BMW and headed for the building.

Except for the threads of gray sprinkled in her unruly red hair, the frown lines on her forehead, and the glasses perched in her hair to help her aging eyes, Lucy would have been indistinguishable from the students moving from building to building. She'd never perfected the art of dressing like a respectable suburban mom. Maybe because she'd never actually felt like a respectable suburban mom. She was dressed in her usual jeans and whatever shirt had the least wrinkles--today that was a faded red polo shirt.

The smell of books and overworked brains smacked her in the face as soon as she stepped into Franklin Hall. The smell of the first half of her life.

Professor Dawson's office was on the second floor. His graduate assistant had promised to pencil Lucy into his office hours this morning. The girl hadn't been a fountain of information when Lucy asked about Perry. Apparently he was spending a lot more time locked in a room with his dissertation than on campus.

Slipping into the stream of students moving through the halls and up the stairs, Lucy didn't feel any different than she had when she'd been an undergrad working her way through her class schedule. When exactly would she start to feel her age? She still found herself considerably surprised to be in her forties and wondering when it would sink in that she was an adult with--probably--more than half her life behind her.

The slide-in nameplate beside the door identified Dr. Robert Dawson's office. The door was ajar and Lucy knocked lightly.

"Come in."

Not the voice of an aging professor but a deep, vigorous, baritone.

Lucy pushed the door open and stepped into a neat, well-organized masculine space presided over by a handsome man of about her age. He stood and offered his hand across his desk. "You must be Lucy Deen. Tanya told me you called."

No tweed and elbow patches for Dr. Dawson. He had on jeans and a lightly starched blue button down.

They shook and Lucy took a seat when he gestured her to a chair. "Did she mention why?"

Lucy had been debating the best way to approach this interview. Announcing that Belle was missing and his PhD candidate might be the nutball behind it didn't seem the way to go. On the other hand asking how Perry's research was going wasn't likely to give her the information she needed.

"Something about Perry Thiel?"

"Yes, he seems to think my family might have a valuable copy of the Declaration of Independence."

Dawson sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Has he been making a nuisance of himself?"

Lucy was a little startled by his assumption. "Why do you ask?"

"Perry has been a little obsessive about the new ground he was going to break in his dissertation. I encouraged him to focus on a more traditional line of research but he insisted on pursuing his theory about that signed draft." He steepled his hands and tapped his index fingers together. "I'm afraid I've been a little out of touch with him recently. My wife's been ill and Perry's dissertation slipped a few notches down on my priority list."

"I'm sorry to hear about your wife."

Dawson waved off her concern. "I think it's possible Perry has gone even farther off the reservation while my attention was elsewhere."

Not exactly comforting words. "Just how desperate do you think Perry is to prove his theory?"

The professor's gaze sharpened and he leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk. "Has something happened?"

Dawson seemed like a nice enough guy but with Belle's safety on the line, Lucy didn't want to say too much. "I'm not sure. My aunt has been helping Perry with his search. I haven't heard from her for a couple of days and I'm worried."

"You're asking if Perry's capable of harming your aunt to get the information he needs?"

Lucy nodded. "I suppose that's what I'm asking."

Dawson frowned. "I wish I could tell you there was absolutely no way Perry would do such a thing. Unfortunately, I don't know how far he'd go to prove his theory. My gut tells me he wouldn't hurt anyone but I just can't be sure."

Given the tone of the conversation, Lucy wasn't surprised at his answer. And she supposed if she was forced to deal with a kidnapper better someone like Perry than a career criminal. She'd bet lot's of money that Perry would have a hard time inflicting physical pain on another human being. "I appreciate your candor."

He shook his head. "I wish I could be more helpful."

"Do you think it's possible he's right? About the signed draft?"

"Anything is possible but I don't think it's very likely that document has survived--if it ever existed beyond July 4, 1776."

"And if it did survive? I suppose there wouldn't be any way to put a price on it."

"I'm not sure Bill Gates could afford it."

"Pretty big incentive for unscrupulous behavior."

"Only if you believe Perry's theory."

Lucy rubbed her collarbone in a nervous gesture. "Which Perry does."

Dawson didn't reply.

Lucy stood. "Thank you for your time."

"I wish I could be more help. Have you considered involving the police?"

Lucy shook her head. "I think it's a little early for that."

"Well, if you think of any more questions you'd like to ask. Please call me."

"I will. Thank you."

Lucy left the office and went out to the parking lot wondering if she was any more prepared to deal with the next thirty-six hours than she'd been before.

She sighed and unlocked the BMW. At least Dawson hadn't come right out and said Perry was a wild-eyed lunatic. If he was behind Belle's kidnapping--and it didn't seem likely anyone else even knew about the theories in his dissertation--he was probably more misguided than dangerous.

Lucy rolled down the windows and turned the AC on full blast before pulling out her cell phone. She'd had a debate with herself about whether to make this call but she couldn't stand the thought of being here and not at least trying to get in touch with Ryan.

He was probably asleep or in class anyway.

He answered on the first ring before Lucy had a chance to prepare herself. "Mom? Are you okay? I've been trying to call you. Where have you been?"

"I'm fine and I haven't had any missed calls on my cell."

"Your cell? You never answer your cell. I've left messages at home."

"Oh. I've been staying at Aunt Belle's but it just so happens I'm on campus now."

"You're here? I knew you weren't okay. Dad told me what happened."

Lucy was surprised Gary had had the balls to tell Ryan he'd left. She'd figured Gary would leave that to her.

"Why would you do something like that?" Ryan said.

His words took a second to register. Why would she . . . "What is it you think I've done?"

"Dad said you asked him to leave. That you wanted a divorce."

At that moment Lucy wished with all her heart that she'd shot off Gary's dick when she had the chance. For about ten seconds she considered going along to spare Ryan's feelings. F*ck that. "Your father is a lying ba--, jac--, sh--. . . " Ah hell. "Your father lied to you."

"Are you really here? On campus?"

"Yes, but I'm headed back to Belle's. There's something I need to take care of."

"Meet me at the Varsity. I'm on my way."

He disconnected before she answered.



###



The Varsity was a legendary fast food place where they still had carhops. The food was greasy, delicious, and very bad for you and the students loved it.

Lucy didn't think her nervous stomach was going to react well to chili dogs or onion rings so she found a table in the corner and waited for Ryan.

He walked in two minutes later and Lucy sucked in a breath at the sight of him. He was handsome, her son, and seeing him here the fact that he was now a man hit her with the force of a freight train.

This was the moment she finally realized she was an adult.

She would do her son the courtesy of treating him as an adult as well.

He spotted her and strode over with assurance in his bearing and concern on his face.

Lucy stood and he let her hug him.

She let go and stepped back.

"What's going on Mom?"

"Let's sit. Do you want something to eat?"

Ryan sat and shook his head. "I don't want to eat. I want to know what happened. Dad said you shot up the study."

Of course Gary would manage to get that part right. "That's true. When your father announced he was moving out and filing for divorce, I confess I went a little nuts. I got one of your father's guns and shot at his trophy fish."

Lucy didn't think Ryan would have looked more shocked if she'd announced she was going to shave her head and become a nun.

"You really shot up the study? That's crazy."

"No, shooting your father would have been crazy. Shooting his fish was a temper tantrum. A well deserved temper tantrum."

"But you threw him out of the house."

"Oh no. That part is a lie. On Saturday around lunchtime your father came into the kitchen and told me he wanted a divorce. He said he'd already packed a few things and was leaving right away. He said he was sure once I had a chance to think about it, I'd realize it was for the best."

Ryan's mouth settled into a stubborn adolescent pout that had Lucy re-evaluating her observation of him as an adult. Then again most men she knew were capable of that particular expression well into their thirties.

"Why would he lie?" Ryan said.

"Because he was counting on me to protect him from your disappointment. After all, I've been doing it for the past eighteen years."

"Mom, you know that's not true. Dad's always been there for me."

At that precise moment, Lucy knew exactly what Jane meant when she said she'd reached the limit on her bullshit meter. "Oh, Ryan grow up. Your father isn't a bad man but he isn't the hero you think he is."

Ryan winced and started shaking his head.

Off the top of her head Lucy could recite chapter and verse at least ten times she'd covered for Gary's thoughtlessness where his son was concerned. And those occasions wouldn't even begin to tell the whole story.

But that wouldn't be productive.

Lucy took a deep breath. There wasn't any point in spending her time reciting Gary's petty transgressions. "I know that's what you believe. I'm happy you have a good relationship with your father but the reality of now is that he left me the day after I waved goodbye and sent you off to college. At some point I might decide he was right and it's for the best, but at the moment I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my entire future is going to be different from the way I've pictured it for the last twenty years."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

Lucy reached out and put her hand over the fist he had clenched on the table. "There isn't anything you can do. None of this is your problem. I wanted you to know the truth but I don't expect, or want, you to get in the middle of this. Your father and I will handle our own business. You concentrate on school."

She patted his hand and sat back. "Let's have some lunch and then I need to get going."

Ryan blew out a frustrated breath. "I don't understand any of this."

"I'm afraid I'm not having much luck with that myself. I know you've been surprised by this--so was I--but in practical terms it won't effect you much. I promise to be polite to your father on all special occasions."

"How can you joke about this?"

"Because it's better than crying and besides, crying won't do any good. I have to deal with this in my own way."

"By running away to Belle's?"

"I haven't run anywhere. Belle asked me to help her with something." And wasn't she just being a big ol' hypocrite, lying by omission after calling Gary on his lies.

"You're not going on one of her 'adventure' trips are you?"

"Not this time. But why wouldn't you want me to go?"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Mom, the last time she went on a trip there was a coup. She had to negotiate with some rebel chief to get back to the airport."

"Well I'm not leaving Georgia in the next few days. After that, who knows? I think it's past time for me to start remembering who I am. Not your mom. Not a wife. Just me."

"What if Dad's just going through a phase? What if he changes his mind?"

"I don't think that's going to happen. He's already filed for divorce. He had someone serve me with the papers on Sunday."

Ryan's expression hardened. "He really did lie to me."

"I'm sorry this has upset you," Lucy said. "But I really want you to concentrate on school and let your father and I worry about ourselves." She looked at her watch and found it was nearly one. "I really have to get going."

"You never said what you were up to," Ryan pointed out.

"No, I didn't. Maybe I'll tell you in a few days."

After promising to keep in touch and getting a final hug and kiss, Lucy gave him lunch money just like old times and left him to his greasy food.

She had one more stop to make while she was here.

She'd done a quick internet search and gotten Perry's address this morning. She figured she could at least do a drive-by and see if it was even possible he could be holding Belle at his home.

The address was an old Victorian that had been divided into apartments catering to students.

There was virtually no way Perry was holding Belle in his apartment.

Should she park? Go in and see if he was home?

She pulled to the curb in front of the house, put the car in park and stared at the front door.

Her curiosity got the better of her and she went in.

The mailboxes in the foyer indicated Perry was upstairs in number four.

She went up and knocked. He probably wouldn't answer the door anyway.

The door swung open and Perry was blinking down at her as if he'd just emerged from a dark theater into the sunlight.

"Mrs. Deen. What are you doing here?"

"I came to do a little research. I thought I should stop by. See if you've heard from Belle or come across anything new that might help find the Declaration."

"What kind of research?"

Figures he'd home in on the one thing she didn't want to talk about. She tried on a wry smile. "I lied. I came to check up on my son. He's a freshman."

"Oh," I see. "I hope he's okay."

"Fine. Now, how about it? Anything new?"

"No. I'm afraid unless you come up with something I'm going to have to rethink my entire dissertation. Has Belle said anything?"

Was he for real? Lucy shook her head. "She's not back yet."

He looked surprised. "Have you called the police?"

"No. They won't get involved unless there's some sort of evidence of foul play."

Perry didn't respond but Lucy thought she might be detecting a little bit of relief on his face. Or imagining it.

"If you think of anything or stumble on something new, call me."

Perry nodded. "Sure. You'll do the same?"

"Absolutely."