August slowly waned away, and September arrived, evident by the fallen golden-hued leaves. Summer's scorching temperatures gradually faded away into oblivion, giving rise to the cool winds of fall.
Lesley lay in bed. The morning sun peeked through the gray clouds. She yawned, awakened by the wind's hum outside her bedroom window. Turning over, she found Nick's side empty, the usual warmth replaced by a cold emptiness. A sense of dreariness waved over her, and a frown unconsciously etched onto her face.
She sat up in bed and glanced out the window. The leaves on the trees swayed back and forth as the gloomy morning unfolded. The sky was dark and overcast, hinting at an approaching storm.
The night prior, Nick had informed Lesley that he would be gone for the next two days on an important business trip. Although she would miss Nick for those few days he was gone, she also saw it as an opportunity to explore the mountains. And hopefully, Leah would come to visit her.
Lesley's phone suddenly pinged, echoing through the room and disrupting her thoughts. Leaning over, she grabbed her phone from off the nightstand and clutched it in her hand.
Bringing the phone up to her ear, she answered. "Hello?" Her voice groggy and hoarse.
"Hey, Lesley!" Denises' familiar voice beamed through the phone.
"Oh, hey, Denise!" a smile grew on Lesley's face.
"I wanted to let you know that I spoke with Gary last night," Denise explained, "He has heard rumors about one of the city councilmen having had an affair with an eighteen-year-old girl, but that was decades ago as far as Gary knows."
Lesley's face contorted with obscure puzzlement.
"How long ago?" Lesley's eyebrows furrowed as her curiosity piqued. "Our realtor, Jackie, told us it happened just last year," she added, her grip on the phone tightening.
"I'm not sure. Gary doesn't know either. But it wasn't recent, from what it sounds like through the rumor mill."
"What rumor mill?" Lesley's heart raced as she became psychologically entangled in the information Denise was providing.
"As I mentioned, it's a rumor circulating within the Arcaden City Council for some time." Denise paused briefly. "However, it has gained significant momentum recently." She added with a tone of uncertainty.
"I heard," Lesley replied. "And I believe it's all because of me." Her voice tinged with sorrow.
"What do you mean?" Denise's ears opened, waiting to absorb the details Lesley would provide.
"Jackie told Nick and me that many residents were upset because I went into the forest to look for clues in Leah's drowning." She sighed. "And the Meyers were furious, according to what Jackie stated."
"I heard the Meyers adopted Leah," Denise offered, giving Lesley insight into Leah's relationship with the Meyers.
"I didn't know that!" Lesley exclaimed, shock evident in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Lesley, I wish I could chat more," Denise said. Lesley felt as if she was trying to shoo her away like an annoying fly buzzing in her face, "But it's about time for Gary and me to go out for our morning walk."
Lesley said goodbye, but before Denise hung up, she added, "Stay away from that Jackie woman. I haven't heard anything good about her. And if anything, it sounds like she's a shit-stirrer-upper."
Lesley's mouth hung agape as her expression morphed into one of bewilderment. Jackie had always been kind to them, aside from when she authoritatively dissuaded Lesley from investigating Leah's drowning and incited the town's rumor mill.
Maybe Denise did have a point. Lesley thought.
After ending the call, Lesley wanted nothing more than a nice, hot, and relaxing shower- something that would help her throw out the troubling thoughts that harvested in her mind, like yesterday's trash.
Lesley let out a sigh as she leaned her back against the subway-tiled wall of the shower, relishing the comforting flow of the water against her body. The cascade of water streamed down her back like a roller-coaster tracing its steady course along the tracks. The water trailed down her spine.
As she delved into her thoughts, her mind carved out its own path, entwined with Denise's new details, adding a new layer of mystery to an already complex case.
***
Lesley strolled through the kitchen, pulled open the sliding glass door leading to the backyard patio, and stepped outside, relishing in the refreshing breeze.
The sky was crystal clear, and the smell of pine circulated in the air. The sun's warm rays greeted her with a beam of heat, though a nice delicate chill brushed up against her skin. With her laptop cradled in her arms like a small baby nestled against her chest, she went over to the lounge chair and sat down, sinking into its soft fabric. She glanced out at the tranquil lake, its surface glistening under the sun's gentle touch. In the nearby trees, bluebirds sat on thin branches, weaving a harmonious symphony and fluttering their wings. Their melodies were soothing, easing Lesley's mind.
She propped the laptop up on her lap and flipped it open. Staring down at the screen, she scrolled to the browser, double-clicked on it, and opened up the search bar. She typed in 'Leah Meyers and Arcaden City Councilman' and pressed the enter button. The loading icon spun before the page was soon populated with results. Lesley's face leaned closer to the screen as she looked over them, desperately scrolling through each one. However, disappointment nagged at her as nothing hinted at a city councilman.
She tried again, a new set of words this time, "Meyers Arcaden, NY."
Frantically, she scrolled through the results, but again, nothing stuck out to her. Frustrated, she slammed her laptop shut.
She sighed heavily and muttered, "How will I ever find out who this city councilman is?"
Suddenly, the ping of her phone's ringtone shot into her ears. The distinct ring indicated it was Nick, as she had recently set a special ringtone, one specifically for him.
"Hi, babe!" She answered.
"Hey, my love," he replied with an obvious tinge of sorrow. It had only been one day since he'd been gone, but Lesley's voice struck a chord within himâa chord of cherished memories. And he wasn't the only one. As Nick's voice streamed into her ear, Lesley also felt an underlying sadness. Like water flowing into a garden, his voice nourished her soul.
Their conversation revolved around Nick's trip to Florida, the weather, what they were each having for dinner, and Lesley's current state of mind. Nick's voice was calm yet profound as it resonated through the receiver, evoking a sense of yearning within Lesley. In his absence, Lesley clung to the memory of his voice, using it as an anchor to steady herself.
Nick's worries subsided after speaking with Lesley. His worries loosened their grip on his mind, and his shoulders dropped as the tension dissipated. He was soon overcome with a sense of relaxation and mellowness. It drifted over him like a cloud in the sky. Lesley's words provided a reassuring effect, carrying the weight of comfort he so desperately needed. He knew she was slowly returning to her old self, and the changes he noticed -not only through conversations with her, but he could see it in the way she had been behaving throughout the week. As he observed the signs, his optimism grew stronger. After wishing Nick success on his business trip, Lesley said goodbye and ended the call.
Lesley returned her focus to her web search for Leah Meyers. But she continued to come up empty-handed.
When she got up from her long lounge chair, ready to go back into her house, a doorbell ring startled her. She placed her laptop on the countertop in the kitchen and rushed to the door to find out who was out there. Peering into the peephole, she spotted Jackie. She unlocked the door and opened it up.
"Hi, Jackie," Lesley said with a lack of enthusiasm. Her face was a canvas of bewilderment at Jackie's unexpected appearance on their doorstep, like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit the picture.
"You looked surprised to see me, Lesley." Jackie said as she stood in a pink flowery dress, "I just wanted to drop in and say hello." she replied matter-of-factly.
Lesley's brows raised, "I'm just surprised to see you, that's all."
"Do you mind if I come inside? It's getting a bit chilly out here." Jackie began rubbing her arms in an effort to warm them up, emphasizing her statement.
"Oh, sure." Lesley pulled the door open wider.
"Can I get you anything- a cup of coffee or tea?" Lesley asked as she led Jackie into the kitchen.
"I'm fine." Jackie insisted, "I just wanted to check in and see how things are going?"
"Everything's going great. I'm finally getting all prepared to open up my photography business." Lesley said with a slight laugh. "Emphasize on finally."
They both laughed.
"I'm glad to hear!" a smile wove across Jackie's face. "Opening up a business does take a lot of time and patience," Jackie explained. "I'm so happy for you!"
Since Jackie was there and Lesley knew she was friends with the Meyers, Lesley knew there was no better time to ask. "Is there any way you can get me in touch with the Meyers?"
Jackie's smile quickly faded. "Why do you need to contact them, Lesley?" Jackie placed her hand on her hip, waiting for Lesley's response.
Lesley racked her brain; she needed an excuse, as she didn't want Jackie to know she really wanted to inquire about the case.
"Oh, I, uh-umm." Lesley stammered. "I wanted to speak to them about the upstairs guest bedroom. I was curious, who, uh.." She stumbled over her words, "Who they hired for their renovation project. I was thinking of renovating our bedroom and was just curious who they used." Lesley smiled, trying to smoothen the tension.
Jackie gazed into Lesley's eyes. "I don't think that's a good idea." Jackie cleared her throat. "Not right now, anyway."
"Why not?" Lesley crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Well, you know, Lesley," Jackie informed. "After they discovered you went up into the forest looking for clues in their daughter's drowning, that left a very sour taste in their mouth."
Lesley hung her head low in disappointment, striking a match of empathy within Jackie.
"I can talk to Mrs. Meyers and get the information for you if you'd like?" Jackie offered. "But I can't allow you to reach out to them directly. It would shock them to their core."
The words sliced into her thoughts, and she brought her head back up. Her eyes brightened, "If you could get the information from Mrs. Meyers, that would work." Lesley soon became optimistic. "What's her first name, if you don't mind telling me?"
"Katherine."
***
Lesley's first plan was foiled. She anticipated that Jackie would hand over the Meyer's phone number, but how naïve of Lesley to believe Jackie would be willing to do such a thing after all of the rumors being spread around town about Lesley's venture into the woods.
However, she resorted to another plan of action. Once Jackie left, Lesley returned to the countertop where her laptop sat. Hastily, she opened it back up and waited for it to load. Her fingers flying across the keyboard like fire, she typed into the search bar
'Katherine Meyers in Arcaden, New York.'
As the browser's loading icon spun, Lesley waited impatiently like a cat awaiting his first treat of the day. Finally, one result populated the page.
Katherine Meyers 1606 Broadway Arcaden, NY (646) 859-5855 Also related to: John Meyers, Leah Meyers
Lesley's heart thumped against her chest.
Bingo!