They both nodded. “I’m not much of a writer,” Spence said. “Never was. I’ll do the notes, but I’ll still have to explain it.”
“Whatever works for you,” Harry said. “You might remember the same things, but with different details. Bertie and I will put it together, and call if we need something explained.”
“Sounds good,” they agreed and left.
Miss Pinkerton spoke before Harry followed them. “How are things going with the security detail?”
“No worries,” he said. “The entire police force will be around when they’re off duty. The retired officers I’ve contacted are eager to help. Two are on vacation, but I’ll catch them when they return.”
“Good,” she said.
“And there’ll be no cost. They’re looking forward to having an old tradition brought back.”
“I’ll remember that,” she said, “and when are you going to stop being so formal? You know very well my name is Edith.”
Harry laughed. “You call me Hogan, and I’ll call you Miss P. How’s that?”
She smiled. “I like it, but I think I’ll call you Harry.”
He nodded, chuckling as he got into the truck and drove away.
Harry’s next stop was the police station. Before going inside, he called Bertie and asked if she’d do a search on Jeremiah Isaacs.
“Who is he?” she asked. Harry told her what he knew. “I’ll give it a try,” she said.
“Thanks. I’ll see you when I get back.”
When Harry returned to the office, he handed Bertie a printout of what he had found. She scanned through it quickly, reading aloud: “Missing: Jeremiah Isaacs, age thirty-one, five feet ten inches, about one-sixty pounds, brown eyes, black hair. Thought to be wearing jeans and red plaid jacket. Last seen August 31st, 1984.” She looked at Hogan, eyes wide. “Isn’t forty years rather long?”
“Think there’s any hope?”
“Oh, there’s always hope. I’m just not sure how much. Where do we even begin?”
Harry laughed “It might be challenging,” he agreed. “And this is the beginning. We gather every scrap of information we can dig up, truth, rumour – everything! Then we sift through it, piece by piece, and verify what we can.”
She sat down and focused on her computer screen. “Not much to go on. Is there anything else? Anything at all?”
“I just sent you some notes from Miss P’s next book, but the biggest question is: did something happen to him, or did he vanish on purpose.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Any number of reasons.” He glanced at his watch. “Interested in barbecued steak for supper?” He chuckled as she raised her eyebrows. “I’ll get Silas and Joe here and we’ll pick their brains for anything about Isaacs.”
“Bribery. I’ll get salads and dessert,” she said as they left the office.
As the tantalizing aroma of cooking meat drifted across their noses, they sat around the hexagon-shaped picnic table on Harry’s patio.
