A Timely Vision

He smiled at me as we approached the bridge to the Outer Banks. “You know, you’re pretty good at this. I’m surprised you didn’t follow in your grandfather’s footsteps.”

“Me, in law enforcement? Can you imagine me shooting someone?”

“Sometimes people go their whole career and never shoot anyone. Did your grandfather ever shoot anyone?”

“Yes. I remember him talking about it when I was in high school. It was very traumatic for him. But I guess you’re right. As far as I know, that’s the only time.” I looked at his profile as he concentrated on the bridge. “How about you? Ever shoot anyone?”

I saw the change in his face right away. It was a terrible sight. He didn’t look at me. His eyes didn’t move from the road, but I could feel the regret coming from him. “Too many times.” His voice was bleak and hollow. “I knew it was time to leave when it began to keep me up at night. You can’t do that job and worry about it.”

The clouds and rain had moved away from the sound, making it easier to see where we were going. Hoping to dispel the tension my question had caused, I rambled on without stop, telling funny stories about the bridge and the Outer Banks. By the time we got to the island, that awful feeling was gone. I knew I would never bring up that subject again. Kevin was entitled to the secrets in his past.

I called Gramps when we got to Southern Shores and told him about our plan to search Miss Mildred’s house. He agreed to meet us there and bring Mary Lou with him. “Don’t tell her what I said about the turtle sanctuary, will you? I don’t want to go through that with her yet. If we can’t find the will, there’s nothing there for the turtles anyway.”

“I won’t mention it. But she’s not obsessed with the turtles, Dae. She’s only interested in their welfare,” Gramps explained.

“All right. I’ll take your word for that, but let’s not push it right now, huh?”

He agreed, and Kevin maneuvered through the heavy traffic that always comes out after the rain. Not that there’s much room to maneuver. It’s a two-lane road, and traffic usually moves slowly, thanks to the many summer tourists who generally don’t know where they’re going.

“What is it with Mary Lou and those turtles?” Kevin asked as we got behind a pink convertible full of middle-aged women in bathing suits and hats.

“I don’t know. I guess everybody needs a hobby. Mary Lou makes quilts in the winter, but once it gets warm, she’s all about the turtles. She’s been cited a couple of times for running kids off from the turtle area. A turtle sanctuary would be good for her and the community.”

We finally reached the turnoff for Miss Mildred’s house. I thought about her plan to donate the land to the town. I supposed the town council would probably decide to sell at least part of the land so we could use the cash to finish the park and a few other projects. But the town might be able to use Miss Mildred’s house, which would be adjacent to the turtle sanctuary, for something else.

But not yet. I pulled my thoughts back from where they were going. Miss Mildred was coming home. Someday her land might belong to the town, but not yet.

The lazy red roses nodded in the sun beside her drive as we pulled in behind Gramps’s golf cart. We were barely out of the truck before Gramps and Mary Lou walked out of the house. I could tell from their faces that something was wrong.

“Someone broke in,” Gramps said. “It’s a mess in there, Dae. I don’t know if we can find anything. I need to call Chief Michaels.”

He took out his cell phone, but I stopped him. “Don’t call him yet. Let me take a look around and at least try to find the power of attorney papers. Once the police take over, I won’t have a chance.”

He frowned. “I know you and the chief are having some issues. But he’s been my friend all of my life. I don’t believe he’s done anything wrong, and I think he’d help you if he knew what was going on.”

“Please. Just a few minutes. Then you can call him. You know if anybody can find this document, it’s me.”

He agreed, and the three of us went into the house. Mary Lou had left us to it, going down to the beachfront to scope out the best place for a turtle sanctuary sign.

Gramps was right. The house was completely torn apart. Someone had been here looking for something, probably the same thing we were looking for. “I’ll bet Jerry Richards heard what we were saying and called ahead.” I carefully picked my way through ripped upholstery and shattered china.

“What a mess,” Kevin said. “This is definitely a search, not a random break-in. Whoever came through here destroyed things they could have pawned or sold. No one would do that unless they had something specific in mind.”

“I hope we can find the power of attorney in all this,” Gramps said. “What kind of container did you say you saw it in, Dae?”