“These too,” Sam said, handing him the copies of the yearbook.
Roger smiled, headed for the door, and led Sam over to the copy machine. When he was finished, he handed the completed copies to Sam and said, “Classified info, remember.”
“Right. Catch you later, Roger,” he said, then made his way out of the Smithtown Police Department.
CHAPTER 7
On Thursday evening, Ann sat at the kitchen table and fumbled with the business card, trying to decide whether or not to call him. It had been a slow week at the office with plenty of time for her mind to drift, and what time hadn’t been spent mourning Marsha Bradley had been spent thinking about Jerry Rankin. Karen’s incessant urging had also come into play-to the extent that Ann now practically felt obligated to call Jerry just to make Karen happy and to be done with it once and for all. Heaving a nervous sigh, she reached for the phone and dialed his number. After four rings she started to hang up, half hoping he wasn’t home. Then he suddenly answered.
“Jerry Rankin,” he said.
Ann forced herself to speak. “Uh, Jerry, this is Ann-we met on the parking lot at the supermarket last Sunday?”
“Ann, yes-what a pleasant surprise! I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to call. How are you?”
“Fine,” she replied, suddenly feeling a little more at ease. His cheerful voice with that irresistible English accent had a reassuring quality to it. “And how have you been?”
“Very well, thank you,” he replied. “I’m so delighted you called, Ann. To be real honest, I’ve spent this entire week thinking I was a bit too forward last Sunday and deduced that I must have scared you off. I’ve always felt a bit awkward meeting someone for the first time like that anyway, and almost always manage to somehow put my foot in my mouth, as was the case that morning.”
Ann gave a little laugh. “I don’t do so well myself, as you might have noticed.”
“I thought you handled it wonderfully-anyone else probably would have told me to take a hike under the circumstances. I’m truly flattered that you’ve given me another opportunity to talk to you again.”
Ann gushed, wondering if he was really as sincere as he sounded. “Were you late for your appointment?”
“Almost, but I managed to make it just in the nick of time. I was showing a house in Muirfield to a client who was sort of, well, the pushy type. He’d insisted on seeing this particular house on Sunday morning at eleven-thirty and I already knew I’d be pressed for time anyway because of church services, so I sort of fouled myself up by trying to fit in the grocery as well. Looking on the bright side, though, I wouldn’t have met you otherwise, so I have no regrets.”
“I was a little curious why you were shopping in my neighborhood when I noticed that the address on your card was on the other side of town. Your church must be close by, I assume,” Ann said.
“Yes, it’s just a few blocks north of the supermarket.”
“And do you work out of your home exclusively, or do you have an office as well?”
“Just my home. I’m an independent broker and really have no need for an office,” he explained.
Ann said, “I hope I’m not being nosy, but how long have you lived in Columbus?”
Jerry chuckled. “You’re not being nosy in the least, Ann. I’ve been here just a little more than a year. I moved here from Cleveland shortly after my wife passed away. I had to get away from there-too many memories and all that. The real estate market is better in this area anyway. Columbus is quite a boom town now and I’m afraid to say that Cleveland is swiftly heading for the skids.”
Ann sympathized with his wanting to get away from memories-she had done the very same thing herself. “Has it been a hard adjustment for you to make-living here as opposed to Cleveland?” she asked curiously.
“It was a little tough at first, I must admit. Fortunately, though, business has been so good that I haven’t had a great deal of time to dwell on it. Have you lived in Columbus all your life?”
“Not hardly,” Ann laughed. “I just moved here a few months ago, as a matter of fact.”
“From where, may I ask?”
“Smithtown. It’s a little town in the southern part of the state.”
“I’ve heard of it. Isn’t it directly across the Ohio River from Kentucky?”
“Yes.”
“I guess it’s time for me to ask the same question: Have you had any trouble adjusting to Columbus?”
Ann balked a moment then replied, “Frankly, it hasn’t been easy. I have a fourteen-year-old who’s giving me fits right now; but it’s understandable in a way. After all, she’s been forced to start high school in a new town and is at that awkward age, anyway. My recent divorce no doubt has a lot to do with it, too. And on top of everything else, my best friend recently passed away. I’ve had a very difficult time dealing with that.”
“My God, Ann. I didn’t realize… It sounds as though you’re going through some pretty tough times right now. Do you attend church?”
The question caught her off totally off guard, and for a moment she was unable to speak. “No, not lately, anyway,” she finally replied.
“I see. I was just curious, and hope I haven’t somehow offended you by asking. It’s just that the church has helped me get through some hard times in the past, and I was simply wondering if you’d found the same thing to be true. At any rate, we’ll drop the subject right now before you start thinking I’m some kind of religious fanatic or something!” he chuckled.
Ann had to admit she was relieved. “No offense taken, Jerry. We used to go to church regularly when Amy was younger but we sort of got out of the habit over the years. Now that I think about it, it probably wouldn’t hurt either of us to start going again,” she added thoughtfully.
“Your daughter would probably resent it, if it was your idea. Kids her age tend to resent any kind of adult intervention in their lives.”
Ann laughed. “You’ve sure got that right. It sounds like you’ve had some experience with kids.”
“I don’t have any of my own unfortunately, but I’ve done some volunteer work for the church in the youth fellowship program. These kids nowadays have a lot more challenges to face than when I was a kid, it seems. These are tough times to be a kid, in my opinion. What with drugs, AIDS, crime and so on.”
“I agree. Our idea of a good time when I was a teenager was hanging out at the malt shop and going to teen dances. These kids today seem absolutely bored with everything-they sit in front of the television most of the time and spend the rest of their time trying to see what kind of trouble they can get themselves into.”
Jerry gasped. “I would never have guessed you’ve been around so long, Ann! You certainly don’t look as old as you’re implying you are.”
Ann melted from his flattery. “Thanks, Jerry. That was very kind of you. But believe me, I’ve been around awhile.”
“Well, it doesn’t show.” he declared. “What kind of work do you do, by the way?”
“I’m working at a travel agency right now, but I’m hoping to go back to college sometime in the near future and get my law degree.”
“I think that’s wonderful, Ann! I admire your ambition.”
“Well, you can tell me that if and when I actually follow through with it. I’m not sure it will pan out, but I’d like to think it will someday.”
“You’ll succeed, Ann. You remind me of the type who has set goals for herself and will stop at nothing to achieve those goals no matter what. Correct me if I’m wrong.” he challenged.
“Well, I guess you’re right-in a way. I appreciate your vote of confidence, at any rate.”
“My pleasure.”
There was an awkward pause in the conversation and Ann sensed that Jerry Rankin was rapidly running out of small talk. She felt comfortable talking to him and was in fact enjoying it, but she didn’t want him to feel obligated to continue.
“Well, I guess I’d better let you go. It’s been really nice talking to you, Jerry,” she suddenly said. “Maybe we can do it again sometime.”