The Greatest of These by Greg Wendleton (booksvooks txt) 📕

He introduced himself as Pat, one of the properties managers and asked how he could help me.

“My name is Garret Cooper and I’m neighbors of Chad and Jamie Wilhite. My wife and I are dog-sitting for them and haven’t been able to reach them for more than twenty-four hours. I have reason to believe they might be experiencing some trouble.”

“Do you have some identification Mr. Cooper? Are you a police officer?”

“No sir, I’m not a police officer, but Chad is like a father to me and I’m very worried about his safety.”

He looked over my drivers license carefully and then said, “Would you please follow me back to the office?”

“Sure, anything if it helps us find Chad and Jamie.”

We walked through a few hallways filled with photos of celebrities as well as artifacts of Polynesian culture. This appeared to be a really cool place to visit. I just wish it were under better circumstances. Pat and I entered a small office and he offered the seat in front of the desk, as he walked to a chair opposite mine. He sat, as did I, and stirred the wireless mouse that woke up the screen of his computer monitor.

He must have pulled up the registration information for Chad and Jamie, because he held up my identification against the monitor. Apparently satisfied that our addresses were only four numbers apart on the same street in San Antonio, he handed my drivers license back to me.

“You can’t be too careful. I hope you appreciate our desire to protect our guests.”

“Absolutely. Can you tell me when the last time you saw the Wilhites? Was their room slept in last night?”

Pat scanned some more information on the monitor and then looked directly at me. “They had a dinner reservation in the restaurant for 7:00pm tonight and they didn’t show up or cancel. We sent one of our staff to their cottage and there was no answer. Housekeeping noted that their bed had not been used nor were any towels or other items soiled. So it appears they have not been in their room since sometime Monday.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“How can we help? The Wilhites are great guests and are like family to some of us.”

“Well, do you have any vacancy here at The Inn? I didn’t make a hotel reservation before I left home early this morning.”

“Our cottages are completely full, but we do have a suite that is available for the balance of this week.”

“Great, I’ll take it.”

“The rate per night is…”

I interrupted Pat before he could tell me the rate. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll take the suite.”

I handed Pat my American Express card and he stepped away, presumably to run it through the system. He returned five minutes later with the registration form to sign, a suite key and my credit card.

“I’m giving you the suite for $100 per night since the circumstances are so unsettling. Here is your key. I’ll show you to your suite.”

Pat handed me the key and we departed his office and walked outside and through a wooden gate. The suite was the first door on the left. I opened the door and we entered a finely appointed living room with a bedroom and bathroom in the back. This would be great.

“Thank you, Pat, for all your assistance. I need to figure out a plan for following up on the places my wife and I could remember they were going, and tomorrow morning I will get started. I’ll keep you posted of my progress and if you recall anything that they might have mentioned, please let me know.”

“I will ask around and see if any of the staff know anything that might be helpful. I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but I hope you have a restful night. Good night Mr. Cooper.”

“Thank you again Pat.”

With that, Pat walked out of my suite and returned to his duties within the property. I sat on the couch and put my head in my hands. What had I done? If Chad and Jamie were in trouble it would be my fault. If something happened to them, I would never forgive myself. I laid my head back and stared at the ceiling for what seemed like an eternity. It had only been one minute.

Before I did anything else, I pulled out my iPhone and typed a message to Fonda:

I’m at Mama’s Fish House. Staying in a room here. Chad and Jamie haven’t been in their room since sometime Monday. Will start visiting people and places we remembered first thing in the morning. I will find them and bring them home. I love you more than life itself. I’m sorry.

It was after midnight in San Antonio and much to my surprise Fonda wrote a brief text back to me. It simply said:

You better.

I walked out to my SUV and retrieved my suitcase, backpack and gun case. I returned to my suite, locked the deadbolt, walked into the bedroom and dropped everything onto the bed. I laid down next to my belongings and fell fast asleep.

Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Jones had been taking slugs from his bottle of Jose Cuervo since mid-morning and had become rather belligerent toward Chad and Jamie. Fortunately, before he had gotten too ugly, Jones had opened another bottle of water and given each of them a reasonable amount to drink. He offered them none of the sliced meat, chips or Poke that Smith had purchased in Hana earlier that day. Jones had eaten some of the meat and chips to keep his energy level up. Lord knows he needed the energy for the drinking he was doing.

Jones had not heard from Smith, Johnson or Conrad since the two other stooges had left Hana just after noon. By now, they should be over the Pacific headed back to the mainland.

Chad and Jamie were still restrained in the wooden kitchen chairs and were soiled with their own urine