The Case of Missing Time

Covered in Blood

*The latest in the writing prompt challenge…errors included.

“Janet Wright, I’m Detective Mitchell Graves from up the road a piece in Burlington. Before we get started, how are you feeling? The doctor at the emergency room said that you were okay except for some bruising behind your ears.”

Janet looked up at the man, a tall imposing figure with a friendly smile and hawkish eyes. He looked down at her with one eyebrow slightly raised. No one believed her up to this point and he had no doubt heard her testimony but here she was again. She wondered how many people she would have to tell her story to before she was allowed to go home.

“I’m exhausted, Detective. I’ve been here for a long time. I’ve waived my right to have a lawyer here so I could tell you what I remember but you people don’t want to believe me. I’ll talk with you, but if one more person comes in here I’m going to request a lawyer. I didn’t do what you think I did. How could I?”

“What do you think we think you did, Ms. Wright?”

“You think I killed that guy you found under the bridge. But I don’t know the man, have never seen him before. My head hurts and I have just as many questions as you do,” she said with a tired voice.

“I’ll be the last one you talk to today. I’m glad you’re not hurt. The others you talked to gave the story. I’ve read the report. But I wanted to hear it from you. I’m on your side here, just so you know. I don’t think you did anything wrong. And even if you did kill that man I don’t think anyone in this building would blame you. We ran his prints and they came back about an hour ago. A real piece of work, this one. He was an escaped convict. So, a two time murderer and thug was found murdered under a bridge. By the way, your fingerprints weren’t found on him, so I’d say you’re in the clear except for the big question.”

Detective Graves sat down across from her and handed her a small bag of chips and a can of soda. She had been here for four hours since leaving the hospital and was starving. She’d woofed down half the chips before she realized it. She took a slow deep breath before chasing the chips with a long drink.

“How did I end up covered in his blood?” she asked. “I’ve been asking myself the same question, Detective Graves. Over and over.”

“Call me Mitchell,” he smiled. “And just start from the beginning. You packed for a few days on the road. Then what?”

She told him everything. She was looking for a quiet trip to gather her thoughts. After a horrible breakup with her fiancé she needed the space and fresh air. It was time to get out her bucket list and check one of the items off the list. A drive through the north east in autumn was just what she was looking for. She packed for the trip and set out on Wednesday. With a few days off work she wouldn’t have to be in a hurry.

The fall foliage was at its peak and she was excited for the few days to be alone with nature, her thoughts, a good book, and the open road. No interstate highways! Only secondary roads. The last thing she remembered was passing a sign for a small town called Sayre. At that point it was getting late in the day and she was looking for a place to stop for the night. The road sign read three miles to Sayre. After that she must have blacked out. She had no recollection of anything until the police officer found her by the bridge sitting on the ground in front of her car covered in the dead man’s blood. She was sitting by the giant Road Closed sign sobbing.

“You left from Latrobe that morning?”

“I did. I got a bit of a later start than I wanted because I overslept. I made a few stops that day to take some scenic photos. I was probably on the road for about seven hours or so and I was getting pretty tired.”

“You don’t remember anything between Sayre and when they found you confused and covered in blood here in Panton?”

“Nothing,” she said sounding defeated. “I must have blacked out. I don’t recall if I wrecked or if I hit my head. The doctor in the ER said I had some bruising behind my ears but I have no idea how that could have happened. I don’t remember driving or stopping for gas or to eat or go to the bathroom. Nothing.” Tears began to run down her cheeks again.

“It’s a long way from Sayre, Pennsylvania to Panton, Vermont. You’re missing two days. I’m just as confused as you are. We’re going to investigate the murder of the man down by the river and you’ll remain a suspect. But for the life of us no one here can figure out how you were covered in his blood but his body was left by the water in the dirt and moist soil with no footprints around him and no fingerprints or any foreign DNA to be found. It was like he was dropped there out of thin air. There are some other oddities about the case that have nothing to do with you, and we’ll keep those details out of the press until I call a specialist to take over this case.”

“What do I do now?” Janet asked.

“For now we’ll find you a more suitable place to wait until your friend Amy arrives. She took a puddle jumper up here to drive you home. She should be here anytime now. You’re car is being brought over from the impound lot. We had to search it, just so you know. Nothing was taken but make sure you take a look at everything before you leave. Oh, and just one other thing, Ms. Wright.”

“You can call me Janet. I’m calling you Mitchell, after all. Detective Graves just sounds a bit too creepy after what I’ve been through.”

He gave a half-hearted laugh as if it was the first time he’d heard that statement before.

“When you get settled in back home I’m going to have the specialist I mentioned pay you a visit. He’ll call first and set up a time to meet, but I think it’s important that you give him the time.”

“What kind of specialist is this guy?” she asked.

“It’s hard to answer that question. Most people in my line of work are dismissive of things that defy explanation. He’ll tell you a bit more about the case that I can’t discuss here. He and his partner look into…well, let’s just say they investigate some pretty strange things. They are the people you call when things get a little too weird.”

“So what happened to me…” she trailed off.

“Definitely weird,” he said with a smile. Graves leaned in to whisper in her ear. “The man they found dead under that bridge. He was an escaped convict. He escaped a maximum security prison last night. He was there at check-in for bedtime. He was not in his bed when the guards made their rounds at four in the morning. That’s seven o’clock our time here. The man escaped from prison in California.”

“How the hell did he get,” she got no farther with her question. Graves put his finger over his lips to tell her to keep quiet.

“Like I said. Definitely weird. If anything at all comes to mind. Visions or strange dreams, make sure you take notes.”

Graves led her to the lobby to wait for her friend but she was already there waiting, a look of worry all over her face. She hugged Amy tightly and whispered in her ear. “You’re never going to believe what happened. Don’t ask me about it until we’re out of here and out town.”

Amy caught on. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she looked her up and down and did a mock inspection. She was good at it, too.

“Nurse Amy to the rescue,” Janet smiled. “Let’s go home.”