Dana's First Case

Part 1: Meeting Mr. Jenkins

    Her name was Dana. It wasn't the name her mother picked for her but instead a shortened version of her chosen name. She was born Jordana Elizabeth Gordon but that seemed too complicated for her, so she chose to go with just Dana. Something far simpler and just as difficult for bullies to pick on. She never really had problems in school, yet Dana took credit for that because she took measures to minimize attention, and shortening her name was one such tactic. She was good in school, doing enough to pave a way into college yet always didn't do too much to make her the envy of people who would attack out of jealousy. Dana preferred to fly under the radar when she was in high school, doing enough to get the attention of various universities but not those of people who would demean her. When people were out in the fields playing sports or mingling with friends, Dana was in the library sneaking bites of her lunch when the librarian wasn't looking. This was how she survived high school, but it was college that scared her even more.

    Once she arrived, her fears of university life melted away as the campus she chose was quite friendly and allowed her to be herself more than she ever had before. She was free thinker, a person who needed more than just a person's word to believe their story. She demanded evidence, which would explain why she was also a hard skeptic. She stopped going to church a long, long time ago and was a pursuer of the sciences more than the arts as science was about truth where art was about fantasy. Dana was more interested in the way things were rather than the way people wanted them to be. Her mother wasn't a strong supporter as she thought college was only meant for women who were still looking for a good husband, where Dana wanted to find her way in life rather than a man to support her.

    While it was practicality that made her want to be a nurse but it was her curiosity that always got her into trouble. Whenever she became bored with her current studies, Kat would often challenge her professors and refuse to do what all students were encouraged to do: regurgitate what they were told and not think for themselves. To Dana Gordon, this was not her idea of higher learning but a gross example systematic brainwashing. When she realized what a sham the university truly was, she dropped out and continued her studies for the price of a library card, which was much cheaper.

    Dana never told her family that she dropped out and instead chose to lie and tell them she was doing well. This allowed her the freedom to do whatever she wanted and start to make her own life, which was the entire reason she had moved away to a distant university to begin with. She was always in search of answers and found many everyday at the library during her off time. She paid the bills by working at various shops, doing whatever she could to make ends meet. She wasn't afraid to work and despite the fact that her family was wealthy, she didn't want anything from them. To accept their money was to accept their will, their belief that she was inferior and incapable of doing her own thing. To Dana, accepting what they though of her was not an option. She was better than what they thought of her, better than what the world thought of her during this time of blatant sexism. She would do something that she liked and she didn't care what her family or the world had to say about it.

    Dana's calling came to her one night when she was working at a local pub. She was serving drinks and flirting with the regulars for good tips when a man strolled in and took a seat at the table. He waited very patiently and Dana could tell by how he was dressed that he was in her presence for more than just a drink. While waiting for her, the man was looking around the bar. He was either scoping the place out or looking for someone who should be there.

    "Good evening, sir." Dana said with a smile.

    "Good evening, Miss." The man said as he took his hat off. "I'll take a pint of Brewsters please."

    Dana could tell just by his good manners that he wasn't from this part of town. No one called her Ma'am unless they were well breed and educated. Something she rarely saw in her pub at least. "Of course." Dana replied as she left to fetch the man his drink. As she returned to the man at the bar with her drink, she smiled again.

    "Do you need help with anything else?" She asked.

    "What makes you think I need your help?" the man replied.

    "Well, you are looking around the bar an awful lot." Dana answered. "You're not being very secretive about it, so that gives me the impression you're here to meet someone rather than follow them. I can also tell that you've never met this person before, this will be your first encounter."

    "What tells you that?" the man said, curious to know more.

    "You keep reading that piece of paper in your hand, which likely has the name of the person you're here to meet and a description of what they look like. The fact that you don't know what this person looks like is why you turn to the door every time it opens." Dana then pointed to the back. "You also scouted our place for possible exits so it tells me you're anticipating a quick departure after your meeting or the chance that the person you're here to meet doesn't want to talk to you and might run for the back door."

    The man took a sip of his beer and smiled. "I guess you are more than just a pretty face."

    "Most of us are." Dana chided back.

    "Well since you work here and have an eye for detail, perhaps you can help me." The man said with a smile. "I am looking for someone, that much is true. This man is missing and I've been asked to bring him in."

    "Like a bounty hunger?" Dana asked.

    "Heavens, no." the man replied with a laugh. "I'm a private investigator and the person I'm looking for defrauded an insurance company. They've paid out a large sum for what they thought was an accidental death but there have been several reports of him being sighted in this part of town."

    "So what are you supposed to do?" Dana asked.

    "Find him and prove he's still alive." He answered. "Nothing too complex, just take his photo with this portable camera I have here and they'll rescind the payout and sue for the rest."

    "That sounds very exciting." Dana confessed. "So what does this person look like?'

    Dana spent half the night speaking to this man between serving drinks to other customers and she was inspired by the kind of work this man did. His name was Alexander Jenkins, originally from Cambridge and settled there after exploring the world and learning a great deal from other cultures. Dana enjoyed speaking with Mr. Jenkins because he was a wise man with knowledge that none of her professors could ever offer. What he knew came from a wealth of personal experience. When he spoke about Asia it wasn't from something he read in a book but from his experience over there, visiting monks in their temples and the people in the poorest slums. He had traveled the south pacific through Africa and South America before eventually settling back home to become a private investigator, a job that he had now been doing rather well for over twenty years.

    To hear Mr. Jenkins detail his life as a private sleuth, it was nothing short of amazing. He wasn't the kind of guy who would sneak around to find out of a man was cheating on his wife, that kind of work was beneath him. Before he traveled the world, Mr. Jenkins used to be a police officer. He was a good cop, but years on the force made him increasingly frustrated with the politics that often interfered with their work. It was clear to Jenkins that the people above him being more concerned with their career rather than helping people.

    Dana enjoyed speaking to Mr. Jenkins and was actually disappointed that she wasn't able to help him find the man he was looking for. Just in case the person he was looking for stopped in, he left a card for her with his number and address on it for her to call. She promised to call if she spotted the man which was appreciated by Mr. Jenkins as he left a sizable tip before leaving. When she was cleaning up the bar after closing, Dana realized that Jenkins had left more than a decent tip for her as she spotted the camera he brought with him was left on the bar. She was surprised someone hadn't stolen it but Jenkins had left close to closing so it wasn't sitting there very long. She took the camera and decided she would return it to the PI the next morning. It was on her way to visit the old man when something happened that would change her life forever.

Part 2: The Other Side Of The Floor

    The next morning, Dana was up early so that she could make the trip across town to return the camera to Mr. Jenkins. He had left his card, which had the address of his office on it, so Dana decided to bring the camera in rather than call him to pick it up because she wanted to see where the sleuth worked and talk to him more about what he did for a living. Dana couldn't help it, she was very curious about Mr. Jenkins and his job which was in essence searching for the truth. He's paid by people to solve a mystery. To prove, or disprove, something they suspect. It was intriguing to her so taking the camera back to him would give her the answers she sought. When she arrived to the building, Dana checked her hair and her clothes before walking in. She didn't want to come off as a ditzy waitress and was dressed with pants and a dress shirt with the shoulders rolled up. Her hair was rolled up and she was wearing a pair of glasses instead of the contacts she used at work. When she knocked on the door, Dana was relieved to hear the old man call her to walk in. She took a deep breath and walked in.

    Jenkins was behind his desk and looked delighted to see as he got up out of his chair and greeted her with a smile. "Miss Gordon." He said as he shook her hand. "To what do I owe for the pleasure of your company?"

    "You forgot something." Dana said as she reached into her purse and pulled out his camera. "You're not going to take any pictures without this."

    "Thank you!" Jenkins said as he walked over took back his camera. "For a moment I thought I had forgotten in the cab I took home."

    "It was at the bar." Dana confirmed. "You're lucky I found it before anyone else did." She looked around the office and seemed impressed with what she saw. There were pictures on the wall of Jenkins with some pretty popular people as well as newspaper clippings of some interesting cases that he personally solved. She was amazing how many were actually up there on the wall, skimming over them and getting a gist for what kind of cases the man actually solved on his own. To Dana, this was amazing that he was paid to find secrets and reveal them to the world; a hunter of truth.

    "You seem impressed." Jenkins said as he went back to his desk and poured took a sip of his coffee. "It's almost as if you didn't actually believe I really was a private eye."

    "I believed it." Dana corrected him. "There was just a part of me that thought it was too good to be true, even by today's standards."

    "I get what you're saying." Jenkins concurred. "With today's technology and gadgets, you think people like me are replaceable. We're not. Nothing is ever going to replace a quick mind that is able to look past the smoke screen and find what's really out there. No machine will ever replace human instinct."

    "I get it." Dana said as she kept reading the articles on the wall.

    "I'll give you an example of something I'm working on right now." Jenkins said as he opened a file that was on his desk. "We've got the case of Richard Jones. He's been arrested by the police for as many as four homicides but he's suspected in killing more people. He hasn't been charged with more because we can't find any evidence that he's responsible for the disappearance of other potential victims. The police have him for more than enough evidence to lock Jones away for the rest of his life, but the families of the people still missing are not satisfied. They are convinced this man harmed their girls, and it's up to me to dig up evidence that he did or find out what really happened to them."

    "So what's the problem?" Dana asked. "He's not talking?"

    "He lawyered up a long time ago." Jenkins replied. "We know he did the first four because we found their remains in his basement. He had dug up half of his basement and was using as a burial site for them. I guess it was a good place to store them cause once he was done I guess he was going to recover that half of the floor and they would never have been found. We just have no idea what he might have done with the other victims."

    "Have you considered a home that he previously owned before that one?" Dana asked. "Or a home he used to live in, like with his folks?"

    "We considered that." Jenkins answered. "We checked the basement floor of the other home he used to own and where he lived with his parents. There was no sign of anything."

    "You're sure he hid them in someone's basement floor?" Dana asked.

    "It's the only pattern this guy seemed to follow." Jenkins said as he poured her a cup of coffee.

    Dana took the coffee from him and sat down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk and thought about it. They both sat there for what seemed like hours, brainstorming over the problem and trying to find the truth. The puzzle fascinated Dana a great deal and she was eager to solve it.

    "What if you're thinking about this all wrong?" Dana asked.

    "What do you mean?" Jenkins called back.

    "You're assuming that he dug up his basement, but was there any evidence of that?" Dana asked as she sat up. "Were there pieces of concrete in the basement or surrounding the house?"

    Jenkins started to file through the photos. "I don't think so."

    "So if he didn't dig up his basement floor, that means he was in the process of doing the opposite." Dana concluded. "He was putting a floor down."

    "What would that mean?" Jenkins asked as he was eager to see where the young lady was going with this.

    "That means the other side of the floor was put down first." Dana answered. "That means he covered over that part of the floor only when he was finished with it."

    Jenkins eyes popped out of his head. "Of course!"

    Dana had a smile that was oozing with confidence. "I'm willing to bet he's got bodies buried on both sides of the floor. The bodies you found uncovered were the second half of his project, not the first. I think if they dig up the rest of that basement, you'll find the other people you're looking for."

    Jenkins knew she was onto something and went with it. He picked up the phone and spoke with one of his many loyal contacts at the station. He inquired if anyone had bothered to dig up and look on the other side of the basement. Turns out no one had even thought about doing that. Everyone was under the assumption that Jones had dug up that side first. It never occurred to any of the cops to think that his current pit was the second half of his project. The two of them sat there in the warm office for a few hours, waiting to hear back from someone. The call came close to three hours after Jenkins had first made his call to the station. He listened to what the person on the phone had to say and then nodded and hung the phone up.

    "I can't believe it." Jenkins said, looking back at Dana.

    "What is it?" Dana asked.

    "They found seven more bodies." Jenkins said with a wide smile on his face. "Seven more! That's four more than we had originally assumed!"

    "So, what does this mean?" Dana asked.

    "It means this dirt bag Jones is going to get seven more counts added to his original charges." Jenkins answered. "And a few families that I've been talking to are finally going to get the closure they were seeking."

    "That's amazing!" Dana said with a smile.

    "You're amazing!" Jenkins said as he could believe she cracked the case that quickly. He had asked for her advice because he thought talking about it out loud might spark some ideas he hadn't come up with before. He had no idea that young Dana would figure it out and help him break the thing wide open.

     "I think we make a great team." Dana said as she sat up in her chair. "Do you have any room for another sleuth in here?"

     Jenkins paused for a moment and considered her proposal. It was clear that the young waitress was trying to find better and more respectable work as a sleuth. It wasn't as demeaning as being a waitress and it probably paid more. If she was this good all the time, he could really use her help. Jenkins wasn't getting any younger and he could actually use the help. "All right, but I don't think one case is going to convince me."

    "What do you want me to do next?" Dana asked.

    "This guy I'm looking for." Jenkins replied as he tossed the camera back to her. "Find him and you're hired."

    Dana held the camera for a few seconds and then tossed it back to him. "I already found him. When I was walking by I came across a man who looked like the gentleman you were looking for so I took a few pictures and followed him home." She walked over and handed Jenkins a small piece of paper that was in her pocket, which had an address to where the man could be found.

    "When do I start?" she asked.

  Jenkins looked at the piece of paper and smiled. "What time is it now?"

3. The Art Of Observation

    Private investigators often had a bad rap. They were looked down upon by most of society as people who stuck their noses where they didn't below and ratted people out. While some of that might be true, what a good P.I. did for their client was uncover what was often the ugly truth. Proof of someone being corrupt and selling of company secrets or the politician who is wasting campaign funds on hookers, there was always something for a P.I. to look into and while Jenkins was against taking a lot of dirty jobs, when times were slow he was not the kind to be a chooser when begging for work. The truth was, the police force was very accepting of private investigators, or sleuths as they often referred to them as. Their reason was simple: most of them were former badges themselves, much like Jenkins was, and most of the time when he took a case it was a case they either hit a brick wall on or couldn't afford to continue pursuing. Jenkins to them was like a clean up man, taking the trash they couldn't handle any more and helping out with what was usually an already full workload. Cops most of the time didn't like to let things go. An unsolved case nags at them like a bitter ex wife, calling every week to remind you of what a failure that experience was. They don't like loose ends and when Jenkins took something off their hands and solved them, it a relief for everyone involved.

     Dana Gordon was a quick study when learning from Jenkins. He always referred to her as 'his associate' when introducing him to contacts within and outside the force, which made his contacts her contacts as well. She began to gain perception of his craft by watching the old man work a case, ask questions and even pause to scan a scene with the up most concentration. He would take off his glasses and nibble on one of the arms of it while scanning a crime scene or the setting where something allegedly occurred. He looked for even the smallest detail, and this was something that amazed Dana to no end. If was studying with this great sleuth where Dana learned what she wanted to do with her life: she wanted to be a PI, a sleuth like Jenkins. He already knew that and was doing his best to train here into the best possible private detective she could possibly be. She was already very bright and had a wealth of good knowledge, Jenkins was merely chipping away at the marble like an artist to make sure the right areas were exposed and used to make Dana a better sleuth.

    He would often test her, forcing her to use her powers of observation to train her attention to detail, something she would need whenever she was she scanned a crime scene or a point of interest. One day when Dana strolled into the den to visit Jenkins to give him an update on a case they were doing, he lifted his hand and asked her to be silent with a single shush.

    "Please close your eyes, Dana." he requested. She knew what was going on and did as she was told. She never cheated as to do so would only cheat herself of a great learning experience.

    "The blinds; where were they?" Jenkins sternly asked.

    "Closed, but only halfway and one of them was obstructed by your chair." Dana answered. She didn't need to open her eyes to confirm it as the rules of this game were that she could only answer if you knew the answer. No guessing of any kind was allowed as this was to test her ability to observe, not get right answers. She would stand there in the middle of the room with her eyes closed waiting for the next question.

    "There are three clocks behind you, the time on the one in the middle."

    "Seven fifteen."

    "Four books on my bureau, titles of book two and four."

    "The picture of Dorian Grey and The origin of the species."

    "Excellent." Jenkins said as he stood up and started to pace the room. He began to look for minute objects around the room to stump her and force her to concentrate even harder. "There is a robe hanging on the coat rack behind the door... what colour is it?"

    "Yellow, and dirt." Dana said with a smile.

    "Not entirely inaccurate." Jenkins said with a chuckle.

    "Anything else?" Dana then asked. She wasn't in a hurry but she preferred that Jenkins didn't stall while many details were still fresh in her mind.

    The exercise would have gone on a bit longer but there the phone interrupted them and Jenkins picked it up and listened intently as something urgent was going on. He grabbed a pen and pad and began to scribble down the details, which made Dana curious to what was going on.

    "We've been asked to assist in an investigation by the police." He said without being asked.

    "What's going on that they would call us?" Dana asked.

    "A child has gone missing." Jenkins asked as he hopped out of chair and put on his coat. "They need all hands on deck to conduct a search in the last place she was seen over four hours ago."

    "Do they suspect foul play?" Dana inquired.

    "Not yet." Jenkins answered. "But the longer she remains missing, the more the police will suspect someone took her."

    "Where should we start?" Dana asked as she grabbed her coat.

    Jenkins paused for a moment to ponder it. He hadn't taken her out for the serious cases but given the urgency of the situation, he was willing to make an exception. "We should start by interviewing all her friends. I have a feeling you might have more success getting information out of them. I'll speak with her parents and other older relatives."

    "Sounds like a plan." Dana said as they both left the office and hailed a cab. It took them less than ten minutes to get out to the desired location, which was the home of the missing child. Police were everywhere to keep the press away from the family who were in bad shape as they didn't know where their little girl was.

    As one of Jenkins' contacts let them both through the barricade, Jenkins turned to Dana. "Start with the child's sister and then interview her friends. Find out what her usual routine is and we'll be able to trace her steps. If this was an abduction, finding the place where she was taken is vital to find clues that could help us find her."

    "I'll do my best." Dana said as she followed her boss into the house.

    Once inside they broke up and looked for people to speak with. Jenkins has more experience talking to parents in their position from his time on the force, so he was able to approach the parents of the missing child with a calm and very comforting but confident demeanor. He wanted to assure them while talking to them that everyone was doing there best to make sure they child returned home as quickly as possible and safely. That seemed to break the ice, which made it easier for Jenkins to ask the hard questions, such as history of rebellion and if any threats of running away were made. Dana listened from the stairs for a moment and then when up to the second floor in search of the missing child's older sister.

    When Dana reached the top of the stairs, it wasn't too difficult for her to understand what rooms belonged to which member of the family. She walked over to one of the rooms and gently knocked on the door. "Melanie, can I come in please?"

    A moment later it cracked open just small enough for the young woman to peek out. "Who are you?"

    "My name is Dana." Dana said with a friendly smile. "I'm helping the police look for your big sister, Jessica. Can I come in please?"

    "I don't know anything." the young girl replied.

    "I never said you did." Dana said as she became suspicious. The older sister had no reason to act defensive, but she was. "I just want to ask you a few questions, just routine stuff that could help us."

    "What kind of stuff." She asked.

    "Like what route she would take to walk home from school." Dana suggested. "Knowing how she went home could help us trace her steps."

    "She didn't walk." The girl answered. "We took the bus."

    "That's still important." Dana said, "Every detail is important."

    Melanie slowly opened the door a little more. "Why?"

    "Ever step we can trace can help us look for her." Dana answered. "Where did the bus drop you guys off?"

    "Just down the street, near Lincoln Road." Melanie answered.

    "And you guys would walk straight home from there?" Dana inquired. She stood there and waited as Melanie was silent and thinking about what she wanted to say next. "Melanie, where did you guys usually go after getting off the bus?"

    Melanie didn't seem to want to answer. "I can't say."

    "Why not?" Dana asked.

    "It's a secret." Melanie replied. "I promised Jessica and our friends that I would never tell anyone. If I do, they'll kick me out!"

    "Out of what?"

    "The club."

    Dana paused for a moment and it dawned on her. "You guys built a clubhouse for this, didn't you?"

    Melanie didn't answer but she nodded.

   "Where is it?" Dana asked.

    "I can't tell you." Melanie answered. "Boys are not allowed and I already checked; she wasn't there."

    Dana paused again and thought about it. "In case you didn't notice, I'm a girl too. So it wouldn't be against the rules to show me your clubhouse. If she's not there, I won't tell anyone. Your secret will be save with me."

    "Promise?" Melanie asked.

    "Cross my heart." Dana answered as she drew an imaginary X on her chest. "But you have to take me there... right now."

4. The Club House

    Melanie walked Dana to the back door and to the rear of their backyard which lead to a small trail that went to the forest behind their street. It wasn't a very dense forest, but it was preserved within the small suburb because it was connected to one of the biggest parks in the city. This concerned Dana because she knew from what Jenkins had told her that the police were searching the streets and parks between the house and the school. No one was looking in the area that Melanie was leading her into and she would have to keep her eyes peeled when wandering around. It took several minutes of walking along the trail before Melanie took a sharp left turn and started to walk a path that wasn't a tread as the one they just left. A few moments later they came to a small shack that was build of left over wood from old projects and the odd board from the hardware store. The homemade clubhouse was crudely made and wasn't any bigger than a shed someone would keep in their backyard to store tools and what not. It would be difficult to squeeze anymore than five people into the small structure but Dana quickly walked over and opened the door. There was no one inside.

    "I told you she wasn't here." Melanie said as she looked around. "What do you think happened to her?"

    "I'm not sure." Dana said as she also looked around. "Is anything out of place or missing? Has anything changed here since the last time you were all here together?"

    Melanie looked inside the clubhouse but couldn't tell. "It's usually very messy, so I can't tell." She then looked around again. "One of the chairs was moved outside!" she pointed to the chair just outside the door. "That was inside yesterday!"

    "That means Jessica might have come here first." Dana said as she grabbed the chair and put it back inside the clubhouse. She started to circle around the clubhouse, checking for virtually anything. "How did Jessica usually get home from here?"

    Melanie pointed towards the path they just took. "Well I would usually walk back down here..."

    "Not you." Dana said as she interrupted her. "What route would Jessica take that not differ from your own route home?"

    "Oh." Melanie replied as she finally understood the question. "Well, sometimes Jessica liked to go down to the river and get her feet wet." She looked back at Dana. "I never checked over there."

    Dana and Melanie quickly went further beyond the clubhouse until the reached a small stream that flowed through the park and into the small woods. Dana looked up and down the stream but there was no sign of Jessica. She checked the waters to make sure there wasn't anything floating in the water, but thankfully couldn't find any. Out of sheer desperation, she filled her lungs full of air and yelled out as lout as she could. "Jessica!"

    Dana and Melanie both called out a few times and without any warning there was a reply.

    "I'm over here!" A voice called from a short distance away.

    Dana and Melanie started running towards the spot where they thought the voice came from and starting shouting out for Jessica again. A few moments later, they heard the voice call out again.

    "I'm up here!"

    Dana looked up and sitting on a branch about twenty feet up in one of the trees was Jessica, shaking from the cold and afraid to come down. Dana let out a huge gasp and waved to her. "It's nice to meet you Jessica! Are you okay?"

    "No." Jessica replied with a whimper. "Is it still down there?"

    "Is what still down here?" Melanie called up.

    Dana started to look around for what she was talking about and then she saw it; scratch marks on the base of the tree. Jessica wasn't up there because she wanted a good view and Dana was starting to realize why Jessica was up there so long.

    "Jessica," Dana called up to her, "What chased you up that tree?"

    "I don't know." Jessica answered. "It was like a dog but had sharp teeth and it came after me."

    Melanie started to look around. "I don't see anything."

    No sooner had she spoke those words, there was a soft growl coming from another direction. Dana turned around and could see the animal that Jessica was hiding from. It wasn't a dog, but looked more like a wolf. One that was very angry and bearing teeth the moment it spotted them. Dana waved at Melanie to get her attention.

    "Get behind me!" she called out.

    Melanie didn't have to be asked twice as she got behind Dana who was thinking about what she could do next. She could call for help, but didn't think she would have enough time to do that before the wolf came at them. Dana took a deep breath and realized she was going to do something extreme to resolve the situation, something she never wanted to do. Jenkins told her during her months of training that he didn't want her to either, but wanted her prepared just in case the situation arose. Dana couldn't believe she was being put into that exact situation so soon but realize that the lives of two young girls depended on her and what she would do next. As the snarling wolf started to creep closer and try to find a good position to attack from, Dana reached into her coat and pulled out the one thing she never wanted to use: her gun.

    Dana had sworn she would never use one, but Jenkins had insisted. He told her that if something had happened to her on the job that he would never forgive himself for not sending her out there prepared. She slowly pulled out the small revolver, which already had six shots loaded into the chamber. She didn't want to shoot the wolf but she was aware that even a warning shot would provoke an attack so if she was going to fire at the wolf, she would have to shoot to kill to protect herself and the two girls.

    The wolf on the other hand, forced her to make the tough decision as it started to run at them both. As Jenkins had shown her at the police range, she used both hands and raised the barrel up and fired.

5. Dinner With The Widow

    Jenkins was still speaking with the parents and taking down a lot of notes about their daughter when he heard three shots ring out from the woods beyond the backyard. Out of sheer instinct, and possibly habit, Jenkins jumped up to his feet and pulled out his own gun.

    "You stay here!" he called to the two parents as he bolted out the back door.

    As he ran out into the backyard, there were two uniformed police officers who were coming out from the front yard in response to the shots.

    "You heard that too?" one of them asked.

   "This way!" Jenkins called as they dashed out of the backyard and into the woods. As they were running down the path, they bumped into Melanie who was running back to the house. Jenkins grabbed her and took a good look to make sure she wasn't injured. "Are you all right?" he quickly asked.

    "I'm okay." Melanie said as she pointed towards the clubhouse. "Dana and Jessica are that way, about fifty feet behind the clubhouse!"

    Jenkins turned to one of the two officers that were following him. "Make sure she gets back to the house safely." He then pointed at the other officer. "You come with me, sport."

    Jenkins and the other officer started moving through the woods as a decent pace, but started to run faster when two more shots rang out through the trees. When they came upon the area where Dana was standing, he could see what had happened. Lying at her feet, pumped full of five shots was what looked like a wolf.

    "Are you alright?" he asked her.

    "I'm fine." Dana said with a small smile.

    "Think he's got enough iron in his diet?" Jenkins said with a grin as he strolled over to check on the wolf.

    "I just wanted to make sure he wouldn't get back up." Dana said, "The last thing I wanted to do was join Jessica."

    "Where is Jessica?" Jenkins asked.

    Dana took the hand that wasn't holding the revolver and pointed up.

    Jenkins got back to his feet and glanced up to see the young girl they were looking for, up high in the tree and shaking like a leaf. It all began to make sense to the private investigator as he took off his hat to have a better look.

    "How long have you been up there, young lady?" he called up.

   "Since school." Jessica called back. "I was walking to the clubhouse when this thing ran after me."

    Jenkins took a deep breathe. "She's been up there almost the entire time she's been missing."

    "Look at this." Dana said as she pointed to the large scratches on the base of the tree. "This beast was waiting for her to come down."

    The other officer that had come out into the forest went back to the house to get a ladder so that Jessica could safely come down the tree. Once she was back on the ground, Jessica held her hand while she and Jenkins walked her back to the house and to her parents who were overjoyed to see her again. As they were hugging their daughter as if it had been years since they last saw her, Dana felt this wave of satisfaction come about. She had solved the case. Jenkins could tell by the look on her face.

    "You did great." He said so her as he gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "And you even got to fire off a few rounds!"

    "Shut up." Dana quickly replied. She didn't like guns and he knew it.

    "That was pretty quick." Jenkins said with a sly grin. "I had three more months to go before I lost that bet."

    "I didn't want to use it." Dana confessed.

    "That feeling is normal." Jenkins replied. "I never want to use it either, and whenever I did the guilt was pretty bad. At least you only shot a dog this time so it's not that bad."

    "Not that good either." Dana said, distraught that she ended a life.

    "You saved two girls from what looked like a savage beast." Jenkins said as he comforted her. "That was the right thing to do, to save them."

    Just then, some reporters came into the backyard and they eager to get a picture of the family reunited, which would sell a lot of papers the next day. The officers called Jenkins and Dana to join them in the photo as their part in bringing Jessica home safely couldn't be denied. When the picture first appeared in the paper the next day, Jenkins was surprised to see that the police had not hesitated to give all the credit to Dana and himself for bringing Jessica home safely. To say Jenkins was delighted to have such a high profile case in the papers with a positive outcome would be an understatement. News of their work with the police spread quickly and soon clients were coming out from everywhere to acquire their services as private detectives. Jenkins felt bad about it, but they were so busy he had to start turning down work or promise to get to them later if they could find the time. They were getting so many cases that Jenkins had the means and the workload to take Dana on as a partner, a full time investigator with a salary and even her own desk to work from. She had been doing so well since she started working for him that Jenkins knew this was the right thing to do. She was a natural at his profession and she would only get better with each case. Jenkins even believed that by the time he retired, chances are she would be better than him. He was that confident in her abilities.

    Jenkins and Dana would spend the next several months solving major crimes throughout the city and make a lot of money in the process. From locating a lost last will and testament within a spacious mansion to investigating an old cold case that the family of the victims wanted solved, both Dana and Jenkins made a dynamic team that couldn't be stopped. With each major case they solved together, the more press and high priced clients they managed to get as well. Things got so busy at their agency that Jenkins had to increase their fees just to make sure only serious inquires came through their door. He even jacked them up enough to get a break but that didn't work. People were willing to pay almost anything to have their problems taken care of and Dana was learning a great deal not only from working with Jenkins but also about human nature by interacting with and investigating the vast backgrounds of their clients.

    It wasn't until ten months after the rescue of young Jessica would Dana face what would be her most challenging case since becoming a private investigator. It seemed like a simple case at first as they were invited to a mansion on the other side of town to help the lady of the house resolve a matter that required a keen eye. At first Jenkins felt this kind of work was below him but when he heard about the fee she was willing to pay for his services as well as the fancy dinner at her place, it was an offer even he found difficult to refuse. Jenkins had brought one of his finer suits from the house and used some of the petty cash to let Dana buy something more respectable to wear to their dinner. It wasn't a date of anything but Dana could appreciate how important it was to look their best for a client that was hosting guests.

    They arrived promptly to the home of the Lady Gwyneth Saunders. She was a widow of the late General of the armed forces, a war hero that was celebrated by most of the city and as a result she was revered as being the rock that stood by the General throughout his tough campaigns. She would often hold dinner parties as the old house, something that would amuse her and her children who she often wanted to see.
Jenkins and Dana had both arrived to the Lady Saunders' home promptly and walked into the vast mansion which was the biggest place Dana had ever seen.

"I didn't realize Generals made so much." Dana said as she took off her coat and gazed around the mammoth hallways.

   "They don't." Jenkins replied. "It's all hers. She inherited a fortune when she was very young, the only heir to an old school oil tycoon."

   "Wow." Dana said as she strolled down the hallway and gazed upon expensive works of art and other decorative masterpieces that were likely just things to the lady of the house. Dana had been in a few big homes when working with Jenkins, but the home of Lady Saunders dwarfed them all. She stuck close to Jenkins just to make sure she didn't get lost.

    As they walked into the enormous dining room, there were already several guests at the main table. They were not late, thankfully, as the Lady was often bitter about people who didn't show up on time. The lack of food on the table indicated they were no tardy and Jenkins politely bowed as he approached the table.

    "My Lady Saunders, a pleasure..." Jenkins started.

    "Trust me, Mr. Jenkins." Lady Saunders said as she took his hand and softly shook it. "The pleasure is all mine." It was this point where the Lady suddenly noticed that Jenkins had brought someone with him. "And who is this lovely young lady? She looks a little young to be your girlfriend."

    "She is my partner, a fellow investigator and a good one too. I should know; I trained her myself." Jenkins proudly said as he gestured to her. "This young lady is Dana Gordon."

    "Nice to meet you, Lady Saunders." Dana said as she gave a small, respectful courtesy.

    "A lady detective?" Lady Saunders said as grinned. "You are very welcome here as well, my dear. I am most interested in hearing how you became a private investigator with Mr. Jenkins."

    "It's not a very entertaining story." Dana confessed, trying to be modest.

    "She lies." Jenkins said as he came back into the conversation. "It's a great story and you'll love it!"

    "Then I must hear it during dinner!" Lady Saunders squealed with excitement. She loved a good story and investigators were always full of them as well as good ideas when some are needed.

    "Then I'd be happy to tell you." Dana said as she took a seat at the table where Lady Saunders had gestured to her towards.

    "Where did you go to school?" The lady asked.

    "Well, I started studying at Cambridge..." Dana answered.

    "Jordana?" a voice suddenly interrupted.

    Dana heard her name called out but didn't know where it came from. She then looked behind her and instantly recognized who it was.

    "Alexander?" She called out.

    The Lady was a loss for words. "I'm sorry, how do you know this young man? And how is it that he knows you as well?"

    "We have met before, my lady." Dana then answered.

    "Is that so?" the lady replied with a stern tone. "And why did he call you Jordana? I thought your were called Dana."

    "Dana is short for Jordana, my lady." Jenkins said as he took his seat.

    "I didn't expect to see you here tonight." The young man answered.

    "The feeling is quite mutual." Dana answered.

    Sensing there was a little hostility, Lady Saunders stepped in. "And what exactly is your relation with my daughter's fiancé?"

    Dana didn't know that the man was engaged and she could tell how awkward this might be if she didn't give a good explanation. Thankfully, she had one. "He's my brother."

6. The Good Doctor

    Everyone at the table was a little shocked, some beyond words. It took a few moments for anyone to respond but finally it dawned on Lady Saunders.

    "Of course, his last name is Gordon too!"She cried out, "Heaven's me, I should have caught onto that the moment I met you!"

    "What are you doing here, Alexander?" Dana quickly asked. "I thought you were at Harvard."

    "I graduated." Alexander Gordon answered. He was seven years her senior, the oldest of her three siblings. "I thought you were at Cambridge."

    "I found my calling, which made school rather unnecessary." Dana answered. She didn't know why she was answered his questions but it seemed to have everyone's curiosity so she went with it.

    "And what calling did you answer?" Alexander asked.

    "She's a private investigator." Jenkins asked. "One of the best I've had the privilege of working with."

    "Is that so?" Alexander said with a grin. "I assume Mom and Dad are unaware of this career change?"

    "I don't think they care." Dana fired back. "All they wanted me to do at college was find a good husband."

    "How is that working out?" Lady Saunders suddenly asked, just to be a part of the conversation.

    "It didn't." Dana honestly answered. "Most of the men there were ignorant and unoriginal."

    "Unoriginal?" the Lady said, confused. "What do you mean?"

    "What she means." Jenkins said as she stepped in. "Is that the boys in her school where all the same, mindless drones who told the professors what they wanted to hear, not a straight thinker amongst the bunch of them. All of them are unworthy of someone as bright and articulate as Dana."

    Jordana had never told Jenkins about her dropping out of college and he just seemed to pick that detail, which happened to be true, right out of thin air. She understood that he likely came to that conclusion after being around her as a working associate for several months.

    "Thank you." she said with a smile.

    "So." Alexander started with an air of smugness. "A private investigator?"

    "I prefer the term detective." Jenkins replied. "I used to be one on the force and I earned that title so I like to think I'm allowed to keep it."

    "And what about you?" Dana said as she tried to shift the conversation. "What are you doing in this town?"

    "It's my place of practice." Alexander answered. "I graduated from the school medicine last summer. I am working out of a hospital on the east side."

    "Congratulations." Dana said as she tried to be police. The truth was she couldn't care less about her brother or his successes. "But I wasn't referring to here as in this city, but more or less here as in what are you doing in this house and at this table?"

    "I think you heard Lady Saunders when this discussion began." Alexander replied with a small grin. "I am engaged to marry her daughter, Amelia."

    "This is delightful!" Lady Saunders chimed in. "You'll be like family!"

    Jenkins could feel the tension and decided to take his turn at changing the topic. "Lady Saunders, perhaps now might be a good time to let us know why you've summoned us here. Do you have something for us to take care of for you perhaps?"

    It looked like Lady Saunders could also tell there was a mild tension at the table so she decided to follow Mr. Jenkins' lead. "Very well; I have a matter of up most importance that requires your expertise. I would like for you to find my brother, William Barnes."

    "I didn't realize you had a brother." Jenkins replied. "I was under the impression you were the sole heir to everything, there was never any mention of a brother."

    "Well, he has been presumed dead for over ten years." Lady Saunders answered as she took a sip of the wine that was just delivered prior to the first course. "Presumed is not the same to me. If he's out there, I would much like to have him found."

    "For what purpose?" Jenkins then asked. "If you don't mind me inquiring."

    "Not at all." Lady Saunders said as the question didn't seem to bother her. She was well aware that investigators were better at their jobs if they knew why they were doing it in the first place. "If my brother is still out there, he deserves to inherit the same fortune I have, it's his birthright. I want to make sure he's taken care of if he is indeed still around. That is what family is supposed to do, take care of one another." When she finished making that statement, she shot a glance at both Dana and her brother, but before anyone could respond to her the staff arrived with the first course of their meal.

    Many people started eating and didn't say very much until Jenkins finally broke the silence after a few bites. "Why the suddenly urge to find your brother?"

    "It's not a sudden urge." Lady Saunders confessed. "I've always thought about him. The mystery surrounding his death has always haunted me. Regardless of what the truth is, I would like some closure on the subject."

    Jenkins had more questions but he didn't want to pry too soon, especially since everyone was eating. Death, presumed or not, didn't seem like the right conversation to have when trying to have dinner.

    Things were more toned down during the rest of the meal, which was nothing short of delicious. The staff brought out a main course of roast beef with mashed yams and asparagus. It was while they were eating dessert that Jenkins began to ask Lady Saunders more questions about her lost brother. Turns out he was in the military with the General during the Great War. He was stationed in France when she lost contact with him, and not finding him was a loss that both herself and her husband found hard to bear. When her husband passed away it became her burden to bear alone, one she didn't want anymore. Dana could tell it was something that bothered her a great deal, and it was clear to Jenkins as it was to her.

    "I think I've got what I need to get started." Jenkins said as he finished his dessert, which was a small custard to clear the pallet. "Do you have any documents here in the house that I could use, photographs of your bother and other sources I could use to start my search?"

    "I do." Lady Saunders said as she was clearly excited that Jenkins was going to take the case. "I have the letters he send to me from the front as well as documents from the military that my husband gathered to find out what exactly where his garrison was when he disappeared."

    "I'd like to see those please." Jenkins requested. He was never one to shy away from jumping right into a case and not waiting. He tended to impress clients by starting right away rather than waiting to start first thing in the next morning.

    "They're in the den." Lady Saunders replied. "I'll have Bernard show you there, I will join you shortly. I must powder my nose."

    "Of course." Jenkins said as he stood up.

    Everyone else at the table also stood up as Lady Saunders took her leave to head off for the bathroom. Jenkins didn't say anything to anyone else and immediately left the room to follow Bernard to the den. Dana instinctively wanted to follow Jenkins to the den and got up to join him. She was halfway out the door when something stopped her. Alexander had grabbed her arm.

    "What do you want?" she quickly asked.

    "A moment," Alexander replied. "We need to talk." 

7. A Body In The Den

    Dana really wasn't in the mood to talk with Alexander anymore than she already had but she understood that if she didn't give him a little of her time now he was going to pester her all night until she did.

    "I have a few moments," Dana started, "And then I have to join Mr. Jenkins in the den."

    "You're really serious about this?" Alexander said with disbelief. "The whole private investigator thing?"

    "Yes, I am." Dana answered. "This is the most enlightening and fulfilling thing I've ever done in my entire life. No one is going to stop me from doing it for the rest of my life."

    "Wow." Alexander said as he released her arm. "I believe you."

    "You do?" Dana asked.

    "Yes." Alexander confirmed. "I recognize that look in your eyes. I saw it every year in a class full of medical students who wanted to save the world. Some would drop out but the ones who never gave up and made it through had that same look in their face, the same dedication."

    "So you're not going to tell our parents?" Dana then asked.

    "I didn't say that." Alexander replied.

    Dana sighed. "So you are going to tell them what I'm doing?"

    "I didn't say that either." Alexander answered. "If they read about one of your adventures in the newspaper, which is how I found out, I will not lie when asked about it. I won't rat you out but I'm not going to lie if I'm confronted."

    "That seems fair." Dana said as she thought about it for a moment. "When did you hear about me in the news?"

    "The child you found in the forest." Alexander answered.

    "That was ten months ago!" Dana informed her brother.

    "Since you dropped out of college, they don't ask about you at all." Alexander informed her. "They refused to talk about it, they were that upset."

    "I'm sorry." Dana said as she could only imagine how upset her parents were upon find out she had left school. She didn't even tell them and just moved on without them. She hadn't even visited them in almost two years. She was surprised they hadn't sent investigators out to find her and drag her back home kicking and screaming. And now her brother was hiding the truth from them, aware of where she is and what she's doing.

    "Regardless of what our parents believe." Alexander started, 'When I saw that report of the two girls you saved from that beast, I was very proud."

    "Thank you." Dana replied, taken by surprise.

    "I can see and hear enthusiasm you have for your work." He then continued. "Trying to stop you from doing this would be a futile as someone trying to talk me out of practicing medicine."

    "That's right." Dana confirmed. "I feel like I found my calling."

    "It's a great feeling, isn't it?" Alexander asked. He knew the feeling because he was just as passionate about his own profession. "Finding the one thing you want to do for the rest of your life is like falling in love. You never want to do or be with anyone else ever again."

    "I get it." Dana confirmed. She was hooked and couldn't imagine herself doing anything else.

    "What about the fellow there... Mr. Jenkins?" Alexander then asked.

    "Gosh, no!" Dana snapped at him. "We are colleagues, nothing more."

    "Okay, just checking." Alexander said with a laugh.

    Dana gave him a playful slap on the arm. "And you! Engaged?"

    "Yes." Alexander confirmed. "To the only person I might love more than practicing medicine. I'd like you to meet..." He paused for a moment as he couldn't find his own fiancé. "Where'd she go?"

    "Probably had to powder her nose too." Dana assumed.

    "Most likely." Alexander concurred. "But just to let you know, that's fancy talk for having to take a pee."

    "No!" Dana said as she couldn't believe it.

    "I'm not kidding." Alexander replied. "They have code for everything around here."

    Dana couldn't remember the last time she and Alexander had been so close and to be honest, she was enjoying the moment. It was a moment that wouldn't last very long as their conversation was broken up by a scream that bellowed throughout the hallways. Dana turned to the hallway. "Where did that come from?"

    "It sounds like the den!" Alexander said as he ran into the hallway.

    Dana followed her brother as he was more familiar with the place than she was. It took them only a few seconds to find the den and in there was Lady Saunders and her daughter Amelia. Both of them had a scared look on their faces and Lady Saunders had turned a pale shade of white. Dana had no idea what was going on until she notice something behind the desk at the back of the den. There were two legs sticking out, motionless.

    "What's going on?" Alexander asked as he got closer.

    "It's Jenkins." Lady Saunders called back.

    Dana ran up to the desk to see what had happened and the sight horrified her. Someone had come up from behind Jenkins and clubbed him in the head with something. There was blood coming from the side of his head as well as his ear. Dana was stunned to the point where she was like the other two women, a statue unable to do or say anything. Mr. Jenkins was dead.

8. In Police Custody

    Dana was in the state of shock. She could hardly believe what was going on. Jenkins was motionless on the ground, as still as a statue. Could it be true, she thought to herself, was Jenkins really dead?

    "Everyone out of the way!" a voice yelled from behind her.

    Dana looked over as her brother Alexander came running into the room and dropped to one knee beside Jenkins. He held onto the man's wrist and then put two fingers on his neck before letting out a deep sigh.

    "I've got a pulse!" he called out, "Someone get me something I can use as a compress!

    Without thinking, Dana took off her jacket and handed it over to her brother. He immediately put it onto the wound where the blood was coming from. Dana couldn't believe what was happening.

    "Is he going to be all right?" she asked.

    "I'm not sure," he then looked around the room, "Has someone called for an ambulance? Then get on with it!"

    Various people fled the room to make the call, while Alexander continued to provide Jenkins with medical attention. Dana knelt on the floor to speak with her brother.

    "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.

    "Yes," Alexander answered without looking, "Keep this pressed against the wound, and I'll look around for other injuries."

    Dana did as she was told, holding the jacket that was compressed against the wound on Jenkins' head. Alexander proceeded to look around to make sure there were no other injuries on the body, which after he let out another sigh.

    "There doesn't appear to be any other traumas, besides the head." He said to his sister, "If we got to him in time, he might survive this."

    "It looks we did," Dana noted, "There isn't very much blood on the floor."

    Alexander looked around, "You're right. He wasn't here long before someone found him. His odds for survival are better than I previously assumed."

    While it seemed like forever, the ambulance finally arrived about six minutes after the call was made, which was still too long as far as Alexander was concerned. He was barking orders at the paramedics as they came in and took over care for Jenkins. Alexander was walking behind the stretcher and still speaking to the medics as they left the house. He was about to follow them out when someone grabbed his arm and stopped him.

    "Excuse me?" Alexander called out.

    "I don't think I will." the fan man replied, he was there with several uniformed police officers. "I'm detective Franklin, metro police. You are not going anywhere until we get your statement."

    "I'm a doctor..." Alexander started.

    "Where they're taking him, there are plenty of doctors." Franklin replied, "Not get your ass back in there or I'll have charged with obstruction."

    "Do as he says, Alex." Dana told him grabbing his other arm, "He's not kidding about the obstruction charge."

    "Ms. Gordon!" Franklin said in surprise, as he tipped his hat to the lady. "What brings you here to this fine establishment?"

    "I was invited," Dana replied, "So was my brother."

    "Your brother, eh?" Franklin said as he toned down a bit upon hearing that. "Where's Jenkins?"

    "You just missed him," Alexander said, gesturing to the ambulance as it was screaming away to the hospital.

    "Wait," Franklin said, shocked by the statement, "Jenkins is the Vic?"

    "He was attacked," Dana informed him, "Struck in the head with a blunt object. We managed to keep him breathing till the ambulance arrived."

    "Was a bit helpful to have a doctor on hand," Alexander said, not trying to boast but simply state the obvious; Jenkins would be dead if he wasn't invited to break bread with them tonight.

    "Get the hell back in the house, pointdexter!" the police detective barked, and he waited while everyone went back into the big mansion. Once they were inside, Dana led the detective to the room where Jenkins had been discovered. As the police detective browsed around the decent pool of blood by the desk, Dana could tell and already surmised what his next questions would be.

    "We haven't looked for a weapon yet," She advised him, "We were too busy trying to keep Jenkins alive."

    "No, that's alright doll," Franklin said, looking back at her. "Jenkins taught you well, we miss him at the force."

    "He told me about the cases you two did together." Dana informed him, "I could tell by the stories that he respected you and your work a great deal."

    Franklin smiled as he thought about it, "I appreciate you blowing smoke up my arse, but it's not necessary. Anyone good enough to keep up with Jenkins is good enough to keep up with me. You want to help me solve this case, let's start by looking for whatever Jenkins was whacked with, then we'll follow the trail right to our killer."

    "Yes, Sir." Dana said, giving him a half salute.

    As the two of them started to scour the room, Alexander walked in to see what they were up to. He had a feeling since they were both detectives that they would just get right to it without even asking the young doctor a single thing, despite how helpful he could be.

    "You're looking for something with a sharp edge," He called out, "Something with a smoother surface would have not broken him open as badly. So be on the lookout for something square shaped, possibly that would require two hands to weld."

    "What do you base that on boy wonder?" Franklin called out, not even bothering to look back at Alexander.

    "That's based on what I saw when examining the wound," the young doctor replied, "the force used would suggest that it was brought down on Mr. Jenkins with extreme pressure, so to generate that much power meant our assailant had to use both hands, or just one if he is a big man."

    "I didn't see any one that big here tonight," Dana offered, "So we're definitely looking for something that could be swung with two hands."

    Alexander walked over to the pool of blood, stood there and did a circle from the point of view. Then he looked up at the ceiling. After looking around, Alexander walked over to the other side of the room, where a fire place was crackling away as it had been all night. Once he had strolled over there, the young doctor looked at the display beside the fireplace, and then turned to face his sister.

    "Dana," he called out, "There is an item missing from this set."

    Dana walked over and did a quick count herself, "You're right."

    "Where is it now?" Franklin called out.

    "The once place where someone would put it if they wanted to dispose of evidence." Alexander said as he swatted down in front of the fireplace and looked inside, "Somewhere out of the way and dangerous to follow."

    Dana swatted down beside him. "Do you see it?"

    "I do," Alexander said, pointing to the left side. "It's in the fire, which means any fingerprints or evidence to connect to the crime is being destroyed as we speak. The instrument is being sterilized."

    "We can use the other tools to get it out." Dana suggested.

    "Don't bother," Franklin said as he walked over, "He's right. Whatever was on that is gone. We won't get a damn thing off it."

    "So where does that leave us?" Dana asked.

    Franklin sighed. "Back at square one."