The Case of the Vanished Lover
a Stealthboxxer Mystery



Chapter 10



It was now 3pm and the afternoon light was quickly fading, an oppressive dark cloud bank already having crept over and smothered what had been a cheery rare sunny day. I was sure that it would be raining again before full dark. I remembered that the tide had been going out at Mud Bay when I walked down by the old log pier this morning. That was hours ago so the tide must be well close to high or just going out now. I would have to check a tide chart to make sure I timed my return visit correctly if I was to get the right compass bearings according to McPhetridge's instructions for finding his hidden box.

I decided I would kill two birds with one stone and call Laurel to get confirmation of the Escalate's visit to Olympia in 1912 and to ask her to check the tide charts in preparation for a visit back to Mud Bay tomorrow.

I reached in the bottom drawer of my desk and pulled out the local telephone directory. Finding the number for the Maritime Museum and Library I quickly dialed the number. Laurel answered promptly after the first ring. "good afternoon. Port of Olympia Maritime Museum and Library. My name is Laurel, how may I help you?"

"Hello Laurel, this is SB Stealthboxxer. You are just who I wanted to talk to."

"Mr. Stealthboxxer, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"

"Well, Laurel, if you don't mind, I need a little bit more information from the library."

"I will certainly do what I can for you, Mr. Stealthboxxer. Although, I was hoping that you were calling me for more pleasant reasons than your investigations." Did I detect a slight whimper in her voice? She was obviously sending me signals.

"Business before pleasure my grandfather always said."

"Yes, by all means, let us take care of business first but let us not deny ourselves pleasure if we should happen to find it."

"All in good time. Here is what I need: I would like you to check the shipping records for the Escalate again. I want to verify that she made port in May of 1914 and would like you to check the manifest records for the outbound shipment that month."

"No problem, Mr. Stealthboxxer, I am quite familiar with the records for the Escalate now and can get them very quickly for you. Will you be paying another visit to pick up the information." Now it was getting too obvious that she was wanting me to see her again. She was an attractive woman and I had not had a date in close to 6 months. I glanced at yesterday's newspaper on my desk top open to the social page and saw an advertisement for a jazz group playing at a local dance club. I took the bait.

"Tell you what, Laurel. If you can gather that information this afternoon before you leave perhaps I can get it from you this evening when I take you to dinner. Do you like jazz?"

"I adore jazz, Mr. Stealthboxxer."

"Very good. I can pick you up at, say, 7pm and we can have dinner at the Evergreen Ballroom. There's a jazz group down from Seattle playing there tonight and I hear the lady singer is excellent."

"Sounds excellent, Mr. Stealthboxxer, or can I call you Enigma?"

"Please do. I will need your address."

"314 Eastside Street, Apartment D, second floor." I jotted down the address.

"Got it. 7 o'clock. Just one more thing."

"Yes, Enigma?" her voice was now very sultry as she enunciated the name 'Enigma'.

"I assume that the library has tidal charts for Olympia and surrounding waters."

"Of course. We provide the tidal charts for the Olympian newspaper every day."

"Can you tell me what time the low tide is for Mud Bay tomorrow morning."

"Do you want me to withold that information until this evening or do you need it right away?"

"If you don't mind, I'd like to know now. I plan to be out at Mud Bay at low tide tomorrow morning and it could make a difference on what time I will need to go to bed tonight."

"Well then, in that case, I will be right back." I heard the phone clank down on the desk and hurried footsteps fading away. A few seconds later they came back and she picked up the phone again, "Low tide for Mud Bay, Eld Inlet for tomorrow will be 11:12am. Looks like you shouldn't have any problems if you are out late tonight, Enigma." I detected a little giggle after that.

"Thank you. Then I will look forward to seeing you this evening. 7pm. Until then, good afternoon, Laurel."

"Good afternoon, Enigma." I hung up.

Who would have guessed that this quiet little librarian could be so forward. I guess I had better go home and get my dinner jacket brushed off.



To be continued . . .







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