Trouble And Money #37

Peace O' The Sea Trailer Park - Rye, New Hampshire

"It looks like the Cs have this game in the bag."  "Tatum is rebounding like a boss and making the Tragic look silly," Tammy commented from the sofa.

Conrad started laughing from his corner desk in the living room.  As he turned toward Tammy, he asked, "Tragic?"

"The Orlando Magic." "I call them the Orlando Tragic." 

"Even when they had Shaq, they still couldn't bring the ring."

Connie turned the small lamp on the desk off and crossed over to the sofa, holding her  hands, pulled her off the sofa, kissed her, and said, "Let's hit the rack. I need your opinions about a few things, if you don't mind.

Tammy broke free and sprinted for the bathroom while laughing. 

"I'm brushing first, and when you come out, I'll have my Sherlock Holmes hat on and the big magnifying glass."

"Will you be smoking that giant ass pipe?" Connie asked.

"No, no pipe but me and The Hound Of The Baskervilles will be waiting for you."

"Are we going to brainstorm the Coffee Shop lady from today? "

"Yes, I would like your opinion."

She is thrilled and ready to help when Connie opens up about the case.

"So kids go to college then come home for Thanksgiving talking shit about how opressed everyone in our country is."

She started laughing, "I did that.  I came home for Thanksgiving, wearing all black with my boobs hanging out, and of course I knew everything about life at that point."

"My father was not happy. Thank God I learned some lessons. I'm from Mass, but I love me some Merica, " she said.

"I'm sorry I took a sidebar."

So Tam, we have parents looking for their nineteen year old son. He went to college and sent a letter telling his parents he was dropping out to find himself.

"There's an old expression, 'Finding yourself.'It is used to break up with a person without telling them the real reason for the breakup," she said.

"You'll go find yourself if you don't stop sidetracking me."

Tammy then said, "No, Connie, it's essential; You said he was nineteen, and in his letter, he mentioned 'Finding himself"

"That expression is almost fifty years old."

Connie thought about it for a second and said, "I apologize. That is important."

Connie looked at the foot of the mattress; Gator was wagging his tail.

Connie started rereading the notes about the Defalter family. 

"Mom is a book club, weekly hair day, and tennis club woman. Tom Falter, her husband, owns a company that manufactures robotic components. He seems to be a workaholic."

"Jason, their son, is well adjusted by the looks of his socials."

"Phillips Exeter boarding school for High School, a lacrosse athlete, graduated in the upper third of his class, girlfriend, a good looking, happy kid."

"He chose the University of Virginia for college, the same school as Mom and Dad. He walked on as a lacrosse player at a highly rated lacrosse school and then made the team."

"Then he just goes radio silent."

"It's no wonder his parents are concerned."

Connie looks at Tammy, and he says, "What's my next step, Sherlock?"

Tammy paused, looked at Conrad, and said, "Well, Watson, I would go through Jason's socials and collect as many phone numbers and email addresses as possible from his friends, and then you should start calling them.

Then she added, "While you are driving down to Charlottesville with Gator."

Conrad smiled at Tammy and said, "That's what I'll do, but honey...You are Watson.

(Connie and Gator are on the road drinking coffee, eating donuts, and beef jerky on the way to Charlottesville, Virginia. Connie is beginning to love having Tammy around. She amuses him.)

Trouble And Money is published Monday through Friday. It is a free serial fiction detective story with characters you will love. Read the adventures of Conrad Grange as he solves cases and contends with a harsh world.