Dystopia Chapter 48: A Convenient Alibi

“Ms. Tucker.”

Cord standing at the table. A crudely written menu in hand. Dust-covered, he had been on the road for a bit.

“You’re back,” Susan said, surprised.

Cord acknowledged, “As promised.”

Passing the menu off to another worker, Cord took a seat. Susan joined him at the table and, aware they were being watched, spoke first. “It’s been a while. I started thinking I’d never see you again. Figured you’d found the truth and feared returning.

“Just very thorough. Often, to find the truth, you gotta search in the weeds. Details require time. Time to drag facts to the surface. Two kinds of sources: those that claimed to know nothing and those whose memories were filled with… embellished stories.”

For the moment the room fell silent, as if someone had paused the world, everyone listening, holding their breath. A few seemed overly interested, cocking their heads, leaning in, hoping to steal a secret.

“Jesse, as you know, was a teacher before the world crashed. Hired by those who could pay in order to generate income for the family. Often employed as a tutor by questionable characters, the advantaged, able to pay.”

“Nothing new. What else?” Susan asked.

“Mr. Eldridge is wealthy… a landowner, a cattle rancher, has access to natural resources, more land up north, a solar farm, and notoriety. Part of a crime syndicate. He hired Jesse to tutor his children.”

“Again, everyone already knew this.”

“The day of the event, Jesse traveled to Mr. Eldridge’s ranch, a thirty-minute ride — which in itself was dangerous — arrived, tied his horse to a post, and spent the next two hours tutoring the children… reading, writing and arithmetic.”

“A convenient alibi,” Susan added.

“One possibility…”

“The other…?”

“Observers, who were tending to the herd, saw three workers belonging to Mr. Eldridge depart the ranch with Max. Headed toward the Barrio.”

“It appeared Max left the tutoring session early, claiming he had chores to complete. Apparently a ruse. The gang, led by Max, rode out on clearly branded stock.”

Susan asked, “Are the witnesses you spoke to legitimate?”

“Good question; your sister currently employs them.”

“Unlikely.”

“Upon arriving, they positioned the horses where your mother could see the brands and then knocked on your door. Then asked if Jesse was around; claiming he had not arrived at the ranch.”

“Unexpectedly — but your mother, now worried since Jesse had never arrived, opened the door.”

“Mom was concerned. She had a bad feeling for most of the day. Naturally, she opened the door.”

“That’s when they barged in and carried out the attack. Eventually taking you and your sister back to the ranch, hooded. Your mother, an unfortunate… victim, an afterthought? A victim by chance or, more likely, an intentional act?”

“How about beaten and raped as we watched! Physically held, wondering if we would be next. I still have nightmares, reliving the attack,” Susan replied, now shaking, teary-eyed.

“As they guided you past the ranch-house, they took off your hoods and made certain you saw your dad’s mount tied to the hitching post out front, correct?”

Pause. “Yes.”

“Next, they took you and your sister to the back of the ranch and placed you in a darkened room where you could hear a conversation in an adjoining room.”

Again. “Yes.”

“Your mother worked as a waitress, a quasi-manager, at the cafe?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Eldridge ate at the cafe on a weekly basis?”

“Yes.”

“Was Mr. Eldridge friendly, perhaps chatty?”

“Mom was polite to all the customers.”

“Tell me — who owns the cafe?” Cord asked.

“Me.”

“How?”

“Mom was buying it.”

“From?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Let’s be clear. Mr. Eldridge cared for your mom, a platonic relationship, to be sure, but a real one. He was planning to give the cafe to her. Unfortunately, his elder son was furious. Had his own plans that did not include your mother.”

“This is a lie!”

“Abducted with your sister, then taken up north to the cold cattle country where you both served the male staff and guests, cooking, cleaning, and tending to their desires. Sandra, older and eventually pregnant — you were both loaded onto a train heading west to Meadview. Yes? No?”

“Yes.”

“Do you own the cafe?”

Now sitting, fidgeting, as the afternoon staff bustled around serving customers, she finally answered after a long pause, “Yes. But...”

“Mr. Eldridge panicked. He needed to protect his son and family. Blaming your dad, easy. Framed. I spoke with several who confirmed Mr. Eldridge quickly abandoned his hacienda. Gave it to some riffraff to manage. So the stories go.”

“Mr. Eldridge denies everything now, controlling a small town, Meadview, in the north-west corner of Arizona, near Vegas, a mega-metropolis. His older son, Max, working up north, Montana, I believe, always in trouble, claims he’s innocent. Of the three witnesses: one is dead. A second — no fan of Mr. Eldridge — I caught up with him, and he confirmed the story. The third has vanished.”

“I… the third kidnapper?” Susan mumbled, trying to pull the pieces together.

“Unknown.”

Susan asked, “I thought you said three working for my sister?”

“Correct, they are on Mrs. Eldridge’s payroll. To monitor you and eliminate Jesse, should he find you or Sandra. They’re also the source of the bounty, and behind several attempts on your dad’s life.”

“One final thought: the cattle ranch in Montana. Controlled by Max. You were one of many young women kidnapped and forced to serve the ranch, used and misused. And, should you ever like to visit the ranch… my advice, let it go, but if you can’t, I’ll take you there, should you choose.”

“Revenge?” she asked.

“Later, for now, next steps?”

Susan, leaning forward, lowering her voice, asked, “Who is the father of Sandra’s son?”

Cord, evasive, looked beyond Susan. Thinking, should he…?

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