Page 95 of Mia Amata

While they waited, they placed their orders, even though now their appetite wavered due to the tension they all felt at what news the detective had for them. They received their food and started to eat. When the detective got there, he took a seat at the table. He ordered a coffee and slipped his coat off.

“I’m sorry to intrude on your meal, but I knew you would want to be updated,” Ron said.

“It’s really OK,” Donald said. “Did you want to order something to eat?”

Ron shook his head, “I had a sandwich earlier, thanks. Please, eat, don’t let me stop you.” Ron looked at Jacob, “I wanted to ask you if the name Allen Davis meant anything to you?” Jacob shook his head, “Never heard the name before. Why?”

“He was the man that attacked your wife.” Ron didn’t offer any more but watched everyone around the table.

“Why?” Jacob asked. “Who was he?”

When Ron felt sure that nobody here knew the name, he told them what he knew. “Allen Davis is a homicide detective from Sparks, Nevada. He was married to a woman named Megan for five years.”

“I don’t understand, what does that have to do with Mattie?” Donald asked.

“Megan disappeared a few months ago. Her abandoned car was stolen by a thief and later went over the bank of a river. State police never found his body. They theorized that he had kidnapped Megan, and she was in the car with the thief when it went into the river. She was also thought to have been killed. Her body was never found either.” They were all listening, intently.

Jacob said, “I still don’t know what you are getting at Ron.”

Ron opened a manila folder he had lay on the table in front of him, pulling out a picture. “This is Megan.” He handed the picture to Jacob. Jacob stared at the picture.

“How can this be?” He looked at the detective.

“I don’t know, we are still investigating.”

“Jacob?” Nora asked. Jacob looked at her dazed, he handed her the picture. They all looked at it. It was a picture of Mattie, but a couple years younger with long blond hair. There was no mistaking her.

Ron said, “It appears she left her husband, let it seem like she was killed and started over here. She never said anything about a husband?”

Jacob shook his head. “No, she never mentioned one. Why would she do this?” Jacob was struggling to understand.

Ron said, “Usually the reason in a situation like this is he was abusive. She couldn’t take it anymore, so she took off.”

“You’re saying this man, this homicide detective, beat Mattie?” Donald asked, looking furious.

“I don’t have evidence of that yet, but that could be it. I should know more soon.” His phone rang, “Excuse me for a minute,” he said. He walked a little distance away and took the call.

Jacob was lost for words. He finally looked at his dad, “Why would she lie to me?” he asked.

Donald looked at him, “Listen, Jacob,” he said. “If this man abused her, she must have felt her life was in danger. She started completely over from scratch, wanting a new, happy life. She found that with you.”

Jacob heard his dad, thought about that. He sat back in silence, the thought of someone abusing Mia, his Mia Amata, for five years made him furious. He could never understand how someone could do that to a woman.

“Jacob,” his mom said. He looked at her. “You need to forgive the lies. To you, to us, to Mattie herself—she was Mattie, not Megan. She escaped a lot of abuse and pain. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I think I can,” Jacob said finally.

Detective Ron came back and sat down. “I’m sorry about that, I had some men searching the other side of the lake across from your house.”

Jacob leaned forward, “Did they find anything?” he asked.

Ron nodded, “Quite a bit, I’d like to take you out there right now if you have time.”

Jacob nodded, “I have to be at the hospital soon to pick up my daughter, hopefully take her home, but I can go.” Josh said he was coming with them. He told Randy he would see her at home.

Jacob and Josh climbed into Jacob’s truck, following the detective out to the lake. They followed the gravel road past the boat pier they both had used many times. The detective had stopped his car at the pier, Jacob pulled up behind him while Josh rolled down the window. He walked up to the window, “I was told not to try and drive my car past this point. They said a truck can make it though, I need to hop in with you if that is OK.”

Jacob nodded, he climbed into the back seat. Jacob looked at him, “Where to?”

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