Jack Blanks: A Short Story

The police rarely came to this part of town.

Jack Blanks rolled to a stop at the side of the highway, peering towards the blue and red lights flashing further down the street. Several police cars were parked beneath a highway overpass, arranged in a circular formation to block whatever is beyond them from sight.

Taking a deep breath, Jack shut off the engine and stepped out of the car, closing the door lightly behind him. His hands were shaking, so he shoved them in his pockets and began walking briskly over.

The evening was windy. By the time Jack made it over to the scene, his eyes were watering from the gale and his hair was sticking up in every direction. He smoothed it down hastily as a police officer spotted him and strode over.

“Detective,”

Other than the argument, I mean.”

“He was acting distracted for days before he vanished,” Rochelle answered, her voice so low it was almost a whisper. Jack leaned in closer, ears pricked. “Our argument that night was so silly.” Her eyes began to well up with tears again and her voice cracked.

Jack finished up his round of questions with Rochelle, trying to move things along to get her out of his office before she began crying in earnest. Once the questions were over, he shook her hand firmly and asked whether or not she had a ride home for the evening.

“Oh, yes,” Rochelle said, blowing her nose loudly in the same tissue she had had clenched in her fist this entire meeting. “Shelby, my neighbor, is waiting for me outside.” A faint smile twitched at the corner of her lips. “She’s been the greatest help during these past few days. She’s hardly left my side.”

Jack leaned forward in his seat, intrigued. “You two sound close. Did she know your husband as well?”

Rochelle nodded, furrowing her eyebrows. “Yes, we were all good friends. Why do you ask?”

“In cases like this, it’s good to cover all of our bases.” Jack leaned back in his seat, mind racing. “Is there anyway you could get Shelby to come in here for a few minutes? I’d like to run some questions by