~~*~~
Merrick hustled up the hill in time to be there when the helicopter landed. Tony jumped out and kept his head down as he cleared the blades and jogged to where Merrick was standing. “Where is she, bro?” Tony had to shout to be heard above the helicopter noise. “I expected a welcoming committee at the very least. I want to see for myself the woman that managed to persuade Merrick Flynn to get hitched.”
Merrick punched his younger brother in the arm. “Shut up, Tony,” he said. He pulled his brother in for a hug, holding onto him a little longer than usual.
“What’s up bro? You alright?”
Merrick wondered why the guy hadn’t turned off his rotors. A moment later, he understood, when the bird lifted off the ground and hovered above them. The wind from the moving blades picked up dirt and leaves, and Merrick had to cover his mouth so he wouldn’t inhale flying dirt.
“Where’s he going?” Merrick asked.
“He’s staying at a hotel in Linton. I made the reservation before we left. He needs to get a full tank of gas, and I wanted him to bring a thermos of Starbucks for the long flight back.”
Merrick sighed. He was going to ask Tony to take them back before dark. But now, that idea was off the table, because the helicopter had flown to Linton for frickin’ Starbucks.
Merrick walked Tony back towards the house. He wasn’t sure what to say about his situation with Bombshell, so he avoided the subject by giving Tony the grand exterior tour.
“I’d like to use a toilet, if it’s not too much to ask,” Tony said, as he heaved his back over the loose dirt and gravel trail.
“Oh, sorry, bro.”
They went inside and after Tony his the can, he came out, wiping wet hands on his pants.
“So, when to I get to meet this girl?”
“She’s taking a nap right now,” Merrick said.
Tony went to the bar and poured himself a drink. He walked around the large living room. “This is really nice, bro, I can see why you bought it.”
Merrick basked in the praise of his little half-brother. “Here let me show you the rest.”
When they finished the ground floor tour, Merrick headed for the bar. He wanted a drink as well. He expected Tony to follow him to get a refill, but instead he’d wandered off and started up the stairs.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Don’t I get to see the bedrooms? Where’s this Bombshell you’ve been hiding? Did you make her up?”
Joann appeared on the stairs. “Oh, hello,” she said as she rushed down. She extended her hand to Tony. “You must be Tony, Merrick’s brother?”
They exchanged their greetings, and the next thing both brothers knew, they were rushed to the kitchen, where Joann insisted on making them both a snack.
“How’s Bombshell?” Merrick asked casually.
“Oh, she’s fine.”
After Merrick and his brother finished their meal, Joann shooed them out of the kitchen. She needed to start dinner. Merrick took Tony to his room, a guest room on the bottom floor. Tony said he’d take a leaf out of Bombshell’s book and grab himself a nap, so Merrick left him to it and headed to his office.
In his office, he powered on his cabin computer. He had Internet, which is exactly what he needed. He did searches on PTSD and amnesia, and psychologists and hospitals specializing in the treatment of same, and wrote down a few names to call. Then he called Linda and asked her to book a doctor’s appointment for Bombshell. He gave her the name Mona Lisa Van Dyke and wondered if Tony had any luck getting the fake ID.
He went back to the bar and poured himself a second whiskey and soda, then returned to the computer for one more search.
Sheriff Harold Buck of Placid County was entered into the search bar. To his surprise, quite a few entries came up. He took out a pad of paper and started taking notes. Then he called his cousin Giovanni who worked as a private detective when he wasn’t helping out at the family restaurant.
“Yo, Giovanni here,” Giovanni said.
“It’s me, Merrick,” Merrick said. “I’m calling on business – important business.”
“Talk to me.”