Mystery Moon - Episode 2

Hubert Urbane Kemp sat on a park bench gazing out across the ocean to a channel island. He was confused, unhappy and unable to think straight. Should he phone the Sheriff? His wife, Opal, had been gone two weeks now. She hadn’t left a note, hadn’t phoned. The model T was missing. She had left like this before but she had always phoned, usually from her parents place in Orange county. She did this when she got mad at Hub and preferred leaving rather than hanging around and having a big argument. She explained to him once that her dad didn’t like to argue and when he had a spat with Mom Morrow he got in the car and drove around a while until he cooled off. Hub thought this was foolish but this was the first time she had taken more than a day or two. Hub, when he got mad or wanted to be alone walked down from the house, through the orange grove, to the tiny park, next to the water. It was the place where he and Opal often walked down to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful spot with a long vista of the shoreline of Santa Barbara county. Hub found he could never contemplate that sight for long without putting himself in a better mood. But this time it wasn’t working. Earlier that morning he phoned the Morrows, Opal’s parents. They became extremely agitated and the whole thing ended up in a shouting match before he hung up. Hub was surprised that they felt the whole thing was his fault. Now he was reluctant to phone the sheriff. Didn’t the police always suspect the husband if they suspected foul play? Why in the hell had he waited two weeks before phoning?

Hub trudged back up the hill to his house. Rosa met him at the back door.
“Your amigo, Valhallo bitch.called. Wants a back call.”
Hub pushed the screen door open and entered. “Thanks, Rosa.” Jose’s woman, Rosa, helped take care of the house when Opal was absent. “Where is Jose working today?”
“He has a job in Buena Mesa. He gonna be here after lunch,” Rosa said.
“Good.” Hub sat down at the kitchen table “This the phone number?” Hub held up a scrap of paper he found next to the phone.
Rosa nodded and Hub dialed the number.
“Lloyd Val Halovitch agency..”
“Mert, this is Hub, Is Lloyd Val in?”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Kemp. Just a min, he’s on another line. Okay, here he is.”
“Hello, Hub,” Lloyd Val said.
“I am so glad you called, Lloyd.” Hub related to Lloyd Val all the particulars of his peculiar situation. “I’ve been in a real mope. Kind of wondering what I should do next,” Hub said.
“Okay, friend. Hang on and don’t do anything. As soon as I’ve phoned my lawyer, I’ll hop in my car and be at your place in couple of hours, “ Lloyd Val said.
“Thanks.”
As promised, Lloyd Val Halovitch arrived at the moon grove close to noon. He drove the Hudson Hornet up the gravel driveway and parked in front of Hub’s house. Hub was sitting on the front porch. When Lloyd Val got out of the auto, Hub stood up.
“Come on up, Lloyd Val, “ Hub called. “Set a spell.”
Lloyd Val climbed the stairs and took Hub’s proffered hand. “Good to see you, old friend. Sorry the circumstances aren’t better.”
“Having a friend like you coming to my aid so quickly has lifted my spirits, ‘ Hub said. “Have a seat and I’ll give you the gruesome details.”
Hub explained again Opal’s mysterious disappearance. “I haven’t heard from her for two weeks and her folks haven’t either.”
“Okay, Hub, you should have reported this sooner,” Lloyd Val said. “I spoke to my lawyer before I came here. It is his opinion you need to report it to the authorities right a way.”
“Aren’t they going to expect I had something to do with it?” Hub asked.
“Of course, without evidence to the contrary, the husband’s always the prime suspect,” Lloyd said.