The Gardens of Digby Green: On the Premises
Her restored 1964 Chrysler Imperial, red as its namesake flower, sat in pooled light from a lamp post. Ray jogged to the vehicle. She’d made at least one delivery today, because the white leather upholstery on the back seat was protected by plastic.
“Rose! Rose, where are you?”
The breeze blew into his face, and if she were somewhere else in the large parking lot neighboring businesses shared with hers, she wouldn’t hear him. He left the car and searched the office until he found a flashlight in the coat closet.
The batteries were strong, and he headed toward the darker ranges of the large lot. Twenty minutes later, he stumbled back into the store, mopping at his dripping cheeks with his shirt, and breathing in deep rasps.
There’d been no sign of his Rose.
Ray wandered into the office, turned off the flashlight, and sagged into Rose’s chair. He opened her desk drawers at random, and found her cellphone. Her recent list and voice mail showed the numerous calls Rosalie Hilliard had mentioned, but none from anyone else. In the shallowest drawer, behind the pen tray, lay her key ring. Ray stuffed it into his pocket.
Four deep breaths steadied his pulse, if not his mind. He pulled his phone from his belt and dialed the three digits he’d never wanted to use.
“9-1-1 dispatch…”
“I need to report a missing person. My wife, Rose Wilkinson.”
“Hold the line, sir, while I transfer you.”
Ray clenched his jaw. In the process, he crushed trapped grains of pepper from the pepperoni pizza. His tongue burned.
“Missing persons…”
Item by item, Ray filed his report. Rose’s description, age, and last-known whereabouts.
“What kind of vehicle does she drive, Mr. Wilkinson?”
Ray stifled an inner howl. “She’s not in her car, detective. Nor does she have her cell phone. They’re here, at her flower shop.”
“You’re on the premises, Mr. Wilkinson?”
The Gardens of Digby Green is a short story in multiple parts which will post on Fridays until the story is complete.
Next week, part eleven, Estimating Time.
Find a link to purchase Heartland Treasures anthology here.
Ruth DeMaat
Heidi Kortman