Chapter 10

Chapter X

Al called his lawyer, Jim Banaster, who had split-up with his wife and had moved into Al’s new, empty house.  He was making the house payments and getting very comfortable.  It worked out well for both Al and Jim because, all felt, Al shouldn’t be left alone until everything was cleared up and he got along with Jim.

It was agreed no one would mention Al’s return for the present.  That made it very difficult for Ruby Monday morning, when the police paid her a visit at work.

“We’re sorry to bother you at work,” Detective Spacer said, “But you moved and didn’t tell anyone.”

Spacer stared at her with his best detective, ‘explain yourself’ expression, while his partner, Kurtis, tried not to laugh at him.

Ruby shook her head and moved her lips, but nothing came out.  She finally said, “I didn’t know you wanted me.  I told my landlord where I moved to.”

“You’re part of a murder investigation.  You keep us informed of any moves.” Spacer was firm.

“I am?  I don’t know anything.”

“You seemed a sensible young woman when we spoke last week.  You and Mr. Peterson had just met, and now you’re living together.” Spacer said.

“We just met in the real world; we’ve been falling in love in cyberspace for the last six months,” Ruby stated.  She realized Spacer was trying to get her off balance so she would incriminate herself, or someone else.

“That’s where you met Hope Styles, too – in cyberspace?” Spacer pressured her.

“I don’t think seeing a body in the park is really meeting someone.”

“Odd, she turned up on the virtual trail you were walking that day.” Spacer wasn’t going to let up.

“That I do agree with,” Ruby took the initiative, “We were shocked when we found out she worked for Fitness Opts and we found her on a treadmill set up by them.”  She went on not to be interrupted.  “That’s the main reason we moved in together on such short notice.  It’s a little scary when things that are totally disconnected start moving together in what you thought was your space.  Then we found that cute little house on the trail.”

“You found your house on the same trail?” Astounded, Kurtis chimed in with an question.

“No the next one up.  We think A – Mr. Johnson put it there for advertising,” Ruby almost said Al, implying the intimacy with a man she supposedly hadn’t met.  “It was on the trail with the address marked clearly, so we were curious, and sure enough there it was, in the real world.”

“That treadmill seems to be running your life,” Spacer said.

“That’s why we wanted to be close; so we could keep an eye on each other.  We don’t know why Ms Styles was killed.  If we run into a reason on the trail, we don’t want to be next.”

“That makes sense,” Kurtis said.

“I think we should walk your treadmill,” Spacer said.

“That you have to arrange with Pete.  He’s taken Dr. Maxwell and Mr. Wilson.  Wilson scared us.  The only way we are sure we’re getting home is to take the whole trail.  We aren’t really adventurous,” Ruby said, “Wilson is not in great shape and you can’t stop on the trail; you have to keep the treadmill moving, or you fade.”

“Fade to what?” Spacer asked.

“That’s another of the things we’ve been afraid to try.  Though, I believe you fade back to the real world.”

“Back to the real world?” Spacer asked.

“When Dr. Maxwell went with Pete – you’re not going to believe this,” Ruby paused.

Spacer and Kurtis exchanged eye signals that implied she should continue.

“Well, Wells was on my treadmill and I watch terrified as I saw him fade out.  I was very relieved when he faded back in.”

“Are you saying he disappeared?” Spacer asked.

“No one has been able to explain that yet,” Ruby said, “But our treadmills seem to open a pathway that becomes a real trail, not just a monitor picture as it’s supposed to.”

“I definitely will be there when you take this trip,” Kurtis said to Spacer.

“It would probably be better if you took the run before we go on,” Ruby said, “It would help you understand how Pete and I got so close, if nothing else.”

“It sounds dangerous.  Why would you take chances on so many unknowns?” Spacer asked.

“It was just a treadmill set up with trails that got progressively steeper as you went up.  We thought they built in a trail buddy to walk with.  They thought we saw each other on the monitor and just talked while we walked.  It was a simple no risk exercise.”

“The house you bought was Al Johnson’s house.  Isn’t he the one who created the program?” Kurtis asked.

Ruby nodded.

“How’d you find him, when we haven’t been able to locate him?” Spacer asked.

“We just went through the real estate company.”

“You never talked to Johnson?” Kurtis asked.

Ruby shrugged.  She didn’t want to lie, but she rationalized, she hadn’t spoken to Al about the house deal.

“We’d really like to talk to him, if he’s still alive,” Kurtis said.

Ruby tipped her head in a manner that suggested she knew nothing.

As soon as the police left, Ruby called Jim Banaster.

“Mr. Banaster, this is Ruby Vickers, Al Johnson’s friend.  The police came to question me because I moved and I’m apparently part of their investigation into Hope Styles’ murder.  They really want to speak to Al.  They’re looking for him.”

“Did you tell them where he is?” Banaster asked.

“No.  I didn’t say I even knew him.”

“Thank you.  I’ll talk to Al we may be able to talk to the police without alerting anyone else.  Who is in charge of the investigation?”

“Detectives Spacer and Kurtis came to see me.  They want to ride the treadmill.  It might be good if Al talked to them first.”

“You mean you think you could confirm Al’s story with the ride?” Banaster asked.

“That and it would show them why we became afraid to stop mid trail.”

“I’ll see what I can do on this end.  I’ll let you know when he talks to the police.  I’m sure he will want to tell them what he knows.”

When she hung up, her supervisor was standing by her desk.  He asked her, “Do you mind explaining why the police were here to see you?”

“I was one of the people to see a murdered woman in the park and I moved without knowing the police would want to be told.”

“Oh!” he frowned and shook his head.  “You told us.  It’s not as though you were hiding.” 

He walked off, leaving her with the feeling he didn’t think her action unreasonable.

The move brought one other interruption in the mundane routine that was so a part of Pete and Ruby; she called him on leaving the office to see if he was ready to ride home with her and she drove him to work in the mornings.  No more bus rides for Pete, unless he was detained for a long wait, after work.

When Ruby pulled up, Pete got in the car and said, “This is great.  I get a pretty chauffeur and I can ride in the front seat with her.”  He kissed her cheek.

“Wow, it takes so much to please you.  Did Detective Spacer get a hold of you?” She asked as they drove off.

“Yeah, I get an extra ride tonight.  You had your share of extra rides this weekend though.  We should weigh-in light this week.”

“You want to take an easy trail with me tonight.  Spacer is probably going to want to see the house.  They’re talking to Al, probably as we speak.”

“Should be an interesting ride.  Wanna go.  Al probably wouldn’t mind.”

“No back up power on that one and someone has to amuse Kurtis or he’ll be into everything in the house.”

“You got secrets, Rumble?”

“Just you.  You were my secret love for along time.”

1350