Legend of the Auruman-Chapter Three

Chapter Three

          Gregory Kendall stumbled down the path towards cabin seventeen. He pulled the room key out of his pocket and clumsily fit it into the lock.
“Syd?” He flipped on the light. Sydney did not appear to be in their room.

“Sydney!” He walked into the bathroom, and even moved aside the shower curtain and looked in the tub. He turned back to look around the room, but in his drunken stupor he couldn’t seem to comprehend anything. Her suitcase was still in the corner of the room, and her purse on the end table.

“What the hell?” He muttered to himself. He sat down on the edge of the bed and shook his head to try and clear his thinking. His head was swimming, and he felt incredibly tired. He just needed to lie down for a few minutes before he figured out where Sydney had gone to. His head barely hit the pillow before he passed out.

          The next morning, Gregory sat down at a corner table in the breakfast room at the Elk’s Horn Lodge. He held his pounding head between his hands, hoping his headache would subside so that he could deal with the disappearance of his foolish wife. He’d never been in such a foul mood as he was in now, with Sydney nowhere to be found. She had vanished seemingly without a trace. She hadn’t taken her purse, her cell phone, or any belongings. The only thing he could think of that might be missing was her hiking backpack. Admittedly, he should have been more concerned with her safety than his aching hangover, but he couldn’t help feeling like she’d gotten herself into her own mess running off like she obviously had.

“Good morning, sir. Where’s your wife this morning?” The waitress reached over and righted his coffee cup so she could pour him a cup.

          Gregory looked up miserably at the waitress. She was a poor substitute for vivacious Vic, and irritatingly cheerful.

“Morning.” He replied curtly, turning his attention to the window in the hopes that the waitress would leave him alone.

“Is it just one today, sir, or will your wife be joining you? I can pour her a cup.” He glanced back in her direction reading the nametag pinned above her breast that identified her as “Cheryl”.

“Yes, Cheryl. It’s just one today. I can’t seem to find my wife this morning.” He mumbled irritably.

“Your wife is missing?” She asked, horrified.

“I assume she found somewhere else to spend the night.” He announced dryly.

          Cheryl hurried off with an excuse about checking the scones, and burst into the kitchen. She then proceeded to tell the cook about their guest who seemed to have a missing wife. The cook had heard from Linda, the owner of the Elk’s Horn that Gregory Kendall had been seen getting a ride back to the lodge by Vic. Obviously Vic and the husband had been knocking boots, and Kendall’s wife hadn’t been seen since the couple had checked in yesterday.

“Oh my, do you think he killed his wife?” Cheryl gasped in horror at the idea that a killer had invaded their peaceful mountain resort town. Marblemount was a small town and there usually wasn’t much to talk about, but when there was- everyone knew about it.

“It looks that way. Tell me, where is the woman now? Is their car still in the parking lot? You ought to go tell Linda that his wife is missing before he tries to scoot on out of town.” The cook suggested.

“I think I saw Mike Caviler sitting in the dining room waiting for his coffee. I’ll just go have a little chat with him.”

“Morning Mike.” Cheryl said, moments later as she reached the sheriff’s table.

“Good morning Cheryl. Can I get one of those scones I smell cooking back there?” He asked, smiling warmly at her.

“Sure thing, Mike. I’ll be right back.” She hurried back into the kitchen, nearly burned herself on the pan grabbing a fresh scone, and dashed back into the dining room.

“That was quick Cheryl.” Mike chuckled. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were overly excited to see me.” He laughed.

She blushed, “actually Mike, I wanted to mention something to you I’ve been hearing about this morning.”

“What’s that?” He asked encouragingly.

          She hastily sat down in the chair across from him and relayed the stories she’d heard from the cook, and repeated the odd conversation she’d had with Kendall.

“Hmm.” Mike frowned. “It does sound like somethin’ is off.” He scratched his jaw.

“Maybe I’m just making a mountain of a molehill here. For all I know, his wife could be sitting in their room, but why would he say that she was missing? At the very least Mike, I think someone ought to make sure she’s okay, ya know? That man just seems cold somehow.” She stood back up, and quickly announced that she ought to be getting back to work.

          Mike sat at the table, glancing thoughtfully over at Mr. Kendall. The man didn’t seem overly concerned that his wife was missing. He in fact, looked to be nursing a wicked hangover. Mike sighed sadly. It looked as if there might be a huge scandal looming in Marblemount’s future.