The Packard

CW: Sexual violence, physical violence, suicide

The Packard

“Kiss Me”

“No” She said in a half panicked tone.

“Your drunk, take me home.” The automobile sped along the dark lonely road.

“Not until I get a little something from you.” He reached over and touched her shoulder. She pushed his hand away and crouched deeper in the seat. Anger welled up inside of him and he grabbed for her blouse, ripping it.

“You bastard!” She lashed out at him, her nails tearing deep into the soft skin of his cheek. He instantly reacted by slapping her across the face. Blood exploded from her mouth and nose in fine droplets that sprayed over the interior. She screamed and lunged at him wildly slashing at his face with her nails.

As they struggled the auto increased in speed, barely staying on the road. The hairpin turn that led to Miller’s Crossing quickly approached. Ted saw it at the last second, pushed Elana into the passenger seat and slammed on the brakes. Forward momentum of the large luxury car was more than the breaking system could allow for. The auto left the road and went airborne, ripping through low-lying trees. Elana screamed as the driver’s door was torn open and ejected Ted. He landed hard on the water’s edge of Miller’s Pond. Scrambling to his feet Ted watched in horror as the Packard hit the water. Elana screeched his name as the car slipped beneath the murky depths. Ted dove into the icy water in a vain attempt to reach her. It was no use.

Spring of 1997 brought the fifty-year anniversary of Ted Conner taking over the insurance agency that his father had started. The good folks of Miller’s Crossing turned to him for all their insurance needs, just as they had done for his father. Ted’s business was very successful, and he enjoyed a comfortable life. He had married, his wife had two wonderful boys, and after thirty-five years, called it quits. He lives quietly now in a large, two-story home near town. Even now after fifty years the memory of the tragedy was faint. After the accident Ted made his way home. The long, sobering walk caused his cloths to be completely dry. He awakened his father and told him the he and Elana were on a date and stopped for some quiet time when two men approached the car. As Ted got out, they hit him and pushed him to the ground. He fought with one of the men, the other jumped in the car with Elana. The second man jumped in also and as Ted ran to the passenger window, Elana grabbed for him, scratching his face. The car sped out of sight never to be seen again.

When news of the abduction reached Elana’s parents, her mother collapsed with a stroke. After three years of caring for his sick wife and no further information Elana’s father, grief stricken, shot himself. The mother died soon after. The town was happy to put this tragic incident behind them. The only living person who know the truth was Ted.

Spring turned into summer and the weather man began to report changes in the season. It was going to be hot. Miller’s Crossing braced for a heat wave. Day after day of temperatures above ninety-five with no rain in sight caused the towns people to wonder when it would end. Endless days dragged on as record highs were reported for the area. What few showers came were absorbed in the atmosphere before it even hit the ground. The area suffered one of the worst droughts in decades. No one was more concerned about it than Ted. After a few weeks he noticed the water level at Miller’s Pond starting to drop. Now the water’s edge was at least four feet lower than normal. And it was getting worse. Even though the pond was very deep, with the water receding, it was only a matter of time before the Packard would be discovered.

Fall finally arrived with some much needed cooler weather. People breathed a sigh of relief and were able to venture outside for the first time in weeks. Ted, who had kept a constant vigil on the pond, found that the high temperatures forced most people away. Now all it needed to do was rain, and the water level would rise and everything would be back to normal. Unfortunately this did not happen. As the leaves changed into a spectacular array of colors, over the course of September and into October there was only one major storm. It was not enough to raise the water level to any noticeable degree. November came and the icy winds began to blow into Miller’s Crossing. People began to winterize there homes and chop wood, in preparation of the dark, cold winter months. An icy film formed on Miller’s Pond, soon it would be frozen solid.

Good thought Ted. When the ice melts, the water level will rise. Smug in his thoughts Ted continued working in his insurance office and didn’t keep such a close watch on the pond. The first Saturday in December brought the annual Christmas parade. The event was the kick-off the to the Christmas shopping season. Ted stood outside his office sipping on a cup of hot chocolate as the high school band passed by, playing holiday tunes as cheerleaders shouted to the crowd. Two young men of high school age were busy ogling at the cheerleaders.

“Man, Tommy and Billy should be here for this!” One excited teen said to the other.

“Yeah, I know, but they thought ice fishing would be more fun, boy were they wrong!” The boy’s words crept slowly up Ted’s spine and into his neck as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He dropped the mug of hot chocolate on the sidewalk and tore through the crowd towards his car.

Ted’s silver Mercedes skidded to a halt at the edge of the pond. Sitting there were two Sheriffs cars and a tow truck. Two young men were standing near a hole they had cut in the ice. The tow truck’s cable had been lowered into the hole and was pre-pairing to pull something out. Ted approached the Sheriff.

“What’s going on George?” His voice shook, he hoped the Sheriff would mistake it as the cold.

“The boys found something while fishing, large and metallic, were going to pull it out and see what it is.” Ted fought for control.

“ I can save you the trouble. It’s my Dad’s Packard, and inside you will find the body of Elana Dickerson.” Just then the tow truck’s cable began to rewind and as it came in, it pulled in a large white metal box that twisted and skidded across the ice. As it approached the shore a plate could be seen in the top with the letters “G.E.” clearly written. The tow truck driver stopped the hoist just as the refrigerator became upright at the back of the truck. The sheriff turned slowly to face Ted, who’s complexion was as white as the new fallen snow.

“Ted, about ten years ago we pulled an auto out of this pond, it was so badly rusted that we couldn’t even get a make on it. We also found the remains of a young woman.” The sheriff took a step closer towards Ted.

“We buried the woman in an unmarked grave and listed the event in the unsolved cases.” The sheriff removed his handcuffs.

“ It must have been during the time you were on your round the world cruise after your divorce, that’s why you didn’t know about it.” The sheriff stepped behind him and placed one end of the handcuffs on Ted’s left wrist. Ted raised his right hand as though he would offer some type of a response.

“I wouldn’t say anything Ted, it could be used against you in a court of law.” The other end of the handcuffs tightened against Ted’s right wrist.