Tuesday Tales: From a Picture

Welcome to the Valentine week post of Tuesday Tales. This week, our posts are based on a picture and only 300 words.

I’m continuing with The White Dahlia. Here’s the picture I chose.

“I see. And why exactly did you leave New York? My report states that your father was sick. Has he recovered?”

“My father was Native Alaskan, Yupik to be specific. He fought a losing battle with diabetes most of his life. About nine weeks before Rachel disappeared, he had a stroke, and my mother sent for me. Not even the doctors understood what sent him over the edge, but I agreed to come home and take over the restaurant in Anchorage until he got back on his feet. Rachel couldn’t come with me. She was starting her last term at Juilliard. Long story short, Dad died, and I’m still here.”

“Did you know she was going on a cruise when you left? I mean were you supposed to go with her?”

“Yeah,” he answered, his voice now tinged with despair. “We bought the tickets on sale from the cruise line itself a couple of days before my dad got sick. Unfortunately, they weren’t transferable or refundable. I told her to go anyway. She had time between semesters. She talked about asking one of the girls from school to join her, but in the end opted to go alone. I’ve never regretted anything as much as I do not going back for the cruise. Mom could’ve managed for a week…”

“Stop beating yourself up about it. You aren’t responsible for her disappearance.”

“You mean you know what happened to her? Who took her?” The excitement in his voice was palpable. “Not exactly, but we’re getting closer. We believe the person who took her may have done so at the terminal after she returned from her cruise. We think he knew when she was getting back and acted then.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but if it eased the guy’s guilt, why not?

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.