The Lost Mayor

By Mauricio F. Ochoa

A favorite son of the small Midwestern town of Chasterton is found dead in the home of an old girlfriend, Kelly Mendoza. Grieving over the death of the former high school football star, the town and its leaders seek quick justice as Mendoza is charged with murder. Unable to find a suitable attorney who could defend her, Mendoza finally accepts the services of the seventy-six year old Kenneth Rees. Unbeknownst to his new client, Rees had once been Mayor of Chasterton during the turbulent Sixties, a civil rights crusader who aimed to forever change the troubled town. His failed stint as mayor would lead Rees down a long journey which, some fifty years later, ended up in the courthouse as a lead actor in the greatest trial in county history. What few then fathomed was the trial of Kelly Mendoza doubling as one of the town itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mauricio F. Ochoa
• Release date: Jun 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393780557

Mauricio F. Ochoa

Mauricio F. Ochoa currently works as an educator in Chicago. He received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Education from Loyola University Chicago. 

Book preview

Part One

(A Death in Town)

Chapter 1

Kenneth Rees, barely three weeks into his seventy-sixth year, had just finished drinking his morning cup of coffee. He slowly finished it, almost hesitantly. After finishing the coffee, he put the cup into the kitchen sink and slowly walked upstairs to the bedroom. When he got there, he went straight for a picture standing atop a dresser, an old picture of his wife, daughter, and himself. It was a happy picture of his family about forty years before, out on a picnic in Lincoln Park in Chicago. He took the small framed picture and put it inside his jacket pocket.  The old man then walked inside the master bathroom and looked himself in the mirror. He took note of the slightly pale color of his lined skin and hollow appearance of his eyes. He continued gazing into the mirror and, after a brief moment of apparent reflection and taking a deep breath, walked out of the bathroom.

Kenneth Rees then proceeded out of his bedroom which he had neatly fixed up earlier in the morning, and walked down the stairs. Arriving at the kitchen, there was more determination in his step, as he continued his way to the sliding door at the rear. As he opened the door and entered his sprawling backyard, the old man trekked about ninety yards to a small river bordering his property. On his way there, he felt the cold yet pleasant slap of late winter air against his face, for it was early March. This was Kenneth Rees’ favorite time of the year, when winter was slowly giving way to spring with all life beginning to return. Some robins could be seen flying amid the trees lining the river, a sure sign of the approaching spring-this appeared to snap the old man out of his trance. He looked up at the trees for a moment to see the birds as he walked towards the river. He also looked down at the edge of the trail and thought of the blue hyacinths that would soon be sprouting up there. He loved his blue hyacinths. It was a brief moment of curiosity in a day filled thus far with morose planning and arranging.

Once he arrived at the river bank, however, whatever pleasant thoughts he had of nature’s splendor immediately gave way to the business at hand. He gazed at the river before him, his face now expressionless and drained of color. He stood there for a lengthy moment before finally reaching into his left jacket pocket for the small, framed picture of his family. He then reached into the other pocket for a handgun before sitting down on a cold, slightly wet mound of dirt. Kenneth Rees then looked at the picture and began talking to it, tears beginning to well up in his reddish eyes: It’s time, Beth and Loren. It’s time. It’s time I finally join you. I can no longer remain here alone. 

With gun in hand, the old man then gave the picture a kiss. As he sat there, he began sobbing. Oh, I miss you guys so much! he declared while looking at the photo. I miss you like you wouldn’t believe! It went on like this for a long while before Kenneth Rees at last jerked up straight and took the gun to his right temple. He pressed the framed picture against his chest with his other hand. He stopped crying, took some deep breaths, and attempted now to complete the grisly task he set out for that morning. He was positioned that way for what seemed an eternity, but in the end, there was no sound of a gunshot-only a distant splash in the river. The old man had thrown the handgun into the river and slowly stood up from where he was. There were no tears running down his face now, no trace of any emotion. He just quietly sauntered back to his house.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Kelly Mendoza was at her wits end. She had a rough day working as a special education teacher, as neither her students nor much of anything else were cooperating with her.  Not only was she having problems with seemingly everybody in the school building, but the paperwork was piling up high for the week. In her fifteenth year in special education, problematic days were, much to her dismay and frustration, becoming the norm. The paperwork required by state mandates had grown dramatically in recent years, so it was hard for Ms. Mendoza to find any time to do what she loved best, which was teaching. Instead of going over the rules of grammar with her freshman high school students on the whiteboard, she was increasingly resigned to her desk in the back of the room, typing away at a computer.

Oh, how things were so different ten years ago! she would complain to colleagues, for there were less demands on teachers back then, according to her. But she and other special education teachers were now forced to assume more tasks and jobs than ever before, serving as paper-pushers, counselors, IEP writers, course schedulers, legal advisers, and, of course, classroom educators all at once. They’re just squeezing the life out of us, she would often say. It was certainly not a good time to be in special education.

But there were other things bothering Kelly Mendoza. She was an attractive, dark thirty-six year old woman who had never married. The pressure to find a suitable life-partner was there for a long time, but hope was then beginning to give way to reality-that is, the reality of being left alone and childless. This was the great fear of Kelly Mendoza, who, as a Mexican-American raised in a devoutly Catholic household, always expected to marry and have a family. It was almost taken for granted that this would eventually happen for her one day. But this had not materialized and she began worrying about her dimming prospects, for many of her friends had long been married and raising families.

It had gotten so bad that there were hardly any questions raised by others about what was going on in her life. Kelly Mendoza was even denied that! At least before, there was interest from her friends and family about the direction of her life, which would lead to lengthy conversations about what she had to do to find the right man. All sorts of advice were offered along with the occasional, heart-felt attempts to set her up with potential suitors. In a strange sort of way, the attractive school teacher enjoyed such attention in the past and it gave her much purpose. She even relished being the only single woman in her circle of friends, as it gave her a sort of unique and exulted status as someone who was not suffering through the daily toils of marriage and family. She endured many crying sessions with her friends, them doing most of the crying. She was looked up to by the others as a woman who was waiting patiently and not surrendering any of her lofty standards in choosing a husband. Perhaps she was doing the right thing, they thought.

But something happened to Kelly Mendoza a little after her thirty-sixth birthday. The interest in her life shown by her friends and even family had begun to wane. The conversations about her marriage prospects were less numerous, as were the dates foisted on her by others. What gives? she would ask herself. People simply were no longer curious about the circumstances of her life. And this is when it, more or less, dawned on her that she was getting too old. With this crushing realization, there emerged a certain vibe from others. She will never marry was the most common vibe she was getting. She’s wasted her life was another one. Quite suddenly and unexpectedly, the independent-minded school teacher went from admired darling of her social circles to frowned-upon outcast. The attention that was once lavished upon her, which she very much craved and needed for her own peace of mind, had been dissipating like the last remnants of sunlight at dusk. Her being disregarded and brushed aside by her own friends was indeed a terrible blow for Kelly Mendoza, as she was having trouble coming to grips with this cruel twist of fate. Not desiring to be left behind, she was making efforts now to reclaim her old position in society by at last finding someone to settle down with. 

This was not easy for Kelly Mendoza for the simple reason that her psychological outlook on life would not permit such a move. She did not want to lose her freedom and independence which she valued like very few other things.  She loved being able to do whatever she wanted, whether it was shopping in the evening, taking hikes in the morning, lunching with her friends on Saturdays, or traveling overseas on a sudden whim. The adventure-seeking teacher might have been thirty-six, but her energy and zest for life was that of a twenty-three year old. Many men also took to her as if she was still in her early twenties, so youthful was her appearance. She had long enjoyed the attention and affection of men, and her status as a single woman made her all the more attractive in their eyes. Ms. Mendoza did not want to let all this go, so to say she was merely conflicted at this point in her life might have been an understatement. The feelings of confusion ran so deep that she began drifting and sinking into a midlife malaise. Torn between maintaining her freedom and getting married, she desperately coveted the advice of others. But nobody seemed to care anymore.

So at the end of another rough day at work, Kelly Mendoza was in dire mental straits. It was early evening and she was home trying to cook some dinner for herself. But it was impossible, as she stopped and started, then stopped again, unable to get anywhere. She finally broke down in the kitchen, a torrent of bitter tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. She was a beautiful woman drowning away in anger, fear, and sadness, desperately attempting to know how she ever got to this uncertain place in her life. That is precisely when, in the midst of this breakdown, a knock was heard from her front door. Mendoza quickly went to the door to see who it was. As she opened it, a man could be made out from the entrance light, a sight which almost immediately changed the sad look on her face. 

Chapter 2

Kelly Mendoza was frozen in her place at the entrance of her house as she viewed the man standing before her. The cool March air snapped at her knees as if waking her from a bad dream. She instantly knew who he was and the look on her slender face, outlined by wavy long black hair, was one reflecting a pleasant surprise. The man, on the other hand, had a grim expression on his which eventually bore a slight smile, almost apologetic. He appeared to be in his late thirties, of tall and muscular stature with graying blond hair, an athletic, all-American type of guy upon initial inspection. The smile on the man’s face triggered no smile on the face of the woman standing before him. She put her hands on her hips.

What are you doing here, Clark? she asked in a somewhat shaken voice, a slight trace of it happy however.

The man coughed to clear his voice. I didn’t want to startle you Kelly, but I was just passing through the area, he said with genuine attempt at humility. I just felt it would be nice to pay you a visit, if you don’t mind.

No, Kelly said, still looking surprised. I’m just befuddled by your presence here. It’s been many years since I’ve last seen you.

I know it’s been many years, the man stammered. Life circumstances, I guess, got in the way. But I’ve always thought of you and I’ve always have had a desire to see you again. Life just has a habit of tugging you away and there’s nothing you can really do.

A look of displeasure suddenly overcame the school teacher’s tear-blotched face. She retorted curtly: What do you want from me now, Clark? What is it? It’s been, what, thirteen, fourteen years? What is it that brings you here this time?

The man, wearing a navy-blue pea coat with collar up, was visibly struggling to keep himself warm as the winds were beginning to pick up. He was also struggling to find some answers. He had looked down on the ground for a while before finally gazing up at Kelly’s green eyes, telling her that he didn’t know what to say. You, I guess, have every reason to be upset with me, he continued earnestly. I left you hanging all those years ago and it was a very mean thing to do. You didn’t deserve that. You never deserved any of the nonsense I put you through. I just want to tell you right now that I am here with the best of intentions. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just here to see you.

It was at this moment that Kelly Mendoza noticed something troubling about the appearance of her visitor. His face was unshaven and the eyes were a bit bloodshot with heavy, purplish bags hanging underneath them. These weary eyes also betrayed a sense of desperation, as if he really needed something, and this made the school teacher concerned. She was concerned because the man standing before her never looked like this before, all bent, beaten, and out-of-place. There was a long pause between the two before the man added forcefully: Look, I understand if you don’t want to talk to me. If you want, I’ll just go and be on my way.

The look of bewilderment on Kelly Mendoza’s face was suddenly gone as she motioned for him to come inside with a nod of her head. She led him to a sofa in the living room which was faintly illuminated, a distant candle exuding some amber warmth to it. The man slowly moved to the sofa and sat down, eagerly looking around the room. His host took her place in a loveseat directly across from him, a wooden coffee table, simply arranged with a blue glass flower vase, separating them. The man continued viewing the room, first a yellow-themed abstract painting on the far side, then some photographs on the wall off to the side, before at last settling on a landscape painting right behind his host. So, how are you, Kelly, he asked after feeling more at ease.

I’m fine, Clark, she replied, teaching and trying to enjoy my life. This is my fifteenth year as a teacher. Time flies.

Yes it does, the man agreed with a chuckle. Boy, does time fly.

How are you Clark?

Well, I guess not great, the man admitted hesitantly, shifting his position on the sofa.

Why, what’s wrong?

Well, I don’t know if I really want to get into the nuts and bolts of it, he said, his voice trailing off. He looked off to the side, not comfortable if he wanted to bear his soul at that moment. But then he relented to the persistent glare of his host, her greenish eyes locked onto his with a hint of curiosity and even relish: Yet, since you’re letting me in your home like this, I guess I owe you an explanation. I’m in a bit of a bind. Well, not so much a bind, but it’s just my life is a little complicated.

How is it complicated? Kelly Mendoza asked, maintaining the pressure on her guest.

There are some issues with my job, some errant business deals that have sort of gotten out of control, the man stated firmly. So, I needed to get away, get out of New York City and collect myself before I go back there to take care of the situation.

What about your family? she asked. Does your wife know you’re here?

No they don’t, he replied. I told them I was on a business trip. Actually, nobody knows I’m here now, not even my parents. You wouldn’t mind getting me a stiff drink by any chance?

Sure. What would you like?

What do you have?

Kelly Mendoza went back to her kitchen and looked in the cupboard and refrigerator. You know, I don’t have much. I just have some coconut rum.

I’ll have some of that coconut rum, if you don’t mind, the man answered. I’ll have it straight like that. You can just pour it into a glass, that’s fine.

The school teacher soon came back to the living room with the drink for her unexpected guest, handing it to him, at which point the conversation continued. So nobody knows you’re here? the host asked eagerly. Shouldn’t you at least tell your parents?

Oh no, that’s not necessary, the man stated. I just need to be away from everybody right now. I’m here to collect my thoughts. I came to see you because you’re the only person I feel I can trust around here.

But it’s been such a long time, Clark, the host said. And how close were we, ever? We never were even serious!

Well, that’s not true, Kelly, the guest shot back. That’s not true. I think I have a different opinion of this than you. I always felt close to you. My single regret is that I didn’t allow our relationship to take root and grow. But I always felt close to you.

By this time, Kelly Mendoza was growing a bit disturbed with where her guest was going with the conversation, as she wasn’t quite sure what set of problems the man had nor what favors he needed from her. It was all so strange. Noticing the look of concern on her face, the man attempted to cut to the chase. Kelly, it’s this simple. I needed someone to confide in, someone to talk to. When I left New York, I wasn’t sure where I was going at first. I just drove away. I started heading out west and I just continued driving. I drove eight hours straight. And as soon as I knew it, I was getting close to Chasterton and, bam, I thought of you. I don’t know what to make of that. I felt the need to see you right away and here I am.

The host listened to this and still appeared a bit puzzled and concerned. You told me about problems with your business, Clark, she began assertively. What kind of problems are we talking about here?

The man sighed and took a deep breath, crossing his legs and squirming a little in the sofa. He took a big swig of his drink. Well, to make a long story short, my company is in debt, big debt. I oversaw the finances of the company and I made some mistakes as far as investments go. Our creditors are not happy and they are making life very difficult for us. I worked five days straight trying to fix the situation and I finally had it with everything. I needed to take a break from it all, so I just left.

This explanation, however, did not ease the concerns of Kelly Mendoza as she continued wagging her foot in circular motions, her legs crossed just like her guest’s to convey a sense of relaxation. But there was no relaxation on her part and the man still sensed that, and she would confirm that in words: Clark, are you in trouble?

What do you mean?

Are you in any kind of danger? she asked nervously.

No, no, of course not! he answered, sounding a bit upset at such a notion.

I just ask because you drove away, leaving everything behind, she commented, straightening herself up in the chair. That seems very drastic to me.

Feeling cornered by the tough questioning, the guest was visibly annoyed. He then put his head in his hands, the blondish strands of his unkempt hair hanging down in knotted clumps like sun-drenched seaweed. After a while, he raised his head back up, a pained expression on his face, and looked off to the side, his tired eyes gazing at the wintry night sky through the large living room window. He would then turn his eyes back to Kelly Mendoza and slowly uttered his thoughts on the situation: I’m going through some stuff right now, Kelly. I’m going through a rough patch in my life. My career is taking a hit. My marriage is taking a hit. I’m going through some sort of mid-life crisis, I guess. I just feel so disappointed right now about everything. This is not what I envisioned for myself way back when I graduated from college, that I’d be in this predicament. I thought that by the time I was thirty-eight, that I would be further ahead with my career, that my wife would love me, that my kids would love me, that everything would be much better than it is now. Instead, I feel adrift now, totally adrift.

The two would sit quietly after this statement, the attractive school teacher now genuinely concerned for her guest’s state of mind. I’m sorry you’re going through this, she eventually said. She took solace in the fact that both of them were stuck in similar ruts in their lives, caught in the grips of a mid-life malaise. She added: You know, you’re just going through, as you say, a rough patch. You’ll get out of it. Most people do.

This is no ordinary rough patch, Kelly, the man said matter-of-factly, shaking his head from side to side in disagreement. This is a really big rough patch. It’s so rough that I don’t know if I can continue this way any longer. I’ve been doing some thinking lately and I’m starting to believe that maybe I should begin my life over again, just wipe the slate clean, you know.

What about your family? Have you spoken to your wife?

Well, my marriage is in shambles, and, quite frankly, I want it to end, the guest said. Dorothy and I constantly fight, and the kids are sick of it. I believe Dorothy wants an end to it too. We’ve already talked about it several times and it’s just a matter of one of us calling a lawyer at this point. And there’s my career. I’m so tired of the corporate world, so tired of it! Yeah, there’s a lot of money one can make and I think I’ve done pretty well, but I’m sick of all the ass-kissing you’ve got to do. Constant ass-kissing! It just never ends. And it’s not just the ass-kissing, it’s the actual job itself, all the traveling and the conferences, meetings, speaking engagements, luncheons, you name it. It’s terrible. There’s nonstop toil from the moment you wake up to the moment you lay your head down to sleep, if there’s any time for sleep. I’m so done with this lifestyle!

How are you going to begin your life over again, Clark? Kelly Mendoza asked. Do you have anything specific in mind?

That’s the problem, Kelly, he responded after lengthy thought. There’s nothing specific in mind yet. Maybe I can go into education, like what you’re doing. I’ve always desired to go into coaching and maybe I should begin looking into that. I would love to coach high school football. There are a lot of things I have thought about but there’s nothing concrete at this moment. I want to leave New York, I know that. I would like to remain close to my children. And there’s something else. There’s you. I would like for you to be a big part of my future. That’s why I’m here, Kelly. I wanted to tell you this in person.

For Kelly Mendoza, this was quite the revelation.

WHEN THE FRUSTRATED school teacher heard those words from the man seated across from her in the living room of her home, that he wanted her to be a big part of his future, it was indeed monumental news. For Kelly Mendoza was once in love with this man, for many years, in fact, and there might have been a little trace of it left. The man’s name was Clark Wells. He was a favorite son of the small, sleepy town of Chasterton. Clark Wells was a football legend in Chasterton, breaking the high school rushing record there, having been the starting tailback at St. Joseph’s High School since he was a sophomore. Most importantly, as a senior, he led St. Joe’s to a state championship title. He was also the school valedictorian, the blond-haired darling of all the women in town, the one deemed to be going somewhere with his life, somewhere big, that is. Clark Wells was offered football scholarships from some Big Ten universities, so good he was on the gridiron, but only to play on the defensive side of the ball, as safety. This he refused, as he considered himself a running back, so he instead chose an Ivy League scholarship offer from Dartmouth to play tailback there.

Clark Wells was the kind of young man, all those years ago, who seemed to turn everything into gold. Everything came so easily to him, whether it was hitting a golf ball, taking a science test, wooing the girls, or fixing a car, that the other boys were often in awe of him as well. He was a natural leader, head of the popular gang of boys at St. Joseph’s High School that pretty much dominated the social scene in Chasterton. Being the son of the town sheriff and already a football icon himself, Clark Wells also could get away with pretty much everything, which included, among other things, throwing the wildest parties in town. Whenever his blue Ford Mustang was parked at an illegal spot, like on a sidewalk or on someone else’s lawn, it never got ticketed.

Of course, this also drew the envy of many a boy in Chasterton, but what could they do? Some people in this world just got it, one of them was to say about Wells, and he’s got it! Even the older boys in Chasterton and neighboring townships were deferent to this golden boy, as he appeared to have a physical and mental maturity well beyond his years. The town barber famously named a haircut after Clark Wells. So popular was Clark Wells in Chasterton that when he departed for college, a throng of people gathered at the train station to say good-bye. Make us all proud! many of them were to tell him. Everyone in town, from the bigwigs of city hall to the day laborers of surrounding trailer parks, knew who Clark Wells was.

Kelly Mendoza met this living legend of a youth when she was a sophomore and he a senior. Clark Wells had the pick of the litter when it came to women, as most of them readily threw themselves onto him. But Kelly Mendoza was not one of these girls, and this was perhaps the reason why the popular lad fancied her. She was indeed a pretty girl, and her dark, Latina looks set herself apart from the rest of the girls at St. Joseph’s High School and everywhere else in town. But she was quite shy as well and not even remotely popular, choosing to read paperback novels at home rather than to be out with the others. The only thing that prevented her from being home all the time was her high school drama club, and that’s when Clark Wells first noticed her while he was at football practice. He would watch her leave the building at four in the afternoon every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, walking home alone. He had long figured he was probably the only person on the football team to ever take notice of her leaving the building. 

Clark Wells was unaware of what drew him to this mysterious girl, but he did not ponder about it for long, asking his coach one day if he could get some playing tape for his hands. He trotted over to the locker room to get the supposed tape only to wait for Kelly Mendoza along the side entrance. When she exited at the customary time of four o’clock, the senior football star politely introduced himself to her. I’m Clark, what’s your name? was the simple line he used, which sparked a very short, awkward conversation between two individuals on opposite ends of the popularity spectrum of their high school. Kelly would tell the chap her name and told him she was leaving drama club, but that was the extent of it. Clark did not even bother to ask for the girl’s telephone number, so shy and unreceptive she was.

But Clark Wells would not stop giving chase to the elusive sophomore, every now and then making small talk with her whenever the opportunity arose, whether it was at the school hallway, the street, or the local mall. Yet, the popular lad never made it a priority to pursue Kelly Mendoza in plain sight of others, for he certainly had appearances to keep as the leader of the in-crowd at St. Joe’s. The relationship between the two was, at first, one of friendly acquaintance, as Clark Wells never gave the impression that he was interested in anything else. And it actually would remain that way for a couple years, the two exchanging some pleasantries, but nothing more during their brief encounters.

However, when the Ivy Leaguer returned for the summer after his sophomore year, he finally asked Kate Mendoza out on a date. Kelly accepted and, according to her recollections, it was a fine date. The conversation was lively and they even held hands by the end of the evening. But something strange happened. Clark Wells did not call her back. She, in fact, would not hear from him for a year. He would explain to her over the phone that an internship in New York City was suddenly offered to him the previous summer and he had to accept. He apologized for abruptly leaving Chasterton without saying good-bye to her then and told her of his interest in seeing her again. I’ll be in Chasterton in July, he told her. I’ll call you when I get there.

When he did swing by in July and took Kelly out for the second time, things really took off from there. Within only a week, the two were inseparable. They were seen about town dining at various restaurants, strolling the parks, taking a boat ride through the lake, and going to the movies. And, most significantly for Kelly, he did not care what others thought, often flaunting her in front of his friends and introducing her to them. The other young ladies gave a disapproving look, but it was of no bother to the old leader of the town’s in-crowd. He appeared to be genuinely happy gallivanting with Kelly Mendoza through the streets of Chasterton.

This was also certainly a happy time for the former high school drama student, who was then attending classes at a nearby college. For her to be at last formally dating the most popular young man in town, the Ivy League finance major seemingly destined for success, was indeed exciting and unimaginable. But just as things had begun to heat up between the two, this unlikeliest of couples, Clark Wells had to return to Dartmouth for football training camp. He sounded excited as he told her he was the projected starter at tailback, but Kelly Mendoza could not share his happiness with that news. The only man she ever was smitten with was being taken away from her. But when he told her that he would be calling her frequently and visiting her often, Kelly felt encouraged. Now I know what they mean when people say long-distance relationships are tough, she commented.

What do you mean? he replied, laughing a bit. It hasn’t even started yet.

As things would turn out, Clark Wells was perhaps unwittingly telling her the truth. For not even a week into their long distance relationship would the calls from the Ivy Leaguer abruptly stop. She called a few times thereafter, leaving three messages on his machine, but nothing came of it. He inexplicably disappeared from her life once again. Kelly Mendoza would continue with her studies, acquiring her teacher’s certificate two years later, but she would periodically wonder about Clark Wells and what became of him. Didn’t those two weeks mean anything to him? she often thought to herself. Her college friends would tell her to forget about him, saying he was no good for her, that he was immature, and so on. These friendly bits of advice would help Kelly move on and gain some perspective on things, but she could not help thinking about this man who seemed to routinely come in and out of her life. And she knew he would be back in her life again at some point.

That intuition would prove to be correct. The next time Kelly Mendoza saw Clark Wells was about six years later when they met at the main shopping mall in Chasterton, the favorite son of town now a rising investment banker in New York City. He was twenty-six and she was twenty-four, already three years under her belt as a teacher. Their encounter at the mall turned out to be a happy affair. They talked enthusiastically about their careers, Clark Wells describing his quick ascent in the business world while Kelly Mendoza explained her love of teaching and servicing special needs students. Both of them were young, confident professionals excited about the future, Kelly being so happy at the time, she did not even harbor any bad feelings about the past. She did not even think twice when the investment banker asked her out on a date, sparking another round of whirlwind romance between the two, this one lasting about a week before he disappeared once again from her life. The school teacher would soon find out through the town’s grapevine that Clark Wells had already been engaged and was soon to marry. Yet, from all appearances, Kelly Mendoza seemed not to be the least bothered by this. She even laughed about it with friends, placing bets with them as to when he would run back to her again. Deep, down inside, however, it was another story.

SO THERE WAS CLARK Wells sitting in Kelly Mendoza’s living room twelve years later, bearing his soul to her and saying with apparent honesty that he wanted her back in his life for good. I’m thinking along the lines of marriage, he finally confided to her. He went on to describe how he had always desired her and that he was now correcting past mistakes. I always felt I should have stayed with you, should have given our relationship a real chance. Instead, like an idiot, I threw it away. The weary school teacher, with much vindication, added, You threw it away many times! Clark Wells would lay it all down the line that evening, stating that, once everything was settled in New York, he would focus all of his attention on her.

Kelly Mendoza, having listened to the lengthy confession from her guest, had no immediate answers. She could only say that she would have to think things over. After all the things you’ve done to me in the past, she declared, I don’t think I can trust you.

I completely understand, Clark Wells said.

They spoke some more about the old football star’s predicament, about his career, marriage, and family. Kelly Mendoza fished for more information to gauge her guest’s true intentions, if he was in fact lying to her. She was initially skeptical of his story and, judging by his past antics, this was logical. And though Clark Wells would not provide much in the way of specific information about his life, she would be nonetheless convinced of his integrity by the end of the evening. She believed his story, that he was unhappy with his life and wanted her back.

Three glasses of bare Malibu rum into the conversation, Clark suddenly looked at his watch and said he should go. It being rather late, about ten-thirty, Kelly then told him, You can stay here for the evening, if you like. You can sleep here in the living room. That sofa converts into a bed. After some thought, the tired man accepted the polite invitation. The two would embrace there in the living room, but Kelly quickly pulled herself away and left. She would crawl into her own bed in an utter daze about the situation.   

Kelly Mendoza attempted to go to sleep, but couldn’t. All she could think about was the man staying the night in her home, the very man who had figured prominently in her life for such a long time. And only one thought kept flashing in her mind like a motel sign along a remote interstate: marriage to Clark Wells. Was he serious about it? Should she accept if he was serious about it? She felt like she had been struck by lightning-that the only man she ever really cared about was coming around finally to offer his hand in marriage at a time when she really wanted it, at a time she was most vulnerable emotionally. She was no longer a twenty-four year old who could afford to laugh off the maddening twists and turns of fate. She felt like there was no longer any room in her life for laughter. There was only room for action.

And that, in some way, explains why Kelly Mendoza had long been attracted to Clark Wells. The Ivy League graduate symbolized something for the carefree school teacher, a symbol of action that is, a person who left Chasterton for greener pastures. Clark Wells would lead the members of the in-crowd to an exodus from Chasterton all those years ago, leaving the likes of Kelly Mendoza behind. While the former drama student remained in the area, deep in the heart of the Midwest, she heard about all the members of the in-crowd making headway in far-off places like New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas. And according to town rumors, the leader of that pack, the one who led the exodus from Chasterton, Clark Wells, was quickly becoming a success in New York City.

This left Kelly Mendoza terribly envious for a long time of all those people who left town, for they came from well-to-do families and could afford to go to good schools in exotic, far-off places. She, on the other hand, felt obligated to stay in Chasterton to take care of her mother, who had suffered from diabetes and severe arthritis. There was no other family there to support them, her father having long been deceased. But what she really felt envious about was the boldness of Clark Wells and his entourage of friends, their willingness to leave Chasterton behind forever. While they no doubt led adventurous lives abroad, she languished away in the same sleepy town she was born and raised in. Surely there had been opportunities for Kelly Mendoza to permanently leave for other parts of the country. Special education teachers were needed everywhere in the United States and she could have easily taken her mother with her to any city of her choosing. Many of her college friends and colleagues at work implored her to move away, to at least consider her options. But, in the end, she chose to stay.

And this decision to stay came with some consequences-those perpetual feelings of envy and, worst of all, the sense that she had not taken advantage of all that life had to offer. Even in the best of times, the school teacher always felt as though she were a ghost walking through town. Having missed all those opportunities to leave Chasterton, she was at times overcome with sadness. I don’t feel like I’ve lived a worthy life, she once complained to her mother. I feel dead, she told a colleague at work. Whenever she got into these dark moods, her mother and friends would attempt to rally her sunken spirits, often mentioning her accomplishments as an educator. You have made such a positive impact on so many of those kids! her mother told her. Her closest friend and colleague at work, Diane Waller, was more to the point: You’ve lived here all your life. So what! Many people live in their hometown their whole life. It’s not a big deal.

Such advice from her friends would often bring Kelly Mendoza out of the doldrums, but not entirely. There would always be that empty feeling deep inside, a regret that could never be buried completely. And it was this deep insecurity that made someone like Clark Wells, this globe-trotting man of action, all the more attractive to the school teacher. While she often wondered about him, she felt there was no way he could have ever wondered about her, the one who chose to remain behind in little Chasterton. But here was Clark Wells sleeping in her house, having returned to town complaining about his failing career and marriage, hardly the success story everyone thought he was. And Kelly Mendoza thought she had it quite bad! She was able to fall asleep with this thought in mind-that having long decided to stay in Chasterton proved not such a big deal after all. Perhaps, her friend, Diane Waller, was right.

Chapter 3

The following morning , all Kelly Mendoza could think about was Clark Wells. Quite suddenly, the feelings of anxiety and sadness that had dogged her in recent times were gone. The sense of inadequacy that came to dominate her life was now replaced with one of confidence born out of the euphoria of having her old flame back. It was as if a huge void in her life was filled again, despite the lack of any guarantees that Clark Wells was going to stick around. She was not worrying about the past coming back to haunt her. The attractive school teacher was convinced of things being different this time. But she did not mention this to any of her friends at work lest they plant any doubts in her head, for they would surely tell her that Mr. Wells was damaged goods with a failing marriage and career. What about his children? one of them would probably ask. So why bother telling them at this point, she figured.

And it was certainly a good day at work for Kelly Mendoza. None of the usual things that bothered her on a given day-the antics of the students, the nosiness of her colleagues, and the meddling ways of her bosses-had any effect. No effect at all. She just smiled away the whole day and would not let anything rattle her. Such was her demeanor that everyone wondered what was going on with Ms. Mendoza, and many did make comments, fishing for information. But she would just answer vaguely that she was in a good mood. She had not felt so good in such a long time and the work day went by rather quickly. If only more days were like this! she thought.

Once the final bell had rung at three in the afternoon, Kelly Mendoza left the building for her car, eager to get back home and talk some more with Clark Wells. As she drove home, she wondered if he would even be there. Such was their history that she could not take anything for granted, and felt a little uneasy about the whole situation. She turned on the radio in an effort to put such doubts aside, and within seconds, was feeling a lot better. This is going to be interesting, she thought.

As she entered her tranquil neighborhood in the outskirts of town, Kelly Mendoza at once noticed something different. There was an ambulance in the distance close to her home. Then, as she slowly approached the final turn of the snaky road leading to her house, she saw the first cop car. As she kept moving forward, there were more. The street was full of police cars and personnel, and as the school teacher inched closer to her home, she noticed something terribly alarming: the yellow tape. It surrounded her house entirely. What in heaven’s name is this? she thought. Upon closer inspection, police officers and detectives were standing around the house chatting while a few others were taking notes and making observations around the grounds of the property.

Kelly Mendoza then parked across the street from her home as she was unable to enter her driveway, and hurriedly got out. She walked to the closest officer. What on earth is going on here? she asked, her voice shaking a bit. What is happening to my house?

Are you the owner of this home? the officer asked in a cold manner.

Yes I am, she replied.

The officer then looked at a group of other police men standing on the front lawn of the house and called out, Hey, Cal. A man, very tall and burly with a black mustache and mirror sunglasses, turned around and walked towards them. He appeared to be in charge of the scene. She’s the owner of the house, the first officer told him as he approached them.

You’re the owner of the house? the man then asked the school teacher for confirmation upon his arrival, seeming a little out of breath.

Yes I am, she replied firmly.

Please follow me, the man sternly ordered. They walked a short distance away from the immediate grounds of the house toward a squad car. The man then directed another officer to come over to where they were. Johnny, this is the owner of the home, he told him as he arrived. I want you to take her to the station.

For what? the school teacher demanded to know, looking angry and scared at the same time. Can someone tell me what’s going on?

First, I need for you to tell us your name, requested the mustachioed lead officer.

My name is Kelly . . . Kelly Mendoza.

Good, our records were correct, the man remarked calmly, looking at a notepad. And you’re a teacher at Chasterton High School, right?

Yes, I am, Kelly replied nervously.

Well, Ms. Mendoza, something happened in your house, as you can see, and we will inform you precisely of what took place there once you have arrived at the station, the man stated with a casual air of authority, his chin now tilted upwards. Right now, we are in the process of investigating the situation further. I’ll need for you to go with Officer Crandall to the station right now to answer some questions.

I’d prefer to drive there, myself, the wary school teacher said.

That’s fine, just follow Officer Crandall then, the man instructed, his husky voice turning a bit hoarse.

With that, Kelly Mendoza walked the short distance to her car and got inside. She slowly turned on the car, dazed at what could possibly be happening. Her attention immediately turned to Clark Wells. Something happened to him, she thought. With this in mind, she moved the car and began following Officer Crandall to the town’s only police station, which was about ten minutes away. By the time they arrived there, the school teacher was very anxious to know what was going on. She got out of the car and immediately peppered Officer Crandall with questions about the situation. She asked about Clark Wells. He stayed overnight at my place, she told the officer. Did something happen to him? The man, however, did not answer any of the questions directly, only stating that he was unable to reply.

The two of them then walked into the police station, a rather