There's an old saying in the south, "What you lose in the fire, you will find in the ashes". There are several ways that can be interpreted, and it can mean different things to different people. But the core message can never be lost.
People come and go out of our lives everyday. Possessions pass from hand to hand. And sometimes you can look up and realize that everything you started out with has changed into something new. Even birds will abandon last year's nest and build a new one when they return.
But one universal truth will forever be true, that once you have something, it can never be lost. From the first moment two lovers share an embrace, no man, including themselves can destroy that moment. When a mother holds her new born infant for the first time, the feeling that springs from her soul will echo through eternity.
People leave this life so quickly. Sometimes, before we ever get the chance to fully appreciate them. And sometimes they are stolen from us by the shadows of this world. But the old saying rings truer and louder than ever, that once you have someone they can never be lost. And when the fire burns out and embers cool, we will find nothing while sifting through the remains. Because that's exactly what we've lost, nothing.
And in that moment you will realize, "What you lose in the fire, you will find in the ashes".
******
By midmorning the work in the graveyard was well underway. The crew doing the walk through had found nothing, but the digging was coming along well. The sun had made it's way over the tops of the trees and beat down on the men working.
J.W. stood outside the fence with his arms crossed on his chest, observing everything that was being done. All he could do is wait. In the back of his mind he wondered where Campbell might be. It was unlike him to ever miss work, especially amid something like this.
One of the officers walked over to the edge of the yard and leaned both arms down on the chain link fence. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead with the back of his hand. J.W. walked over to him.
"How's it come?"
"We're about 3 1/2 foot down right now, shouldn't be too long. I can tell you that there's an odor."
"Hmmm....could be coming from inside the casket?"
"It's possible, the funeral wasn't but two weeks ago. I don't know how air tight them things are. Whatever it is, It's pretty stout."
"Alright, just take it slow, we'll see what we got."
Behind him, J.W. could hear gravel kicking up from a vehicle approaching and then coming to a stop. The other officer leaned over to look around him and then nodded in that direction, before walking away.
"Well, I'm gonna leave you to this."
J.W. turned to see a familiar car parked beside his own vehicle. It was a little two door job that he had bought a few years ago. Things were tight back then and it was the only thing he could find he could pay cash for. Behind the wheel, he could see the flowing hair and burning eyes of the person he had given it to.
As she stepped out of the car, Rebecca exuded as much grace and appeal as she always had. The wind kicked her hair and she folded it behind her ear with one hand. She had the other shoved down into the pocket of her shorts. She looked down at the ground as she walked, in a meekish way.
"What are you doin' here?"
"Aint that a way to greet a lady? I come to see you of course."
"Where's your new puppy? He aint usually far behind."
"He's working nights. I waited till he went to sleep to come out here."
"You always were good at sneakin' out."
"You always been good at bein' a smartass too."
"Why don't you just tell me why you're here."
She ran her fingers through her hair, starting at her forehead and going all the way back. She looked off into the trees across the road. She waited for a brief moment, then took a deep breath.
"About the papers, J.W."
"Well, I'm sorry you wasted a trip then."
J.W. turned and walked toward the front steps of the church and sat down on them, pretending to examine whatever papers were in his hands. Rebecca followed and sat beside him, leaving only a small space between them.
"It doesn't have to go like this, you know."
"Well what way does it need to go then? We had a plan. I been in love with you since I was 16 years old. You agreed to the plan. In front of God and everyone else. You did. Then one day, for no reason, you decided to change it."
She reached over and grabbed the side of his face gently with her hand.
"It aint for no reason, J.W. You will always be something very special to me. You are a good man. That aint gonna change. I did. The things I want changed. I don't know why. I prayed for them not to, but they did anyway."
"And he's got all these new needs covered?"
"It aint about him. The sooner you realize that, the easier this'll all be. For the both of us. I know it's gonna take time. You just let me know when you're ready."
Rebecca stood up and began walking to her car. J.W. continued to sit and fight back his tears. He watched her as she walked, using all the determination in his body to not jump up and run after her.
"I'll always love you, Rebecca."
She looked back briefly before climbing into her car.
"I know.....me too."
J.W. hung his head in silence as the car drove away. And with it, every bit of hope he had in his heart disappeared into the distance. He felt like he could sit there forever. Just sink into the brick of the building and never return. Until his thoughts were interrupted.
"J.W.! We got her!"
J.W. hopped up and looked toward the graveyard where the officers were standing. The one that had hollered at him stood with his hands on his hips staring down into the dark hole. The other two with shovels, leaned against them with one arm and held the collars of their shirts across their nose with the other.
He jogged through the gates and zig zagged between the tombstones. His heart raced with fear and anticipation until he reached their side. And when he did, all of his worst fears came crashing down on him.
What he saw took his breathe away so that he didn't even notice the stench. The pile of dirt they had shaved away was piled beside the headstone. It was fresh and dark brown. J.W. leaned over and looked into the hole. What he saw was not a casket, not burial flowers. But sticking up through the wet dirt was a pale, purple splotched foot.
The men stood silently for a few moments, taking the time to realize what this meant. J.W. was the first to speak.
"Alright, let's back out of here. We'll get a CSI team down here. Let's rope off the whole damn place. No one goes in or out without signing a log.
I'm gonna get on the horn and try to get the Sheriff again. And for God's sake nobody talk to the damn press."
******
That evening the news rang loud and clear across the ArkLaTex.
"KTBS has confirmed with local law enforcement that the body of missing Elizabeth Freemaux has been found.
She had been missing for 2 weeks, after leaving her home here in Zwolle. Her car was found some time shortly after, abandoned.
Police have been exhausting all resources in the search for this missing woman. But an anonymous tip is what eventually led to the discovery of her remains.
Our field reporter is at the scene of Bayou Scie Methodist Church where the girl's body was found. Apparently unearthed in a grave that had recently been dug for a legitimate funeral. Elizabeth Freemaux's body was then placed on top of the casket and recovered.
Three other missing women are still outstanding according to police records dating back to 1990 and 1991. It is unclear at this time if police suspect any connection between todays events and those disappearances."
******
Miles away, Campbell sat on the side of the road in his pickup truck. The engine turned off and the breeze flowed through the rolled down window. He took out a fresh group of tobacco leaves from his Red Man chewing tobacco pouch, and tossed them into his mouth. The flavor rushed across his tongue and he spit out the window.
He sat for a moment contemplating all the possible scenarios in his mind. Things that could go right, things that could go wrong. But he had an answer for all of them, he always had. Lost in thought he stared into the clouds passing overhead. They were dark and full of a promised storm. He raised his wrist and checked the time on his watch.
Suddenly, a reflection in his rear view mirror caught his eye. The sun shone across the windshield of an approaching car coming up behind him. He watched as the car drew closer. "Hmmmm..." The small two door car passed where he was parked and Campbell watched it the whole way.
He picked up his cowboy hat from the dashboard and placed it on his head snuggly. Underneath sat a red flashing globe light with a magnetic bottom. It blinked as the mirrored cell spun around inside and reflected the light. From the base ran a curly cord that plugged into the cigarette lighter in the console.
With his left hand he picked it up, reached outside and slapped it against the roof of his truck. He rested his elbow against the rolled down window frame and the engine of the truck rattled to life as he cranked it.
He pressed the gas until he gained on the car and then allowed the lights to do the rest. He could see the woman inside look up into her rearview mirror. And looking back at her, were his familiar eyes.
