Lost Weekend

Waking up and rubbing her eyes, Charlotte realized she was not in her bed, but sitting in a car; and the car was not hers. The jeans and sweatshirt she was wearing were not hers either. She shook her head, as if trying to clear some of the cobwebs from her mind. While she was trying to figure out where she was and how she got there, she heard a police blare horn from behind her.

“Please step out of the car. Place your hands on your head and slowly walk back to the rear of the car.” The voice on the blare horn was pleasant but stern.

Charlotte slowly opened the car door and did exactly as she was told. All the while, her mind was racing as to how she got into this predicament. The last thing she could recall was leaving the after work Christmas party and heading to her car. She had spent the evening talking to friends and after a few cranberry tonics, she begged off and left.

Looking around as she walked to the rear of the car, she realized she was in a housing construction site and the car she had just exited was parked in the driveway of one of the unfinished homes. She saw construction workers standing in the street, watching her with interest and amusement. As the police officer approached her, she was truly bewildered. Where in the heck was she?

Two police officers were standing at the end of the driveway. “Good Morning, ma’am.” said the taller police officer. “Can you tell us your name?”

“Charlotte…Charlotte Crane.”

“Good Morning Miss Crane. Can you tell me why you are parked in this construction site? You are trespassing and the construction crew thought you were in danger.”

‘‘I don’t know,’’ she said, shaking her head with tears of confusion in her eyes. “I was at work and now I am here. This isn’t even my car. Where am I? I need to sit down…”

“Here,” he said, “you can sit on these bags of cement. Now, tell me what is the last thing you remember.”

“Well ... I was at work and we were having a Christmas party. I only drank Cranberry tonic, no alcohol. I swear. I left about 9 P.M. and got into my car...but this car,” as she pointed to the car behind her, “is not my car. My car is a blue 2009 Toyota Camry. Did you find a blue Camry anywhere?”

“No Miss Crane, we did not. Do you know whose car this is?” The officer looked down at his notebook and wrote down a few quick words.

“No...I don’t recognize it.” Charlotte said.

“We ran the license plates and it says the car is registered to someone named Mary Carson. Do you know anyone by that name?”

“We have a Mary Carson at our office. She is the office manager. She was at the Christmas party with the rest of us. Is Mary okay?” With tears welling her eyes, Charlotte looked around her – bewildered as to where she was and how she got there.

“Miss Crane,” said the officer, “I need you to take a few moments and gather your thoughts. I have a breathalyzer unit I need you to blow into…just in case. It’s only a precaution but it may tell us how you ended up here in this construction site on a Monday morning. Should you be at work today?”

“Umm…I guess so. I guess the test is okay. I know I wasn’t drinking but I don’t know why I can’t remember anything. You say it is Monday?” Charlotte burst into tears. “The Christmas party was on Friday – where did the weekend go?”

Charlotte needed time to think. All these questions from the police were not giving her that time. Stalling for time, Charlotte tried to think of a best way to to get the police to stop with all the questions. What is the best way to avoid answering questions? Kids do it all the time. Teenagers are famous for it. Charlotte decided a new tactic was necessary. She turned the tables on the police.

“Am I under arrest?” Charlotte asked boldly.

“No...not at this time.“ answered the police office, surprised by her change of assertiveness. “But we still have lots of questions. Do you know why you are parked in the construction site? You are trespassing.” he said.

“Am I under arrest for trespassing? Or is there a fine I have to pay or a ticket you need to give me?” She inquired politely.

She took a deep breath and continued, “Was the car reported stolen? Was Mary reported missing? The keys to the car weren’t in the ignition so I clearly parked the car. And it’s parked straight – look at it – an excellent parking job if you ask me. And I don’t see any evidence of being under the influence or any other thing – other than being a bit sleepy from being woken up. I don’t really see any moving violations that would apply or evidence of driving under the influence.”

The police officers looked at each other and spoke a few minutes between themselves. Suddenly, Charlotte felt a vibration in her pocket and the sounds of a cell phone ringing filled the morning air. Charlotte removed the phone from her pocket and glanced at the caller ID.

“It’s my office.” she said as she pressed the answer button on the display. “Hello? This is Charlotte.”

“Charlotte? This is Mary. I just wanted to say thank you again for taking my car to the mechanics for me this morning. Fred said take all the time you need; we have things covered here. The mechanic is at Ray’s Auto Care. You know, located on 4th and Oak Ridge Road? They are building a new housing development out there. If you get to the housing development, you went too far.”

“Yes,” said Charlotte. “Ray’s Auto Shop, 4th and Oak Ridge Road. I must have passed it. I am at the construction site right now.” Charlotte looked around her, trying to find a road sign or a street marker. The police officers, though watching her closely, were still talking between themselves.

Mary continued, “That’s okay. Turn around and you will find Ray’s about one-half mile south. You are only a few minutes away. I am glad I called. It’s easy to miss Ray’s with all the construction and stuff going on. I got lost last time I took the car out there. I gotta go…Fred is yelling for me. When you get to Ray’s, remind them they are to only work on the passenger’s side window. It will roll down but will not roll back up. Text me when they start working on the car. I want to know how long it is taking them.”

“Yes Mary. I will text you as soon as they start working on…” Charlotte was interrupted.

Mary spoke quickly. “Oh, and one more thing... Don’t let them open the trunk. Under no circumstances should anyone open the trunk.” Charlotte could hear Fred yelling to Mary in the back ground. “Charlotte, I gotta go. Text me later, okay? Bye.”

Charlotte’s mind was reeling. At least now she knew where she was and why she was in a strange car. She knew Mary was okay and the car was not stolen. She knew why she was not at work and why she was dressed so casually. Relieved, she relayed the new information to the police officers.

“That was Mary, you know...our office manager? She said I was to take the car to the mechanic’s this morning for her. Apparently I got lost and drove too far. Do you guys know where 4th and Oak Ridge Road is? That’s where I am supposed to deliver the car. Can I go now? They are expecting me there.”

Charlotte did not say anything about the trunk. It puzzled her that Mary said no one was to open the trunk – Charlotte was curious and she did not want to make the police curious too. And why the heck couldn’t she remember what happened over the past two days since the Christmas party on Friday night?

Her memory may be full of holes but her mind was working fine. What could possibly be in the trunk?

***

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