Running Out of Time (Part Six)

            Picking up the phone, Carmen’s fingers flew over the buttons as her time limit ticked down to the last seconds.

3…

Pick up!

2…

Come on, pick up the phone!

1…

“You’re cutting it close this time.” The voice angrily stated.

“I’m touched you seem to care.” Carmen sarcastically commented as triumph seeped into her voice at her next statement, “I know what the message is.”

“Well.  What is it?” Impatience and irritation mingled together in his question.

“It says, ‘Where the quince blossoms are loved.’” Carmen proudly stated.

“What is that supposed to mean?” A short string of cuss words flowed from the other end of the phone-line, stinging Carmen’s ears.

“Calm down. I know exactly what it means.”

“Well…?” Hearing his tone, Carmen realized she should stop being cryptic and give him what he wanted.

“My mother loved quince blossoms and her grave is surrounded by their blooms.” A prick of sadness stabbed Carmen. Her mother had died nine years ago but the pain and longing never seemed to abate.

“Go there and find the next clue. You have thirty minutes.” Thirty minutes? The cemetery is over an hour away!

Carmen began to protest but the call had already ended. “Go to the Oak Hill Cemetery. Fast!” She commanded and felt the car rapidly accelerate.

As the scenery around her blurred by, Carmen futilely tried to get a grasp on her overpowering emotions. A wave of longing for her mother washed over her as she tried to keep her unshed tears from falling. I miss her so much.

Twenty-four minutes later, Carmen pushed aside her sorrowful thoughts of her mother and prepared herself for the task ahead. As the car started to slow, she jumped out of it, slightly dizzy from the swift speed, and raced to her mother’s grave. Slipping in the mud, wet from a recent rain, she managed to climb to her destination with two minutes to spare.

Carmen’s eyes glazed over the gravestone until they were caught on a small inscription she had never seen before.  Normally below the ground-level, the etching held her attention and she crouched closer. Running her fingers over the word, ‘carmenlove,’ she took a moment to contemplate why her father carved this word into the stone.

Realizing this was the next clue she needed, Carmen picked up the phone and waited for the voice she despised to answer.

“What did you find?” The voice demanded.

“Just one word, ‘carmenlove.’” Wonder filled her voice.

“Good. That must be the code.” The voice mumbled almost cryptically. “Your next task is to go to your father’s house. In his office, he has a safe. You need to get something from within it. I am sure you know how to open it.” The voice sneered.

“What?! This is the first time I have heard of that! How could I kn…” Carmen’s words died on her lips.

“Yes, I believe you do know how to open it.” The voice snickered. The call ended but Carmen hadn’t noticed because she was engrossed in her thoughts. The letter…

Carmen rushed back to the waiting car and ordered, “Go to my apartment. I need to pick up something.”

To Be Continued…