…continued from Billford’s Folly.

The John Doe in the Charleston County Morgue was not getting much attention. With no identification, no matching missing persons reports, and no inquiries from friends or families, there was little to launch an investigation and no leads to follow.

Kirby’s mother and sister lived in Charlotte. The only time he made contact with them was when he needed money. And while that was as recently as the day after Christmas, they were not looking forward to hearing from him again anytime soon.

After meeting Priscilla, Kirby drifted away or alienated most of the friends he made since coming to Charleston, almost two years ago. Even his friend Peter would not be looking for him. Peter called Kirby on Christmas Day to wish him well, but Kirby let the call ring to voicemail and never returned the message.

Kirby and his father had not talked in more than a decade and neither knew where the other lived. Ironically Kirby’s father moved to the Charleston area only a few months after Kirby and on more than one occasion they were on the same DASH.

For her part, Priscilla was surprised that Kirby was not calling and harassing her for another chance, or making a dramatic scene in front of her apartment or at the Taco joint, but she barely gave it a second thought.

She had moved on to something better.

Kirby’s landlord, Mrs. Murphy was looking for him on account of the January rent, but presumed that Kirby was either avoiding her or had moved in with the redheaded tramp.

About the only person who really noticed Kirby was missing was Spike, his dope supplier. And Spike wasn’t going to the Police anytime soon to file a missing person report.

Unless someone claimed the body before Sadie Hawkins Day, it would be cremated and the remains interned in an unmarked vault.

***

The only evidence in the disappearance and murder of Kirby Hayes was across the river in Mt. Pleasant, in a lost and found box at the Spirit Cruises main office.

The crew had found a well-worn, right-foot Jesus sandal near the stern of the Spirit of Sumter when they were cleaning up from the New Year’s Eve cruise. The sandal was almost discarded, but the manager instructed a first mate to put it in the repository with other left-behind items.

On the first morning of the new year that list included, in addition to the sandal, two compact digital cameras, a cell phone, two bras, three pair of panties and a thong, a watch, six pair of sunglasses, and a silver flask, inscribed WBJ and half full of Jack and orange juice.

“With my luck, someone will come looking for that damn thing,” the manager cautioned, referring to the abandoned footwear.

He had no way of knowing the owner of the sandal could not claim it. He had already taken his last steps…

###

This story continues with Braxton Lewis.

2016 Kirt Van Buren