Did they catch her? | Details of such are sketchy and rife with false narrative - only few were in the know. Bootsie Magou disappeared during the Summer of 1932.
For days it had felt like something was amiss, so it was no surprise when he showed up at my door. Prior to his arrival, I frequently observed Bootsie deep in thought, her gaze intense, distracted, and her movements deliberate. I knew better than to interrupt.
"He" was Eldrid Alan Asker, perhaps the only person who may have had a clue. Bootsie's circle was small. There were few people she trusted, but "Ellee," as she called him, was one of them. He was a southern gentleman who lived in New York City and had relatives scattered along the Gold Coast of Long Island.
Eldrid proceeded to tell me that Bootsie was nowhere to be found. He handed me a box saying he'd been instructed to deliver it to me personally if she ever disappeared. His look and tone were somber, and yet something about his energy, his countenance, exuded what could only be interpreted as excitement. Maybe even hope. What was going on, I wondered. Did he know where Bootsie was? Was her absence planned?
The box contained four items, well, actually five:
1. A copper penny with a mature, umber brown, honey caramelized appearance
2. A candle with the aroma of woody oak char, vanilla-soaked ripened berries with a hint of herbaceous spice
3. A taste of chocolate glazed with caramel, ripened berry puree, vanilla drizzle, roasted nuts
4. A handwritten note, "My Love, I wish to feel your warm embrace. We will be together again"
...Oh, and the 5th item? A bottle of Bootsie’s Bourbon to finish.