The voice on the other end was calm but urgent. I guessed her to be a lady of later middle age and she had a problem that needed a fast fix.
A few years ago she had found the man of her dreams and remarried, even though her adult son, who lived with her, did not fully approve.
Then one day, while she was out shopping, the new husband and the son got into a heated argument and the son seemed to decide that "the grass was greener on the other side." He grabbed his clothes, threw them in his car and roared off into the sunset.
"Mama" said that was about three years ago, but the sad part was she hadn't seen or heard from the boy since. Nary a word or a card to let his mother know of his condition or his where abouts!
Now she had no idea where in the world her son was now, but she needed to find him fast because her husband was in the hospital dying and she wanted her son with her!
She also said the police had failed to find him and so had another private detective she had hired earlier. Did I think I could locate him? I replied that I couldn't make any promises but I would sure give it a good try, if she wanted me on the case.
Her reply was, "Go ahead and get started." So I went to work and the fishing trip went onto "the back burner" for another time. A manhunt is always more exciting anyway!
I won't reveal my "trade secrets" but I soon had a lead on this young man and as I followed it up I discovered that he was hid away down in the Arkansas mountains. I soon came up with a mailing address for him but he either hand no telephone or it was a "silent number."
When I called my client she was happy that her son was alright and was now located, but she was grieved that she had no way to contact him. I explained that I could get his telephone number, if he had one, but it would cost us more time and more money.
I advised her that it would still be possible to get a message to him. I had been a police officer and knew that, in a family emergency, like this, the local police department would be willing to send an officer out to give her son a message that he needed to call his mother right away.
She thought that might work but wanted to make the call herself. So I dug up the phone number of the police department nearest her son and gave it to "Mama."
Perhaps a couple of hours later my phone rang again and I found one happy mother on the other end of the line. She said, "It worked! He just called me and he's starting home today! I just thought you might like to know. Go ahead and send me a bill."
She was right. I was very happy to know that my efforts had paid off. Sure, I made a little grocery money, but it was even more satisfying to me to know that I had helped re-unite a mother and her son during a time of crisis in their lives and to hear the happiness and gratitude in that mother's voice. Who says the PI business is not a happy one?
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