Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I didn’t respond, simply nodded.
We walked in silence the few blocks to the station, and I answered their questions as best I could. I knew very little.
“You’ll stay with us for now,” Brad said to me. “At least I know you’ll be safe. I’ve got round-the-clock security since Joe was threatened.”
I didn’t say anything. Simply nodded again, and then we went to the hotel, and I packed up all Patty’s and my belongings. Daphne was awake when we got to their place.
“Ennis is staying with us now,” Brad said.
“Patty?” Daphne asked, wide-eyed.
“She’s missing,” I said.
“No…”
“Not officially until twenty-four hours have passed,” Brad said.
“Not officially?” Daphne asked. “You think that makes a difference?”
“No, baby, I don’t. Ennis and I have been talking to the cops for the last couple of hours. They’ve checked every shop in Snow Creek and even went around the residences in town and knocked on doors. Patty’s gone.”
“And no one saw her?”
“Not that we’ve found yet.” He caressed Daphne’s cheek. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“No, just no.” She laid Joe in his bassinet. “This can’t be happening.”
My eyes glazed over, and I had to hold back the tears. “It is, love. I wish it weren’t, but it is.”
“But how…?”
“We’ll find her,” Brad said. “I asked you to trust me.”
“I do trust you, but so did Patty.” Daphne swallowed. “So did Sean.”
Brad’s facial muscles went rigid. They were about to quarrel, and I needed an exit strategy.
“You should get to bed,” Brad said to me.
“Why? I won’t be able to sleep.” I paced around, my nerves a jumbling mass. “Besides…I’m going to have to call her parents.”
“That can wait until morning,” Brad said.
“If your child were missing, would you want to wait until morning to find out?” I turned to leave the room.
“Wait!” Daphne’s eyebrows shot up. “Maybe they know where she is. Maybe she went home.”
“She’s not,” Brad said. “I already called them earlier this evening and posed as a friend from school. They haven’t heard from her. If she’d flown home, she’d have called them with the information.”
“Maybe not. Maybe she wanted to surprise them.”
“There’s one way to find out,” I said. “I’m calling them.”
“Use my office,” Brad said. “You want me to come along?”
“No, I’ll do it alone. I just wish I knew what the hell to say.”
“Wait, Ennis,” Daphne said. “Don’t call them.”
“I have to, Daphne.”
“But she’s… She’s not…”
“She’s missing, love. They’re her parents. They have a right to know.”
“No, Brad. Please.”
“He’s right, baby. He has to make this phone call.”
“No. No. No.” Her voice sounded oddly robotic as I left the room.
I found Brad’s office. Myriad papers were scattered across his desk. Should I look at them? Maybe find clues?
But in my heart, I knew Brad had nothing to do with Patty’s disappearance. He’d never do anything to harm Daphne. He loved Daphne, and Daphne loved Patty.
I dialed the number for Patty’s parents in Iowa.
What would I say to them? I didn’t know, so I winged it.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Watson?”
A throat cleared. “Yes. This is he.”
“It’s Ennis Ainsley in Colorado.”
“Of course, Patty’s friend. How are you?”
“Not good at all, I’m afraid.” This time I cleared my throat. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m in Snow Creek with Brad and Daphne Steel, friends of Patty’s.”
“I see.” His voice sounded fearful.
I swallowed. “Patty is… That is… She’s gone. Disappeared. We can’t find her.”
Silence for a moment, until, “Excuse me?”
“I’m so sorry. We’ve called the police, and you know Bradford Steel has a lot of money. I’m sure we’ll find her, Mr. Watson.”
“What have you done?” he roared.
“I haven’t done anything.” Tears welled in my eyes. “She went shopping, and she didn’t come back.”
“You let her go alone?”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say. Yes, I’d let her go alone. She was a grown woman in a small town. But guilt ate away at my guts like a parasite.
“I’m calling the police in Snow Creek.”
“Yes. Yes, of course. You should do that. They’re looking into this.”
He slammed the phone down so hard that I jerked at the echo in my ear.
I numbly stumbled out of Brad’s office and to the guest room where he’d put my things.
The next day passed in a haze. I couldn’t tell you what I did, who I talked to. All I could think about was Patty. Was she hurt? Struggling? Every horrid thing that could be happening to her went through my head in excruciating detail.
Two days later, I received a phone call from Mr. Watson.
“Ennis, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Patty has left the country. She called her mother and me a few hours ago from Togo, Africa.” He draws in a breath so harshly I can hear it through the phone. “She joined the Peace Corps. I’m sorry.”
No.
What?
I went numb once more.
Patty left me? After she said she loved me? The Peace Corps? A noble calling, but she’d only finished one year of college.