Still Missing

By the time I got back home the sick feeling had turned into a restless energy, so I decided to go for a run. It wasn't that late yet, but I couldn't have gone to sleep even if it was bedtime--I was wired for sound. While my feet pounded the pavement, my thoughts ran wild.

Did something go on between Luke and Christina? I couldn't recall them ever being overly friendly when we were together in the past. Then again, I never picked up on the fact that she was my competition for the project. Had she known from the start? Was that what she was trying to tell me when I interrupted her? Or was she trying to tell me about her and Luke? And how come Luke never told me the restaurant was having troubles? Questions crashed around in my mind, smashed into each other, and splintered into more questions.

After a half hour's hard running I'd calmed down a lot, but a vague sense of unease followed me home and into the shower. If I just heard their voices all the crazy thoughts would go away. Still wrapped in my towel, I called Luke at the restaurant. He answered abruptly.

'Am I catching you at a bad time?' I said.

'I got a few.'

'I just wanted to tell you I identified a photo of the guy down at the cop shop today. I don't have a name yet but Gary's going to fill me in as soon as he can.'

'Hey! That's good news.'

'I guess. I still need to know more.'

'Keep me posted on what they find out, but I gotta go--I'm sorry, there's a lot going on around me, place is packed.'

Still feeling unsettled, I almost told him I'd stop in for a drink so we could talk, but I hesitated too long and he was gone.

I called Christina on her cell, but she told me she'd have to call me back because they were doing the launch of the waterfront project that night and she was greeting people at the door. After we said good-bye, I stared at the phone in my hand. Emma, sitting at my feet, looked up at me with her big brown eyes.

'I'm being a dumbass, aren't I?' She wagged her tail furiously. I took that as a yes.

But then, on the way to my bedroom, I finally remembered where the photo came from.

It took Gary a while to answer the phone. I didn't realize I was holding my body rigid until I heard his calm voice, and the tension in my muscles eased a little.

'I've been trying to call you all afternoon,' I said.

'Sorry about that, my phone battery died.'

'I need to talk to you.' I hated how desperate I sounded.

'I'm listening.'

'I was just thinking about this little shelf cluttered with photo frames I used to have in the hall outside my bedroom, and--I remembered. There's this pewter frame I'd stuck in behind the rest because it had an older picture of me in it, the same picture The Freak--'

'The photo was from inside your house?'

The sick feeling was back.

'The Freak could never have gotten past Emma, so it has to have been when we were out on a walk. But why would he risk breaking in for that photo?'

'That's a good question. Did anyone have keys to your place?'

'I lost my set on a hike a few months before I was taken, so I had the locks changed--I hadn't given anyone a spare yet.'

'So it was probably someone you let in, Annie. They gave him the photo--presumably as a way of identifying you.'

My heart started to pound. 'But why that one?'

'Might've thought it was one you wouldn't miss. Could be any number of reasons.'

'And whoever tried to grab me--'

'Could be the same person who took the photo or someone they hired to finish the job.'

'This doesn't make any sense. Why would someone want me abducted? There were never any ransom demands.'

'We don't know that you were supposed to be abducted. It's possible he was hired for a different reason, then decided to keep you for his own purposes.'

'You think he was actually supposed to kill me? Jesus Christ, Gary.' My eyes went to the alarm.

'They're not going to try anything again this fast--there's too much attention on you right now--but I'll make sure the patrol cars are still driving by. And I'm going to need the names of anyone who had access to that photo.'

'Lots of people have been in my house, I'd just had some work done on the furnace--'

'This is too complicated to be a crime of opportunity. It has to be someone with a personal motive.'

'I already sent you the stupid list--'

'Don't just think in terms of who might have wanted to hurt you, think about who benefited the most from your disappearance.'

My mind reeled. 'I need...I need some time. To think.'

Gary said, 'Sleep on it, okay? I'll give you my motel number in Eagle Glen. If you come up with anything, call me right away.' I was about to hang up when he said, 'And, Annie. Just keep this to yourself for now.'

I got dressed with shaky hands and Gary's words repeating in my head. Who benefited the most? I thought of Luke's busy restaurant. I thought of Christina getting a real estate project.

Then I remembered The Freak saying he chose me because 'an opportunity arose,' and it was odd that my normally punctual boyfriend was so late for dinner that day of all days. Also The Freak had said he saw Luke with a woman, but he liked tormenting me--wouldn't he have told me if it was Christina? Or was he saving that detail for a rainy day? But if there was something going on between Luke and Christina, why didn't they get together once I was out of the picture? And why would they give him that photo? They'd both had pictures of me. No, this was ridiculous. Christina and Luke loved me--they'd never hurt me.

Who benefited the most?

I stared at the spot in the hall where the shelf used to be. Someone stole a photo of me, someone I let in my home. I checked the alarm again, the locks on the door. Emma barked at a car driving by and I just about jumped out of my skin. I had to get out of there.

On the hour-long drive to Eagle Glen--Gary's motel's name, room number, and a Googled map on the seat next to me--I realized I hadn't asked him why he was there, but I assumed it was because of the case. I can't remember anything I passed that night, and I felt cold all over--in my haste I hadn't grabbed a coat and was just wearing a tank top and yoga pants, which didn't help. My hands shook on the steering wheel.

I had to wait a couple of minutes for Gary to answer my knock.

'Sorry, I was just getting out of the shower. What's going on? You okay?'

'Hey,' I said. 'I need to talk.' He gestured for me to come in.

The air was still steamy and he was buttoning up the last few buttons of a white shirt. He took the towel from around his neck and rubbed it over his hair, which the water had turned steel-colored, and after he tossed the towel onto the back of a chair, he quickly smoothed his hands over his head.

It wasn't a very big room, just one bed, a phone desk, TV, and a bathroom, and it felt even smaller when I realized it was the first time we'd ever been alone together.

A half-empty bottle of red wine rested on the night table. He didn't strike me as the drinking type, but what the hell did I know? Without saying anything, he lifted up the bottle and raised his eyebrows. I nodded. He filled up one of the motel room glasses and handed it to me. Glad to have something in my hands, I took a big gulp and felt it hit my bloodstream instantly. My muscles uncoiled and a warm glow spread through me. I sat on the end of the bed.

Gary pulled a chair from the phone table and turned it to face me. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands.

'So what's up?'

'This shit--it's making me crazy. You have to find the guy