Anna had tried calling him probably a hundred times at this point. It was always the same. “The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected.”
She felt completely helpless and really did not like it. Tim sat next to her and she was also hyper aware of the fact that his arm was almost around her shoulders on the back of the couch. She also couldn’t ignore Peter’s constant sideway glances and frowns any longer. She was very tired of his strange behavior and turned to him. “And you! What is your problem? Why do you keep staring at me and frowning? I don’t live up to expectations because I don’t know what to do? Get over it and keep your eyes to yourself!”
With that, she got up and stormed out of the room. She needed to be alone to think. Where else would he be? She opened the door to her room and threw herself on the bed. Finally, alone, the tears she’d been holding back started falling. Her world was crashing down around her. After a few minutes passed, her tears slowed. There was a knock at her door. She ignored it and continued to stare at her ceiling. It’s just me.
Come in.
Tim opened the door and entered her room. “Are you okay?” he asked sitting on the end of her bed.
“I’m scared.”
Tim understood and didn’t understand at the same time. He knew how scary it was losing your parents, but he hadn’t had time to think about it first and constantly wonder what was happening to them. He gently pushed Anna over and slid next to her on the bed. She settled into the crook of his arm. Anna was glad he hadn’t tried to say anything. He was rubbing her back softly in slow circles. It was very comforting. Tim was hoping she’d fall asleep. He knew she was worried, but if she was completely worn out from her constant worrying, she might not be able to help him, if it came to that. Suddenly, a loud jingle of bells broke the silence and Anna flew off the bed. She grabbed her phone from her desk where she had tossed it when she’d given up trying to reach him. She looked at the display. “I don’t recognize the number,” she said.
“Answer it anyway but put it on speaker so I can hear.”
She nodded and accepted the call. “Hello?”
“I heard you were looking for me. What’s up?”
Anna glanced at Tim. “Where’d you hear that?”
“Mrs. O’Shea. She said you were banging on my door earlier like you wanted to break it down. What was so important?”
Anna paused before answering. Let him think you still have no idea what’s going on.
“I need to talk to you. Your phone’s not working, and I couldn’t get ahold of you.”
“Yeah, it’s busted.”
“Can you come over?”
“Uh no. I’m in the middle of something- family stuff.”
Anna was beginning to lose patience. “Oh. Okay. Well is this a number I can reach you on now?”
“No. This is uh, a pay phone.”
He’s lying.
Obviously. Should I just confront him on the phone?
No! We’ll never find him then!
“Anna? Are you there?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Look, I really need to talk to you. Can you come over when you’re done your family stuff?”
“It’s important?”
“Very.”
“I can’t promise anything. I don’t know how long this’ll take, but I’ll try.”
“Thanks,” Anna said with your teeth clenched.
He hung up without saying goodbye. “Do you think he’s going to come?”
Anna shrugged. “Can I see your phone for a minute?”
Anna handed him the phone. He looked it for a moment, typed a few things, and then said, “Well, would you look at that?”
“What?”
“I did a reverse look-up on the number he called from. It was a long shot since so many numbers are cells or unlisted, but it’s actually listed! I think he just made his second mistake!”
Looking at the screen, she grinned. “What was his first?”
“Making you upset. He’s gonna pay.”
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Anna said, “So Rebel King Enterprises, huh? Apparently, Aaron has a one-track mind.”
“There’s an address listed. I don’t know if it’s an actual location, or just a mailing address, though,” Tim pointed out.
“I guess there’s only one way to find out!” Anna explained, jumping to her feet.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Tim and Anna drove slowly passed the office building that matched the address they’d found online. People were going in and out of the building. “It’s rather busy for a Saturday; I wonder what Rebel King actually does.”
They had tried to look the company up online before they left, but other than the address and a few phone numbers, there was no information. “Let me see if I can get some answers,” Tim said, pulling into the parking lot of the building.
“You’re just going to walk in?”
“No! I’m going to call the first number listed and see if they’ll tell me if they have any other locations.”
He pulled out his phone and dialed the first number that showed up when the company was searched. It rang a few times, then Tim heard, “Rebel King Enterprises. This is Denise. How may I direct your call?”
“Yeah, hi Denise. I have a slight situation and I’m hoping you can help me out,” Tim said, making his voice sound a little deeper than it really was.
Anna tried not to laugh. “What can I help you with, sir?” Denise asked.
“Well, I drive a truck and I got a call from your guy, Joe, about a pick-up I need to make. Only he didn’t remember to give me the pick-up location,” Tim explained, “I tried to call back the number he called me on, and he didn’t answer. I tried that reverse look up thing on the internet, but that gave your office location. I’m not picking up at an office building, am I?”
“No, sir. All pick-ups are at the warehouse, sir.”
“That makes much more sense, Denise. Do you happen to have that address?”
She
