“It’s possible they’re related, but it’s just as possible they’re not—we’ll never know. But wedoknow how to treat her condition and we’ll do everything we can to help your aunt feel better soon.”
“Thank you,” Zoey said, and this time she really meant it.
It was after seven when Zoey left the hospital. If Ivy had had her way, she would have left by five. She thought her niece was making “too much of a fuss over nothing” and said she couldn’t relax knowing that Zoey hadn’t eaten any supper yet.
“When you come tomorrow, please bring the cribbage board and my coin jar. And don’t forget my hairbrush and rollers,” she requested.
After saying goodbye, Zoey hesitated outside her room, wondering if she should stay a little longer. But she was concerned because Gabi hadn’t returned her calls and Zoey’s phone battery had died an hour earlier, so now her niece had no way of reaching her, either.
She caught one of the shuttle buses that departed the hospital every fifteen minutes. When she arrived home she was unnerved to spy Nick’s truck in the driveway; there was no one she could have been less happy to see at that moment, including Mark. As she neared the back yard, she noticed Aidan was cutting the grass. It appeared he was almost finished.Good—they won’t be here much longer, Zoey thought.
“Hiya.” Nick rose when she reached the steps, moving aside so she could open the door. “I wanted to check the wall and ceiling in the best room, but no one was home. Is Ivy okay?
Crossing the threshold, Zoey said icily, “Yes, she is. Not that you really care.”
Nick followed her down the hall. “Are you upset because of our conversation yesterday? I know I acted like a jerk and—”
She stopped and turned, staring him down. “You weren’tactinglike a jerk. Youareone. I heard every word of the dirty deal you made with Mark to tear out the attic floor.”
Nick jerked his head backward. “I was—I was going to talk to you about that, but I haven’t had the chance,” he stammered.
“Save it.” She jogged upstairs to Gabi’s room but there was no sign she’d been back since leaving that morning. Zoey had already called Amy’s number from the hospital and left several messages. Where else could Gabi have gone? It was past seven-thirty. She went into her own bedroom, connected her phone to the adapter and powered it on, but it didn’t indicate any missed calls. No texts, either.
Nick was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase, but she breezed past him, down the hall and out the door.
“Aidan!” she shouted twice because the teenager didn’t hear her over the mower’s engine. She marched across the lawn and clapped her hand on his shoulder. He cut the power and grinned at her.
“Hi, Zo—”
She interrupted him. “Do you know where Gabi is? I can’t find her and she isn’t answering her phone. I’ve called Amy but I haven’t heard back from her, either.”
He gave her a strange look. “I haven’t seen her today. But I wouldn’t worry too much. Hope Haven is one of the safest counties in the country.”
“Aidan, it’s important that I find her.”
By this time, Nick had joined them. “If he says he doesn’t know where she is, he doesn’t know.”
“Hedidn’tsay he doesn’t know where she is. He said he hadn’t seen her today,” she argued. “Maybe he’s as devious about twisting the truth as his father is.”
“Listen, Zoey, if you want to be angry at me, that’s fine. But don’t call my son a liar.”
Zoey ignored him, turning her attention back to Aidan, who was shifting from foot to foot. “I know she used to hang out with a group of kidson Tuesdays and Thursdays. Do you know anything about that?”
“I… uh-I made a promise—”
“You don’t have to tell her a thing, son.”
The more Nick interfered, the more Zoey suspected Aidan was keeping something from her. She pleaded, “Aidan, this is important. No one will get in trouble. No one will find out you were the one who told me. Please?”
“Dad, she needs to know.” Aidan gave his father an apologetic look before telling Zoey, “It’s supposed to be anonymous, but for a while she’s been attending a group for teenagers of alcoholics. But today’s meeting only lasted until—”
“Where does it meet?”
“The community center near the beach. But—”
“Move your truck,” Zoey barked at Nick as she dashed inside for the keys. On her way out, Moby slipped passed her legs, bounded down the steps and took off across the lawn. For such a portly animal, he sure could move fast. Zoey didn’t have time for his nonsense and she moved just as swiftly in the opposite direction, toward the garage.
Aidan jogged after her. “Gabi won’t be there, Zoey. The meeting ended at five-thirty.”
