Pressure had started to build behind my eyes, and I made the split-second decision to lean into it. I let out an exaggerated gasp and flung up my hands to cover my face.
“Hazel?” Reid’s voice was thick with alarm.
“It’s just s-so hopeless.” I inflated the crack in my voice and willed tears to squeeze out of my eyes.
“Oh, honey.” Mason’s concerned voice came through now.
I forced out another sob. “Vermont is my best friend. He’s everything to me.” Okay, that was laying it on a little thick, but I did want my fucking cat back. “I thought the cameras would finally get us an answer. We’re losing time. It’s almost been a week since he was taken.”
Mason went silent and I split my fingers, chancing a look at him. He stared at the computer in front of him. He looked uncomfortable—stiff, yet somehow at the same time, ready to bolt. A woman in tears tended to have that effect on men.
“One second,” he finally said. Relief coursed through me as he typed a few keys and moved the mouse.
My eyes shot up to Reid’s and he narrowed his as if to say, “Play it cool.”
“Thank you so much,” I whispered, wiping away a tear that had fallen.
It was quiet except for the sound of the keyboard, for what felt like forever. I was suddenly conscious of my whole body and how stiff my muscles were from standing in this musty office. I rocked back and forth on my heels, willing this interaction to be over soon. A small ball of anxiety had formed inmy stomach at the thought of seeing what went down that day. Who hated me enough to do this?
“Ah shit,” Mason said.
My heart sunk straight to the floor.
“What?” Reid asked, an edge to his tone.
Mason ran a hand over his face and looked up at us apologetically. “It looks like the recordings are only saved for seventy-two hours, and then the drive overwrites itself. The footage isn’t here anymore.”
“Are you sure?” Reid asked, looking like he was itching to walk behind the desk, shove Mason away from the computer, and check for himself.
“That’s what it says.”
“Thanks for trying.” My words barely made it out.
Disappointment choked me. We weresoclose. I’d thought we’d finally have something solid to take to the police. With real evidence, maybe they’d step up and do something. Or if not, maybe I’d have to confront the person myself. Either way, I thought we’d walk out of here with answers.
“It’s okay, Hazel.” Gentle hands rubbed my shoulders. I looked up into Reid’s warm honey eyes. Or were they almost green? The color seemed to change by the day. “We’ll still figure this out.”
I appreciated his optimism, but it would take some time before even a spark of it found its way back to me.
“Wait, did you say Hazel?” Mason asked.
“I’m Hazel. Why?”
He shifted in his office chair and rifled through a small stack of papers. “These came to the office, since they didn’t have an apartment number.” He handed me two envelopes.
I said thanks, and he gave his condolences about my cat, before Reid and I went back outside, our heads hung low. The snow had finally started, soft flakes coming down in scattered increments. Nothing collected on the ground yet. This weather was the perfect excuse to crawl under a blanket and grieve this new loss. Maybe I could get snacks delivered.Would that be sad? Certainly not financially responsible, but going to the store right now sounded exhausting.
The paper sliced into my index finger as I opened the first letter. “Ouch,” I muttered, sucking the drop of blood that formed from the paper cut.
“Careful,” Reid said.
“Nothing new.” I held up my other hand, currently the home of two Band-Aids from cuts I’d given myself at work. When I returned my attention to the letter, my frown deepened. I tore open the second to find a similar message.
“Crap,” I said.
Reid gave me a puzzled look, and I handed him the letters. He adjusted his glasses before scanning them quickly.
“Don’t forget about the money. I know where you live.” His jaw tensed as his eyes met mine again. “Hazel, these are threats.”
