Looking at him, I don’t know how I’ll ever be what he needs. The woman wrapped in trauma, drenched in trepidation and dipped in shame.
Thirteen
Burke
After dropping Clara off at work, I head to the office. Curt calls on the way there, and I put him on speaker.
“Anything?” I ask, watching the idiots on the road.
Curt clears his throat. “No. I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to add security or something without doing anything that makes her feel like we’re trapping her.”
“What about a tracker? Something small. She’s always carrying her purse.”
There are some clicks on the other end of the line. “She’s not stupid. It’ll be found. However, I can put something on her phone. How often does she lose it?”
I swear at the asshole in front of me who decided today would be a good time not to use a blinker, then cut in front of me and carry on at snail’s pace. Checking the mirrors, I manoeuvre around him before returning to highway speed.
“Sorry, often enough. What about her watch?”
“Is it smart?”
“Smarter than I am.” I laugh and take my exit to the office.
“Womp womp. I’ll do what I can.”
He hangs up and I chuck the burner phone into my briefcase as I reach the parking lot. I have a long day of meetings and can already feel the tension settling in my shoulders.
These pictures have shaken us both, but Clara more so, and I don’t know how to fix it. If the motherfucker wanted to, he would already be at the cops, so he’s playing with us instead. I just cannot figure out who he is.
I wish I were better at emotional things. Wanting to fix everything all the time is not the way to be, and often I fall short at helping.
Putting on my best customer-service face, I walk into the building and head up the elevator to my office. Swallowing the dread that consumes me, I smile at the employees before checking out my calendar for the day and getting everything set up.
Loosening my tie, I exhale a long breath as I head toward the car. I am exhausted and want to pick up Clara and cuddle for as long as she will let me.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but with this extra stress on us, I find myself struggling to focus and wave with a fake grin to everyone.
Turning on the burner phone, I find there are several missed calls from Curt. My personal phone shows even more from Debbie. I call her first, and she picks up on the first ring.
“Burke, I’m sorry.”
“What happened?”
Debbie sniffles and her voice quivers. “Clara and Bailey are missing. I was out to the market, and… I don’t even understand, Burke—you know I’d never leave them in danger… I came back and they were gone. Their bags are here, and Bailey’s cellphone, but not them.” Another sob escapes her over the line.
My stomach clenches, my heart racing against my ribcage like a wild animal. I’m already dialing Curt before I’ve hung up on her.
“Alright, Debbie. Lock up and close. Don’t worry about the day. I want you safe until I can get there.”
Ending her call, I throw the phone on the passenger seat. Answering the other, Curt says, “Heard. I’m working on it. I’ve tracked her phone and watch. It’s been discarded and hasn’t moved since. Meet me at the location I’ve texted, and from there we’ll see what we can find out and go to the diner.”
He clicks off before I can say anything, and I follow the directions. Pulling up behind his black sedan, I park and rip off my tie before dipping out of the car.
“Anything?” There’s a pit of doom in my stomach, and as badly as I’d like to let my emotions out, I close them down.
“No. I’ve been through this rest stop twice. I found her phone, but I suspect whoever took them threw it out while driving. I setup the watch this morning. The location ends up here near this forest, but then nothing.”
“Do you think there’s anything on the diner tapes?” I pace through the area. Helplessness isn’t a great feeling, and anger roars over the gut-wrenching pain that claws at my soul.
