My world spun.
I shook my head in disbelief, a myriad of emotions muddling my thoughts.
Nothing could’ve prepared me to see her. What was she doing here?
A deep warning surged heat through my blood. A sense of doom, heavy as a rock, weighed on my chest. I was about to be duped. Didn’t know how or why. But her presence was an intentional slap to my face.
SEVEN
Then
Jack
“And the last time you saw her was?”
The young guy, Samuel Taggart, shook his head and twisted the rim of a cowboy hat in his hand. Worry lines creased his forehead. He was doing his best to keep his emotions in check, but a potential missing person put everyone on edge. He stammered, “I’m not real sure. Three hours ago, maybe?”
My partner, Chaves, jotted answers onto the report while I asked questions. “She didn’t tell you where she was going?”
“No. But she’s walks everywhere. Her car is here, so I’m figuring that’s what she did. I told dispatch that the GPS on her phone is hovering right above the neighborhood pond or lake—whatever it is.”
“You checked her phone’s GPS?”
“Yes sir. We share a cell plan so I called to have them check.”
I nodded. Chaves’ walkie clicked as she called for backup.
“And you expected her home at a certain time?”
“Well, she was planning on making homemade pizza for dinner. So, she acted like she was going to be here.”
“Okay, have you checked with neighbors, friends, that sort of thing?”
“No, sir. I don’t live here. I’m visiting from Texas. I don’t even know who Randi talks to.”
“Randi?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That’s Miranda’s nickname.”
“No problem, Sam. We have backup coming. We are going to start by taking a drive around some of the nearby roads, and you need to keep your phone on.”
He nodded, looking like he was about to be sick.
“Go ahead and describe her one more time. Do you remember what she was wearing last time you saw her?”
“Yeah, she’s about 5’3”, long blonde hair, wearing a maroon Schrute Farms sweatshirt.”
He went on, and my gaze flitted back and forth to the neighbors’ houses. Two other squad cars had parked on the street in front of the house, making a grand total of five. We were ready to launch a search.
Right at that moment, a feminine voice yelled from up the street. “Tag?”
Sam whipped his head around.
“Tag! Oh my gosh!”
“Randi?”
Weaving in and around the fleet of vehicles was a woman with long honey blonde hair. She was a petite but curvy little thing. Her eyes were wide with fear as she ran up to Sam,clutching an angel figurine to her chest. She wore an oversized sweatshirt that almost hung to her knees.
