“Twenty.”
“And how long has she been missing?”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Over an hour!”
“Sir, have you tried calling her on the phone?”
“I have her phone!”
“Have you contacted her friends?”
“She has amnesia. She can’t remember who her friends are.”
“Sir, I have filed a report for a missing adult on your behalf. We will enter the information into our database.”
“That’s it? She has amnesia!”
“Do you mean dementia or Alzheimer’s? I can note this on the form and the information will be forwarded to that unit for immediate processing.”
“No, she doesn’t have dementia or Alzheimer’s.”
“Then we will contact you when it is processed. In the meantime, continue to try to reach her at all known contacts.”
“This really is an emergency,” I said. “She’s defenseless. She doesn’t know anything.”
“Sir, does she know her name?”
“Well, yes.”
“Does she know where she lives?”
“I guess so. She left from here.”
“Then we will process this form and let you know when it is in the system. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
I hung up. Nobody understood.
But I could go to Harry’s. The diner was open late. Big Harry was almost surely there. I called Marcus as I drove over and updated him on the police issue.
“But it’s in the system?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Where should I meet you when I hit town?”
“Ava’s apartment. She might go back. I think she has her keys. I’m headed to the diner where she used to work. She can walk there, and it’s a path that might be muscle memory to her.”
“I’ll see you in about three hours, less if I break all the speed limits. Call me with any updates.”
I hung up as I stopped the car in front of Harry’s. I tried to steady my breath. She would be here. I knew it. Even if she didn’t consciously know where she was going, her feet would lead her here.
I tugged on the door. Only a few stragglers sat on bar stools at this hour.
The youngish man behind the counter looked me up and down. “You’ll need ID to order a drink.”
“I’m looking for Ava Roberts,” I said. “Has she been here? Do you know her?”
His eyes widened. “Who’s asking?”
