I hung up. I had no idea how long ago they’d left. I wasabout to go back into the diner and ask when my phone rang.
Gram. I hadn’t talked to her since I sent a message from the hospital while Ava was sleeping. She must have been waiting to hear.
“Tucker? How’s Ava?”
I swallowed hard. “She’s okay, physically. But she lost her memory and got scared and took off on foot. I’m trying to find her.”
“My Lord. Have you called the police?”
“Yes. And her father. But she came to Big Harry’s. She’s with him.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Will he bring her back?”
“I don’t know. They won’t tell me where he took her.”
“Maybe to his house?”
“No. He lives behind the diner. She had some address where she wanted to go.”
“Well, I’ll stay here in case it’s this one,” she said.
“That’s a good plan. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Please do.”
I hung up, and somewhere out by the bar, drunken friends roared with laughter. Their lives went on normally, while mine was at a standstill.
Where would she ask Big Harry to take her? The list of places was short. But maybe the shelter? The old Shelfmart where she used to work?
I called the shelter but the woman who answered wouldn’t tell me if Ava was there or not, per their policy. I asked for Sheila, and thankfully she came to the phone. She confirmed that Ava hadn’t shown up there and promised she’d keep an eye out for her.
The diner shut down, but I refused to leave. The big-haired waitress got testy. “We want to go home.”
“Then call the cops on me, because I’m not leaving until Big Harry gets here.”
She tilted her head at the bartender. They were the only employees left. “Let’s drink. We usually hang out anyway.”
I could do nothing but wait. Since I knew Ava wasn’t going back to her apartment, I texted Marcus to meet me. He arrived at the diner a few hours later.
He looked like hell, eyes red, his wrinkled shirt unbuttoned at the throat. “We might as well wait together.”
“It sure is taking a long time,” I said. “Either the place he went is far, or he’s sitting with her somewhere.”
“No telling.”
Marcus perched on the corner of the desk.
“What’s Harry’s number?” he asked. “Maybe he’ll talk to me.”
Before I could explain about the cell, Big Harry himself strode into the office.
We both stood.
“I figured I’d be seeing you,” he said to me. “She’ll contact you if she wants.”
“Is she safe?” I asked.
“I reckon so. She seemed to be in good hands.”
