“Naw, you’d do the same for me.”
Lainie ended the call, thankful for Mike. He’d do a good job if he were able to talk with Bucshon. Thinking about the warrant service that would happen soon, she wanted to be there for it, but that was not appropriate.
Sleep was elusive. She tossed and turned until 6:00 a.m., then got up and went for a run. Lainie lived near California State University, Long Beach, and her course took her around the campus. It was early, not much was going on. Sometimes the route gave her energy because of the bustling campus. Not today. The run was hard, and Lainie felt as if all her energy was sapped.
As she neared home and slowed her pace to cool down, she saw that someone was on her porch. Slowing to a walk, she stood on her tiptoes and breathed a sigh of relief. Sara.
Breathing steady and calm now, Lainie hurried to greet her friend. “What a great surprise.”
Sara jumped up for a hug.
“I’m all sweaty,” Lainie protested weakly, and accepted the hug because she was so glad to see Sara.
“I don’t care. I had to come see how you are doing.”
Lainie closed her eyes and relished the embrace from her friend.
After a minute, they sat on the porch.
“I forgot that you were off today,” Lainie said.
“I’m working an overtime shift, but it’s an afternoon shift so I don’t go in until two. You have a lot on your mind. Tell me what’s going on.”
Lainie shared what was happening with her sister’s disappearance.
“Wow. I remember Stan and Evie together. He never seemed like the type to stray. He wasn’t as involved with church as Evie, but he was always there, he always supported her.”
“Is that what you saw?”
“Yeah. Church was the only place where I interacted with Stan. He seemed proud of her. Evie had a beautiful voice. I heard Stan compliment her more than once.”
The comment set Lainie back on her heels. “I always thought Stan was a jerk. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him compliment Evie.”
“To me, they were a nice couple. I certainly never saw strife. Did Evie tell you there were problems in her marriage?” Sara asked.
“No. Evie always defended Stan if I made any comments. She didn’t nag him or complain. She wasn’t that way; she wasn’t a complainer. The only time she would ask for help was for something she didn’t think she could handle or something that needed prayer. I guess I got to a place where Evie didn’t come to me to ask for prayer.”
“You never had an inkling?”
Lainie shrugged. “I didn’t like Stan when they were dating. He just struck me as fake, not dangerous. By the time they got married, I wasn’t going to church regularly.” Frustration built and Lainie tightened her fists and hit them together.
“I can’t believe I moved so far away. Evie and I used to be so close. I think I only saw her a couple of times a year after the twins were born. She called me, you know.” Lainie stopped as a lump formed in her throat.
“I told you, don’t beat yourself up. When did she call?”
Lainie nodded and cleared her throat. “A few days before I got the call from Stan about the shark hoax. She didn’t leave a message. Oh, how I wish I had called her back right away. Maybe she would have told me something important—”
“Lainie, you can’t let the past drag you down. It can’t be changed. You know that. You need to move forward. I want to help. What can I do?”
“I’m not sure. I guess it depends on what happens when they find Stan. When we find out what really happened to Evie. You can pray.”
“Count on it.”
CHAPTER 24
“Efren’s car has been located.” Mark met Ben the minute he walked through the FBI field office door the day after returning from Hawaii. The night before, he’d heard there were no new developments. He’d fallen asleep wondering what the new day would bring. Now he knew. Things had obviously changed overnight.
Coffee in hand, Ben’s heart nearly stopped at the expression on Mark’s face.
