Page 52 of Forever Gone

“She doesn’t really use it. She has an account, but she hasn’t posted in years,” the husband said.

Selena looked thoughtful for a moment. “What about her car? Does she have one?”

“Yes. White Toyota Corolla. Twenty nineteen.”

Connor asked for the license plate and entered it into his notebook.

“Any distinguishing damage?”

“Actually, yes. Scrape along the rear passenger door. One hubcap missing. She kept telling me we needed to get that fixed, but I said it was just cosmetic...”

Selena rose and crossed toward the wall beside the hallway. She had seen something.

A brass trophy sat on a narrow shelf beneath the film posters. The figure on top held a volleyball over one shoulder. A small plate on the base read ELMSVIEW HIGH, DISTRICT RUNNERS-UP.

Selena picked it up carefully by the base.

“Did Linda attend Elmsview High?”

Phil nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

Selena smiled faintly. “Oh, nothing. Do you remember roughly when she graduated?”

“Late nineties.”

“She must’ve been there after me,” Selena said, thoughtfully.

“You knew her?”

Selena shook her head. “I don’t remember her, but the school connection may help us identify old friends.”

Connor stood. “Did Linda ever mention someone named Karen Sloane?”

Phil frowned. “No. Who’s that?”

“A local woman,” Connor said. “We’re checking several possible connections.”

Phil searched their expressions. “Do you think Linda’s in danger?”

“We don’t know,” Selena said. “Hopefully not.”

“Can you find her?”

Connor closed his notebook. “Considering the argument, the most likely explanation is that she went somewhere to cool off and hasn’t decided to contact you yet.”

Phil’s shoulders dropped. “So, you’re not going to do anything?”

“Of course we are,” Connor said gently. “My deputies will watch for her and the Corolla. I’ll send a statewide request to law enforcement and enter the vehicle into the system. We’ll check hospitals, contact her employer again, and speak with anyone who might know where she went.”

Selena returned the trophy to the shelf. “We’ll also request available phone and financial records through the proper channels. Call us immediately if she contacts you, even if she asks you not to involve law enforcement.”

“I will.”

Connor handed him a card. “Don’t delete messages or alter anything on her devices or accounts.”

Phil accepted it. “All right.”

Selena closed her notebook. “Thank you for your time.”