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Sophie says something brief that freezes the men on the spot. Tom’s eyes cut away to scan the street.

I slide lower in my seat, motionless while his eyes skim past my truck without recognition.

Good.

Sophie steps closer to him then, speaking more quietly. Tom shakes his head once. Twice.

Then he says something loud enough that I catch the word police.

My attention ramps up.

Mick responds this time, stepping forward, speaking in a controlled, reasoning way, but Tom interrupts him with a few sharp words and the older man retreats as if beaten.

Sophie’s expression hardens again.

And there it is again—the gap.

Every time the police come up, I feel pressure in my chest.

I wait until Tom heads back inside before reaching for my phone.

Ashby: Has Tom actually filed a missing person’s report?

The reply comes back almost instantaneously.

Laurel: He says yes, but I’m still waiting for him to give me the details.

I stare at the screen for several seconds before setting the phone face down again.

So, there’s no certainty that he has. It’s all just assumption.

Assumptions are where problems breed.

By noon, Tom leaves the house alone.

He drives toward town. I follow three vehicles back.

He parks near a pharmacy first, disappears inside for six minutes, then leaves carrying nothing. Next, he drives next toward a fast food place near the highway but never goes in. Just sits in the parking lot checking his phone repeatedly.

Then he heads toward the police station.

Finally.

I straighten slightly in my seat as he pulls into the lot, parking near the side entrance this time instead of the front. He gets out immediately, shoulders hunched against the drizzle, and walks inside the station without hesitation.

I check the clock.

12:43.

I write it down and settle in to wait, counting the minutes.

At minute eighteen, Tom exits the station, his fast stride suggesting irritation or impatience, carrying no paperwork or anything else to suggest a meaningful interview.

He gets into the truck and slams the door hard.

I write: Too short for meaningful follow up interview.

Then: Either no active investigation OR already handled.