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Jamie stared into Carl’s eyes a moment longer, then snorted. “I’m not wasting my time on a lowlife like you.” He turned to me, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from this guy.”
He took his wife’s hand and they hurried out of the cornfield.
“What was that about?” I asked.
Carl turned to face me and Victor growled again, so I set him down. What was with the pooch, he didn’t normally behave like this. He must be worried about Jaqi and Luci, too.
“Never mind them. Just stick with me.”
I nodded though that didn’t answer the question at all.
We walked back to the RV in silence. Carl nipped up the steps and came back with a glass of iced tea.
He shook his head at me; they weren’t there. He handed me the glass with a rueful smile.
“I thought I should get you something to take a painkiller with while I was in there.” He went to hand me a couple of pills but I shook my head. My prescription pills were still in my pocket.
We sat down, but I was too jittery to stay there. I didn’t care what the OPP said—they were in real trouble.
“That’s it. I’m driving to Casselman to see the OPP in person.”
“Wait a minute, Vee, they said—”
“I don’t give a rootbeer float what they said. Let them try to fob me off in person; I’ll make them search for my friends. I’ll—”
“Calm down, Vee.”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down. They. Are. Missing. If you won’t help me, then get out of my way.”
I grabbed Victor roughly enough that he yipped, and I burst into tears. I felt helpless to find Jaqi and Luci, and now I’d hurt my poor rescue dog, after promising him nobody would ever hurt him again. I was terrified for my friends, and no one would take me seriously.
Now even Carl seemed frightened of me. I wanted to apologize, but the tears kept falling. I wiped my face with the edge of my sleeve, no doubt giving myself raccoon eyes from smudging my mascara.
“Alright, alright,” he said. “But I’m driving. You’re in no shape to drive yourself.”
I agreed and Carl pointed toward his car at the near end of the lot.
“I’ll just grab my keys from the trailer,” he added.
He paused halfway across the lot to look at me, and I waved him on. The sooner we got to the police station, the sooner this would be settled.
***
I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY to tinkle and grab a treat for Victor. It would have to do as an apology.
I hurried out of the RV and locked it behind me. Casting my eye around the lot, I noticed Carl was still in his trailer.
Maybe we should check by the river again before we left. I couldn’t think past the flutter of fear in my belly. The very thought of finding them like we did Keith. No, I wouldn’t think it.
But maybe Carl could run over to check.
***
I STRUGGLED WITH MY walker over to the parking area. I knew I would need it if the OPP kept us standing around in their lobby.
Oh, I would make them take me seriously, even if I had to apologize for the pig comment.
I stopped by Carl’s silver truck. It was a brand new four-door truck and looked a bit unbalanced. A truck should only have two doors.
I tried the back door but it was locked. So was the cab on the back. Oh, well, Carl will just have to put the walker away himself before we left.
What was taking him so long? I looked back toward his trailer but didn’t see him.
Pumpkin pie with crusty bits! Where was he?
Maybe he had a hard time finding his keys at the trailer. I peered into the driver’s window to see if he’d left them in the car. Nope, but I did see something shiny on the passenger floor.
Still dragging Victor behind me on his leash, I walked around to the passenger door. Victor was whining and pulling at my arm. I picked him up.
“I know you’re tired, sweetie, but we have to find the girls. You can sleep in the back.”
I peered in the window, wishing I had a flashlight with me. I tried the door but it was also locked tight.
Cupping my hands around my face to block out the reflection of the distant streetlight, I stared once more at the shiny bit of metal on the floor mat.
It was a small silver cross.
Lucia’s cross.
I recognized it by the fancy top on the upper piece. How in the world did her cross end up in Carl’s truck?
I straightened up as realization hit. The Carlisles had been warning me about Carl.
Oh, no. I turned to run just as a rough hand grabbed my sore arm. Carl leaned into the window and sighed as he spotted Luci’s necklace.
“I sure wish you hadn’t seen that Vee.”
His growl sent a chill down my spine.