A little after nine o’clock, Vernon called. Rebecca was coming down the stairs after getting her morning shower and dressing for the day.
“It’s Mr. Armfield, Ms. Rebecca,” Wilma said.
“Thank you.” She took the phone and said, “Yes, Vernon. Does Robyn know anything?”
“She said she hasn’t seen Mindy for a while, but she called Max.”
“Had he seen her?” Rebecca couldn’t help thinking what an odd living arrangement Robyn and Max had. She worked as Vernon’s personal assistant at Davidson Industries, and Max stayed home. He was the only house husband Rebecca had ever known. The two of them seemed to thrive on the arrangement, though.
Vernon went on, saying, “Max saw her at the complex swimming pool a few days ago, but he’s not sure exactly when. Robyn told him to ask around and let her know.”
“Thank you. I know it’s silly, but it means a lot to me.”
“I know, dear. That’s why I called. Now, please stop worrying. I know everything will be fine. Max will probably call back before the day is over telling us where Mindy is. If not, she’ll probably turn up soon with one of her usual excuses for being out of town.”
“I hope you’re right.” She took a deep breath. “And I won’t worry.” What a lie.
After Vernon hung up, Rebecca picked up the phone again and dialed Mindy’s number. She let it ring until the answering machine picked up.
“Mindy, it’s Rebecca again. Are you there? If you are, please pick up.”
When there was no action on the other end of the line, Rebecca went into the kitchen and said to Wilma, “I’m going to Mindy’s condo and see what I can find out.”
A little after ten o’clock, Rebecca parked her BMW in front of her sister’s condominium and was somewhat relieved to see Mindy’s red sports car in her marked parking space.
Maybe Vernon is right. I’m probably being silly about this. Wouldn’t be the first time Mindy has taken off without saying anything to me, but I believed her when she’d said she’d never do it again. Oh, I hope Vernon is right. Maybe she came home from somewhere this morning and was sleeping too deeply to hear the phone when I called.
Rebecca debated whether or not to go inside. She didn’t want to disturb Mindy if she’d come home late and was now asleep. Yet she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she knew for sure her sister was home.
“I’ve come this far,” she said aloud. “She can go back to sleep if I wake her up.”
Automatically, Rebecca smoothed her hair. She had it pulled back and clipped with a gold and onyx clasp. She’d put on her makeup with care this morning, including the shadow and mascara that accented her blue-green eyes. She had on a Liz Claiborne knit dress with small yellow and red flowers on a black background. Her feet were in black leather thongs.
Rebecca didn’t know why she was always so conscious of her appearance when she was with her sister. Maybe because no matter what Mindy wore, she always looked smashing. She had the physical beauty to get away with any kind of outfit. Whether she wore a dress from a famous designer or one off the rack at Wal-Mart, she always looked good.
Rebecca, on the other hand, had to try twice as hard to be presentable. Once she finished primping and reached the door, she rang the bell.
No answer.
She rang again. Still no answer.
If she can’t hear the phone, she won’t hear the bell. Tired of waiting, Rebecca took the key Mindy had given her from her purse and turned it in the lock.
“Mindy,” she called when she stepped inside.
Silence greeted her.
“Mindy,” she called a little louder. “Are you home?”
When her sister didn’t answer, Rebecca closed the door behind her and glanced into the living room. Other than the clutter always in Mindy’s house, she didn’t see anything to indicate whether or not her sister was home.
She went into the kitchen. Some dirty dishes sat in the sink, and a pot of cold tomato soup sat on the stove. The film on top of it made Rebecca wrinkle her nose, although she couldn’t help smiling. No matter how grown up and sophisticated Mindy might be, she still loved her Campbell’s Tomato Soup.
On the other side of the kitchen, three cabinet doors stood open. The dishwasher door was also ajar. Rebecca tried the back door. It was locked.
She made her way to her sister’s bedroom. “Mindy, are you in here? I’m coming in.”
The bed was rumpled and unmade, but Mindy wasn’t there. The light on the answering machine on the nightstand flashed, indicating her sister had received four incoming calls.
Feeling somewhat like a snoop, Rebecca reached over and punched the play button.
“Hi, Mindy. It’s Rebecca. I left you a message yesterday, so this is number two. I’m concerned because I haven’t heard from you, and I need to talk with you. Please call me as soon as you can. Thanks. Love you.”
Rebecca bit her lip. That was the second call I left on your recorder, Mindy. What happened to the first one? Did you just ignore it?
A man’s voice came over the recorder. “Ms. Davidson, this is Rex at CVS. I promised to let you know your pictures are back. You can pick them up anytime.”
The machine clicked over to the third call.
“Mindy, this is Vernon. Rebecca is concerned about you. Please call her as soon as you get home. I don’t like for her to worry. Don’t forget.”
Rebecca smiled. Vernon wanted to take care of her. He might have told her there was nothing to worry about concerning Mindy’s absence, but she could tell by the sharpness in his voice that he was concerned, too.
A click signaled the fourth call was about to play. It was the one Rebecca had made this morning.
She looked around the room once it finished and said aloud, “So you haven’t been here since yesterday, Mindy. Or if you have, you’re ignoring your calls.”
Rebecca moved to the closet. It was so jumbled she couldn’t tell if any clothes were missing. Moving to the bathroom, she found towels hung over the shower door and makeup scattered about the dressing table. Mindy’s robe was flung across the commode. On impulse, Rebecca felt the towels. They were dry.
Rebecca turned to leave the room, looking around as she went. Mindy’s purse hung on the knob behind the bedroom door. A Dooney & Burke bag Rebecca had admired the last time she’d been with her sister. Taking it off the doorknob, she pulled open the snap and looked inside.
A sinking feeling came over her. Mindy’s wallet, car and house keys, makeup, checkbook, and the small, embroidered drawstring bag their mother had made for her were all inside amidst a clutter of paper, gum, and other debris. Rebecca took out the drawstring bag and looked inside. It contained a picture of their parents in a small gold frame.
“This proves it,” she said to herself. “If Mindy’s missing, she didn’t leave of her own accord. She’d never leave this behind. I don’t care how silly Vernon says I am. I’m calling the police as soon as I get home.”