Deb looked across at the yacht club as well. “I don’t know if this has anything to do with anything, but I didn’t lose my card over there.”
Everyone turned to look at her. Gavin looked positively pitiful, especially.
“Or at least, the charges started before we left Chicago. Somebody bought an airline ticket on American Airlines in my name from Chicago to Baltimore International yesterday morning. And it wasn’t me.”
Dan closed his eyes and sighed. “Where’s Bob?”
“I thought of that. I called Brandon. Uncle Bob is with them. He was sitting with him at their kitchen table. Melissa didn’t want him lurking and just invited him in,” Deb replied.
“Here’s where I ask if they have garlic,” Dan snickered.
Deb rolled her eyes. “Here’s the thing. I know I had it yesterday morning. I used it at Target. And when I used it, I just threw it into my purse, since we were getting ready to come here. When I got home, I pulled it out of my purse and put it back into my wallet.”
“No. You don’t think? They’d have called,” Gavin said. He knew exactly what she thought. She was certain. He knew everything she thought. Always.
“They called,” she replied. “While we were in the air. I never checked my missed calls or voicemail.”
“Damnit!” Dan exclaimed.
“What?” Miranda asked, confused.
“My mom,” Deb replied. She called her sister, Katelynn. “Hey, kiddo. – Yeah, I know. - You’re there now? – I’m sorry you have to deal with this. – What did they say? – They didn’t notice she was gone? – Well, what were they doing for 6 hours? – Yeah, I know. – Therapeutic excursions are part of her program. – Yeah, I think she followed me on my vacation. – She stole my credit card and has been using it near where I’m staying. Well, I assume it’s her. It disappeared about the same time she did. – Yeah, I’ll call the Center. Thanks, Babe. - Love you, too. Bye.” Deb disconnected and called the Warden’s office at the psychiatric detention center where her mother was supposed to be serving out her sentence for arson. She gave them all the information she had and advised them that she had not seen her mother but suspected she had stolen her card and followed her to Virginia. She sighed, advising them she understood that a BOLO would be issued.
“We can probably expect another visit from the sheriff’s department,” she huffed after she hung up.
“Come on, Deb. Let’s take a walk. Please,” Gavin suggested, giving Deb a look. It melted her resolve.
Dan nodded. “Miranda, honey, let’s get out of Kris’s line of vision, okay?”
“He will not force me to hide, Dan.”
Dan pulled her into his arms. “I’m not asking you to hide because you should be afraid of him. I’m asking so we can have time to formulate a plan to locate him. He doesn’t need to see our every move. That’s all,” he said. Damn men. She watched as Miranda’s resolve melted, too.
Miranda sighed and kissed him deeply, melting into his embrace. “Okay, for you, because you asked so nicely.”
They all headed into the house. Dan lowered the blinds in the sunroom and throughout.
Gavin took Deb’s hand, and they headed out the door. Her heart skipped a beat.
Dan looked at Miranda. He smiled at her, took her hand, and led her toward the stairs.
“I thought you wanted to think,” she said, laughing.
“I can’t think right now,” he replied with a silly grin.
She laughed. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Oh, yes. As a matter of fact,” he said, pulling her close again.
Deb turned stopped, and when Gavin turned to look at her, she asked, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” he said. There was honesty in his face. He looked her directly in the eyes. I don’t tell people…anything really. Because when I do, I…lose them. I…I’m a harbinger.”
Holy crap! He’s serious, she thought.
“Who broke you?” she whispered.
He closed his eyes. “Life broke me, DeBella. I’m 36 years old, and anytime I feel a little happy, I just know the bottom is going to drop out from under me. Because it always does.”
“We’re at the beginning of this relationship, right? Tell me as little as you want. Just tell eventually.”
“Deal,” he agreed, smiling finally.