James and Mary Romson struggled through each day, trying to maintain a normalcy to their routines, always hoping for some word of Jed. Each day widened the gulf between their memories and their newfound reality. Every other day or so, James touched base with Chief Washington, but of course there was no news to be had.
Charles’s grief was obvious. At work, he went through the motions, but his heart was not in it. His life’s only bright spot was his growing attachment to Sue Jenson. Sue’s experience, plus her warmth of heart, gave him something to hold onto. Charles looked forward to having dinner with her and her son, Jimmy, a couple of times a week.
His house no longer seemed like a home but a prison where he was locked away with the memories of his deceased wife and missing daughter. He dreaded going home at night to an empty house that had once been a haven when he was released from the Marine Corps. Now it was just an empty shell where he found himself staring at pictures of Collette and Elizabeth while tears dripped onto, and drenched, his shirt.
James and Mary did their best to include him at dinner and other activities, but he felt he was imposing on their grief.
Detective Summers was frustrated. In three months there had been no news, nor any new clues, to give her direction in her search. She had other crimes to deal with but found herself going back over this case at night during her off time. Baffled by the impasse, she tried to balance it with her other work, but this case captivated her.