Wednesday, June 3rd. Morning
“I’m
glad you’re not going in today,” Christa said as she flushed the toilet.
“It’s probably better for everyone,” Gwyn shouted through the shower curtain. “I was getting a little frazzled.”
Christa chuckled under her breath. “You don’t have to yell. I’m right here.”
“What?” Gwyn shouted.
Christa could picture the goofy look that was probably on her face. The coy grin she always had when she thought she was funny.
Christa pulled back the edge of the curtain and stuck her face through the gap. Droplets spattered her face.
Gwyn’s hair was sudsy and piled on top of her head. Goofy look confirmed.
Christa puckered her lips. Gwyn answered with a kiss.
Christa closed the curtain and headed to the scallop shaped sink basin to wash her hands. “I was thinking we’d take a ride around together. Figure out if there’s any places we didn’t check.”
“Whatever you want to do,” Gwyn said.
Christa’s phone buzzed.
Harrison.
“Harrison’s calling.” Christa opened the door and moved
into the kitchen. A puff of steam followed her.
“Hi, Andy,” she answered.
“Good morning,” Harrison said. “How are you?”
“Hangin’ in there.”
“I’m glad. I was just calling for an update. Is Blake there? I’ve been trying to call him. He’s not picking up.”
“You’re the second person who said that in the last hour,” Christa said. “He went out. I’m not sure where.”
“He usually calls me before nine, that’s all. Last I talked to him was yesterday morning. He told me he was going to check something out in Newport. That there was a doctor who might have had some information. Do you know what came of it?”
“Oh. You don’t know?” Christa said. “Something happened last night. A girl was almost abducted right around the corner from us. We think it’s the same guy who took Lucy.”
“What do you mean ‘took Lucy?’” Harrison said.
Christa could feel the emotion building up. But she managed to keep the tears from coming.
“Didn’t Blake tell you?” She asked. “Lucy wasn’t with Owen.”
“He did. But… I figured…”
“It’s bad Andy.” Christa’s composure began to slip. “I’m afraid she’s—”
“She’s not. Blake would not let that happen. Trust me. Did the police get the guy? From last night?”
“No,” Christa said. “Blake saw him. He chased him, but the guy got away. He thought it might have been one of our neighbors, but that turned out to be wrong.”
“Jesus H, I’m coming down there,” Harrison said. “I told Blake to keep me in the loop.”
“I’m sure he wanted to. He and Hopkins have been working so hard to try to find her. He—”
“Still, he should have called me. And who’s Hopkins?” Harrison asked.
“He’s the Chief of Police. Blake’s been working with him for the past few days.”
“Chief of Police. Okay, I’m going to call him. If there’s any indication that this guy crossed state lines, it becomes a federal case and I can get my people involved. All I’ve gotta do is get him to say it’s a possibility.”
“Thank you, Andy. Anything you can do. I appreciate it. But there’s one thing you should know before you talk to Chief Hopkins.”
“What’s that?”
“How Blake got Hopkins to give him access.”
“Let me guess,” Harrison said, “I’m not gonna like it.”