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I shifted the box of food in my arms as I descended the steps onto my patio, wariness crawling up my spine when I spotted the note taped to my apartment door.
The last time I found a message like this, it was from a homicidal stalker with fantasies of murdering me.
Letting the box slide onto the steps, I searched the grounds for anyone who might be watching and then peeled the note free. Steeling myself, I slipped my thumbs under the fold and opened it.
There was a handwritten message inside, and I skipped the paragraph to see who had signed the note.
Every vertebra in my spine relaxed when I saw Luke’s name at the bottom, and I sat down on the step beside the box to read it.
Holly,
It was really nice seeing you again this morning. I was serious about the muffin, if you ever decide you want to reenact and improve upon our first meeting.
As thoughtful as his invitation was, I would never take him up on it. He’d made it clear he was attracted to me, and I didn’t feel the same.
I checked around, but none of the paramedics in my circle picked up a girl fitting the description you gave me. There are a lot of ambulance companies in the city, though, so maybe one of them picked her up. Good luck, and sorry I couldn’t do more. See you sometime. — Luke
I hadn’t expected him to find anything, but I still felt a trickle of disappointment. Cami had been missing for almost two days, and we had no clues to point us in her direction.
Rising to my feet, I tucked the note into my pocket and unlocked my apartment. I stared at the box of groceries with a mixture of appreciation and weariness.
After hauling it to and from the bus stop, my arm muscles were limp noodles, and the last thing I felt like doing was picking it up again. But I couldn’t kick it the rest of the way.
With a sigh, I hefted the box off the ground and lugged it inside. I dropped it onto the kitchen counter and nearly collapsed on top of it from exhaustion.
Who knew one box of groceries could weigh so much? I’d given up trying to carry it from the church to the bus stop and started dragging it like a dead limb.
A volunteer from the food pantry offered to help, but he set off all kinds of internal warning bells. I couldn’t pinpoint why he unsettled me, but he did.
Maybe it was the way he watched me while I packed my box or the way his fingers grazed mine when he tried to take it from me and carry it outside. It could’ve been his offer to drive me home . . . after I politely declined three times or the way he talked about his “mission to convert those sinners in poor neighborhoods.”
I could’ve misunderstood, but it sounded like he thought less of people who hadn’t accepted Jesus, and it bothered me. Some of the people I loved most weren’t Christians yet.
I blew a strand of hair from my face and straightened to examine my groceries. Other than the apple juice and a package of hot dogs, the rest could go in the cupboard.
Marx wouldn’t approve of the crackers, cookies, and white bread, but I did grab jam and peaches. He was from Georgia. He had to approve of peaches, right?
I tucked away the groceries and set the box on the floor for Sausage to play with. He hopped off the couch with a chortle of excitement and waddled over to his kitty castle.
I dropped into one of the kitchen chairs to rest from the exertion of grocery shopping. I barely stretched out my legs when my phone in my knapsack on the counter rang.
Maybe it was Cami’s mom returning my call. I hopped up and grabbed my phone, but the name that flashed across the screen was Jordan’s.
Uh-oh.
Maybe I should’ve skipped the food pantry today and ridden with him and Hope. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’d put him in an uncomfortable position. I couldn’t blame her for being forward. She was a child when she found herself alone on the unforgiving streets of New York City, and she adapted to survive. I just didn’t want my friends to have to fend off her advances.
I flipped open my cell. “Hey, did everything go okay?”
“Yeah, I dropped Hope at home. She’s got our business card with my cell number in case she needs to reach us tomorrow while the office is closed. How did everything go with your appointment?”
“No problems,” I said, rubbing at a muscle spasm in my forearm.
“Did you have a chance to call the number Hope gave you?”
“Yeah, I left a message. I was actually hoping it was Cami’s mom returning my call.” I paused before voicing one of my concerns. “What if Mrs. Chen has a different number than the one Cami gave to Hope? It’s been two years.”
“If someone you love goes missing, you do everything in your power to make sure you keep the methods of communication they’re familiar with. Phone number, email, home address. You don’t wanna chance missing that call or that message. If she doesn’t get back to you tonight, try her again in the morning.”
I scuffed my sneaker on the floor. “Speaking of tonight, I don’t suppose you wanna sneak into a gala.”
Amusement colored his voice. “While I appreciate the unofficial invite, I’m gonna call around to the hospitals and see what more I can dig up on Cami’s social media accounts. I’ll check in on you, though. See how you’re holding up.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.” I disconnected and crouched to give my animals some love. “All right, fur babies. I’m gonna go spend some time with your auntie Jace. Be good while I’m gone.”