‘Are you going to tell me what this is all about?’
Paul Baines was surprised that the nervy teenage girl in front of him had made it past security. He was even more surprised that she was asking him questions about his wife.
‘I just want to know if you’ve been in contact with your wife recently.’
‘Right … Are you a friend of hers?’
‘I met her at the vigil,’ Kassie lied. ‘I was supposed to meet her today, but there was no reply when I went to your house.’
Baines scrutinized her, clearly sceptical of her story.
‘When was this?’
‘Just after two p.m.’
Paul digested this, confused, even a little suspicious now.
‘She really arranged to meet you then? She was due at a school softball match shortly after that –’
‘It was only going to be a quick meet …’
The girl looked shifty, avoiding eye contact as she spoke.
‘Could you call her?’ she said suddenly. ‘To check that she’s ok.’
‘She should be on her way home with the girls now. Why don’t I get her to call you –’
‘Please …’
‘What is this? What’s going on?’
‘It’s nothing to worry about. Please … Just call her. If she’s ok, I swear I’ll get out of your hair. It’s really important.’
And something in her simple, concerned manner cut through. Snatching up his cell phone, he speed-dialled his wife.
‘Hi, this is Madelaine. Leave a message …’
‘It’s me,’ Paul said, when the automated voice had completed its greeting. ‘Call me when you get this.’
He rang off and tried again, but getting voicemail once more cut the call.
‘She might have made it home already,’ he said, as much to himself as to his visitor.
He called their home number, but the phone rang and rang, before clicking on to the answering service, a recording of his wife’s friendly voice greeting him. He tried her cell again, but it was still going to voicemail, so he rang off, turning to face the curious girl once more.
‘No sign of her, I’m afraid.’
From her reaction, he could tell that she was worried by this news. And, suddenly, so was he.