THE MISSING (L.A.P.D. Special Investigations Book 4)

by Linda Style

  So why wasn’t she excited and happy? Something was missing. A sudden sense of loss infused her, and her breath hitched. Spending time with Luke…that was the problem. On one hand, his presence made her feel safe. But on the other, he made her…

  No, she wasn’t going to go there. And safe was a relative term. She might be safer physically—but not emotionally. Since Luke had arrived, there’d been moments when the past seemed so vivid, as if they were living it all over again. She’d heard that sometimes people fall back into relationships with an ex-spouse because it’s more comfortable than finding someone new. She could easily imagine herself with Luke again, for just that reason.

  But there was more. Way more. All the other reasons she’d left were still there. They always be there, no matter what. They hadn’t planned on getting married, or at least there’d been no discussion. Then she became pregnant, and he’d proposed. But she’d never really known if he truly loved her or if he’d felt obligated to marry her. Living with that uncertainty had made her insecure and needy in the relationship. When he spent more time at his job than at home, it reinforced her worst fear.

  And after Michael’s death, there was no reason for Luke to stay. His obligation was finished, and all his time away brought home the point with a painful clarity. She’d had to leave.

  ~~~

  THE NEXT MORNING as Julianna was making breakfast, Abe shuffled into the kitchen. Luke was working outside somewhere and had said that later he was going to interview a man he might hire to help Abe.

  “Morning, Pops.” During her marriage to Luke, Julianna had taken to calling Abe Pops, as Luke did. It seemed silly to change that even after the divorce. He’d always been the father she never had.

  “I’m not sure it’s good,” Abe said as he lowered himself onto a kitchen chair.

  “Oh, I bet you’ll perk right up after some coffee.”

  “Maybe. Right now I feel sluggish.” He coughed a couple times.

  Julianna looked at him in surprise, her mouth half open. Abe would never admit to feeling ill. Maybe he didn’t consider “sluggish” the same as being sick. “Well, what strikes your fancy this morning? Pancakes or French toast?”

  A knock on the door made both of them turn. Julianna walked over, saw a shadowy form through the sheer curtains over the glass on the upper part of the door.

  She opened the door to see Abe’s neighbor standing there. So surprised, words stuck in her throat for a moment before she said, “Well… Hello, Mrs. Hancock.” Odd. Since when was Mrs. Hancock making visits?

  Abe made a noise in the background, as if clearing his throat. Julianna ignored him and said, “How nice to see you.”

  “Nice to see you, too,” the older woman said. “But please call me Stella. I came to see how Abe is doing.”

  Puzzled, Julianna looked at Abe, who waved her off, indicating he didn’t want to talk to anyone. Julianna stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

  She stared at the woman, not sure what she meant.

  Apparently seeing her confusion, Stella said, “His hand. When I saw you at the store, he’d injured his hand.”

  “Oh…oh, yes.” Good grief. Where was her head these days? “His hand is doing well, but he seems a little under the weather this morning, probably a flu bug, and he really shouldn’t see anyone until we know for sure.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want to bother him,” Stella said, but the disappointment in her eyes was almost palpable. Brown eyes that looked as if the color had faded over the years, and once-dark hair was now sprinkled with gray. Her long silver-and-turquoise earrings matched the multiple rows of rings she wore on both hands. An attractive woman, Julianna decided, but she seemed unusually concerned about Abe. Making a personal visit and all.

  “I can have him get in touch with you when he’s feeling better.”

  Mrs. Hancock laughed, a deep hearty laugh. “My dear, you don’t know, do you?”

  “Know what?”

  “Abe hasn’t talked to me for twenty-five years. I didn’t expect he would now.”

  Julianna frowned. But it did sound like something Abe would do. If he didn’t like you or something went sideways in his mind where another person was concerned, he could write that person off without a thought. Another thing Luke had learned from his father. He’d certainly done exactly that after their divorce.

  “And yet you’re concerned about him? Enough to come over.”

  Stella gave a big sympathetic smile, and patted Julianna’s shoulder, as if to say she couldn’t expect her to understand. “Of course I’m concerned. I’ve known Abraham a long time. We were important to each other once and when I realized he wasn’t feeling well, I knew…I knew I had to make an effort before…”

  She looked away, as if to compose herself. Then she said, “We have to let the bad things go if we want to find some kind of peace in our lives.”

  Julianna opened her mouth to speak, but Stella had turned to leave.

  “Stella, wait.”

  The woman stopped.

  “Do you know anything about a corporation wanting to buy property around here?” she blurted, remembering her conversation with Luke.

  “Yes, I do. They’ve asked me to sell mine. I think they asked Abe, too. I tried to talk to him about it a couple of times, but you can imagine how that went.”

  “What did you tell these people?”

  “I said no, of course.”

  “Does Abe know that?”

  “I don’t know. But I think he’d prefer it if I did move.” She gave a resigned smile, then continued. “But my friends and family are here. That means more to me than money.”

  Julianna wondered if she included Abe in the friends category. “Do you mind if I tell Abe what you said?” Julianna didn’t know why she asked that. Abe should know, regardless.

  “If you wish,” she said. “And please tell Abraham I hope he feels better soon.”

  Mrs. Hancock had physical presence that hung in the air even after the woman left, and ten minutes later her words still resonated in Julianna’s head. Peace. Did people really ever achieve that state? She doubted she ever would.

  Back inside, she was even more curious about Abe and Stella. Apparently they’d been friends at one time, but Abe had never spoken of it. “Stella wanted to know how you were, Pops. I saw her in town when we were there the other day and told her about your hand,” she said matter-of-fact. “She said to tell you she hopes you feel better soon.”

  His expression switched from scowly to open-faced surprised. “My hand is fine. In fact I need to take this damn bandage off so I can get back to work.”

  “Oh, and she said she wasn’t selling her property to that corporation. She’s not leaving.”

  His eyes sparked with interest, but the look dissipated quickly. Okay, he wasn’t going to talk about it. Fine. She wouldn’t either. At least not to him. But she would find out somehow why Abe and Stella hadn’t talked for twenty-five years. Journalists were skilled in ferreting out information. Not unlike detectives.

  “You leave that bandage on until tomorrow like the doctor said. Now is it pancakes or French toast?”

  “I’m not hungry, but I’ll have that coffee.”

  She poured them both a cup and as she handed him his mug, she said, “You have to eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  He grumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “women” before he said, “Pancakes.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LUKE WALKED from the barn toward the house just as a battered green pickup kicked up a trail of dust down the road away from the house. He didn’t recognize the vehicle.

  But then why would he? He hadn’t been here for a year, and the last time had only been a quick layover. A wave of guilt swept over him. Yeah, he was guilty. Guilty of being self-centered and concerned with what was going on in his own life, so much so, he’d let all the people he loved suffer for
it. Shit. If only he’d known his dad was doing so poorly…

  Yeah, what? What would he have done? If nothing else he needed to be truthful with himself. Fact was, he probably wouldn’t have come any sooner. He’d needed to get his own head on straight. Get his life back to some semblance of normal. Not act like the walking dead. He’d been that way for too long and wasn’t going to backslide, no matter what.

  Staying here with Julianna was definitely a challenge, but after hearing those messages, there’s no way he’d abandon her while she was in danger. If she would just listen to him…

  He kicked the dirt off his boots before he went inside. “Something smells good,” he said, apparently to himself because when he glanced around, the room was empty. A twinge of disappointment shot through him. He liked having breakfast with other people for a change. With Jules.

  “Pops? You here?” He’d expected his old man to come out to the barn to help, but he hadn’t even stuck his nose inside to tell Luke what to do.

  “He’s not feeling well.” Jules’s voice came out of nowhere.

  Looking up, he saw her standing in the kitchen archway wearing a pair of low-rise jeans and a white T-shirt that didn’t quite meet the top of the pants. He didn’t remember her wearing such sexy clothes before.

  “He had breakfast and then decided to lie down again.”

  Luke frowned. “That’s not like Abe.”

  She walked to the stove and held up the coffeepot.

  Nodding, he pulled out a kitchen chair, turned it backward and then straddled it. After pouring the coffee, Jules stood across from him, her hands on the back of a chair. “I know. He says it’s a flu bug, but if it was he’d have a fever or something. And he’s finding it hard to breathe.”

  “Who was driving the pickup?”

  “The neighbor. Stella Hancock. She came to see how your dad was doing.” When he frowned again, she quickly added, “I ran into her and told her about his hand.”

  “He doesn’t need her concern.”

  “Maybe not, but he does need yours. I think you should talk to him.”

  Luke scoffed. “I could talk to that stone wall outside and get a better response. He doesn’t want to hear anything I have to say.”

  Shoving the hair from her eyes, Julianna came around and sat next to him, leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Don’t be so sure.”

  “Why? Nothing’s changed. My being here is more of an aggravation to him than anything.”

  Jules’s expression turned serious. “Luke, I’ve never meddled in your relationship with Abe, but I know he needs you now.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Even if he won’t admit it.”

  He lifted the cup to his lips. The coffee tasted strong, as if it’d been heating all morning, and it was so hot, it scalded his tongue and then his throat as it went down. What did she know about what Abe needed? The old coot never needed anyone. But, after a moment, he said, “I’ll talk to him, even though I know anything I say will fall on deaf ears.”

  She grinned. “He’s only deaf in one ear. He’ll hear you.”

  “Funny.”

  “But true. Whether he does anything about it is another story.” She cleared her throat. “When I told Stella that I’d give Abe the message that she was here—” her gaze came up to meet his “—she laughed. She said she hadn’t talked to your father in twenty-five years.”

  Luke shrugged. “So?”

  “I wondered why, if they hadn’t spoken for so long, she was coming over now?”

  “You didn’t ask? That’s not like you, Jules. The journalist in you asks questions even when you shouldn’t.”

  Julianna laughed. Yeah. He knew her too well. “Okay, so I did ask.”

  “And—”

  “She said something about being friends once and letting things go in order to be at peace with herself.” As she talked, Julianna studied Luke’s face for a reaction. The woman’s words had touched Julianna more than she could’ve imagined. Maybe they would touch Luke, too.

  “Fine,” Luke said. “Let her be at peace at her own place. She doesn’t need to come around here stirring up more trouble.”

  “More trouble?”

  Luke pushed his cup away and stood. “I’ve got to shower before I go talk to Clyde Davis.”

  “Clyde Davis?”

  “Someone who might be able to help out here after I leave.”

  After I leave. She flinched a little inside. Already. He was leaving. Soon. “Oh…uhh…that’s good. Where’d you get his name?” She was asking questions, but was still stuck on him leaving. Apparently he didn’t think there was any need to stay anymore.

  “I called around. Got a few referrals.”

  “Good.” She nodded. Referrals are always good.”

  Luke smiled, leaned forward, as if waiting for her to say something else.

  “I guess that means you agree now that I’m pretty safe here.”

  His grin widened. “That’s what you’ve been telling me, sweetheart, so I’m finally admitting you’re right.” He cocked his head and gave her a look from under his brows. “But I can stay if you want me to.”

  What a condescending ass. He wanted her to ask him to stay. Well, she had news, that was the last thing she wanted, and if she had something to throw at him, she would.

  ~~~

  “POPS, WAKE UP.” Luke touched his dad on the shoulder. “You’re going to sleep the day away.” Hell, the day was almost gone.

  Abe tried to sit up, but fell back. “I’m awake, dammit.”

  Luke pulled a chair up next to the bed, the scent of tobacco lingering in the air, in the fabric of the furniture. “How do you feel? Julianna said you might have a flu bug.”

  “I feel fine and I’d feel a lot better if I didn’t have people poking me in the middle of the night.”

  “It’s not nighttime, Dad. It’s dinnertime. I can bring your meal in here if you’d rather not get up.”

  His old man grumbled something and took another stab at sitting up. This time he made it.

  “So what do you say?” Luke didn’t like the way Abe looked. His face seemed ashen and his voice weak—even through the bluster. And he seemed disoriented. His dad had always been sharp, quick with the words and even quicker with his comebacks.

  “I—I say you go ahead. I’ll be there in a little bit. I have to wash up first.”

  More likely he wanted to go outside and smoke another cigarette. But Luke left anyway. His father was a proud man, too proud sometimes. Too proud to give an inch. Ever.

  “He’ll be here in a few,” Luke told Julianna as he entered the old farmhouse kitchen then went to the fridge for something, but closed the door again.

  “There’s wine if you’d like that,” Julianna said.

  “No thanks. I’ve sworn off the stuff.”

  “Really? You used to love wine with a good steak.”

  Luke had offered to barbecue some steaks for dinner and Julianna had snapped up the offer. Why she thought it was her job to make meals, he didn’t know. But he hadn’t refused a single one. It had been too long since he’d tasted real honest-to-goodness home cooking.

  “Merlot? It’s been in the fridge for about a half hour. It’s better with a slight chill.”

  He raised a brow. “You’re a wine connoisseur now?”

  “No way. But living in San Francisco it’s hard not to learn simply by osmosis.”

  Luke got out the wine, poured one glass and handed it to her. He grabbed a Coke for himself then raised the can. “To a great future for us all.”

  Her eyes met his. “To us all.”

  Luke suppressed an overwhelming urge to step forward, to taste the wine on her lips. Instead, he took a sip of his soda. “Are the steaks ready to grill?”

  “Ready as they’ll ever be,” she said. “I made a salad and I’m baking some potatoes.”

  “I’m salivating already.” As Luke turned from getting out the steaks, he saw his dad leaning against the archway. “There he is,” Luke said. �
��Glad you could join us, Dad. We’ve got some mighty fine steaks ready to throw on the grill.”

  Abe wheezed. “I don’t think I can eat anything. I’m going back to bed.”

  Julianna rushed over, put her hand to his forehead. “You don’t feel as if you have a fever, but then maybe you’re just working up to it.” She smiled sympathetically.

  The woman could charm a stone, and Abe wasn’t immune.

  “I just need to lie down for a little while longer.”

  “Do you want us to take you to the E.R.?”

  He jerked away, stumbled and bumped the wall with his shoulder. “What the hell for?”

  Julianna stepped back, mouth open, but no words came out. She glanced to Luke as if asking for help. Abe had talked harshly to Luke for most of his life, but he’d never snapped at Jules.

  “No reason, Dad,” Luke said, walking over to him. “You know women…they’re always concerned and want to help.”

  Abe nodded his agreement, then looked at Julianna like he wanted to say he was sorry, but they both knew he’d never get out the words. “Like I said, I’m going to lie down for a little while longer.”

  “We’ll put a steak on for you and you can eat it when you feel like it,” Luke said as he watched his dad make his way down the hall.

  As soon as he was gone, Luke picked up the phone. “What’s the name of the doctor you took him to for his hand?”

  “Dr. Terry. His number is right there on that pad.” She pointed to the paper on the counter below the phone.

  Julianna watched as Luke punched in the number. He waited, listening, then left a message.

  “He’s not there. And if he doesn’t call back soon we’re going to the hospital.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  JULIANNA NIPPED AT A CUTICLE on one finger with her teeth. “I’ll go along, too.”

  Luke’s head came up. “I wouldn’t let you stay here alone if you wanted to.”

  She should’ve bristled at the comment, but instead the tension that had been building ever since Luke had arrived slipped down a notch. Maybe he was only staying because of a sense of police duty, but it had been a while since anyone cared where she went or what she did…and it felt good.