by Adam Zorzi
“Detective Elba,” said Dan, “I'm trying to be helpful here, but I don't understand the problem. If you need me to get the car, I will. Otherwise, I want Katie to come home. Jill will be home later tonight.”
Elba moved closer to Dan. “Mr. Ramsay, let me be clear. It's after seven o'clock. The parking lot is closed for another night. Your wife hasn't returned for the car. If she planned to drive it back tonight, she can't get it.”
“Then her friends will drive her home,” Dan said reasonably.
“Her friends are calling asking her whereabouts.” Elba pushed back. “Mr. Ramsay, the car was found with a bicycle on a rack attached to it.”
Dan's eyes widened. “Jill just left it there? In a public parking lot?”
Elba nodded.
Jill didn't like to leave her bike on the car rack overnight in their locked garage. Cyclers always worried that someone would tamper with their equipment. She'd never leave it in a public park unless she was sick or hurt. “That doesn't sound like Jill. She wouldn't leave it unprotected. She must have over-extended herself and been too tired to drive or injured herself and not have been able to drive.”
Rumblings started in Dan's bowels.
“That's important if it's out of character. Mrs. Ramsay hasn't called. Her teammates haven't called to let you know she's with them.”
Dan looked at Rob. Jill wouldn't have left her bike. If she'd been forced to, she or one of her teammates would have called. She might be in the hospital. “Dan, I think what the detective means is that Jill might be missing. Is that right, Detective?”
“I think there's cause for concern,” Elba responded.
Dan suddenly feared the worst.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
“Missing?” Dan sat down hard in the wing chair. “You mean kidnapped? Foul play? You think something's happened to her?”
“We're concerned, Mr. Ramsay. There were eleven calls on voicemail before the box was filled. One was from Mrs. Cruz about picking up Kaitlyn. The rest were from people in the cycling club asking where she was and expressing concern that she hadn't made it to the trial.”
“Didn't make it to the trial?” Dan was incredulous. She'd left the bike in a public space and hadn't met her teammates? Could merely driving to Fredericksburg have tired her?
“It would help if we could compare the names on the cycling club roster with the callers. Maybe a name would jog your memory about how seriously we should take the calls,” said Detective Elba.
“The team roster may be in the kitchen. There's a drawer for things like that. Katie's school directory, Jill's staff directory, maybe the cycling club. If not, there's one on the family computer.”
“I know where it is,” volunteered Suzanne who headed toward the kitchen. “I'll be right back.”
“Mr. Ramsay, did Mrs. Ramsay take her cell phone with her?”
“Of course. She always wants a way to be in touch with Katie.”
“You're sure?”
“I didn't see it when she left, but I wasn't looking for it. I assume she had it. She never goes anywhere without it.”
“Have you tried calling her on her cell?” asked Elba.
“No. I didn't think she was missing. I didn't have any reason to call her.” No reason to call his wife. The one he was presumably trying to keep. He hadn’t called to see how training was going, whether she was too exhausted to drive home, or to say that he missed her. He’d screwed up. He didn't deserve Jill.
“Would you try now, Mr. Ramsay?”
“Sure. Let me get my cell.” He stopped. “It's in my gym bag in the car. I didn't bring it in.”
“We'll get your gym bag.”
“Here's the list,” Suzanne said and handed the light green sheet of paper with a stylized bicycle as a watermark to Detective Elba.
A trooper appeared with the bag and left. Dan stood, reached for the bag, and pulled out his cell. He didn't have any messages.
“I'll try now.” He stood by the front window for best reception and touched the icon for Jill. Voice mail immediately. The phone was off or the mailbox was full.
“Voice mail,” he said and handed the phone to Elba.
Elba motioned for him to sit and review the list of callers with him.
“Lily, three calls.”
“Lily Taylor, she's a worrier. She calls if she sees her shadow.”
“Monika, three calls.”
“Monika Traymore, Jill's rival in the club. She hates me.”
“Friendly rival?” Dan shrugged. Monika was nosy. Maybe Jill kept her at a distance.
“Ainsley, two calls, and Beth, two calls.”
Dan shook his head. “I don't know them.”
“Tom, one call.”
“Tom. I forgot his last name. He's her team leader. He'd call if she didn't show.”
“Tom Chaudri is on the list.”
“That's him,” said Dan.
The phone rang. The trooper answered.
It was Samantha Cruz wondering how long she was supposed to keep Kaitlyn. The trooper said he'd get back to her.
Lieutenant Winston and Detective Elba huddled in the foyer.
“Mr. Ramsay, we're going to let Kaitlyn come home. We'll have a female trooper pick her up. We'll have some questions for your daughter.”
Dan stood. “You can't interrogate my child about her mother. You'll scare her. She's ten years old.”
“I'm aware of her age, Mr. Ramsay. She may have spoken with her mother between the time Mrs. Ramsay left and now. Mrs. Ramsay may have told her if plans had changed. That's all.”
Dan was incapable of making a response. He wanted to wake up. He wanted this to be a nightmare. He wanted Jill to walk in the back door right now. With Abbie.
“Would it help if I went with the trooper?” offered Suzanne.
“Yes, thank you. We'll have her swing by here to pick you up and then go on to the Cruz house.”
“I'll wait outside.” Suzanne left.
Elba moved closer to Dan. “Mr. Ramsay, we're officially treating this as a Missing Person case. We'll need a picture and a description to issue a BOLO—Be On The Lookout—for Mrs. Ramsay. It will go to all state and local law enforcement, hospitals, and first responders.”
“Oh my God. You really think something has happened to her, don't you?” whispered Dan.
“I wanted you to know before your daughter got here.”
Dan pointed to a silver framed photograph on a side table next to the hideous sofa. His mother-in-law, Jill, and Katie taken last year at Christmas. When he'd been left behind. Winston picked it up and looked at it. “We'll make copies.”
“There's one more thing,” said Dan. “Jill shaved her head New Year's Day after an argument. Her hair hasn't grown completely. It's not close to shoulder length like in the picture.”
“We'll make that correction.”
Dan shifted uneasily. “Jill has a wig, too. She wore it to work after she cut off all her hair because even she realized how awful it looked. She no longer wears it to work, but she may still have it.” He sounded ridiculous.
“What did the wig look like?”
“It was sort of a page boy with straight bangs. Dark brown. Jill's hair is more brown black.”
“Anything else? No new glasses? Contact lenses?”
“No. I just wanted you to know the picture wasn't one hundred percent accurate about the hair.”
Winston nodded. The police seemed to think either Jill was in a disguise and on the run or missing. Neither made any sense.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Dad!” Katie yelled as she raced in the house and into Dan's arms. She dropped her Lily Pulitzer backpack at the door. “You forgot to pick me up. Then the police brought me home. Did you send them?”
“Yes, Katie. I knew you were with Sophia, and I had to talk to the police about something.”
“What, Dad?” she asked. “What did you talk about?”
“In a minute,” he said.
He just wanted to hold her. He kissed the top of her brown black hair. She had traces of makeup on her soft face. He ran his thumb over one cheek to wipe it off, but he merely made the smudge larger.
“We experimented with Josie's make-up. Her mom works for Lancôme and sent us each a bag of samples. I look terrible in blue eye shadow. I look best in gold shimmer.”
Dan made an effort to smile. He hoped the police were wrong. He hoped he wasn't going to have to tell Katie anything bad. She'd had a terrible time when her grandfather died at Thanksgiving. She still cried for him. She missed Abbie and cried about her, too. He didn't know how she'd fare if anything happened to Jill.
She squirmed out of his arms.
“What's going on, Dad? Why are the police here? And Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Rob?”
“The police had some questions for me.”
“Is Mom home, yet?”
“Not yet. She'll be home tonight. She has to work tomorrow. And you, Katie, have school.”
“Kaitlyn,” asked Suzanne, “have you had dinner?”
“Not really. I wasn't hungry before, but I guess I am now.”
Dan hugged Katie again. “Go in the kitchen with Aunt Suzanne and she'll heat up some chili. The trooper will go, too.” Katie hesitated. “It's okay.” He must have sounded reassuring because she headed for the kitchen.
Both investigators went outside, leaving Dan and Rob alone in the living room.
Dan looked at Rob. “What do you think?”
“I don't know. Maybe Jill called Kaitlyn and told her something and this will all be a misunderstanding.”
“Should I be with Katie while that woman questions her?”
“Probably, but she may just make it conversational over supper. Suzanne will keep an eye on things. It's not like she's going to threaten Kaitlyn.”
Another missed cue by Dan—how rough the questions would be for Katie. Damn Mørk. He couldn't think at all. Dan moved to be close to window where the curtains were still open and he felt he could breathe. This room made him claustrophobic. Rob joined him.
“Does Elba think Jill has a disguise? With the wig? And maybe glasses?”
“Sounded like he's considering it. I can't imagine why she'd need one, though.”
“What do you think happened, Rob?”
Rob didn't speak immediately. Dan felt like he was looking for a nice way of saying something awful.
“Jill hasn't been herself, Dan. She used to be light-hearted and fun. Now, she seems guarded or feisty. Maybe she's playing a trick to scare you into missing her or not taking her for granted and it got out of hand.”
“You mean she didn't expect the police to get involved.”
“Right. Maybe she plans to waltz in late tonight or even tomorrow morning to see just how upset you are. She probably didn't expect her teammates to call you a million times, either.”
“That doesn't sound like Jill. It sounds like something her girlfriends would put her up to.” Dan relayed the story of Jill canceling the credit card and staging a scene about it to Rob.
“No way would Jill think of that,” Rob said. “No offense, but Jill and finance aren't usually used in the same sentence. You're right. Sounds like her girlfriends are still trying to get Jill to punish you for Bella.”
“I wish she hadn't told them. I know I've got Dr. Spellman and can vent to him, but I don't give details to anyone, Rob.”
“Including me,” he said. “I appreciate that. I don't want to know anymore than I already do about your marriage and what went on with Bella.”
Dan needed time alone. Having all these cops around and being in this room confused him. “How long do you think the cops are going to be around?”
“Beats me. All I know about cops is what I see on TV. I do know they always suspect the spouse.”
“Me? Of doing what? Not knowing where my wife is? I know I'm not winning any Husband of the Year awards, but being clueless isn't a crime.”
“Dan…” Rob paused before he continued, “Do you think Jill could have been with another man for the weekend? I hate to ask.”
“I couldn't fault her if she was. I don't know who it would be. I don't know any members of the cycling club or her colleagues at work or her clients. I know our next door neighbor thinks she's hot, but I don't think the feeling is mutual. He's a little too married and drinks a little too much.
“Of course, she never knew anything about Bella. She wouldn't even know I'd run into her that first time at the Omni if I hadn't been stupid enough to tell her. I thought it was a one-time sighting and such a coincidence I told her. I didn't realize I'd be sucked into an affair.”
Rob looked skeptical.
“All right. I pursued Bella. I wanted her back. I basically lost my mind over her. If anything, Bella was reluctant. She said she didn't do married men.”
“Well, she got over that,” smirked Rob.
“Because it was me. We have that connection. If I was willing to risk my marriage, it wasn't her problem. She's the one who set all the rules. Burner phones, nothing in writing or gifts, and no talking on weekends. She refused to come to the house. She said she wasn't going to set foot in the home I shared with my wife and daughter.”
“Sounds like she'd done it before.”
“I don't think so. She's just more sophisticated than we are.”
“Dad knew.” It was a statement. “Bella was the cause of the rift between the two of you.” Rob looked to Dan for confirmation. “That's why he was so angry with you.”
Dan nodded. “I told him I planned to divorce Jill and marry Bella.”
“No way. Dad would have been pissed on so many levels. Mom knows, too, doesn't she? That's why she's always said no to you visiting her in Florida.”
“Yes. Satisfied?” Dan moved away from the window. “Let's deal with one situation at a time. I don't want to rehash Dad's disapproval of my marrying Bella.”
Rob looked like he was about to speak when Kaitlyn came in. She grabbed Dan's hand. “Dad, “Come have cookies with us. You, too, Uncle Rob.” Dan followed her into the kitchen.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
“Do you want anything to eat besides cookies?” asked Suzanne.
“Not for me,” said Dan.
“I'll pass,” said Rob who went over and kissed Suzanne's cheek. “What are you ladies up to in here?”
The four adults and Katie sat at the rectangular oak table. Oatmeal raisin cookies were on a platter in the center. Katie had milk. Suzanne and Trooper Sanders were drinking coffee. It smelled good, but Dan didn't think he could drink it.
“I told them about Sophia's party,” chimed Katie. “Dad, this is Trooper Sanders. She's been with the Virginia State Police for two years. She had to go to a forensic academy after college. She works all over the state not just one city. I think she should come to school on career day.”
“That's a good idea. Nice to meet you, Trooper Sanders.”
“Mr. Ramsay,” she nodded in his direction. “I'd enjoy going to career day. Law enforcement needs people with education in medicine, chemistry, and computer science. We always want more women on the force. Speaking at an all-girls' school might broaden their horizons beyond law and medicine.”
Dan nodded politely He could just imagine how welcome a state trooper would be at St. Margaret's career day. His stomach roiled, but he took a cookie to make things seem normal for Katie. She knew he loved them and never passed one up.
“Dad, I forgot to tell you, Mom called me just before breakfast yesterday morning on her way to the cycling trial. She wanted to make sure I was having a good time. Like I wouldn't? I told her not to call me again at Sophia's. It's embarrassing. Nobody else's mom called.”
“We miss you when you're away.” There. Jill was all right. She hadn't called because Katie asked her not to.
“Dad,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “At least you could get me a cell phone so when you call, you don't bother Sophia's parents.”
“We've discussed this, Katie,” responded Dan.
She shrugged as if to acknowledge it was worth a shot. “What did you do while I was gone?”
“Yesterday I went for a long run. Today, I went to the health club and played shuffleboard with Vivian's dad.”
Katie frowned. “Shuffleboard's for old men.”
“My calves hurt from running on Saturday so I took it easy today. I still beat Vivian's dad.”
Suzanne intervened. “Kaitlyn, I think it's time for you to go to bed. What time do you leave for school in the morning?”
“Seven-thirty. Dad takes me. He lost his job, you know.”
Dan cringed. Yes, Suzanne and Rob and now Officer Sanders knew he was unemployed.
“Wait, Dad knows computer science. When we were hacked, all it took was one phone call from him and the company apologized. Maybe he could get a job with the State Police,” she said to Officer Sanders who nodded non-committally.
Dan's tone was strict. “It's time for bed. No TV before you go to sleep. You probably didn't do a lot of sleeping at Sophia's.”
Katie came to his side. “Goodnight, Dad.”
“'Night, Katie.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you even without gold shimmer.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
The three of them sat in the den. Dan had no intention of spending any more time in that museum of a living room. He wanted to be comfortable in his own house. It was bad enough he had police outside. He was going to be comfortable inside.
“Damn,” said. Dan. “I forgot about Jill's parents.”
Suzanne looked surprised. “You think she went to see them? In Charleston?”
“Maybe, but the media will pick up the BOLO. Her parents might hear about it.”
“And you don't want them to find out from TV,” said Rob.
“Or from friends in Richmond who've heard about it. I've got to call them. What time is it?”
Rob looked at his watch. “Almost ten.”
“It's not too late. Damn, I thought Jill would be home by now.”