by Kayla Grey
“Mark, I can’t leave her.” I say, my voice almost a whisper.
He walks up taking the bottle from my hand and placing on the counter. “We will find her. Until I find her, I will not give up looking for her. You have my word.”
I feel small, childlike. It’s a feeling I’m not comfortable with at all. I hate feeling helpless. But being here, consumed the multitude of feelings swirling inside me, isn’t doing her any good. What help have I really provided so far?
“Your flight takes off in a few hours. I need to get you to the airport. If you want to stop off and see Wolf before we head out he can meet us.”
Leaving my coffee on the counter I head back to the room. “Does he have anything for us?”
“No, sir.”
“Then no. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” I’m about to shut the door when I remember, “Have we received the security tapes from the hospital yet?”
“Wolf should be receiving them today. He said he will go through the tapes as soon as he gets them and get back to us. It may take him a while. It’s a considerable amount of footage.”
“Tell him to get help if he needs it.” I add before closing the bedroom door. My phone lights up the nightstand. Walking over, I pick it up noticing a message from Wolf asking to meet me.
I check the clock. Mark said we have a few hours. I’m sure a quick call won’t take up to much time. Tapping his name, the call rings a couple times before I hear Wolf’s breathless voice, “Hello?”
“Wolf, what did you need?”
“Oh Kage, hang on.” I hear the phone get put down on a wooden surface. His heavy foot steps dash along the floor, and I barely hear him say thank you before closing a door. “Sorry man, you still there?”
“Yes, what is it?” I ask laying out my charcoal gray suit.
“I need to meet you, today. I’ll get you the address. I agree with Mark. You haven’t been yourself this week. And your company needs you.”
I roll my eyes and sway my head side to side. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Who was at the door?”
“Messenger. They just delivered the security footage from the hospital. I’m still waiting on the rest of the employee files.”
“I thought you got all of those already?” I ask pulling out a deep green tie that reminds me of her eyes.
“They only sent the ones of who was on duty that night. I need them all. Everyone who has inside access to the hospital is a suspect until I decide otherwise.”
For some reason, Luke’s face flashes in my mind, and his harsh reaction. “This will include the paramedics employees as well, correct?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“It’s probably nothing, but one of the paramedics rubbed me the wrong way. Over reactions and such. He tried to keep me out of the ambulance. He said it was for family only. He also stayed at the hospital longer than he probably should have.”
“Huh. That’s not right. Usually anyone can ride in the ambulance and the paramedics usually drop off and leave shortly after. What was his name?”
“Luke something. I’m not sure. His partner was fine, but Luke kept telling me family only. He was the one that put her in the truck too. They almost left without me. Didn’t seem like they waited around for any other survivors either.”
“Interesting. Hang on a moment.”
I place the phone down and put him on speaker so I can get dressed. I can faintly hear the rustle of papers, and card stock in the background. Glancing in the mirror, ignoring the dark bags under my eyes, I straighten my belt and tie. Wolf comes back on just as I finish fastening small infinity cuff links on my shirt.
“Okay. I have a few employees named Luke, but none that are listed as paramedics. His file must be with the ones I’m missing. They should be here later today or tomorrow. I’m missing over half at the moment. I’ll keep you informed.”
“Thank you Wolf. I don’t think I could do this without you or Mark.” I pull on my jacket, and grab my bag and phone before walking out of the room.
“I know you are tired of hearing this Kage, but we will find her. Just don’t give up. It could be years, but she’ll resurface.”
Years! My heart drops out of my chest. It can’t take that long. What she could undergo in that time sickens me. “Keep me informed.”
Hanging up, I toss my bag to Mark, just as he stops to meet me. “Wolf?”
“Yes. He said he’s missing over half the employee files for the hospital?”
We walk toward the penthouse elevator scanning the rooms as we go for anything left behind. “Yes, sir. A miscommunication with the hospital. He should have them soon.”
“Did he have any news for you?” He asks as we step into the elevator.
“Just that the tapes just arrived. He looked for the paramedics file from that night, but said it must be with the others.”
“I’ll follow up to make sure he receives everything he needs.”
The elevator pings at the hotel lobby. Besides the second glances as I walk across the marble floor, there’s no attention. I’m grateful we took care of the media as quick as we did. It won’t hold them at bay for now, and I’m sure the minute I touch down in New York things will be different. But for now I bask in the quiet.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AFTER A THREE hour delay, we touch down in New York. This is the season for unexpected storms. Mark tried to get me to sleep but I could not shut my mind off. I just sat there staring out the window at the flickering clouds, twirling her diamond ring between my fingers. The further away we got from California, the more sick I felt. I left the most important thing in my life there. Mark had pointed out that at this point we weren't sure she is still in California.
We walk in silence out to the car, her ring still twirling between my fingers, in my coat pocket. Wolf’s comment about it being years until she resurfaces rolls in my mind. My stomach sinks. That word will never have the same meaning again. Any length of time without her is barely tolerable. How am I supposed to spend years away from her? I feel myself start to drift inward. Hardening for the upcoming lost time.
We step out of the airport the cold night air hitting my cold body. The promise of rain fills the darkness. I numbly follow Mark to the car. Not a word is spoken except when Mark asked if we were going home or the penthouse. I don’t want to be in either. Both will feel empty without her. I opt for the penthouse since I have to be at the office in a few hours. Forty-five minutes later we finally pull in to the apartment garage.
The elevator pings and I step out the moment the doors open. The air in the penthouse is too thin. The rooms are too quiet. An emptiness rises in my chest, and I fight it back hardening myself further. It’s either that or vomit.
Mark strolls past me, my bag in hand and heads directly to our room. I hope for a second that any minute she will come running out, wearing nothing by my white shirt, and throw her arms around me. But the moment never comes. Shrugging off my jacket, I lay it over a bar stool and turn towards the kitchen. I pull a short crystal cut glass and a bottle of Glenfiddich from the bar.
Mark appears just as I take a seat on the gray suede sofa, not bothering to turn on a light. His weary gaze locks with mine before it trails to my glass. Ignoring him, I take a sip letting the amber liquid burn the back of my throat. I can’t sleep in that bed. Other than having to travel for work, I haven’t slept without her by my side for a few years now. I detest sleeping alone.
“Sir, you should try and rest.”
“Good night, Mark.” I say not wanting another lecture from my bodyguard. Thankfully, he takes the hint and retreats to his room. I sit, staring out over the lit city, feeling the heat from the amber liquid as it fills my belly. It’s the only warmth I feel and it’s only temporary.
I let my mind drift to the day I first saw her.
“I’m going for a walk, Mark.” I call over my shoulder as I walk away from the hotel doors. We landed in California a few days prior, and I have done nothing but attend meetings. Th
e last thing I want to do is be cooped up in my hotel room.
The cool autumn air whips the fallen leaves along the streets and walkways. Couples walk arm in arm laughing softly. After a few minutes of walking aimlessly, I hear centralized laughter and talking. I follow a group of people toward the noise. A farmers market emerges almost out of no where. The scent of fresh apples, grapefruit, and pears fills my nose, reminding me of when I went apple picking as a child. I feel a soft smile pull my lips as my feet start to carry me slowly through the market.
Stands upon stands are filled with the most vibrant fruits and vegetables I have ever seen. A few other stands have things like caramel apples, fresh popcorn, paintings, knick knacks, and so forth. A little something for everyone. The sound of some children playing a little too rough followed by wood breaking and apples hitting the ground form behind me, pulling my attention.
“I’m so sorry!” A young woman says spinning around, her espresso hair shinning in the golden light of the setting sun.
“Oh honey it’s not your fault.” The vendor says dropping down to help pick up the spilled fruit.
“Please let me pay for it.”
“Hush now. I’m not worried about a few dropped apples.” The old woman says waving the girl away.
I watch a moment as the girl continues to pile apples in her arms just to have them tumble back to the ground. When a tear trickles down her cheek I can’t resist the urge to help. Crouching next to her I snatch rolling apples, handing them directly to the vendor to take care of. The girl looks up and squints a second before I block the sun from her view. Instantly her cheeks flush turning a beautiful shade of pink. I chuckle at the cliched movie moment.
“Thank you.” She says under her breath.
I stand and offer her my hand which she takes after a hesitant moment. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?” The words are out of my mouth before my brain catches up. Oddly enough I don’t feel foolish for being so forward. When the pink in her cheek deepen to red I smile already knowing her answer is yes.
It was in that moment, my world shifted. Colors became more vibrant. Everything was less mundane. I felt as if I had just awakened.
The elevator chiming and opening suddenly jolts me. I look around the room and realize I’m still on the sofa, the crystal glass lying on the rug. When I don’t hear footsteps, I glance toward my open elevator. No one’s there. Standing I stretch and notice a small envelope on the floor of the empty car. Slowly I make my way over, but not before Mark suddenly is next to me. I walk over to the envelop and pick it up. Nothing suspicious, just a plain envelop sitting in elevator.
Making my way into the kitchen, I grab a knife and open the white envelope dumping its contents on to the counter. A typed note and a cut up medical band sit innocently on the marble.
“Don’t touch them sir. We can dust for prints.”
Mark hands me tongs that I use to flip over the note, which reads ‘You will never find her.’ My gut twists. The asshole who did this knows we are looking for her. The medical band is her’s from the hospital in Cali. Bile rises in my throat. Dropping the tongs, I head back to the living room, snatching the glass off the floor, and refilling it again.
I drink it all. The familiar burn pushing the bile back down. “Mark—”
“I know, sir. I’ll get Wolf on it right away.” Mark immediately takes the tongs and drops the contents into a plastic bag. “Try to get some rest.”
“No. I’m going for a run. I’ll be back in time to shower and head to the office.”
He responds with a curt nod, then disappears. Knocking back another glass before returning both to the kitchen, I turn to change. I need to get out of here. A run should clear my head.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“GOOD MORNING, SIR.” Vee and the new girl greet in unison as I step into my private lobby.
I walk past them both without a word. It certainly is not a good morning, and I don’t intend on pretending otherwise. Vee’s light steps are behind me the second I pass their desk. I can only tell the difference because the new girl tends to be slightly more heavy footed. Her pathetic attempts to get me to notice her are irritating. The last time she pulled that in front of Autumn, she got her ass handed to her. All I did was stand by and watch.
“What does my day look like Vee?” I ask after my office door shuts behind us. Reaching my desk, I slip off my jacket and hang it off the back of my leather chair. Vee takes her usual seat and flips open her appointment book.
“You have a meeting at nine with Jason. He said there was something that went wrong with the self sustainable mechanism he was working on. Noon, damage control. Two you have—”
“Damage control?” I ask finally look at her. “What damage control?”
“Well, sir,” she hesitates, her eyes darting everywhere but me. “The incident in Cali. It’s all over the news.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?” I drag my fingers through my hair. All that work to keep the media out of it. I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but it wasn’t supposed to be this fast. My chest constricts making it nearly impossible to breathe. I hate dealing with the media. I’m sure Mark is already on top of finding out who got the story out. I don’t even want to think about what is being broadcasted right now.
“Wolf called this morning too.” Vee says jerking me from my thoughts, and laying a small envelope on my desk. “He said he tried to get you earlier but you weren’t answering.”
“Fine. Anything else?”
“At two you have a meeting with Marcus. He said they finished the design for the new windmills.”
I nod, but stay silent.
“Sir,” the pity in her voice makes me look up. “I’m sorry to hear about your fiancée. She was a lovely girl.”
Fury fills every limb of my body, a frantic surge of energy rushing in my veins. My jaw hurts from the force in which I’m clenching my teeth. “She is. She is, a lovely girl. She isn’t dead. She’s missing. And she’s alive.”
“You’re right.” She says quickly, her eyes widening as she raises her hands. “My apologies.”
I take a deep breath reigning in my sudden rage. She doesn’t know any better. The media must have everything twisted around already. I would have preferred she ask me first. Internally I roll my eyes. Yeah because I’m handling it so well right now. “I’m sorry Vee.”
She gives me a faint nervous smile then quickly retreats my office. I slump in my chair dropping my head in my hand. I shouldn’t be here. The last thing I need is to be lashing out at my staff and clients. Jumping up to tell Vee to cancel my afternoon, the sound of a phone vibrating distracts me. I pull a small vibrating phone from the envelope Vee handed me earlier out.
“Who is this?”
“It’s Wolf. I can’t trust your phone not being tapped. I’m sure you have heard already, but it’s been leaked.” Damn it! Who would want that type of attention? “There’s more. I received the rest of the employee files thanks to Mark. There is no one under the name Luke as a paramedic. I’m looking around at other hospitals to see if he was helping out that night, but that is a stretch.”
“Are you telling me that Luke doesn’t exist?” Is he the one behind all of this?
“Not as a paramedic. Sounds like he was impersonating one. Kage, that makes this personal. I can’t tell if it’s an attack directly on you, her, or you both.”
“What about the fire?”
“Nothing new sir. The gas leak was from a worn tubing and I’m still waiting for the report on the short. It’s looking more intentional, but I’m not sure we are going to be able to prove that. I can tell you if it was, they were professionals.” He pauses, “When did the paramedics show up?”
“Not long after I put her down and started running back for her family. Why?”
“Are there emergency services close to her family home?”
“Not really.” Where is he going with this?
“All right. I will get back to you on it.�
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Knowing his trail of thought, I swallow past the lump and bile in my throat. “Then why take her to the hospital?”
“You. I’m going to send copies of the employee files to Mark. I need you to go through them all and pull flag everyone you saw that night. Then make a list of who you didn’t. I’m betting the three in the ambulance don’t work at any hospital.”
“Three?”
“Yes. Luke, his partner, and the driver. The license plate, I should be able to get from the footage.”
Why didn’t they just take care of me at the time then? “Don’t those trucks have trackers?”
“They should.” He pauses the inhales sharply when he realizes what I have said. “Yes, I should be able to see what trucks were taken out that night. But don’t get your hopes up, Kage.”
“It was real. It looked real.”
“I mean they could have bought an old one. They could have bought a truck and made it look like one.”
My brow furrows, my stomach churning. “Why go to such lengths?”
“That is why I think the fire was intentional. The ambulance showed up too quickly. They were on the scene before any other emergency vehicles, and they tried to leave without you. It’s suspicious. I think they were waiting for just the right time to swoop in.”
“So they had to be close enough to watch me put her down and then run back toward the house.”
“Possible. It sounds the most plausible right now. If it is intentional, it is personal.”
My throat constricts. I look around for a drink but Mark must have removed my bar cart. Damn him. I have to pull myself together enough to get through this first meeting. How am I going to keep my mind focused?
“One more thing, Kage.”
“What is it?”
He heaves a heavy sigh. “If I’m correct, and this is an attack. If the ambulance turns out to be a fake. The men impersonating paramedics. If the license plates on the truck turn into a dead end.” He pauses long enough for dread sneak in filling my body. “It may be a very long time before we find her. This entire event has been planned down to the last detail.”