The Disappearance of Emily: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

by Elizabeth Pantley

  “Leonard!” Grandmother’s scream broke through our conversation. It bellowed through the house as if on a loudspeaker, “Call 911. Come outside!”

  The two of us sprinted through the house. My father called for emergency help as he ran.

  We burst through the front door to see the mail delivery truck in the driveway. The mail carrier was lying on the pavement and pieces of mail were scattered around the yard. The carrier was moaning so, thankfully, he was alive. I didn’t think I could handle another dead body. Ouch, that thought sounded self-centered. Of course, I felt bad for this injured person.

  I looked down and noticed that my new camera was around my neck, but I can tell you for sure that I didn’t put it there. I took that as a sign and snapped a few quick photos.

  I could already hear the ambulance driving our way. In just minutes, they were tending to the injured mail carrier, putting him on a stretcher, and driving away to the hospital. I barely had time to process the event, and it seemed to be over.

  My father picked up the pieces of mail, which all appeared to be addressed to Caldwell residents. The keys were still in the mail truck, and one of the maintenance staff pulled it over near the garage.

  We were all heading back into the house when a FedEx van pulled up to the house. The carrier handed a box to Leonard, got his signature, and drove off.

  Leonard examined the package with a puzzled look. “Hayden, this is for you.”

  12

  A package for me? My father handed it over. It was large and heavy. I glanced at the return label. ‘Destiny Falls Ferry System.’ My brain pinged and my first thoughts were of Nakita, the ferry captain, saying, “I have something for you,” “tell no one,” “for the safety of your family,” and “life or death.”

  I quickly corralled my thoughts. “Oh, my order arrived!” I lied. “I think I’ll go unpack it.” I turned away, heading off any questions. I went into the house, struggling to carry the heavy box up to my room. My father offered to help, but I yelled, “Got it!” over my shoulder.

  My door shut behind me more loudly than I intended. I placed the box on my floor and stared at it. My breathing was coming out fast and loud, my heart was thumping.

  “Whoa, Nelly. Is that a box of snakes or something?” Latifa and Chanel were creeping cautiously toward the box and eyeing it as if something would pop out at any moment.

  “This is from the ferry company. I think it might it be what Nakita, the ferry captain, was planning to give me.”

  “You mean the lady who is . . . dearly departed?” She whispered the words ‘dearly departed.’

  I nodded. The three of us just stared at the box. Finally, Chanel broke the silence with a meow. Latifa translated, “She thinks you should open it.”

  The two of them backed up a few feet and huddled close together.

  I grabbed a pair of scissors off my desk and sat down on the floor next to the box. I scored along the tape lines, then pulled the box open.

  It was a mess. It looked like a toddler had packed it. I dug through it and saw documents, receipts, ledgers, notebooks, and file folders. Many of the papers were wrinkled or creased. The box was filled to capacity.

  “This is bizarre,” I said. “I wonder if this is what someone thought was in the mail truck?”

  “What mail truck?” asked Latifa.

  I realized that the cats had been upstairs and missed the drama of the injured postal worker and the mail strewn all over the yard. I shared the story and they agreed it seemed connected.

  “Well, I’m due over at Olivia’s for lunch,” I said. I lugged the box into my closet and covered it with my stack of laundry to make it less conspicuous. “I’ll look through this tonight.”

  “Before you abandon us. Yet again.” Deep sigh. “What’s with the camera around your neck?”

  I gave the cats a quick rundown of my new job as editor and photographer for the Destiny Falls Observer. They were duly impressed.

  “It wouldn’t hurt you to practice using it,” Latifa said as she began to pose.

  When we finished her impromptu modeling session, I turned on the movie channel and filled the cat food bowl. I grabbed the box of blueberry scones I had picked up from Vessie’s café for Olivia.

  Latifa made a coughing noise.

  “What?”

  “Are those bluuueberry scones? Ah, how I love bluuueberry scones,” she said.

  “Have you ever had blueberry scones?”

  “No. But I loooove them.”

  I put a few pieces on a small plate for them to share, then headed out to my friend’s home for a visit and lunch.

  Olivia and Hercules were enjoying the beautiful day out on her porch. She waved happily as I approached. Of course, there was a fresh pitcher of lemonade and a platter of homemade cookies on the table, along with an assortment of sandwiches, olives, and pickles. I lifted the box from Vessie’s and waved it at her.

  “Ohhh. I know that’s going to be good! I love Vessie’s treats,” Olivia said. She took the box and peeked in, sniffing and moaning. “Yum. Scones! Thanks, Hayden.”

  “You’re welcome. Thank you for inviting me to lunch.”

  Hercules lumbered over to me in his half-asleep state and yawned, showing off his massive doggie teeth. Then he leaned his body into mine, looked up with puppy-dog eyes, and waited to be stroked.

  “You silly boy,” I said. “You love your rubs, don’t you?” I didn’t even have to bend over to pet him; his head was at the level of my elbow. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the baggie of meat I had brought for him. He eagerly but gently took it out of my hand, then returned to his corner to continue his nap.

  We sat at the table and filled our plates, enjoying what I knew was warm-up small talk. Olivia always had local news and gossip to share and I looked forward to it.

  “Want to tell me about your new camera?” She pointed down to the case next to my feet.

  And there sat the camera case that I had not brought with me to Olivia’s. It seemed I now had both a talking cat and a sidekick camera.

  “I have a new job!” I told Olivia. “Eleanor asked me to create and manage an online version of the old Destiny Falls Observer.”

  “Eleanor asked you? That doesn’t sound like the Eleanor I know,” she chuckled.

  “Okay, fine. She directed me to create the paper and to be the photographer, too. This is my unique work camera.”

  “And by unique, you mean charmed?” Olivia tilted her chin toward the camera bag. “You seemed just as surprised as I was to see it appear next to you.”

  “Exactly right. Apparently, my father used to be the photographer for the paper, so he’s going to be giving me some guidance.”

  “Sounds like a pleasant way to get to know each other,” she said. Olivia had quickly become a trusted friend, so she knew much of the story of my whirlwind month.

  “I loved that old paper. Used to read it in the morning with my tea. It featured only local news, so none of that stressful politics and world affairs.” She waved her hands in the air. “Too much of that can cause heartburn.”

  I agreed with her. And it was nice to know the expectation would be local news only. That I could wrap my arms around.

  “You heard about the ferry captain?” I asked her. Of course she had. I wanted to open that topic and find out what she knew. I wondered if this story should be in the Observer. I’d have to discuss the parameters with Grandmother or my father.

  “That’s such a shame. So sad.” She paused just long enough to make it a polite statement, then launched into her gossip. “There was always something off about her. Not that it excuses murder, of course,” Olivia said.

  “What do you mean something was off?”

  “I often saw her hanging around with the guy that drives the boat and two of the mechanics.”

  “You mean Kerbie, the helmsman?” I asked.

  “Oh! You know Kerbie?”

  “Not really. I met him at Vessie’s once. Just brie
fly. Saw him with two really large men who looked like mechanics.”

  “Yep. They’re mechanics.” Olivia tried to stifle a laugh. “I’ve only ever heard them called Gronk and Shrek. I don’t know if that’s their real names though.”

  “Very fitting,” I agreed. “They’re quite a trio. All three rotund guys, but Kerbie being so short with his bright red hair, and the two of them looking like black-haired giants next to him.”

  “They always seemed to be off in a corner, secluded and anti-social. And they entered the ferry building from the backdoor, away from all the passengers.”

  “I’ve seen passengers going to the backdoor,” I said. “They were dressed for skiing, which seemed odd. They came back around, and it appeared they were holding tickets.”

  “Hmm. That is odd,” she said. Now, she wasn’t fooling me. Olivia knows everything, yet she sometimes keeps details to herself. Typically, given time, these seep out a little at a time.

  “How did girl’s night go with your sisters?” Olivia asked, deftly changing the subject.

  I couldn’t help it. I started chattering about my wonderful time with the girls, gushing about sisterhood. “We talked some about my mother. It was nice. We finished off a blender of margaritas, and they let it slip that my father never got over his love for her.”

  Olivia was nodding with a sad look on her face. “And Emily has never gotten over him, either,” she said.

  “What?” I said.

  “What?” she said back. Then she abruptly stood up and grabbed the lemonade pitcher and announced it needed a refill.

  “Wait, Olivia. Do you know my mother?”

  But she was scurrying into the house. I followed her into the kitchen and tried to get her to open up on the topic, but she was closed as tight as a clamshell. She even claimed that I had misunderstood her. Which I knew I had not. I told you. As much as a gossip as she is, Olivia appears to know exactly how to keep a secret.

  Suddenly, Hercules began barking in the backyard. Hercules is an incredibly well-trained dog and he’s quiet. I have rarely heard him bark. He doesn’t bark at random things like squirrels or a car driving by, so we knew it was something to investigate. We went out the backdoor to find out what the commotion was about.

  Hercules had his nose in a bush. His tail was wagging happily and his bark was excited. He heard us coming and his body language appeared to be telling Olivia to look in the bush.

  Olivia and I carefully eased the branches aside and there, at the base of a tree, was the tiniest little black kitten. It looked up at us with big, sad eyes and mewed pitifully.

  “Oh my stars!” gushed Olivia.

  We both crouched down and looked at the tiny creature. Hercules barked again from where he was standing, about twenty feet away from us. Olivia walked over, then told me not to come. In a quiet voice, like she was trying not to let the kitten hear her, she told me that it appeared a coyote has gotten to the mother cat.

  I carefully scooped up the little bundle of black fur. The kitten was trembling.

  “You poor little baby,” I said. The kitten seemed to melt into the warmth and security of my arms. I carried her to the front porch and fed her bits of tuna from my sandwich. She seemed ravenous. I wondered how long she’d been hiding in the bushes.

  “Do you mind if I take this little bundle home with me?” I asked Olivia. “I already have cat supplies, plus two furry companions.”

  “That’s a lovely idea,” she agreed.

  13

  No one was home to see me sneak upstairs with my tiny little bundle of black fur. I was glad, as I wasn’t sure if this was going to be okay with the family. I mean, everyone seemed to welcome Latifa into the house, but would they also accept a new kitten?

  I hoped that Latifa and Chanel would be okay with a new feline addition to the household. I figured Latifa would be since she was cool with new adventures. I didn’t know Chanel all that well, and there was none of that telepathic communication between us. Latifa had translated everything I knew about her, it wasn’t firsthand. This house had been Chanel’s domain, and she was accustomed to being the Big Cat on Campus. I suspect that she accepted Latifa so easily because they were two of a kind. Smart, sassy movie buffs with a love of sneaking out to the great outdoors and napping on silk pillows in the sunshine. They were clearly meant to be and their connection had been immediate. But would Chanel accept a new kitten into her home?

  The cats were not in my bedroom, so they were likely snoozing in the sunshine or sneaking around the garden. That was good. I could get this little furball set up before the big reveal. I planned to let the cats help me name the kitten, which Olivia and I determined was a female. (Thank you, Google.)

  I made a soft blanket nest in the middle of the bed and settled the little one into it. I laid down next to her, stroked her soft fur, and listened to her tiny little purr. She tipped over onto her side and began kneading the blanket while she enjoyed being snuggled.

  I heard a commotion in my closet (which clearly was a clue to the cats’ secret doorway system). A minute later, the two sauntered into the bedroom. They saw me on the bed and jumped up next to me.

  “A kitten!?” Latifa gasped. “It’s a kitten! Why do you have a kitten?!”

  “Hercules found her today, in Olivia’s backyard. She was hidden in the bushes. Clearly starving and frightened.”

  The kitten softly mewed and looked up intently at the two big cats, her bright, emerald green eyes taking measure of these creatures.

  The two cats crowded into my space, effectively pushing me aside with their substantial backsides. They were rubbing their faces on her cheeks, mewing and licking her soft fur.

  I enjoyed watching the two of them instantly turn into mamas right there in front of me.

  “I figured you two could help me name her,” I said.

  “Lola,” said Latifa.

  “Hmm. I like that. It’s a good possibility.” I nodded.

  “No, Ace. Not asking your opinion. Her name is Lola.”

  “How do you know?” The kitten had no collar or tag.

  “She just told us,” said Latifa.

  I quietly watched while Latifa and Chanel got to know our sweet little Lola. After a while, Chanel picked her up by the scruff and the three of them jumped off the bed and moved to the private cat alcove that was near my closet. Clearly, I had just helped create a lovely new family.

  I left the cats alone and used the rest of the evening to catch up on my work and to e-mail Luna, Nana, and Granana. I snuck into the yoga room three times to peek in the teardrop mirror, but only saw the yoga room reflected back at me. I would keep checking. I knew the mirror was a key to connecting with my family back home. I just needed to be patient and let it unfold.

  My phone pinged and I smiled when I saw a text from Axel.

  You up for breakfast with

  Jax & me at Vessie’s

  tomorrow at 7?

  Yes! Would love that

  : )

  Busy day, so we’ll have to drive

  Sounds good. See you

  in the morning

  I was feeling hungry and thought I’d trek downstairs for a sandwich. I opened my door to the hallway to find a gloriously full food cart with an assortment of dinner items. Bless this house. Or Cleobella. Or whoever or however the food appeared. It tickled me to see a tiny cat toy resting in a small ceramic bowl that said ‘Welcome’ across the front. Clearly, that was for our new arrival.

  As I was getting ready for bed, I heard Latifa’s voice coming from the cat alcove. She was crooning a sweet-sounding lullaby. My hands went to my heart and I felt a surge of love for my suddenly maternal pet.

  I snuck a little closer and put my ear to the opening, and then I heard what she was singing:

  “Well, I’m not the world’s most passionate guy

  But when I looked in her eyes,

  Well, I almost fell for my Lola

  L-O-L-A. Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola . . .

  Sh
e . . . umm. Somethin’ Somethin’ champagne.

  Like Coca Cola…. C-O-L-A Cola. Lo lo lo lo Lola….”

  14

  For the first time, in a long time, I woke up without my furry companion squashed up next to me or sprawled over the top of me. Instead, I had three furry companions curled up in a heap a foot away from me on the bed. Since they were snuggled up in their own little pile, I had a blissful few inches of space all to myself.

  What a colorful blend of softness they made—the rich chocolate points of my Himalayan, the brilliant white of Chanel, the magnificent Persian, and the little spot of black fuzz tucked between them. I reached over for my phone and snapped a picture. I snuck out of bed very quietly, because, well, they had a busy day ahead. All those important meetings to attend today, right? Okay, not meetings. Snacks, catnip, and naps. Even so, one does not disturb sleeping babies, cats, or dogs, am I right?

  Why do people tiptoe? It really does not make you any quieter. I made my way across the room to peek into my yoga room (nope, nothing in the mirror this morning) and then to my bathroom to get ready for my breakfast with Axel and Jaxson.

  It was still early and the mystery box beckoned. With a half-hour before I needed to meet up with the guys, I had time to start looking through the mess of documents. I shoved aside the pile of clothes covering the box and opened it up.

  At first glance, it appeared that someone had upended an entire file cabinet into the box. Papers, files, and notecards were heaped in random order. An assortment of paper clips, pens, rubber bands, loose change, and postage stamps was shoved in between the other things.

  What would probably make the most sense would be to sort through the items and put similar things together. I could sort the paperwork and files and place everything right-side up. Then I would get a better sense of what I was looking at. Not enough time to start that now.