by Kelly Utt
“And I assume Tim isn’t the type to skip out on work without calling?”
“Never,” Wilder confirmed. “The guy has a PhD. He’s serious about his work. Environmental sciences. And he’s diligent.”
“Okay,” James said as he continued to scribble furiously. “And no one has seen either of them here in Rosemary Run yesterday or today?”
“Not as far as we know,” Holden answered. “Eve’s friend, Victoria Baker, alerted me to unusual postings on social media. That’s how we knew Eve hadn’t returned home as scheduled.”
“Oh?” James asked. “I’d like you to show those social media accounts to me. And give me all the names and phone numbers for people you’ve spoken to. My colleagues and I will probably want to contact each of these individuals and take formal statements. Also, I’ll need descriptions of height, weight, age, and any identifying marks such as tattoos or birthmarks. I’ll need to know everything you do about what they were last seen wearing and who they were seen with.”
“Understood,” Holden replied.
“To confirm, you entered this home with a key?” James asked.
The Blackburns looked at each other. They didn’t want to lie to a police officer, that was for sure. But they also didn’t want to lose access to the house. There might be more clues lurking within it that could help them find Eve.
Holden spoke up, comfortable with his half-truths in this particular situation. “That’s right. I entered with a key.” He didn’t mention Mona, or the fact that Eve and Tim hadn’t personally given any of them a key.
“Okay,” James confirmed. “Got it. Let me get this info back to the station and we’ll look into a few things. I should have something to report by evening.”
Phoebe bristled. She didn’t like the idea of waiting until evening, even though it was now only a few hours away.
Holden spoke, verbalizing what they were all thinking. “James, forgive me. But what does that mean, exactly?” he asked.
“Which part?” the officer returned.
“All of it. Will Eve be considered a missing person? Will Tim? Will there be an investigation? Please... break it down for us.”
James shifted his weight backward, placing one hand on his belt near his radio. As if on cue, the radio crackled, then blurted the voice of a female dispatcher. James turned the small dial to lower the volume. “That’s hard to say. Eve and Tim are adults. And neither is mentally nor physically impaired, or elderly. In general, missing persons reports are filed for an adult when an individual may need medical, legal, or other help. We’ll first need to determine that Tim and Eve are, in fact, missing. Maybe they decided to extend their trip, or to take a detour. Maybe Tim took a bus back. Who knows? There are dozens of possibilities.”
Phoebe sat up straight in her chair. “But Eve is mentally impaired.”
James smiled his reassurance, choosing his words carefully. “Mrs. Blackburn…”
“Please, call me Phoebe.”
“Okay, Phoebe,” James continued. “I’ve heard rumors about Eve’s troubles. I think most Rosemary Run residents have, after the incident that happened when she was a teenager. But we’ll need more than rumors to take action here. Does Eve have a diagnosis that confirms mental impairment?”
“She does,” Phoebe said, her voice cracking.
Eve’s diagnosis was one that the Blackburn clan avoided discussing. Especially Phoebe. No amount of business success or accolades at Brambleberry Fields made up for what the matriarch felt was a critical, personal failing, so she didn’t want to talk about it. Phoebe considered her daughter defective. In a big way.
Wilder placed his hand over his wife’s while Holden took a deep breath, at the ready.
Phoebe spoke before either of them had to.
“She’s… Eve is…”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Holden urged.
“She’s bipolar,” Phoebe confessed, sputtering. “Bipolar I, the most severe form of the illness... with manic episodes. And she’s been trying to conceive, so I suspect that she hasn’t been taking her medication.”
11
Saul was sitting at his two-seater kitchen table when Eve returned from the shower. He smoked a cigarette while tracing the lines of the linoleum top with his fingers.
His place was simple but orderly. Eve thought it a typical bachelor pad. For a lower-income bachelor, anyway. It lacked the sophisticated decor and comforts of the beautiful house Tim had bought them on Crickett Lane.
“You okay?” Saul asked, blowing smoke to one side.
“I’m good,” Eve replied. “Really good.”
She put one hand on her hip and raised the opposite knee, trying to be seductive.
“That’s good to hear,” Saul said. “I’m still worried about you. Are you sure you don’t want me to call anyone?”
“That’s sweet,” Eve returned. “But I seem to have misplaced my cell phone.”
Saul stood up quickly. “Here, you can use mine,” he offered.
“That’s okay,” she said. “Maybe later. I don’t…”
He looked at her, puzzled.
“I don’t have anyone to call. That’s all.”
“Okay,” he said. “I could take you somewhere. How does that sound?”
“No, thanks,” Eve said. “I have other plans for you today.”
Saul smiled. He didn’t know what to make of Eve, but he thought she was very beautiful. He wanted to spend more time with her. “You do?”
“That’s right. I do,” she confirmed, unbuttoning the top three buttons of her shirt to expose her ample cleavage. “Like… Fun things.”
Eve let her purse fall to the floor, then she broke into an impromptu dance. Twirling, leaping, and sashaying as she stripped her clothes off, she put her body on full display for Saul. She didn’t need music. Instead, Eve hummed a sultry tune as she went.
The dance made her feel sexy. Her sex drive had been on high lately. She needed it like a junkie needed a fix. This situation with Saul was a way to meet that need. So, what if getting a sexual fix had the added bonus of passing the time and keeping Eve away from the critical eyes of her family?
One day, one hour, and one moment at a time. For this moment, she wanted Saul. She wanted to feel him inside of her again.
“Look at you,” he said. “You’re a dancer.”
Eve shuffled over to where Saul was sitting and plopped down on his lap. She didn’t seem aware that she was still dirty, and beginning to stink. Saul leaned into her, then moved his head back, reacting to the stench. Dried blood, greasy hair, morning hangover breath, and body odor were not a good combination.
“Did you take a shower?” he asked. “I thought I heard the water running.”
“I did.”
“Um… Did you find the soap?” He seemed reluctant to ask. “I can get some toothpaste. Whatever you need.”
“I’m clean…” Eve said, practically chirping she was talking so fast. “Come, Saul Milton, dance with me.” She leaped up again, parading around the room at top speed now.
“Oh… okay, okay,” he replied, joining her.
Saul put his cigarette out into a large silver ashtray that looked like it belonged in an entirely different house. It was posh. Elegant, even. Eve thought that maybe it had been a gift. Although she scarcely noticed the details of her surroundings on this particular day, the silver ashtray stood out.
As the butt smoldered in the background, sheltered by the elegant silver, Eve took Saul by the hand and led him in a waltz, then a slow dance. She continued to hum, switching tunes to match the dance. She moved faster and faster, in what seemed to Saul like a dizzying pace. Eve didn’t appear affected. Something was driving her. She had superhuman energy.
“Listen,” Saul began as he slowed to a stop in the middle of the floor. “Don’t be offended by this, please…”
“Uh huh?” Eve said quickly.
“Did you take something?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes flicking towards his an
d then quickly away. “Are you asking if I stole something out of your bathroom? I’m not a thief, Saul.”
“I mean, are you high right now?”
Eve’s face balled up. “No. No! Why would you ask me that?”
“I just…”
“No, no, no,” she continued, growing angry. “I don’t take drugs unless they’re prescribed by my doctor. No, sir... What kind of girl do you take me for?”
She leaned her head back dramatically and let out a loud cackle. Her mood seemed to change minute to minute.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it,” Saul replied, clarifying his position. “In fact, I have some... recreational substances we could partake in. If you aren’t scared. But I thought maybe you had gotten the party started without me… All that energy and… Earlier...”
Eve continued moving and flailing around the room while humming, like a wounded songbird trying to take flight. It was pitiful, really. But Saul didn’t know what he was witnessing. His only frame of reference for someone acting like Eve was drug related. He thought she had done this to herself. He thought she had sought this mania.
“Kiss me,” Eve said suddenly, grabbing Saul around the neck and pulling his lips to hers. He pulled back, her hygiene a concern. But she persisted, pulling him closer and wrapping one leg around his.
He narrowed his eyes, considering the situation.
“Hey, how did it get dark already?” Eve asked, her attention shifting outdoors. “The sun was out and now it’s gone. Poof!”
“Yeah, that’s what happens at night,” Saul said.
Eve began to laugh hysterically, pulling on Saul as she flailed. “That’s hilarious!”
“What?”
“What you said,” she explained through laughter. “That… What you… That it gets dark every night. Of course, it does. You’re funny, Saul. The way you said it was… funny.”
She careened, one hand around his neck. She used her free hand to caress his groin, awakening it with her touch. He stiffened. “Okay, screw it. Let’s party,” Saul said.
“Yay!” Eve cheered. “What will we have at our party? A house party. It will be the best house party ever…”
“If you say so, yeah,” Saul agreed. “I’ll get us a drink to start, then maybe we’ll add something else to the mix. We’ll see where the night takes us. You like whiskey?”
“Sure do.”
“Wait here,” Saul said, his face more animated than it had been all day. “This will be fun.”
It wasn’t long until both Saul and Eve were heavily intoxicated, pawing at each other and enjoying an array of sex acts and positions.
All without protection.
Then Saul brought out a syringe and a needle and asked Eve if she wanted to try injecting heroin.
12
It was nearly eight o’clock by the time James got back in touch with the Blackburns to report on his preliminary findings.
Phoebe, Wilder, Holden, Jake, Ty, and Marcus had all stayed at Eve and Tim’s house. They were unsure of what to do with themselves. No one wanted to miss an important update or a chance to be helpful. When Holden brought his wife up to speed, Lorelei had shown up with burgers for everyone. They did little more than pick at them, though, their stomachs too upset to eat.
Victoria had joined the group after Holden updated her on the deepening level of concern for her friend. She sat alone on an armchair, twirling her dark curly hair around and around one finger. Her brown skin looked pale. She was sick about all of this. Just like the rest of the bunch.
“James, come in,” Holden said from the porch as the officer got out of his squad car and shut the door. Holden was eager to hear an update.
“Hey, Holden,” James said casually. He was dropping formality as much as possible to put the family at ease. “How are you holding up?”
“We’ve been better,” Holden replied as James stepped into the house and smiled somberly at the others. “I hope you have some good news for us. We could sure use it right about now.”
James sat down in the middle of the sofa, the same spot he had occupied earlier in the afternoon. He looked tired.
“I can only imagine what you’re going through,” James said.
“I know,” Holden replied. “I’m sure you’re probably home with your wife by this time of evening on most nights. We appreciate you working late for us.”
“It’s no problem. Really.”
There was an uneasiness in the air. Everyone involved wanted to get on with it and learn what James knew. But at the same time, they didn’t. They figured the news wasn’t good. Wishing to remain oblivious— or maybe, in denial— a while longer was a powerful motivator. They wanted to hang onto it a few minutes more.
“I guess we should go ahead,” Holden said reluctantly.
“Yes, certainly,” James replied.
Wilder inserted himself, speaking up. “Tell us what you know, Officer Tatum.”
James cleared his throat. He had delivered tough news hundreds of times, but it never got any easier. Especially with people he knew and liked. It was one of the drawbacks of being a police officer in a small town.
“So,” James began. “First of all, you folks are right. Eve and Tim are missing. We have enough evidence to have determined that. I’ve filed a missing persons report on both of them.”
Phoebe rocked gently in her seat, a hand over her mouth. It was becoming a familiar stance. She didn’t speak. Victoria adopted a similar pose. Something about a hand over the mouth seemed to help the ladies steady themselves. Maybe it was self-soothing, like babies do when they suck on their fingers.
“Good,” Wilder said. “That will move things along. It’s good… Under the circumstances.”
James nodded. “It’s an important step. Now, we’re investigating.”
“Go on,” Holden said.
“Let’s start with Tim,” James confirmed. “I followed up with Roger at the Islamorada resort. He told me a few pieces of interesting information related to Tim’s activity during the time he and Eve were guests.”
“Okay,” Wilder said.
“Roger reports that Tim was last seen on the property on Thursday. That’s three days before he and Eve were scheduled to check out.”
“What?” Ty asked, baffled.
“Roger says Eve checked out alone yesterday morning. He had his manager review the security cameras to confirm. No sign of Tim since Thursday.”
“What do you make of that?” Holden asked. “Do you think they had an argument and split up for some reason? I ask to cover the bases, but that doesn’t sound like Tim. Even though Eve’s moods can be rocky, their relationship is harmonious.”
James nodded. “I figured you’d say that. I’m not sure what to think yet, because anything is possible.”
“What else do you have on Tim?” Wilder asked.
“Not much. And therein lies the story. It’s why I’m concerned. We talked to Tim’s boss and some of his colleagues. We also contacted his mom. By all accounts, Tim isn’t the type of guy to disappear into thin air.”
“Yeah,” Wilder mused.
“We also contacted the wireless carrier that serves Tim’s mobile phone.”
“Oh?” Holden asked. “Did they tell you anything useful?”
“They did. Tim’s phone hasn’t been used since Thursday. It was still transmitting from the resort up until Friday afternoon, which is probably when the battery ran out. Once a phone powers off, it can’t be tracked.”
“Damn,” Wilder said softly. “James, what do we do then? If Tim has disappeared, how in the world will we find him? And… I don’t mean that we care any less about Tim… But… Eve?”
“I understand,” James replied. “Eve’s your child. And she’s… more vulnerable.”
“Yes.”
“We’re sick about it all,” Phoebe mumbled. “We want them both back.”
“As for Eve,” James continued. “We know she checked out of the resort in the Keys
yesterday afternoon and that she used a ride sharing service to get to the airport in Miami. Like your friend Monique told you, Eve made it onto her flight and arrived safely in San Francisco. But I’m afraid that’s where our certainty ends. No one has seen her since, as far as we know.”
“And she hasn’t used her phone, correct?” Victoria asked, kicking one foot nervously as she talked.
“Right,” James confirmed. “Not since days ago in Islamorada. I asked Roger to overnight her phone to the station. Our tech and forensics guys will get their hands on it as soon as we receive the device tomorrow. And I have Roger’s team searching for Tim’s phone. Hopefully, they’ll find and send it, too.”
“How about bank records?” Holden asked. “We haven’t accessed any of those from our end yet. I’m not sure we can.”
“Already done,” James confirmed. “We checked their bank and credit card accounts. No activity from Tim’s since Thursday morning.”
“And Eve’s?” Phoebe asked expectantly. She looked almost hopeful, like she hadn’t thought that far.
“She used her ATM card to pull out five hundred dollars in cash at the Miami airport yesterday morning. She hasn’t used any of her accounts since.”
Wilder shook his head hard. “So they’ve both just… vanished?”
“I know it seems that way,” James said. “But people don’t just disappear. There are answers out there. It’s our job to find those answers, and to find Tim and Eve.”
Tensions were rising in the group. The Blackburns were becoming restless. Agitated. They didn’t know what to ask. They didn’t know what to do with themselves.
“So, what happens next?” Holden asked, speaking for the group.
“Good question,” James confirmed. “I want you folks to have access to as much information as possible. The case is being handled by two of our best investigators: Neil Fredericks and Luke Hemming. They’re already working. They’ll be consulting with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in the Florida Keys, as well as the Miami-Dade Police Department and the San Francisco Police Department as needed.”
“Good,” Wilder said. “I know both men. They’re excellent investigators. What can we do?”