She’s Like The Wind

by Elks, Carrie

  “Come back here,” she said, trying to keep calm. “I’ll call the police here in Angel Sands. They have way more manpower than we do, and they can spread word into neighboring towns, too.”

  She could hear the soft rumble of the engine over his Bluetooth connection, and the sound of his indicator, as he must have taken a turn from the road. Finally he sighed, and she imagined his shoulders slumping as his fingers tightened on the wheel. “Yes,” he said. “Please do that.”

  “She’ll be okay,” she whispered, as much to herself as to him.

  “I just want to find her,” he said, his voice cracking. “Make her safe.”

  Of course he did. He was her dad, after all. And wasn’t that what any good father would want to do?

  24

  The doorbell rang sometime after four that morning. Nate had come back from searching for Riley, his expression dark, and he’d hardly said two words to her before he made his way to the office. That’s where he’d been since – making phone call after phone call, emerging once to pour himself a cup of black coffee before disappearing back in there again. He looked like hell. They both did.

  Ally made her way up the hallway on her crutches, opening the door to see two uniformed officers standing there. “Thank you for coming,” she said, standing back to let them in. “The living room is the first door to your left.”

  Nate must have heard the doorbell from the office, because by the time they reached the room he was there, shaking their hands. She looked at him as soon as she walked through the doorway, but he seemed to be studiously avoiding her eyes.

  “Can I get you a drink?” Ally asked the two officers as they sat on the easy chairs facing the sofa. “Coffee or orange juice, maybe?”

  “No thank you, ma’am.”

  “Nate?” she asked, looking at him. He shook his head but still wouldn’t look at her.

  Okay, then. She gave them a nod and went to turn away.

  “Miss Sutton?” the male officer said. He looked to be around her father’s age. “Could you stay, too? We may have some questions for you.”

  Ally pressed her lips together and nodded, sitting on the sofa next to Nate, though there was at least a foot of distance between them. He was still looking at the older officer, his back as straight as a poker, his jaw tight. He looked so uncomfortable and nervous it made her stomach churn.

  “I’m afraid we still have no news on your daughter’s whereabouts,” the older officer told them. “All our cars have her details, and a photograph thanks to the one you sent over. And I can confirm that none of the local hospitals have had admissions that match Riley’s description.”

  Ally let out a mouthful of air.

  “We have a few questions that might help us find her.” The female officer leaned forward, flashing a brief smile as she pulled out a pencil and notepad from her pocket. “Obviously you’re her father, Mr. Crawford. And Miss Sutton is Riley’s stepmother, is that right?”

  “No.” Ally shook her head. The officer’s cool eyes gave nothing away. “I’m just a… friend.”

  “But you’re living here right now?”

  The corner of Nate’s jaw was dancing rhythmically as he ground his teeth together. Ally felt herself begin to flush.

  “I hurt my leg,” she said, looking down at the cast as though they hadn’t noticed it as soon as they walked in. “I’ve been staying in the spare room while I recuperate.”

  “Okay.” The officer wrote something on her pad. “You said that Riley came home at little after two this morning, then left right away. Did something happen to make her leave?”

  It was as though a snake had wrapped itself around her chest, making it impossible to breathe. “She, um…”

  “She found me in bed with Miss Sutton,” Nate said, his voice low. He kept his gaze firmly on the officer. Ally winced, wanting to crawl into a hole and die there.

  “But you’re not in a relationship?”

  This was excruciating. Ally shifted on the sofa, moving her leg in an attempt to get comfortable, but it did no good. Nate was showing no emotion at all.

  “It’s not unusual for teenagers to run off for a while,” the male officer said. “Especially in a situation like this one.” His gaze flickered to Ally then back to Nate. “We’d usually expect her to return within twenty-four-hours, once the novelty of running away wears off.”

  “She was very upset,” Ally said. “She’d tried to call me the previous night and left a tearful voicemail.”

  “Can you let my partner hear it?” the officer asked, standing up. “And in the meantime, can you give me a few more photographs, Mr. Crawford? I assume you keep some around here.”

  “I have a good one in my office.”

  “Great. Let’s go take a look. And if you can also give me the contact details for any other members of your family, just so we can alert them that she may be headed their way.”

  Ally watched as the two men left the room, leaving her alone with the female officer. Taking her phone out of her pocket, she dialed her voicemail again, putting Riley’s message on speakerphone for the policewoman to hear.

  “She really did sound upset,” the officer said as the message ended. “Do you know if something happened in Los Angeles?”

  “I’ve no idea. She has a friend, Laura, she may know. And there’s a boy she likes, too. His name is Leo.”

  The officer gave a rueful smile. “In ninety-nine percent of cases like this there’s always a boy or girl.” She took note of their names on her pad. “Please try not to get too worried. There’s every chance we’ll track her down before the day is up. It’s almost textbook, really. Emotional teenager discovers her father has a girlfriend?” She shrugged. “When they suddenly realize their parents have a sex life it shakes them up and makes them mad.”

  A shiver went down Ally’s spine. She’d been that teenager once. Hated Marnie as much as she’d hated her right back. She’d demanded his time, his money, his constant attention. Which meant that when Ally needed him he wasn’t there.

  Just like Nate hadn’t been there when Riley needed him. Because he’d been naked beneath the sheets. With Ally.

  The embarrassment felt like being covered in shards of glass.

  Nate walked back into the room, swiftly followed by the other policeman.

  “We’ve had a lead. Mr. Crawford’s credit card was used two hours ago to buy a single plane ticket to Boston.”

  “Where my sister lives,” Nate said.

  “We’re pretty sure she’s headed there.”

  “Has the plane taken off yet?” the female officer asked. Ally looked at Nate. His face was as tight as ever, his breath as shallow as hers.

  “Half an hour ago. We’re requesting the flight manifest now.”

  “I’m going to pack a bag and head to the airport,” Nate said, his eyes landing on Ally’s. “I’ve called Kirsten to let her know.”

  “Kirsten’s your sister?” the officer asked. She made another note.

  “That’s right.”

  “We’re calling the Boston Police Department, too. Riley should have a big welcoming committee waiting for her at the other end.”

  Ally waited for relief to wash over her, but it didn’t arrive. All she felt was that same churning feeling in her stomach that had been going on all morning. At the thought of Riley – so upset by seeing Ally and her dad that she had to jump on a plane to escape.

  “We’ll head out to the car and make a couple of calls while you pack,” the male officer said. He inclined his head before he made for the hallway, his partner following right behind.

  It was just the two of them again. Nate raked a hand through his thick hair, curling his fingers around the back of his neck. There were shadows beneath his eyes and his skin looked pale in spite of the California sun outside. “I should go grab a bag,” he said, still hovering by the door.

  “Yes.” Ally nodded.

  “Can you stay here again?” he asked, his tone business-like. “Just un
til I know she’s safe. If she isn’t on that flight, or if something goes wrong I need somebody here.”

  “Of course I can.” Her voice was soft. “Whatever you need, I can do it.”

  “I’ll let you know when I get to Boston.” He still wasn’t looking at her.

  “I’d appreciate that. I want to know she’s safe.” She moistened her lips with her tongue. “Nate?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you tell her I’m sorry?”

  He frowned. “What are you sorry for?”

  A humorless laugh escaped from her lips. “I don’t know,” she said, her brows knitting together. “For not answering her call. For not being here when she needed me.” Because I took your attention away when she needed you the most?

  “I’ll tell her.” He gave a short nod. “I should go. They’re waiting for me.”

  A moment later he was headed to his bedroom – the one that was still minus a bed. A loud creak told her he was opening his closet, no doubt throwing clothes into his overnight bag.

  And then there was one. Just Ally, this huge house and all the dark thoughts that threatened to rain down on her.

  Her chest ached with a sense of loss she couldn’t quite understand. Because she hadn’t lost anything had she? Or at least she hadn’t yet.

  * * *

  “Okay, everything’s back where it belongs.” Lucas walked into the living room where Ally was sitting with Ember and Brooke. Griff, Lucas’ best friend, was hovering behind him, having come over to help carry the bed back from the patio. “We’ll head out and leave you ladies to it.” He winked at Ember who smiled back at him. “See you later, babe.”

  “Thanks for all your help,” Ally said. Her voice was fragile as glass. “I appreciate it.”

  “Any time.” He gave her the softest of smiles. He really was a good guy. No doubt Ember had filled him in on all the gory details while they were on their way over. “If you need anything else, call me, okay?”

  “I will.”

  The two of them left, heading out to Griffin’s truck, where their surfboards were stashed in the flatbed. It was strange, knowing that normal life was still going on while Ally felt as though she was at the center of a storm. Surfers still surfed, teachers still taught, even the coffee shop was still open. For most of Angel Sands it was just another Friday.

  Not for Nate and Riley, though. Or for Ally.

  “What time is Nate’s plane due into Boston?” Brooke asked, checking her watch.

  “Any minute now. He got on the first flight out once the police confirmed Riley was on the earlier plane.”

  “And his sister was going to meet her?”

  “Along with some police officers. They were going to escort his sister to the arrival gate so she doesn’t have to wait in the hall.” She gave a wan smile. “I guess she’s there already.”

  “At least you know she’s safe.” Ember reached out for her hand. “What a mess this all is. You must be exhausted after everything that’s happened. Maybe you should go lie down.”

  Ally shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to.” Not with all these thoughts racing through her head. Every time she thought about Riley seeing them out on the deck it made her feel sick. Not because of her embarrassment, but because she hated to think what Riley must have thought of her.

  She came home because she was upset and wanted Ally’s support. Then she found her in bed with her father. She must have felt so alone, so betrayed. Exactly the same way Ally would have if she’d been in her place.

  Her phone buzzed and Ally grabbed it.

  Made it to Boston. Riley’s safe with Kirsten. I’m heading there now.

  That was it. Nothing else. Ally stared at his words, trying to take them in.

  “Is that from Nate?” Brooke asked. “Is everything okay?”

  “Um, yeah I think so. He’s made it to Boston and Riley’s with his sister.”

  Ember squeezed her hand. “That’s great news, isn’t it?”

  Ally nodded. She had to press her lips together to stop herself from letting out a sob. Of course it was great news. It was such a damn relief. But there was still that self-loathing deep inside that seemed to be slowly eating its way out.

  “She’s safe and that’s the main thing,” Brooke said, smiling at her. “Though I bet Nate will be reaming her out when he sees her. Man, it’s tough being a parent sometimes. One day we’ll all be talking like this about Nick and wondering where I went wrong.”

  “It’s tough being a kid, too,” Ally said. “Poor Riley. First her mom dies, then she moves here and has to make a whole bunch of new friends. And now…” She couldn’t say it again. She could think it, though. Riley had been let down by the two people she thought she could trust.

  “And now she’s safe.” Brooke finished the sentence for her in an entirely new way. “They’ll be back later and this will all be forgotten in a week.”

  “I’ll be back in my apartment by then.” Ally smiled wanly. “That’ll be a good thing for everybody.”

  “But you’ll still be seeing Nate, won’t you?” Ember asked. “This doesn’t change things between the two of you, does it? It’s embarrassing, yes, but it’s not the end of the world.”

  “I don’t know.” Ally shook her head. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.”

  Maybe tomorrow she wouldn’t see that expression on Riley’s face every time she closed her eyes. The confusion that morphed into hurt and disgust before she turned on her heel and ran away.

  Yeah, maybe tomorrow would be a better day. Because God knew that today was pretty much rock bottom.

  25

  Nate pressed the buzzer to his sister’s apartment, and glanced at the policeman standing next to him. He’d picked Nate up from the airport, driving him along the freeway to Kirsten’s apartment in Bay Village. The weather in Boston was a contrast to the warmth of Angel Sands, and he found himself shivering. And worrying about Riley once again. He could guarantee she hadn’t worn appropriate clothing.

  “Hello?” Kirsten’s voice echoed through the speaker.

  “It’s Nate.”

  “Come on up.”

  “Would you like to come, too?” Nate asked the policeman.

  “No, sir. I’ll let you go see your daughter. I’ll call in to your local PD to let them know she’s safe.”

  Nate reached for the man’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Any time.”

  It only took a couple of minutes for him to catch the elevator up to the eighth floor, where Kirsten’s two bedroom apartment could be found. He knocked softly on the door and she opened it immediately, her lips curling up into a smile when she saw her brother standing on the other side.

  “She’s in the spare bedroom sleeping it off,” she said quietly, standing back to let Nate into her apartment. “I don’t think she slept at all for the past day or so, and it’s caught up with her.”

  “That makes two of us.” Every muscle in his body ached from a combination of the flight and the worry. But it was his head that hurt the most. The pounding headache that had begun with Riley’s surprise arrival back in Angel Sands hadn’t dissipated at all.

  “You want to see her?” Kirsten asked.

  “You read my mind.” The urge to check on her, make sure she was okay, was overwhelming. He’d spent the last five hours feeling completely helpless, buckled up in an airplane while his daughter was here in Boston.

  “You go and I’ll go make us some coffee.” Kirsten walked into her small kitchen, leaving Nate in the hallway. He pushed the door of the guest bedroom open, just enough to look inside. Sure enough, there was Riley curled up on the bed, her face resting on her hands, her eyes closed as she rhythmically breathed in and out.

  His arms twitched with the need to touch her. To hold her. To make sure she really was okay. But Kirsten was right, she needed this sleep. His own needs would come second.

  “There you go.” Kirsten slid
the mug into his hands as he joined her in the kitchen. “It’s not Déjà Brew standards, but at least it has caffeine in it.”

  “Just what I need.” He took a sip and closed his eyes as the bitter liquid coated his tongue. “This is damn fine coffee.”

  “I bet you haven’t had anything to eat or drink all day.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, and I made you a sandwich.”

  ‘Have I told you lately that I love you?”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Nope.”

  “Well I do.” As soon as he glanced at the sandwich his stomach gurgled. Kirsten was right; he hadn’t been able to manage anything on the plane. “Thank you for all you’ve done,” he said, putting his mug down to give his sister a hug. “I know Riley will be thankful, too.”

  “She’s not in a good way right now.” Kirsten nodded at the door to her living room. “Maybe we should talk in there.” She picked up his sandwich and her own coffee, and he followed her in, sitting down on a cozy chair.

  “Take a bite,” she said, pointing at the sandwich. “That way I can talk without you interrupting me all the time.”

  “I don’t interrupt.”

  She gave him a pointed look. “You just did.”

  If she’d been fifteen years younger she’d have stuck her tongue out at him the way she used to. Strange to think how grown up she was now. The age difference between them didn’t seem so important any more. At one point he’d felt more like her father than her brother, thanks to their parents’ messy divorce when Kirsten was seventeen, but now she was a friend more than anything. Somebody he could rely on when life got tough.

  “Okay, I won’t interrupt again, I promise.” If she wanted to talk, he’d let her talk.

  As soon as he took a bite Kirsten leaned forward. “There’s this guy she’s fallen for at school. His name’s Leo. And apparently she spent the whole trip to LA thinking he was going to ask her out on a date.”