Hitched

by Carol Higgins Clark

  “What? Already?”

  “Yes! Already!”

  Marco sped out of the gas station. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He started to curse.

  “What?” Francis asked, bewildered.

  “I left a lot of my stuff at her house.”

  “I’ll send it to you.”

  “If the cops start snooping around—”

  “Marco, you don’t have any drugs in your bag there do you? Because if you do, that could really be trouble. I told you I don’t want to get involved with that—”

  “No!” Marco snapped impatiently. “But when you were sleeping before, I was doing a lot of thinking. It occurred to me that I might have left those designers’ keys back at Joyce’s house.”

  “You didn’t get rid of them?”

  “No, I didn’t get rid of them! I was going to. But I didn’t know we were going to take a road trip! And I also didn’t plan on Joyce being missing!”

  “It looks like you made the one stupid mistake that Regan Reilly was talking about on television.”

  “This is your fault!” Marco yelled. “If we get in trouble it’s because of Joyce.”

  Francis stared straight ahead as they crossed the state of Nebraska.

  57

  When Victoria was safely back in her apartment, she called Jeffrey.

  “Are you all right?” he asked solicitiously.

  “Yes, sweetie. But I want to get out of here.”

  “I know. I’ll come pick you up.”

  “I need some time to get ready.”

  “I can’t wait to see you again—I’m leaving now. As soon as you’re packed, we’ll drive out to the country.”

  Victoria smiled. “Just be careful. I have the feeling that everyone is watching.”

  Twenty minutes later Jeffrey was hurrying up the first flight of steps inside Victoria’s building. He was reminded of a quote by Guy de Maupassant, who wrote: “The best part of love is walking up the stairs.” How true, he thought. With Victoria it is so true.

  He rang the bell and waited while Victoria unlocked all the locks. Finally she opened the door. The apartment was a mess. Victoria grabbed his hand, pulled him inside, and melted into his arms. When they finally let go of each other, Jeffrey looked around.

  He smiled and made a joke. “You didn’t have to clean up because I was coming over.”

  “You should see the bedroom,” she answered gaily. “But you really shouldn’t! Whenever I pack I have a hard time deciding what to bring. I end up throwing things all over!”

  When she disappeared into her boudoir, Jeffrey sat on the couch. He felt restless. He didn’t want to turn on the television in case there were more stories about the wedding dresses. And he didn’t like to sit in such an untidy room. He looked around and noticed that dirty dishes were piled in the sink. A thought occurred to him. He stood and walked to the doorway toward the tiny bedroom. “Victoria, have you talked to your parents about…?” he said as he pushed open the door.

  Victoria turned to him and gasped. “I told you I’d be right out, honey.”

  Jeffrey looked down at the floor, then back up at Victoria. Nervously, he asked, “What are you doing with that?”

  Victoria giggled. “Jeffrey, I told you I love costume parties!”

  As she leaned over to give him a kiss, Jeffrey felt a pit growing in his stomach. A very large pit.

  58

  Outside Club Zee, a crowd of about fifty people had gathered. Many of them had seen the story about Joyce on Patrick and Jeannie’s show.

  “When I saw the picture of Joyce hugging that little dog, I knew I wanted to help,” one woman said as she snuggled with her little Yorkshire terrier. “Dog lovers are kindred spirits.”

  Also in the crowd was the group Joyce had been with the night before and many of her customers from the pet store. Television cameras from several of the local stations as well as the cable news stations were there to cover the continuing story. As Regan was about to address the group, the door of the club opened. A husky man with a shaved head, tattooed arms, and rings dangling from his nose, ears, and lips emerged. He had on jeans and a tight black shirt.

  “Hello, everyone. My name is Wally. I own Club Zee. Please come inside and use my place as your base of operations. I feel terrible that Joyce disappeared from here. I can’t understand why she wasn’t having a good time. Come on in.” He turned and started to go back inside.

  “What about our dogs?” one of the crowd called out.

  “They’re welcome, too,” Wally replied with a wave of his hand.

  Once inside, Regan and Jack thanked him.

  “No problem,” he answered gruffly. “The place is yours. But I’ll have to open the doors at ten tonight for my customers.” He went behind the bar and turned on the big-screen television.

  Regan and Jack looked at each other. They both had the same thought. If they were still here at ten tonight, things would be very bleak.

  Jack’s cell phone rang. “It’s the office,” he said. While Jack went off to take the call, Regan got up on a chair to address the crowd.

  “Thank you all for coming,” she began. “In missing persons cases, the first twenty-four hours are crucial. I have maps of downtown that we’ve divided into six sections. So we’ll form six different groups that will fan out from here. Each group should cover the streets marked off on the map I give them. Put the flyers up everywhere. Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Ask them if they saw Joyce or anything out of the ordinary. Call my cell phone or the police if you have anything urgent to report.”

  “You can call here, too,” Wally grunted.

  “You heard that,” Regan told the volunteers. “You can call here. Please be careful. Don’t put yourself in danger. Call 911 if you have to. Okay, folks. We’ll meet back here at three o’clock. That’s in two hours. Good luck. Let’s form the first group.”

  As the groups drifted out the door, Jack returned to Regan’s side. “They checked Joyce’s phone records and listened to her messages. Her cell phone showed no calls made or received at around the time she disappeared. Her boyfriend called earlier last nght and told her to call him on his friend’s phone because his battery had died.”

  “But he hasn’t called Cindy back since she talked to him this morning.”

  “He might have called the house. We don’t know. They’ve been trying his friend’s number, but no one is picking up.”

  Tracy Timber hurried over to them. “My friends and I just got here, Regan. We’re ready to go.”

  Regan smiled. “Thanks, Tracy.”

  Cindy was nearby, handing out the flyers and assigning newcomers to the last group. Tracy took a stack and turned to her buddies. With determination on their faces, the sorority sisters headed out the door.

  Jack put his hand on Regan’s shoulder. “Regan, I have to run over to the office. The police chief from Philadelphia is in town unexpectedly. We have a couple things to go over.”

  “Go ahead, Jack. Kit and I will be walking around together. I have my cell phone.”

  Jack leaned down and kissed Regan good-bye. “Be careful. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  After he left, Regan and Kit started out the door. A young man was hurrying down the street toward them. He was walking an Irish setter. “Excuse me, I just saw you on television. My name is Tom Belfiore. I’m the guy who found Joyce’s purse this morning. I’d like to help.”

  “You already have,” Regan told him. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be doing this now.” She smiled at him. “I’d like to take a look at the location where you found the purse. Why don’t we start there?”

  Tom nodded. “It’s this way,” he said. The three of them fell into step as they headed down the sidewalk.

  It was in the opposite direction from Hattie’s apartment.

  59

  Hattie came bursting back into the small apartment. The dog in the bedroom, who had quieted down, resumed his barking and thumping against the wall. Wit
hin seconds all the dogs started barking again. Joyce was terrified.

  “Hello,” Hattie said. “Quiet, fellas! Joyce, I got you a lovely donut and some fresh juice.” She set the bag down on the coffee table.

  “Thank you. I think I’d like to go home.”

  “Not yet!” Hattie cried. “You have to stay for Sunday dinner. I’m making stew. It’s delicious.” She turned to the barking dogs. “I said quiet or we don’t go to Central Park!”

  “I’d love to go to Central Park,” Joyce said hopefully.

  “You can’t walk around with that foot of yours,” Hattie said dismissively as she pulled the donuts out of the bag and opened up the carton of OJ. “I bought you an Ace bandage but I’ll help you with it later. Now eat! I’ll be back soon. First I have to walk my doggie that’s in the bedroom. He’s what you call antisocial. But he’ll guard you while I’m gone with the others.”

  “What?” Joyce asked. She watched in dismay as Hattie scooped up the four little dogs, put them in the bathroom, shut the door, then opened the door to the bedroom.

  “Hello, lovey!” Hattie cried. “Time for your walk.” She led a ferocious-looking mutt from the bedroom.

  Oh dear God, Joyce thought. At least it’s on a leash.

  Hattie and “lovey” went out the door and were back in two minutes.

  As Hattie led him past the couch, the dog stared hatefully at Joyce.

  “There you go, Mugsy,” Hattie said as she shut him in the bedroom. “You’re so lucky. You have a bedroom all to yourself.” Hattie then rescued the other dogs from the bathroom, put them on their leashes, and took them outside.

  Joyce sat up. Thank God! If I move fast, I can crawl out of here. Or maybe if I start screaming someone will hear me.

  But a moment later Hattie was back. “Okay, the fellas are waiting for me outside. I’m sorry I’m so busy with the dogs, but when I get back we’ll have a nice dinner and talk. I want to hear all about you.”

  “Why don’t we go to my place?” Joyce suggested. “I can make you dinner.”

  “I told you I made beef stew! It’s Edie’s recipe. She wants us to have it!” With an annoyed sigh, Hattie scurried back to the bedroom and brought Mugsy back out. “Mugsy here guards my apartment when I’m gone. He’ll take good care of you. We both miss Edie very much.”

  “You’re going to leave him out?” Joyce asked, fear gripping her throat.

  “I’ll tie him up by the front door.”

  “Please let me leave,” Joyce pleaded, her drowsy state a distant memory. Every nerve in her body was on full alert.

  “You’re irritating me!” Hattie cried, coming toward her. She leaned over Joyce. “All I want to do is take care of you, and you won’t let me. I don’t like that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Joyce said. “I’m nervous around certain dogs. Why don’t you take him with you?”

  “He’s not so well-behaved when he goes out. But you couldn’t ask for a better watchdog.”

  “Please put him in the bedroom,” Joyce begged.

  “What good is he going to do in the bedroom if someone breaks in here? Can you tell me that? Don’t worry. He’s tied up. He won’t hurt you. He’ll protect you!” Hattie tied the dog’s leash to the leg of a heavy chair by the door. A leash that looked like it could almost reach the couch. “Get some rest, you two.”

  “Hattie, please!” Joyce begged.

  But she was out the door.

  The room was silent.

  Joyce glanced over at Mugsy, afraid to make eye contact. He didn’t look too thrilled with the plans either. She lay back down, afraid to move a muscle. Maybe if I stay still he’ll forget that I’m here.

  She was too afraid to scream for help.

  60

  Jack hated leaving Regan. He had an uncomfortable feeling and wanted to get back to her as quickly as possible. After his meeting with the police chief from Philadelphia, he stopped by his office briefly to check in.

  One of his detectives was poring over the surveillance tape from the previous day’s bank robbery. “Take a look at this, boss,” he said to Jack as he rewound the tape and played it again.

  The bank robber came into the bank, closed his umbrella, and headed for a teller. His face was pretty well covered by his rain gear, beard, mustache, and glasses. He handed the teller the note and then glanced around. He reached back and massaged his neck quickly, then rested his gloved right hand on his right cheek, with his index finger pointing up. Then he let his hand drop. It all took just a few seconds.

  “I’ve been studying all the tapes,” the detective said. “This little mannerism is on all of them.”

  “No surprise The Drip’s got tension in his neck,” Jack said. “Anything new on Dan’s Discount Den or the stolen credit card?”

  “We’re going over the card owner’s charges for the last couple of months, checking out where he’s been. Unfortunately he’s a big spender. He’s been everywhere with that card. Any number of sales clerks have had their hands on it.”

  “Okay, I’m heading back to Club Zee.”

  “Nothing new on the missing girl?”

  “Regan hasn’t contacted me, so I guess not.”

  “Those situations usually don’t end up so well.”

  “I know,” Jack said somberly as he strode out the door.

  61

  Joyce felt as if she had been lying there in the dark apartment for an eternity. Perspiration had broken out all over her body. I shouldn’t be so terrifed, she thought. But even though Mugsy was tied up and had stretched out on the floor, his very presence was threatening. Joyce couldn’t believe that she was actually hoping that crazy Hattie would return home soon.

  I’ve never felt afraid around animals, Joyce thought. Taking care of them is what makes me happy. But this dog is different. He scares me to death. He looks as if he could tear me apart in about ten seconds.

  Suddenly Joyce felt a sneeze coming on. She tried to stifle it but that only made the eruption stronger and louder. Her whole body shuddered as she sneezed three times.

  Mugsy stood up and glared at her.

  Oh, no, she thought.

  He started walking toward the coffee table.

  His leash is too long, she thought desperately. He is going to reach me. But he was staring at the donuts, not at Joyce. He was just a few feet away from the couch when his leash wouldn’t allow him to go any farther.

  He started snarling.

  Maybe he’s hungry, she thought. Hattie said he hadn’t been eating. She leaned over, picked up a donut, and tossed it in his direction. “Here, Mugsy,” she said in her friendliest tone.

  But it hit him in the face.

  The dog went berserk.

  He charged toward her, his whole body in a frenzy. Growling and barking, he bared his killer teeth. They were perilously close to the end of the couch.

  Joyce swung her legs around so she could get off the couch and attempt to make her way over to the safety of the bathroom. I’ve got to get away from him! she thought frantically. But her every movement enraged him even more.

  A wave of nausea swept over Joyce, and the room started to spin.

  She pushed herself up on one foot and started hopping, her eye on the bathroom door several feet away.

  Behind her, Mugsy was barking furiously, straining his leash as he tried to charge in her direction.

  Joyce felt as though she was going to be sick. She was passing the kitchen counter when she heard the most terrifying sound of her life. The leash snapped. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mugsy bolting toward her. With a strength she never knew she possessed, she threw herself in the direction of the sink, pushed herself up onto the counter, stood on her left foot, and grabbed the handle of the kitchen cabinet. Her whole body was trembling.

  Mugsy charged over and tried to throw his front paws onto the counter. But they weren’t long enough to reach, and he slipped down. He jumped up again, then started running around in circles. He threw himself again and again
up against the counter, trying to reach Joyce, his mouth of killer teeth just inches from her left foot.

  If I slip, Joyce thought desperately as she pressed herself as far as she could against the cabinet, I’m going to die.

  And I don’t know how long I can stand here on one foot.

  As tears slid down her cheeks, she started to pray.

  62

  The search parties had all returned to Club Zee by three o’clock. Everyone reported the same thing. There were no leads. Several people had called the club to say they had seen Joyce walk out the door the night before but didn’t know which way she’d gone.

  Cindy was sitting in the corner, crying. Her friends were trying to console her.

  “But it’s my fault,” she kept repeating.

  Jack had rejoined Regan and was standing at her side.

  “What do we do now, Regan?” Tracy called out.

  “More of the same, Tracy. There might be someone out there who is just waking up and coming out of their apartment for the first time today. We’ve got to go back out and talk to more people. We have to stress to everyone that they should report anything unusual, no matter how insignificant it seems.”

  The image of smiling Joyce holding the black-and-white puppy flashed on the television screen behind Regan.

  Outside the club, Jay Stone was walking past. The pharmacy closed early on Sundays. He stopped at the door of the club, paused, then resumed walking. It’s silly, he thought. It’s not enough to go on…

  Joyce’s life was passing before her eyes. Her left leg was about to give way. She couldn’t kneel down and she couldn’t put any weight on her right foot.

  And the dog wasn’t giving up. He was barking incessantly, and seemed more determined than ever to get himself up on the counter. Joyce glanced down at the pot of stew on the stove. If I could just push that over and hit him with it…

  Jay walked a couple more blocks, then turned around. I’ll just do it, he thought. It might be crazy, but that girl, Tracy, who came into his pharmacy kept stressing to him the importance of reporting anything unusual.