by Philip Cox
‘I still don’t get,’ Ryan said, ‘why you think Gail is mixed up in all of this. Sure, she and Ruth are best friends. Have been since – well long before she and I got together. From what you’ve said, Ruth’s up to something. She’s still alive, thank God, and may be in New York City. But you still don’t know where in the city, and why. Now the same goes for Nathan, I’m sorry to say. Have you gotten the police involved?’
‘Yes, for both of them. As soon as we found out about this woman in the silver convertible -’
‘That’s Gail’s car, for sure,’ said Ryan.
‘I know,’ Matt continued. ‘As soon as I found out, I rushed straight back up here. My folks had already called the local sheriff who had begun a search of the locality. Then passed things to the state police. As far as Ruth goes, I called the BPD the day she vanished. The cop who I saw passed everything to their Missing Persons Unit. They’re meant to be in touch with me if anything arises. But nothing has. Then she appeared on this CCTV in Brooklyn, withdrew cash at an ATM on East 53rd, then disappeared again.
‘What I don’t understand, Ryan, is if she thought things were over between us, then why not say something? Why just abandon our home, her child? What mother could do that?’
‘Yeah, but Matt: don’t you think it’s a coincidence that Nathan’s gone as well?’
‘Oh, I know they’re connected. Obviously wherever she went, she wants Nathan with her. But why not say something? If she was in some kind of trouble….’ He broke off as his voice began to tremble.
Ryan rubbed his by now very stubbly chin. He checked his watch: now 12:15. He had this feeling there might be something in what Matt said. The bit about her taking the spare car keys when she went to the bathroom might be a bit tenuous; and Matt’s theory about why she never asked about Ruth until the end of a conversation was pushing it – although Gail could be a bit narcissistic. He reached out and rested his hand on Matt’s knee.
‘Look, Matt. It’s really late, and you’re bushed. You can’t do anything more now. You certainly can’t drive anymore. Stop here on the couch tonight, and decide what to do in the morning. I’ll give Gail a call first thing. Matt?’
Matt was already asleep.
Chapter Forty-Two
Matt woke with a start, nearly falling off the couch. Disorientated, and blinking, he looked around. Through the venetian blinds on the nearest window, he could see it was getting light. He rubbed his eyes and forehead, looking round again. This was not his house, but it looked familiar. Yes, it was Gail and Ryan’s. Then he remembered why he was here, and his conversation with Ryan the night before.
A narrow shaft of light appeared against the darkened wall. Matt looked around at the source: a door was half- opened, and in the light from the room was the silhouette of a man’s figure, wearing a tee shirt and boxer shorts. The figure reached down and felt about, then stepped into the room.
‘Hey, Matt,’ said Ryan. ‘I heard you moving about.’
Matt rubbed his face. ‘It took me a minute to figure out where I was.’
Ryan switched on a light and walked into the kitchen. ‘What time it is?’ he said, squinting at the clock on the microwave. ‘Jesus, seven o’clock.’ He walked round the room, opening the blinds. Weak daylight filled the room. ‘Man, you look like shit,’ Ryan said.
Matt rubbed his very stubbly chin. ‘I feel like shit. Did I spend the night on there?’
‘Don’t you remember?’ Ryan asked, as he prepared some coffee.
Matt rubbed the unkempt hair on the back of his head. ‘Yeah. I do remember. I think.’
‘Do you remember what you told me?’
‘What I told you?’
‘All that about Ruth and Nathan and how they disappeared, and how you think Gail has something to do with it.’
Matt nodded his head, rubbing his eyes. He took a mug of coffee from Ryan.
‘Look,’ said Ryan. ‘It’s a bit early right now, but after we’ve both showered – and boy, you need to shower – I’ll give her a call and we’ll get it sorted out. Okay?’
Matt opened his mouth to disagree, but Ryan cut in with another, ‘Okay?’
‘Okay.’ Matt sat back down again and took a large mouthful of coffee.
Just before eight, they had both showered. Matt still had a days’ growth on his face and yesterday’s clothes on. Ryan looked immaculate as usual, closely shaved and smartly dressed in a black tee and grey sweatpants. He made more coffee.
‘I’d got these special for this morning,’ he said as he took a packet of croissants out of the refrigerator. ‘Here: help yourself to a couple. Jelly’s over there.’
As Matt sat at the breakfast bar eating, Ryan took out his cell phone and speed-dialled a number.
‘Morning, sweetie. How are you?’
‘……….’
‘Great. How’s the weekend going?’
‘……….’
‘And when are you back?’
‘……….’
‘Swell. Look, baby: Matt’s here.’
‘……….’
‘He stopped over last night. Slept on the couch.’
‘……….’
‘Well, something’s happened to Nathan.’
‘……….’
‘He disappeared from Matt’s folks’ place yesterday. Matt reckons you know something about it.’
‘……….’
‘Sure, I know that, but why don’t you have a word with him. Put his mind -’
‘……….’
‘Okay, okay, baby. Tell you what: why don’t you give him a call yourself when -’
‘……….’
‘Okay. Talk to you tonight. Love you.’
He waited a moment, then ended the call. Put the phone down on the counter. ‘Sorry, Matt,’ he said. ‘She had to go. They were all about to go out for breakfast.’
‘Where’s she gone?’ Matt asked.
‘She’s gone up to Cape Elizabeth. A girls’ weekend. Retail therapy, that sort of thing. Gail and three or four others.’
‘Do you know any of the others she went with?’
‘Sure. Why?’
‘Do you know any of their cell numbers?’
Ryan gave him a puzzled look. ‘I – I guess so,’ he replied slowly.
‘Do me a favour – call one of them. Any one.’
Still with a puzzled expression, Ryan picked up his phone and trawled though his contacts list. Picked one, and dialled.
‘Hello, Cindy. It’s Ryan. Ryan Wilson.’
‘……….’
‘I’m good, thanks. Sorry to call you, but Gail must have her cell switched off. I just need to talk with her for a second.’
‘……….’
‘But I thought she was with you up at Cape Elizabeth…’
‘……….’
‘I’m sorry, Cindy. My mistake. Guess I misunderstood her.’
‘……….’
‘You too. Take care now.’
He hung up and looked over at Matt. ‘She’s not with Cindy. Not up at the Cape. Cindy is. But not Gail. Matt, what’s going on?’
‘You believe me now?’
‘But where the hell could she be?’
‘Get online. Look up your bank account. See if she’s used an ATM. That’s how I found Ruth had been to New York.’
Ryan swallowed. ‘Okay.’ He walked over to the desk where his PC was situated, and booted it up. Momentarily he got to his bank’s site, and checked his account. ‘My God,’ he muttered, sitting down at the screen.
‘What is it?’ Matt asked.
‘Two hundred bucks taken out. Yesterday.’
‘Can you tell where?’
Ryan clicked on a blue link. ‘It was at Banco Santander S.A., 45 -’
‘East 53rd Street.’ Matt finished his sentence.
Ryan looked up at him.
‘That was the same ATM location Ruth used,’ Matt said grimly. Believe me now?’
Ryan rested his elbows on the
desk and rubbed his temples. ‘What do you want to do?’ he asked.
‘I’m going to New York. That’s where my family are.’
Ryan nodded, leaning back in his chair. ‘Matt, I’m sorry…’
Matt rested his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. ‘Forget it. Thanks for the couch last night. And for breakfast.’ He visited the bathroom and went to the front door, turning round as he held the handle. ‘If Gail calls back, don’t tell her -’
‘I won’t. Matt -’
Matt turned round again.
‘Good luck.’
Matt nodded and closed Ryan’s door behind him. He walked briskly downstairs and out to where he had left the Toyota the night before. Started the car up, and pulled into the street. He hit a red light at the first corner. Once it went green, he made a left and headed for the I-93. Three other vehicles made a left after him: a rusty green pick up truck, a yellow school bus, and a silver Audi.
Traffic on the interstate was relatively light that time on a Saturday morning and Matt was making good progress. As he headed west along the I-90, he felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. He was unable to reach the phone without losing some speed, so continued.
Just before he passed the town of Auburn, he pulled in to a gas station to fill up. He bought a sandwich and a coffee when he paid for the fuel. Walking back to the car, he reached down into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He had almost forgotten about the message that came through earlier. As he climbed into the car, he casually looked down at the screen, almost dropping his food when he saw where the message had come from.
It was Ruth’s number.
Matt im so sorry please stay away. For nathans sake.
Chapter Forty-Three
Matt felt dizzy, faint. His eyes began to water. The characters on the screen of his phone – his wife’s number and message – began to come off the screen and mingle in front of his eyes, like a DNA strand. He sat up in his seat, and looked around the gas station forecourt. As if Ruth was at another pump sending the message. He read it again. Why was she sorry? What did that mean? And the clincher: stay away for Nathan’s sake. Did that mean he was in some kind of danger?
He looked around the forecourt again. A white RV had pulled into one of the adjacent pumps. A middle-aged man stepped out, selected self-serve and began to fill. He nonchalantly glanced over at Matt, then around the rest of the station. Matt returned his stare, and then looked back at the message.
He stabbed at the green call button. After a moment, it began to ring. His heart began to beat faster as he waited for it to be answered, but after four rings, it went to voicemail. As it had done every time he rang that number since that night.
‘Focus, focus,’ he muttered, and put the phone down on the passenger seat. It was time to continue his journey. He could figure out what Ruth meant in her message on his way to New York. If it was Ruth who sent it.
He fired up the engine and returned to the westbound I-90. As he continued on his journey to New York, he thought through exactly what he would do when he got there. It had to be more than mere coincidence that both Ruth and Gail had made cash withdrawals from the same ATM, although he was puzzled at what seemed to be an indiscretion. Surely they were aware that he and Ryan would be able to establish where the withdrawal took place? That must have been on Ruth’s mind when she took the $500 before she left. So many questions: Matt was clear on only one thing, and that was that he had no idea what Ruth and Gail were up to. But now they had involved Nathan, the gloves were off.
As he saw the sign stating that New York City was 50 miles away, he considered what to do first when he arrived. He was not going to wrap everything up and be back in Boston in time for dinner, so he would need somewhere to stay. He thought about returning to the same hotel he had used in Brooklyn, but decided a base Midtown would be better. He still had the Holiday Inn number stored in his cell phone memory, so with the phone still resting on the passenger seat, he dialled. When he was answered, he put the phone on speaker. He was in luck: there was a Holiday Inn on West 57th. The 400 block. No parking facilities, but there was a 24 hour parking garage across the street, preferential terms for hotel guests. Perfect. Just a short walk from the ATM location. Not that they would be standing waiting there for him, but it was a start. He would figure out the next stage when he arrived. He asked the lady to make the booking for him – two nights – and hung up.
Saturday traffic was even heavier than the other day’s; somehow he took a wrong turning and found himself heading on the 295 into Queens. Fortunately the slow traffic allowed him to take note of the direction signs better and make sure he was in the correct lane. A mile or two into the borough he was able to turn right onto the Long Island Expressway and made his way into Manhattan that way, passing through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. After exiting the tunnel just past Second Avenue he headed west along 37th as far as 10th Avenue, whereupon he took a right into 10th for the next twenty blocks. As he reached 57th, he saw the parking garage entrance, and pulled in. He parked the car in a second floor section dedicated to hotel guests, then took the walkway across to reception. He checked in and went up to his third floor room. He took a shower, and checked the time. It was almost four, and beginning to get dark.
He sat on the bed and rang his parents. Unusually, his mother answered. Matt suspected that his father was avoiding the telephone, avoiding any potential bad news. His mother’s voice was quiet and shaky.
‘Matt, where are you calling from?’
‘I’m back in New York. I arrived about an hour ago. Is there any news? Anything from the sheriff?’
‘He called by about three to say no sightings yet, but he and the State guys were still looking. Matt, it is true what your father said about Ruth’s friend Gail?’
‘I don’t know, Mom; I honestly don’t know. All I know is that car your neighbour described is the same make and model, same colour as Gail’s.’
There was a pause of a second or two, then his mother said, ‘Why are you in New York then? Are you in the same place you stayed at before?’
‘No, I’m in Manhattan. It’s the Holiday Inn Midtown. It’s on 57th. It would take too long to explain now, but I’ve got a lead that points to here.’
‘So Nathan is there? With Ruth?’
‘Possibly. The thing is, both Ruth and Gail had cash withdrawals from a bank ATM on East 53rd. On different days. So that’s why I’ve come up here.’
‘What about Gail’s boyfriend? Brian, is it? Is he involved too? Oh my God.’
‘Ryan, you mean? No, no; he’s not. I went straight there from yours yesterday. Slept on his couch. She told him she was up in Cape Elizabeth for the weekend. He phoned one of her girlfriends to check; of course she wasn’t. Then he checked their bank account and found the withdrawal here.’
‘I see. Matt, have you called the police about this?’
‘No, I haven’t. Yet.’
‘Matt, you must. You can’t handle this yourself.’
Matt said nothing.
‘Matt,’ she repeated. ‘Are you listening? You must call the police.’
‘I know, Mom. I’ll call that Lieutenant Weber from Boston PD. He’ll know what to do. He can liaise with the police here.’
‘All right.’
‘How’s Dad?’
‘He’s saying nothing. He’s sick with worry, about you and Nathan. And Ruth, of course. That’s why he’s saying nothing. He won’t even come to the phone. He’s just sitting on the chair out back.’ Her voice started to quake.
‘Look, Mom, I’m going to get something to eat. I’ve only had a pastry at Gail and Ryan’s and a sandwich on the way down here. Then I’ll call Weber.’
‘Weber?’
‘The Boston Lieutenant. He gave me his cell number.’
‘All right. Well, call us in the morning.’
‘I will. Promise. You too if you hear anything.’
‘Bye, Matt. Look after yourself.’
‘I will. Night, Mom.’
After hanging up, he sat on the bed staring at the phone. One bar was showing on the battery indicator. Thank God he brought the charger. He plugged in the charger and picked up the room service menu. Then called and ordered a chicken burger and French fries, cheesecake and a cold beer. Really healthy stuff, he thought.
He was told the meal would be about twenty minutes, so he sat on the bed and turned on the television while he waited. He thought about Gail’s boyfriend Ryan. Maybe it was his job: he was certainly earning more in one month than Matt was in six, probably. Matt couldn’t help being a little envious. If he hadn’t had the use of family money, he and Ruth would never have been able to afford the house in Beacon Hill. But today, that changed: Matt actually felt sorry for Ryan. He could see how devastated Ryan was when the realisation hit him that Gail had lied to him, and was doing something behind his back.
Then Matt realised something. Ryan said Gail had told him she was on a girls’ weekend in Cape Elizabeth. A weekend! So she was planning on returning home Sunday, or maybe Monday. So – did that mean that whatever was going on with Ruth and Nathan would be over this weekend? Matt had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. This weekend….
His train of thought was broken by a knock on his door. The burger, fries and cheesecake. He checked the time: that was quick. Fortunately, as he had gotten hungry.
There was another double tap on the door. Matt took out a $5 bill from his pocket and walked over. Not bothering to check the spy hole, he swung the door open.
It was not room service, but the last face he expected to see here.
‘You!’ Matt exclaimed.
Chapter Forty-Four
Matt stood in the open doorway, his mouth open in surprise.
‘Well, are you going to let me in?’ asked Lieutenant Weber.
‘Sure… Sure, come in.’ Matt stepped aside to let the Lieutenant in.
‘This is a surprise,’ Matt said as he began to close the door. ‘How -’