“Is he local?”
“Yes. He’s a carpenter with Waite Construction,” said Ruby.
“Yeah, he’s been working at the marina restaurant.”
“Okay, and has anyone talked to him?” Annika asked.
Ruby and I looked at each other. “I haven’t,” she said.
“Me either,” I replied. “I assumed the police would.”
“Even if they have, I’ll still want to talk with him. You said he’s working at the marina you own. Do you know if he’s there today?”
“I can check,” I said, pulling out my phone.
“I have to get to work,” Ruby said as she put on her jacket. “Sorry, Annika. You can call or text me if you need anything.”
“Do you think we have a chance she’s still alive?” I asked as soon as we were alone.
“It’s hard to say,” Annika replied. “She could just be on the longest bender known to man, or she could be in danger. I’m going to treat this like she’s a potential victim, regardless.”
“That’s how we’ve been reacting to the situation. But, some of what Ruby’s said of her mom and their past also leads me to believe she’s selfish enough to just leave without a word.”
“People are weird, messy animals,” Annika said and took a sip of her tea. “Every time I sign on to another case, I’m reminded just how awful humans can be.”
“You have no idea what this means to us.”
“I do, actually. My sister was a victim of kidnapping.”
“Shit, I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
“I don’t advertise it. My family’s never given up the search. I understand how Ruby and the girls are feeling right now. It’s why I do what I do.”
“Ruby’s been reading up on the statistics of violence against strippers,” I said and shook my head. “It’s scaring her, and I don’t know how to redirect her.”
“The numbers are scary,” Annika agreed. “I wish I could offer you some advice or comfort, but there isn’t much. Dancers are slightly less at risk of violence than other types of sex workers. But it’s still a staggering number.”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “I understand you can’t give me any assurances. I just feel like there’s nothing I can do and I’m not used to that.”
“You’re doing a lot,” Annika said and smiled warmly. “You’re supporting the girls, putting up posters, and you’re the one that found me. We’ll flood the news and social media with Pearl’s story. Someone out there knows something.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I really hope you’re as good at your job as you seem.”
Annika grinned. “I am. Now, how about you call the marina, and if Dale’s there, we can try to get him to talk.”
U
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told the cops,” Dale Imhoff said as he sat down on a stack of drywall and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “Pearl scrapped me off two weeks before she left.”
“Actually, it hasn’t been determined that she left. We’re still investigating all possibilities,” Annika said. “Before you broke up, was Pearl hanging out with any new friends? Was she acting differently?”
Dale took a drag of his cigarette. “Nah, she was the same old Pearl. Loved a good time. Always up for a laugh.”
“Did you ever see the high roller, Ted Jordan, come into the club?” Annika asked.
“Once.” Dale took another drag and got a far-off look on his face. “I went to the club a week after we broke up. Pearl was in the VIP booth with some dude wearing sunglasses. One girl told me he’d been flashing wads of cash like some kinda drug dealer.”
Alarm rippled through me. “Does Pearl use drugs?”
“Nah,” Dale said and waved a dismissive hand. “Pearl likes booze and a good time, but I’ve never seen her touch anything like that. Wouldn’t even smoke a bowl with me and my friends when we offered.”
“Can you tell me what the guy with Pearl looked like?” Annika asked.
“The club’s pretty dark. Like I told the deputy that came to my house, I can’t say if he was old or young. Just that he was about my height, a little paunchy, and had dark hair.”
That description could match half the male population. It wasn’t much to go on, but at least it was something.
“Thanks for answering my questions,” Annika said and shook Dale’s hand. “I’ll be in touch if I think of anything else.”
“Yeah, okay,” Dale said and stubbed out his cigarette on the ground before standing up. “I hope you find her. Pearl’s a good person even if she’s just a stripper.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
Annika and I watched Dale walk back toward the work site for a few moments in silence. My mind spun with the additional information we’d gotten. Every little bit would help. Yet, it was harder and harder not to feel discouraged.
“I think the next logical step is to talk to the girls at the club. We may get a better description from them.”
I nodded. “I have to pick up the girls at school in an hour, but I can give you the info for Pearl’s friend.”
“Gray!” Hunter called as he walked down the path from the office. “Are you the journalist?”
“I am,” Annika said and held out a hand. “Annika Weber.”
“Caleb Hunter. I’m this asshole’s best friend and business partner.”
“Hunt,” I groaned.
Annika laughed. “Nice to meet you, Caleb.”
“Please, call me Hunter. I thought you all were meeting in town. Are you giving Annika the grand tour of the marina?” Hunt asked me after shaking Annika’s hand.
“We came to talk to Dale,” I said.
“Yeah? Anything new?”
“Not much,” Annika said. “Is the club open now? I’d like to talk to the dancers there as soon as possible.”
“Yeah, the day shift will be on. But they may have something new to say,” said Hunter. “I went there a couple of weeks ago and talked to a couple of the girls. I can go with you now. See if we can get anything more.”
“Oh, I don’t—”
“We have the same goal, don’t we?” Hunt said. “And this guy has to play Mr. Mom.”
“Okay, sure.” Annika nodded and pulled out her phone. “Let me just check my messages. And we can go.”
“Off limits,” I said as soon as Annika was a safe distance away.
“You really think I’d try to fuck the one person who could really make a difference?” Hunter asked. “You wound me, Gray.”
“Just making sure you understand how serious this is.”
“I’m well aware,” Hunter assured me. “Now, go get the girls. I’ll stop by later and let you know if anything comes of it.”
I nodded and shook his hand, then waved to Annika before walking to my truck. For the first time since Pearl disappeared, I really felt like progress was being made. If Annika’s track record was anything to go by, she was extremely capable of finding answers. We just needed to have more patience.
Chapter 23
Ruby
Since Mom’s disappearance, I’d imagined every horrible possibility as I simultaneously tried to assure my sisters that she was safe and happy somewhere. Every night before bed, the girls and I said a prayer for Mom to come back home soon. And every night, it got harder to believe in my heart that she ever would.
Gray had become the rock that all three of us clung to. He spent night and day supporting us, searching for answers, and providing distractions when needed. Because of his insomnia, he seemed to be always awake, always available for a hug or a kiss, ever vigilant for my sisters and me.
All those months of crushing on the sexy silver fox that frequented my store didn’t come close to the reality of being with Gray day-to-day. He was so sweet, attentive, and caring. He was the complete opposite o
f most of the relationships, romantic and platonic, that I’d had in my life. Many days, I was at a loss for how to reciprocate all that he did.
But there were times, like today when my sweet man stepped over the line.
“Did he send you to babysit me?”
“I volunteered,” Hunter replied with an amiable smile.
I sighed and opened the trailer door wider. “You might as well come inside then.”
I turned and walked back into the kitchen, where I’d set up my ancient laptop to work. Annika’s article had been published in several papers around the state, and the response of support had been overwhelming. We’d created a social media presence to have a place for people to offer support or tips. I spent my free time scouring the pages and answering posts. It was my small contribution to the larger search.
“We just want to make sure you and the girls are safe,” Hunter said as he walked to my coffee pot and poured himself a cup. “Your granddad’s been quiet since they served him with the restraining order, but there’s no telling when he may show up again.”
“Newsflash, he’s been harassing me my entire life. I’m not scared of him.”
“He came to Ida’s house and demanded to take your sisters away. It was as if he knew you weren’t around and tried to get to the girls when they were at their most vulnerable. That doesn’t worry you?”
“Listen, Hunt.” I waved an impatient hand. “I don’t have the patience to get into that right now. I’ve only got a few minutes before Gray comes back, and I want to get some work done.”
He smiled and took a sip from the to-go cup he carried. I couldn’t help but notice what a handsome man he was, more so when he wasn’t all incorrigible and overbearing.
“You’re not going to leave, are you?”
“Nope.” His grin was annoying.
“It was worth a shot,” I said and gestured to the coffee he still held. “Let me know if you want a warm up, or if you want me to heat some food.”
“I will, thank you, Ruby. You’re a good woman. I’m grateful.”
“Grateful?”
“Grayson’s had a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Even after he retired to Florida, I worried he would never settle down. Never find peace. And then one day, he’s fixing your Bronco and talking about you, and it’s like everything fell into place.”
I felt tears threatening to fall. Hadn’t I sensed the same things in Gray? But I never would have dared to assume that his turnaround had anything to do with me.
“It can’t just be me,” I said. “He had to want it for himself too.”
“Exactly,” Hunter agreed. “You were the catalyst. I just want you to know I’m grateful. I also want you to know I was so worried about him that I insinuated that you might be taking advantage of him.”
I felt my cheeks heat and my chest burn. “I would never—”
“I know that now,” Hunter said with a sad little smile. “And I’m sorry I ever had that thought. Because I should have had your back for a million different reasons. And I do. But the most important one is how you make my friend happy.”
Tears spilled over then, and I struggled to suck back a few ugly sobs. “I have little to offer him or you. But you have my gratitude as well.”
“Isn’t that what family is for?”
I let that statement hang in the air. I didn’t really have the best experiences with family, but slowly I had accumulated people like Ida, Gray, and Hunter that treated me like family. It was a strange and thrilling experience for a girl that had spent most of her life on the fringes. They all were doing so much for the girls and me. It was time that I do more.
“Do you mind coming to run some errands with me?” I asked after several long moments.
“Not at all,” he replied and stood up from the table. “Where are we going?”
“I may know of someone who has some more information on Mom.”
“We should call Gray, let him know we’ll be gone when he gets back.”
“Not yet,” I said and held out a pleading hand. “I don’t want to get everyone worked up if I’m wrong.”
Hunter looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded. “Fine, but if things look sketchy—”
“We’ll call Grayson right away.”
U
I directed Hunter to drive to Garrett, the county’s largest city and the place where the richest tourists came to stay. The gated community surrounding Bass Lake was the home for several well-known figures in the area, including lawyers, doctors, and even a state senator.
Hunter gave a low whistle as we drove through the gate after clearing the security check. “Fancy.”
I laughed. “Says the man with the SUV that fits right in.”
“This is a finely-tuned example of British style and engineering. It’s not fancy.”
“It’s also popular with the soccer moms in this area.” I grinned at him. “I could introduce you to some of them. You could all compare trim levels.”
He just rolled his eyes.
“The house up here at the end of the cul-de-sac.”
It was a giant white monstrosity that stood out as ostentatious, even in this subdivision. Several expensive cars were already parked in the drive, and it looked like every light in the house was on.
“What is this place?” Hunter wondered out loud as he parked the car at the edge of the drive.
“Wait here,” I said and moved to hop out.
“Woah!” He reached out a hand and stopped my progress. “There’s no fucking way I’m letting you go in there by yourself.”
I gave him a hard glare to let him know I meant it when I said, “Fine, but keep quiet.”
“I’ll be your silent sentry,” he promised with a grin.
I hopped out of the car and walked up the drive, working hard to hide how nervous I felt. The last time I’d come here was the day Rayleigh was born. I hadn’t gotten the help I needed then, and I wasn’t sure the reception would be any different today.
The notes of a Garth Brook’s song trilled through the house when I pushed the bell. Hunter snorted at my back but kept his thoughts to himself. If he thought that was weird, he was in for a real shock.
The giant door flew open, and my mom’s childhood friend, Beauregard Lee, filled the doorway. All six-foot-seven, three hundred and twenty pounds. Beau was adorned in expensive material and glittering jewelry. Huge diamond earrings glittered on both ears, their color nearly as blinding as his bright white smile.
“Ruby girl!” he cried and scooped me up in a bear hug. “Where ya been? I haven’t seen you in a minute.”
The smells of last nights’ party still clung to his clothes. I had to hold my breath to avoid the stench of pot, booze, and cheap perfume. Beau loved a good time, and people loved how he threw money at that good time like it meant nothing.
“Beau, I can’t breathe.” I tapped one of his massive biceps. “And I think you’re making Hunter nervous.”
“Oops, sorry, girl.” Beau laughed and dropped me to my feet. “This your man?”
I turned back to smile reassuringly at Hunter before responding to Beau. “Just a friend giving me a ride. He heard I was gonna visit a famous football player and had to see for himself.”
Beau preened like a peacock. “Well then, let’s take the party inside and give him an actual show.”
Beau led us into the house and got us settled in his massive living room, filled with pictures of him in his professional football days. Some were in uniform, others were with celebrities he’d met over the years. While Beau and I sat down, Hunter wandered around the room looking at all the memorabilia.
“So what brings you to my neck of the woods?”
“Beau, don’t blow smoke up my butt. You and I both know you’re tapped into the rumor mill better than anyone else.”
Beau
’s smile fell, and his eyes became earnest. “I was sorry to hear about your momma, baby girl.”
“I bet you were sorry one of your biggest earners was suddenly gone.” Beau didn’t deny my statement, so I continued. “Did she tell you where she was going?”
“I knew that dude she hooked up with was thinking of bailing before his lease was up. I didn’t care for him. He was into some pretty hardcore shit. You know how I feel about the powder.”
That was the funny thing about Beau. He had a very strong set of rules he lived by. They may not be what most would consider “right” or “moral,” but they had a certain amount of sense. He ran his strip clubs with an iron fist. Anyone that messed with his girls or didn’t follow the rules would receive swift retribution. Sometimes those rules skirted the letter of the law, but laws never seemed to worry Beau all that much.
“Did she bring that man around my baby sisters?” I could barely contain the fury in my voice.
Hunter, perhaps sensing my distress, stopped his wandering and moved to stand behind me.
Beau waved his meaty hand, making his rings flash brightly against his pale skin. “I know you love those girls. But you got ‘em out now. They’re fine.”
“They’re not fine, not yet. But I’m gonna make sure they will be.” I leaned forward. “She leave any information? Instructions?”
“Now—”
“Don’t lie to me, Beau, or I’ll call your Momma in here.”
Beau paled even further. His sweet church-going Momma was the one person he was afraid of. Mrs. Lee was a force to be reckoned with. While she’d come to terms with her son owning strip clubs and living a bachelor life well into his fifties, she would not abide him being a party to the endangerment of the girls.
“Fine,” he gritted out. “Yes, she left a note. Said she and this dude were going on a weekend trip. Left the name of the hotel in Canada they were heading to.”
Canada? If Mom was out of the country, would any of the work we were doing even help?
I stood from my chair and glared down at Beau. “Why didn’t you say anything before this? I know the cops have questioned you.”
More Than Words Page 14