by H. L. Burke
“Where are you?” Nyssa shouted. “What do you want?”
Can I just snatch the projector and run? Is the evidence I need right here?
She started towards the projector, but a loud, grating creak jolted her attention to the door. It was closing.
Nyssa dodged for the projector, snatched it up, then bolted for the door. A sharp pain pierced her neck, like a bee sting. She put her hand to the injury, and something cold and smooth met her touch … a glass bead, but with a sharp bit embedded in her skin. She pushed it away. Her vision blurred. Her knees buckled. She fell, the projector and her bug-zapper skittering across the floor.
As darkness fell, she thought of the handheld in her satchel. She thought of Ellis and what he’d think when he found her gone. She thought if she could just cry out, maybe someone would help her. Then all was black and she thought no more.
Chapter Four
Ellis rolled out of his bedroom and down the hall. It was early, and since they didn’t open the shop on Saturdays, he had no real reason to be up. However, sleep evaded him. No matter how many sheep he’d counted, the miserable failure of his date night with Nyssa still taunted him.
The smell of strong, dark coffee wafted from the kitchen. Ellis entered the room and took his place at the table.
Mrs. H, their elderly housekeeper, glanced up from the stove, the wrinkles in her olive skin deepening around her blue eyes. “I thought you might’ve been out late last night, so I opted for coffee instead of tea. I don’t prefer the taste, but it does open one’s eyes, doesn’t it?”
He smiled, though he didn’t feel it. “Yes, it does.”
Her graying eyebrows drew closer together. “So … last night?”
“What about it?”
She stepped away from the stove and set her fists against her wide hips. “Now don’t play games with me, Master Ellis. I’ve seen the signs. Besides, you left a jeweler’s receipt in your trouser pocket. I found it when I was doing laundry.”
He laughed. “You’d make an excellent detective, Mrs. H.”
“That I would.” She stuck her chin in the air. “Now, you look like you’ve been through the wringer, so either she said no or …” She tilted her head to one side.
Ellis sighed. “I didn’t ask. The evening was one misstep after another, and I figured it was best to regroup and try again at a later date.”
“Ah.” Mrs. H returned to her cooking. “So, what now?”
“I need a new plan. Things were going so well, but Nyss isn’t going to be happy as long as this policewoman is stalking her.”
Mrs. H snorted. “I bet if you’d gone through with your plan, she would’ve been happy.” She set a china cup filled with steaming black liquid in front of him.
“Maybe.” Ellis rubbed his legs. “I’d rather try and solve the problem of Detective O’Hara first, then propose while I’ve got the positive momentum.” He raised the cup and inhaled. His thoughts cleared. “The only problem—other than that I don’t have a concrete plan for being rid of the detective, I suppose—is she took the gift, so now I’m on a tight schedule. It’s only a matter of time until she opens the handheld communicator and sees what I put there.”
“Oh goodness! Just ask her already. A girl like Miss Nyssa doesn’t want a fancy candlelight dinner anyway. I mean, she might like one, but she doesn’t need it. You two have been ready for some time now, as far as I’m concerned. Ask her and then head for the courthouse. No need to make a production of it.”
Ellis concentrated on his coffee. Maybe I am making this too complicated. Marriage is a big step, but I’ve been ready for a while now. But has she?
He could remember his first hesitant steps with Nyss, the gentle kisses that always seemed to catch her by surprise, how she’d acted like she expected him to bolt at any moment for the first several weeks. Being with her gave extra meaning to everything he did, but he wanted more. He wanted to wake up to her beside him and feel her warmth while he slept at night. He wanted forever.
“Yeah, I just need to ask. Maybe on the boardwalk. She loves watching the waves. It’ll set the right tone.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Mrs. H cracked an egg into a cast iron pan. It sizzled. “Eat something. When my David asked me, I’d seen it coming and been fasting all day, so anxious I couldn’t get a bite down. I passed out in his arms.” She shook her head. “Sounds romantic, but didn’t feel that way.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Theo trudged in, rubbing his eyes. He sniffed the air. “Can I have some coffee, too?”
“Sure—in about five years.” Ellis smirked.
Theo groaned.
Blast, did I just use the same response my dad did when I asked if I could drive the horseless carriage? I must be getting old.
Ellis downed his breakfast and went into the shop. Even though they weren’t open today, he had several projects brewing. He’d focus on them until Nyssa came downstairs.
He paused in front of his workbench. Nyssa’s notepad lay on top of it, open, with a tattered scrap showing where a page had been roughly ripped out. Odd for Nyssa who was so careful with her belongings.
How in the world did that get here? He scanned the cluttered surface. Cogs and vacuum tubes lay scattered, but not in the right order. Though Nyssa always teased about the messy way he kept his workspace, Ellis thrived on the chaos and knew where to find every screw, bolt, and gear. Was Nyssa fussing with my stuff? No, if anything she’d leave it in better order, not worse. Maybe it got jostled somehow.
After clearing a space, he got out his notepad and flipped to his plans for an automated dishwasher. Mrs. H had jokingly suggested he make one.
Though that clever old girl probably knew I’d take that as a challenge. Well, she’s going to get her wish, either way. I just need to make the function gentle enough not to break the china while strong enough to scrub it … brushes? Water jets? Both?
The jangling of the doorbell made him look up. His posture tightened, and he scowled. “How did you get in here?”
O’Hara shrugged. “The door’s unlocked.”
“It shouldn’t be. We’re closed today.” He wheeled to the door and examined it, ignoring O’Hara who stood over him with her arms crossed. Scratches marred the surface around the keyhole. A chill shot through him.
Did someone break in? Or did O’Hara pick the lock? Not just now, though. I would’ve heard her. Blast, I need to make sure nothing’s missing. Why didn’t Nyssa enable the alarm last night? He held the door open. “You can turn around and leave. This is private property, and I doubt the San Azulan authorities granted you a search warrant.”
“You’re right, but I wanted to talk to you.” Without a glance at the open door, she strode further into the shop and leaned against the counter. “Your lady friend wasn’t easy to track. The New Taured police department was to the point of abandoning her case when we got the lead about her being in San Azula.”
“This country doesn’t have an extradition treaty.” Ellis continued to hold the door in spite of the hot air creeping in from outside. Sweat beaded beneath his collar.
“True—but that isn’t the reason I came here. I wanted to find out how much you know about the woman you shared a table with last night.”
“I know her far better than you do. If you knew a thing about Nyss, you’d know she’d never do what she’s accused of.”
O’Hara raised an eyebrow. “Really? So you believe her assertion of innocence? Then why did she run?”
“It’s a long story, which I doubt you’re truly interested in. Seriously, this is trespassing.” He jerked his head towards the open door, considering whether or not he was willing to drag her out by the hair.
“So you don’t want to talk about your lady friend, but what about yourself?” She fingered a screwdriver that lay on the countertop. “According to immigration records, your name is Hart Cormac, previously of New Taured, but there’s no such person. I sent a telegram back to check. No certificat
e of birth, no records of employment or education.”
“And yet I’m here.” Ellis allowed himself a smug smile. “Apparently New Taured needs to improve their record keeping.”
O’Hara scowled. “I will figure out how you fit into this.”
“Good for you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do, and I think it would be better for you if you weren’t here when Nyssa wakes up.”
“I was watching you two last night, hand in hand, like a picture on a Valentine. You know a girl like her won’t stick around long. She couldn’t stay straight when her employer gave her the chance. She’ll be off on another scheme and out of your grasp soon enough.”
“I’m through with this conversation.” He let the door swing shut and returned to his workbench. “You can leave willingly or I can call the police. Your call.”
“Ellis!” Theo rushed in, his eyes wide. He froze when he saw O’Hara.
“What’s wrong?” Ellis asked.
“Nyssa’s room is empty. I went upstairs and her door is wide open. She’s not there, though.”
Ellis’s chest tightened, but he forced his voice steady. “I’m sure she’s around.”
“Or it’s like I said, the moment I’m onto her, she bolts like the fugitive she is.” O’Hara sniffed, tilting her nose into the air.
Ellis gritted his teeth. He pushed a button on his workbench, causing the shop door to swing open. “Out. Now.”
O’Hara sauntered to the door, then turned around and gave him a wink. “I won’t be far, which is more than you can confidently say about your little girlfriend.”
As soon as she was through, Ellis punched the button on his desk again. The door swung shut behind her.
The nerve.
Theo’s bottom lip quivered. “That was the detective who scared Nyssa yesterday.”
Ellis started. “You know about that?”
“Nyssa told me to go upstairs, but I listened at the door.” Theo dropped his gaze to his feet. “Did … did she arrest Nyssa, you think? Is that where Nyssa’s gone?”
Ellis put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “No, she couldn’t have done that. We’re safe here, Theo. All of us, even Nyssa.”
The items disturbed on my desk … the scratches on the door. Something did happen here last night.
He cleared his throat. “Look, I know you sneak detective novels when you’re supposed to be reading your schoolbooks.”
Theo’s cheeks reddened. “Nyssa said I could.”
“Sure she did.” Ellis managed to smile. “Either way, you know about clues, right? We’re going to look for some and see if we can piece together where Nyss got to.”
“Where do we start?” the boy asked.
“Why don’t you check her room again? She may have left a note.”
“Okay.” Theo shot out the door.
Ellis hesitated. While he suspected the items on his desk had been disturbed, he had sat there without noticing any obvious clues. He went to the counter to examine Nyssa’s belongings. Other than the screwdriver O’Hara had been fiddling with, every tool rested within its painted outline, in perfect order, waiting for its adoring mistress. However, the nail from which her satchel and goggles usually hung was empty.
Chances are she left willingly then. I can’t see a kidnapper being polite enough to grab her favorite possessions on the way out. Okay, Nyss, please tell me you left some sort of sign?
He rolled to his desk and fingered her notepad. It was definitely out of place, and the way a page had been ripped from it, leaving ragged shreds of paper sticking from the binding, was so not Nyssa. He ran his fingers back through his hair, then took a pencil from a drawer and rubbed it lightly over the blank page. As a partial message in white appeared within the field of gray, a smile crept over his lips, followed quickly by a perplexed frown.
… risk losing … evidence … is dangerous, but I promise I will be careful, and if they really can help me prove my innocence, it’s worth … you even notice I’m gone … I love you … your handheld communicator with me.
“Evidence? What evidence?” He fumbled in his pocket for his handheld, praying she’d figured out how to switch hers on. After turning the dial to the correct position, the device snapped open, revealing a round screen and a small switch. He flipped the switch. White lines crackled and static popped. No, the signal wasn’t reaching the other unit. Either she hadn’t turned it on, or she was out of the five-mile range.
Why would she have written me a note only to rip it out? No, add that to the scratches on the door … someone else was here last night. Someone lured Nyssa out of here, then came in and destroyed evidence. But who and why?
Theo tramped back into the room. “I didn’t find anything upstairs. What now?”
Ellis slipped the notepad into his vest pocket. “Go tell Mrs. H I’m going to be out for a bit.”
“Can I come?”
“No, stay with Mrs. H.” Ellis started towards the door.
Theo grabbed him by the arm. “You did find something. Is Nyssa okay? Please let me come, Ellis! I need to help her if she’s in trouble.” Tears welled in the boy’s eyes. “Please, don’t leave me behind.”
Doubt crept through Ellis. What if we find her and something’s happened to her? Theo shouldn’t see her if … No, I can’t believe that. She’s fine. We’re going to get her back. “All right, you can come.”
“Where are we going?” Theo dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve.
“The police station. We’re going to file a missing person’s report.”
Chapter Five
Ellis pounded his fist against the sergeant’s desk. Beside him, Theo quivered, but the middle-aged police officer barely glanced up from his paperwork.
“I’m telling you she wouldn’t just leave,” Ellis said for at least the fourth time in the hour they’d been at the station.
“Yet, you also said she left a note.” The officer ticked off a few more boxes on whatever report he was working on.
“No, well, she did and she didn’t. The note was ripped out.”
“So she started to leave a note then changed her mind.” The sergeant shrugged. “Did you two have a fight or something?”
“No, it’s not like that. I think someone broke into the shop.”
“Really? Did they take anythingbesides the note?” The officer raised an eyebrow.
“Well, no, but there were scratches on the lock.” Ellis leaned forward, trying to force the man to look him in the eye. “She’s been gone since some time last night.”
The police officer glanced at the clock. “It’s not even noon yet. I can’t file a report until she’s been gone at least twenty-four hours unless we have some reason to suspect foul play.”
A dull ache throbbed behind Ellis’s eyes. Gripping the arms of his chair, he considered his options. Call in a favor from Nyssa’s friend, Amara, and force the police to cooperate? Try to do this on his own? Argue with this lazy idiot some more?
Theo tugged on Ellis’s sleeve. “Ellis, this is taking too long.”
Ellis put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Patience, Theo.”
Theo sighed then trudged over to the bench on the side of the room.
Impatience boiled within Ellis’s chest. He needed to do something, but he didn’t know where to start. The police had the resources to search the island, perhaps investigate O’Hara … on his own, things would be much slower and harder.
The sergeant cleared his throat. “I suggest coming back tomorrow if she hasn’t shown up.”
Ellis counted to ten before responding. “Just let me fill out the paperwork so you have it on hand, and it wouldn’t hurt your men to keep an eye out for someone matching her description, since they’ll be going about their rounds anyway. This is my videophone frequency.” He pulled a card out of his pocket with the contact information for their repair shop. “If I’m not there, my housekeeper can take a message. Please. This is my …” He stopped. Girlfriend didn’t seem strong enough.
Fiancé hadn’t happened yet. Since they’d come to the island, they’d pretended to be married. It made them more invisible as no one was searching for them as a couple, but it wasn’t true. There was one thing that was true, though. Undeniably. “I love her. She’s everything to me, and if I lose her, I’ll never forgive myself. Please, just take her description.”
The frown-lines on the sergeant’s forehead softened. He rubbed his mustache, reached into a desk drawer, and pulled out a piece of paper. “Bring this back when you’re done. I’m not making any promises, though.”
Ellis wheeled to an empty desk and took up the pen with a chain attached to it. Hair color … brown. Eye color … hazely-brown with flecks of green. Approximate height … five two? Five three? Well, they say approximate. Weight? Oh blast, how would I know? 80 pounds? No, that’s way too light. I’ll just put “petite.” That’s safe. I wonder if she’s going to ever read this? Unique physical attributes such as scars, birthmarks? Beautiful.
He set down the pen and rubbed his forehead. Dear Lord, please let me see her again. Let her be all right.
Someone touched his shoulder, and he started. He glanced up into Theo’s red eyes.
“Hey, sorry, Theo. Let me take this to the sergeant, and we’ll be done here. I promise.” Returning to the sergeant’s desk, he slid the filled out form over to him.
The sergeant cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. Procedure and all, but unofficially, I’ll keep an eye out. I hope you find her.”
“Thanks.” Ellis managed a weary smile.
They stepped out of the police department into the humid air.
“What now?” Theo asked.
“We search.” Ellis rolled over to an information booth designed for tourists and slipped a brochure from a rack. Inside was a basic map showing the major streets, landmarks, and trolley routes. He pointed to their neighborhood. “She left after the trolleys would’ve stopped for the night, so she probably walked. How far could she have gone?”