Missing in Texas, page 3
Around midnight, she decided she would close the bakery tomorrow, just for one day. With a sense of relief, she typed up a note on her computer, enlarged the font and then printed it. Grabbing a roll of two-sided tape, she drove out to the bakery to tape it to the front door.
With that accomplished, she knew she should turn around, go home and try to get at least a few hours of rest. Instead, she found herself cruising up and down deserted streets, looking for a white Honda Accord and any sign of her daughter.
An hour later, exhausted and defeated, she pulled back into her driveway and parked. Instead of going in, she killed the engine and sat in the SUV.
Her phone chimed, indicating a text message. Startled, her first thought was that maybe Rayna had located Laney or at least gotten some sort of lead. Heart pounding, she fumbled to get her phone, her hands shaking.
Instead, the text was from Jake Cassin.
On the off chance that you can’t sleep either, do you want to meet up somewhere for a cup of coffee?
Mind numb, Edie stared at the screen and exhaled. The crushing disappointment made her chest ache. For a moment, she felt furious with Jake for getting her hopes up, even though she understood he was only trying to be kind.
Of course she couldn’t sleep. Who could, when their beloved child was who knew where with some stranger? Her mind shied away from the dark images crowding her brain. Her baby must be terrified, wondering why Mommy didn’t come save her.
Tears pricking her eyes, throat closed, Edie studied the text again. This man was the only other person around who knew exactly what she was going through. His daughter had also been abducted. Even if several years had passed, she imagined the gut-wrenching horror and all-consuming sense of loss never dimmed. The very real possibility that Laney most likely was the same girl didn’t change the fact that Jake Cassin knew what she was going through.
Yes, she texted back. There’s a 24-hour diner in the truck stop on I-20. It’s about a 30-minute drive. Let’s meet there.
Without waiting for his response, she started her vehicle, backed out into the street and drove away. Even if Jake didn’t show, she liked the idea of going to the truck stop. There, she would be anonymous in a way she never could be in her own small town.
Once she’d pulled into the parking lot, taking a spot close to the building, she eyed the rows of big rigs, most with their running lights on, and exhaled. Though her stomach ached, she made herself get out and make her way inside.
Bright lights, the clatter of silverware and dishes, and the strong scent of fried food felt both comforting and foreign. She slid into an empty booth, mildly surprised that even at this late hour, there were quite a few other customers.
Only then did she pull her phone out of her purse to check Jake’s response.
On my way.
For whatever reason, this made her relax a little. Since she had a clear view of the entrance, she’d know the instant he arrived.
A few minutes later, he did.
He came through the door in a hurry. Her first glimpse of him—a large muscular man with a rugged kind of confidence that suggested he could fix anything—made her breath catch in her throat. Under different circumstances, she knew she’d have found him attractive, and a small, abstract part of herself still acknowledged that fact. Despite everything. Which made her feel incredibly shallow. Or human.
“I wish I had your confidence,” she blurted out as he approached her booth.
Surprise flickered across his face. “Thanks?” He took a seat across from her. “Have you ordered yet?”
“No. I just got here a few minutes ago.”
A waitress appeared, her long gray hair in a neat braid down her back. She slid a couple of menus across the table to them. “Coffee? Water? Or something else?”
They both ordered coffee. Why not, since clearly she wasn’t going to be getting any sleep at all tonight.
“Are you going to eat?” he asked, glancing over his menu.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I haven’t been able to choke down much of anything since...”
“I get it.” His green eyes met hers. “But speaking as someone who’s been there, you need to keep your strength up. Just in case your daughter needs you.”
Gravely, she eyed him and then slowly nodded. “Thank you.”
He pushed the other menu over toward her. “You’re welcome. It’s something I wish someone had told me when Noel first disappeared. I didn’t eat for days—I couldn’t. When my body finally rebelled, I collapsed. I almost had to be hospitalized. I refused, because I never would have forgiven myself if I’d been unable to function and Noel had been found.”
Pretending to be engrossed in the menu, she kept sneaking glances at him doing the same. She appreciated his kindness, the way he didn’t press her to admit her Laney might be his Noel, even though he definitely had the right.
The waitress reappeared with their coffees. “Are you ready to order?” she asked.
Edie looked up, momentarily confused. “I...what do you recommend?”
Appearing amused, the waitress smiled. “Are you really hungry or just a little? In other words, do you want a huge plate of food or something smaller?”
“Like a salad?” Edie asked, even though she hadn’t seen any salads on the menu.
“Chicken fried steak,” Jake suggested. “You can always take half of it home if you can’t eat it all.”
The waitress’s smile turned into a grin. “That’s the best thing on our entire menu!” she said. “Most of our customers come here specifically for that.”
Edie hesitated.
“We’ll take two,” Jake said, slapping the menu down. The waitress nodded, took their menus and bustled away. “It’ll do you some good,” he told Edie. “I promise.”
Under ordinary circumstances, she would have taken offense at such high-handedness. But these were anything but ordinary times, so she welcomed him making the choice for her.
“Tell me about Laney,” he said, leaning across the table. “Anything and everything. Her favorite color, what kind of toys she plays with, all of it.”
Mentally she acknowledged his reason for asking, while appreciating the opportunity to talk about her daughter. “She loves purple and pink,” she told him. “And unicorns. She even chose a comforter for her bed with all of those things. She knows all the words and can sing along to most Taylor Swift songs, and she loves when I read to her at bedtime.”
Now she found herself fighting back tears. She squared her shoulders, swiped at her eyes and made herself continue. “She just started kindergarten. She’s been so excited. She keeps insisting that she’s a big girl now. I wanted to drive her to school and pick her up, but she insisted on riding the school bus with her friends.”
She lost it then, covering her mouth with her hands. Head down, shoulders shaking, she tried to speak and failed.
“Hey.” He leaned over and touched her shoulder. “This is not your fault.”
“But I let her ride the bus,” she wailed, loud enough to cause several heads to turn. When she realized, she tried to settle down, clenching her teeth and trying to breathe. Would he be shocked if she told him she really wanted to throw her head back and howl?
Somehow, she suspected he just might understand.
The waitress appeared just then, carrying two heaping plates of food. She pretended not to notice how distraught Edie appeared, smiling as she placed their meal on the table in front of them. “It’s a lot, hon,” she said, talking to them both at the same time. “But I promise it’s delicious, and tastes just as wonderful heated up for lunch the next day. Enjoy!”
Instead, Edie eyed the heaping plate of food, put her hand over her mouth and ran for the restroom.
* * *
Not sure what to do, Jake eyed his chicken fried steak and took a swig of his coffee. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eat anything since the cupcake in Edie’s bakery. He knew basic manners decried he should wait for her to return, so he did.
Finally, eyes red and swollen, she made her way back to the table. “Sorry about that,” she muttered, sliding in across from him. “Wow, that steak just about takes up the entire plate.”
He nodded, picking up his fork and knife. “They left just enough room for the mashed potatoes and gravy.”
She eyed the mountain of food. “I think I’ll start with the green beans,” she said, reaching for the small bowl that had accompanied the main plate.
Finally, he dug in. The food tasted every bit as delicious as the waitress had promised. He ate with a single-minded intensity, all the while trying to keep an eye on Edie without her noticing. The continual urge to bring up the elephant in the room—the likely possibility that her Laney was, in fact, his Noel—was something he could keep at bay, at least until Noel was found safe and unharmed.
And he had no doubt she would be soon. No way had he come all this way, devoted his entire existence to locating her, for any other kind of outcome. He’d finally located his baby girl. He refused to lose her again.
“Those weren’t bad,” Edie said, pushing away the empty bowl.
“This isn’t either,” he said, gesturing to his half-empty plate.
Gingerly, she reached for her plate and moved it closer. Then she picked up her fork and knife and cut off a slice. He watched as she popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly.
“That’s amazing,” she mused. She took a second bite, chewing slowly. “I’ve never been a fan of chicken fried steak, but this is really good.”
He sat back, watching her eat with determination.
Both their phones chimed, indicating a text. Edie jumped. “Rayna!” she exclaimed at the same moment he did. The sheriff had sent a group text to both of them.
I hate to text at this hour, and I hope this didn’t wake you, but I suspect right now that no one is getting any sleep.
We’ve had several people call in with sightings, but unfortunately none of these have panned out. I wanted to assure you that we have multiple agencies all over the state working on this. We will find her. Keep the faith. I’ll be in touch later.
“Wow,” Edie said, disappointment plain on her face. “I was hoping the text would be saying Laney had been found.”
Jake glanced at his phone. “It’s nearly two a.m. Rayna mustn’t be getting any sleep either.”
With a sigh, Edie picked up her fork and resumed eating. In a few minutes, she’d nearly demolished her chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. Despite her obvious appetite, the sorrow never completely left her eyes.
“Let’s work together,” he blurted before he took the time to go over the ramifications of such a thing. He didn’t consider himself an impulsive man, but in this instance...working with Edie to find her missing child felt right. Especially since Laney most likely was his daughter.
“Work together?” She stared. “But why? You should know up front, there’s no way in hell I’m letting you take my girl away from me.”
Careful, careful. “I appreciate your honesty. Don’t think I haven’t thought of that.”
“I mean, I understand where you’re coming from,” she said, her fierce voice matching her expression. “And if my Laney does turn out to be your Noel, we’ll have to work something out.”
Work something out. He let that statement go unchallenged for now. “How about we focus on what really matters at this moment in time? Getting her back safe and sound.”
Warily, she eyed him. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
“You do that. Either way, I’m planning on going looking once the sun comes up. I doubt whoever grabbed her is still here in town, so I’m thinking of trying the next several towns over.”
“Abilene,” she said, surprising him. “I’m think he might have taken her there. It’s not a huge city by any means, but it’s larger than Getaway. Big enough to make it easier to stay hidden.”
He checked his phone. “Good idea. What do you say? Do you want to go with me to look?”
Taking a sip of her coffee, she considered. Just then, the waitress reappeared, bringing a couple of to-go boxes. “Looks like you both enjoyed your meal,” she said, beaming. “Would either of you like a refill on the coffee?”
“Yes, please.” Edie lifted her cup.
Jake nodded also. Once their cups were full again, the waitress left the check and moved away.
“You know what? I think I will go with you,” Edie said. “The most important thing is finding Laney. Maybe two heads really will be better than one.”
He dug in his wallet, pulled out two twenties and left them on the table. “We’ve got about five hours until sunrise. We should both go home and try and get some sleep.”
Though Edie shook her head, the weariness in her eyes told another story.
“I know you don’t want to, but again, you have to take care of yourself if you want to help your daughter.” He paused, took a deep breath and continued. “Believe me, I speak from experience. After Noel was taken, I didn’t want to sleep either. I was afraid I would miss something.”
Thinking back to that time, how he’d barely eaten, seldom slept yet kept up the frantic search, he shook his head. He’d tried to continue, fueled mainly by nothing more than desperation.
“I ended up in the hospital,” he said. “They found me slumped over in my truck, suffering from heat stroke. I lost two entire days while they pumped me full of IV fluids and ran tests.”
Expression grave, she nodded. “I can see how that might happen. I just want to keep going, keep pushing, until I get my child back.”
He told himself the way she kept referencing her child, her daughter wasn’t deliberate. She was out of her mind with worry.
Pushing to his feet, he waited for her to do the same. “I’ll walk you out,” he said.
Outside, the hum of traffic on the interstate mingled with the sound of various trucks idling. When they reached her SUV, she unlocked the doors and glanced at him. “I’ll text you my address. What time are you picking me up?”
“It should be light enough by seven,” he said, even though his phone claimed it would actually be a bit later than that. “We both have time to rest our eyes before we start out.”
Whether or not she intended to take advantage of his suggestion, she didn’t say.
He waited until she’d driven off before climbing into his truck. Back at the motel, he parked and quietly let himself into his room. Then he set his phone alarm to go off at six and undressed before crawling into bed and closing his eyes.
Instead of the alarm, the wail of an Amber Alert woke him. Checking the screen, he read about little Laney Beswick. The accompanying photo of a cute blonde girl with wavy hair made him swallow hard. Noel, he thought, recognizing his chin and Marina’s eyes.
Seeing her at age five, knowing he had missed out on four years of her life, felt like a punch in the gut. Even worse, she was once again in danger. No one had any idea who had grabbed her or why.
Which felt awfully, terribly familiar. In fact, he had trouble believing this had happened again.
Shaking off the panic, he sat up immediately and headed for the shower. He’d mastered the art of making what little sleep he could get count. And he’d even gotten used to the bone deep weariness that dogged his steps most days.
Once he’d showered and dried off, he combed his hair and brushed his teeth before digging around in his duffle bag for a set of clean clothes.
Then he checked his phone. Sure enough, Edie had texted him her address one hour earlier. He wondered if she’d even slept at all or if she still remained determined to soldier through as if her body was invincible. Luckily for her, if she’d decided on the latter, she’d have him there to catch her when she inevitably fell apart.
After all, she’d taken care of and loved his Noel for four years. He had no doubt Noel loved her back. If Jake was going to rebuild a relationship with his child, who likely didn’t even remember him, he was definitely going to need Edie’s help.
Before driving over to Edie’s, he stopped at a big chain gas station and got them both large coffees. Since he had no idea how she drank hers, he grabbed a handful of little creamers, some sugar and, just to be sure, artificial sweeteners, too, and plugged her address into his phone’s GPS.
He pulled up in front of her house within minutes. Parking, he eyed the older brick ranch house, noting the neat landscaping and well-kept grass. He could see what looked like a child’s wooden play fort, complete with swings, in the backyard.
Before he could even get out of his truck, the front door opened and Edie stepped out. He waited while she locked up. From a distance, she appeared rested. It wasn’t until she opened his passenger side door and got in that he could see the weariness in her blue eyes.
“I tried to sleep but I couldn’t,” she told him before he could even ask. Buckling her seat belt, she accepted the coffee gratefully. “Give me a second to doctor mine up.”
She added both of the creamers and a packet of the sweetener before stirring it, replacing the lid and taking a sip. “Ahhh. I feel like I could use a gallon of this stuff.”
Nodding his agreement, he pulled away from the curb, glancing at her. “Did your phone send you the Amber Alert?”
She blanched. “No. I actually have those turned off. When they sounded, it always startled me so badly, and if I was in the middle of doing something complicated, like frosting a cake, I’d mess up.” With a small sigh, she pulled out her phone. “I’m not sure how to locate it now.”
“Here.” He handed her his cell. “Touch the screen and scroll down for alerts. It was...” He searched for the right word. “Weird for me to see what she looks like now.”
Though she glanced at him, she didn’t comment or question. Which likely meant she’d started to accept the idea that her Laney was his Noel. He didn’t want to push, not yet, not while the five-year-old was missing.
