Chapter 8
8
A lex
As I walk the streets, my mind races with worry for Opal. I can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong. When I hear Jake call my name, I’m both surprised and relieved. It’s a little strange that he found me here, but seeing him brings a sense of comfort.
His concern seems genuine, and when he offers to help, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.
As we continue our search into the night, I can’t help but feel a connection forming between us. Jake’s presence is a beacon of hope in this dark time, and I find myself relying on him more than I ever expected. Together, we’ll keep searching for Opal, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find her and bring her back safely.
Streetlights cast long shadows, and the hum of distant traffic creates a backdrop to our search. Jake and I move through the dimly lit streets, his quiet determination bolstering my own resolve.
We arrive at a small café where Opal likes to spend her evenings. The place is nearly empty, but the barista behind the counter remembers seeing her a few nights ago. He doesn’t have much information, but it’s something.
“Do you think she could have gone somewhere else after here?” Jake asks the barista, his tone polite but insistent.
The barista shrugs. “She mentioned meeting someone but didn’t say who. Sorry, that’s all I know.”
I feel a pang of frustration. “Thank you,” I say, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. We step outside, and I glance at Jake, who’s deep in thought.
“We’re getting closer,” he says, his eyes scanning the street. “She met someone. That’s a lead we didn’t have before.”
I nod, grateful for his optimism. “You’re right. We need to think about who she might have been meeting.”
Jake pauses, then looks at me. “Do you have any idea who it could be? Anyone she mentioned recently?”
I think back to my last conversations with Opal. “She did mention a new friend she met at a book club. A guy named Mark. They hit it off pretty well.”
Jake’s eyes light up. “That’s a good lead. Do you know where this Mark lives or where they might have met?”
I shake my head. “No, but I have his number in my phone.” I hesitate. “We watch a lot of crime shows, and we’re investigative reporters so we don’t tend to go off with strange men.” I eye Jake.
“I suppose I count as strange,” he says, glancing away and rubbing the back of his neck. “If you would rather call someone else?—”
“Oh, I’ll call Mark, but I’m not calling someone else to join us. Kathy is staying at Opal’s apartment in case she comes back, but…” I wave my hand. “Let me call Mark.”
I quickly dial Mark’s number, my heart racing as it rings. After a few moments, he answers.
“Hello?” Mark’s voice sounds tired and wary.
“Mark, this is Alex, Opal’s friend. Have you seen or heard from her recently? She’s missing, and we’re really worried.”
There’s a pause on the other end. Then Mark sighs. “Yeah, we were supposed to meet up two days ago, but she never showed. I haven’t been able to reach her since. I was getting worried too.”
“Did she say where you were supposed to meet?” I ask, trying to keep the urgency out of my voice.
“Just the park near her place. We usually meet there and then decide what to do next,” he replies.
I thank him and hang up, turning to Jake. “She was supposed to meet him at the park two days ago. It’s not much, but it’s something.”
Jake nods. “Let’s head there. Maybe we’ll find something we missed before.”
We make our way to the park, the tension between us a mix of hope and fear. The park is quiet, the shadows long and dark under the dim light of the street lamps. We split up, searching the area carefully.
As I walk through the park, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re close, that Opal is somewhere nearby. I hear Jake calling my name from a distance and rush toward him, my heart pounding.
“Alex, over here!” he says, standing near a bench. As I approach, I see something on the ground—a notebook. Opal’s notebook.
“This is hers,” I say, picking it up and flipping through the pages. “She always carries it with her.”
Jake’s expression hardens. “This means she was here. And recently.”
We look around, the park suddenly feeling much more ominous. The night air grows colder, and a sense of urgency pushes us to keep searching. As we move deeper into the park, we notice a trail of disturbed grass leading into a more secluded area.
Following the trail, we find more signs—footprints and a dropped scarf, all pointing to a struggle. My heart aches with worry, but Jake’s presence beside me keeps me grounded.
“We’re close,” he says, his voice a mixture of determination and concern. “We’re going to find her, Alex. I promise.”
With renewed determination, we continue to follow the trail, each step bringing us closer to finding Opal and uncovering the truth behind her disappearance.
If Jake wasn’t here with me right now, I don’t know what I would do. I’m so scared and nervous. The signs of a struggle… I’m not sure what case she’s been working on. What if someone kidnapped her to silence her?
What if they didn’t stop at kidnapping?