Chapter 31
Thirty-One
When Erin woke up, she rolled over on her side and looked at the clock on the nightstand.
It was almost noon. How could she have slept so late?
She got up, grabbed her clothes, then went into the bathroom.
After a quick shower, she dressed, brushed her hair, and hurried to the kitchen.
Kaely was sitting at the table and smiled when she entered.
“Sorry I slept late,” she said. “I was so tired last night.”
“I knew that,” Kaely said. “It’s why I let you sleep.”
“Any news about Pat?”
Kaely sighed. “Nothing. Noah checked first thing.”
“I’m sure her daughter is worried sick.”
“Unless she knows where she is. Maybe she really couldn’t take the pressure and went into hiding. It’s possible she told her daughter the truth and asked her to cover for her.”
Erin reflected on what Kaely said but then shook her head. “I guess it’s possible, but she just didn’t seem like someone who would pull a stunt like that. And involving her daughter? I can’t see it.”
“When Noah talked to the police, they told him that they went over camera footage from the hotel. Patricia is seen leaving her room about an hour after she was dropped off there. Then, she walked out the main entrance and disappeared from the camera’s range.
The police have no idea where she went. She never returned.
They checked the cab companies and Uber.
There’s no record of her at all.” She gestured over at the kitchen counter.
“When I heard you moving around, I made a pot of coffee. I figured you’d need some. ”
“Thanks. You were right.” Erin got up, grabbed a cup, and filled it with coffee. “She must have left with someone. I doubt she walked to wherever she was headed.”
Kaely shrugged. “The police are questioning anyone who might have seen her leave the hotel, but they haven’t found anyone who remembers her.” She leaned over and pulled out a chair. “Sit down. Are you hungry for breakfast or lunch?”
“Have you eaten lunch yet?” Erin asked.
“No. I was getting ready to make myself a grilled cheese sandwich.”
Erin smiled. “I love grilled cheese. It sounds perfect.”
“Great,” Kaely said as she got up from the table. “I make mine with sourdough bread. I think it’s the perfect bread for grilled cheese.”
“I may not be able to fit into my car to drive home if you keep feeding me like this.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re tiny. You could probably stand to gain a little weight.”
Erin laughed. “I think you need glasses, but thanks.” She sat down and took a sip of her coffee. It hit the spot. “Did Noah say what time I need to go to the command center today?”
Kaely shook her head. “He said he’d call and let us know.
” She removed a pan from one of her cabinets, took some bread from her bread box, then grabbed some sliced cheddar cheese and butter from the refrigerator.
It only took her a couple of minutes to melt the butter and place the slices of bread stuffed with cheese in the skillet.
The kitchen filled with the great aroma of melted butter and cheddar.
“That smells incredible.”
“It’s comfort food,” Kaely said. “I think we could both use some comfort.”
“You’re right about that. I’m so worried about Pat. I just pray she’s still alive.”
“I know. I’m concerned too.”
A few minutes later, Kaely carried two plates to the table with the sandwiches and some chips.
“You really don’t need to wait on me, you know,” Erin said. “I’m capable of getting something for us. Or at least, for myself.”
“Quit griping. I enjoy taking care of you. It’s fun for me.”
“You have a warped idea of fun, but I appreciate it.” Erin picked up her sandwich and took a bite. The buttery, crusty bread was perfect, and the melted cheese dribbled down her chin. She picked up her napkin and wiped her face. “Wow. This is the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.”
“Noah loves them too. I’m trying to push things that are easy to make. He doesn’t know that, though, so don’t tell him.”
“Trust me,” Erin said, grinning. “I can’t risk making you mad. I don’t eat this well at home.”
Kaely laughed. “We ate just fine when I visited you, but most of our meals were those prepackaged dinners Steve left for us.” She sighed. “Now, that’s the life. If only I could get Noah to let me order them.”
“Doesn’t he like them?” Erin asked.
“He thinks they’re great. That’s not it. It’s because the IVF treatments are so expensive. Since I only consult with the BAU now, we have to watch our money. Sometimes I think I might as well go back to the FBI. I was certain we’d be pregnant by now.”
“It will happen, Kaely,” Erin said. “I feel it so strongly.”
“From your mouth to God’s ear,” Kaely said softly.
Erin wanted to say more, but she wasn’t sure how to encourage her friend. Maybe it was time to change the subject.
“So, until Noah calls, our afternoon is free?”
Kaely took another bite of her sandwich and put the rest back on her plate. “Yeah. Why? Do you have something in mind?”
“I still want you to do your profiling . . . technique. Before we go back to the command center.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Kaely said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this UNSUB. I want to help Noah and the BAU if I can.”
“Great!” Erin quickly finished her lunch and got another cup of coffee. When she sat down again, she noticed Kaely staring oddly at her. “What?” she asked.
“Just remembering the first time we did this. You weren’t quite this excited.”
“I know,” Erin said. “I found it kind of . . . spooky. But now, I know you better. Understand your relationship with God. Now it’s not quite so . . .” She frowned. “I don’t suppose you ever saw the movie The Exorcist?”
Kaely’s mouth dropped open. “You were comparing me to The Exorcist?”
“No. Well, maybe. I mean, it seemed a little otherworldly. Especially when I felt . . . something.”
“First of all, I wasn’t even born when that movie came out.” Kaely frowned. “And neither were you.”
“Have you ever heard of movies on demand, Grandma?”
Kaely sighed. “Of course. To be honest, I watched it at a friend’s house when I was a teenager. I think it’s one of the reasons I became a Christian. Scared the pants off me.”
“Unfortunately, it didn’t do that for me, but I slept with the lights on for a few weeks. My Aunt Karen docked my allowance to help pay for her electric bill.”
“You haven’t talked about her much,” Kaely said. “She treated you okay, didn’t she?”
“Yeah, she did. She never married and hadn’t planned to spend eight years taking care of a child.
She didn’t have much money. After college, I sent her a check every month until she passed away.
She kept telling me she didn’t want my money, but .
. .” Erin shrugged. “She did her best, she really did. I missed my parents and my sister so much I didn’t appreciate all she did for me until I was older.
I don’t know what I would have done without her.
It’s hard thinking about her. I wish I’d told her how much she meant to me before she died.
” She sighed. “Look, let’s do this. We have to do everything we can to find Pat and stop this killer from hurting anyone else. ”
“I agree. Let me grab another cup of coffee, and we’ll get started.”
“Not sure what you mean by we’ll, but I’m ready to listen.”
Kaely stood up and got a cup of coffee. Then she grabbed a notebook from her kitchen counter. After setting her coffee on the table, she brought the notebook and a pen over to the table and handed them to Erin. “Take notes for me, will you? And if you see something that I don’t, tell me.”
“Hold it. You think I’m going to tell you something? I . . . I’m not you, Kaely. I can’t do what you can.”
“Listen, my friend. You’re not the same person you were yesterday. You have the Spirit of God living in you. Some of what I do comes from my training and experience, but most of it comes from listening to the Holy Spirit. Most people don’t understand that, but now you do.”
Erin could barely believe what she was hearing. “I just assumed . . . I mean, it never occurred to me that it wasn’t just something special you can do.”
Kaely smiled at her. “Get used to different. Things don’t work the same way anymore. You need to learn to listen to your inner voice now.”
Erin just stared at Kaely. “How am I going to do that?”
“First of all, you use this.” Kaely opened a cabinet door and took out a wrapped gift. She handed it to Erin.
Surprised, she took it and pulled the paper off. It was a beautiful Bible with a light blue leather cover. Her name was engraved in silver at the bottom right-hand corner. “How . . . when . . . ?”
“When? I bought this not long after we started working together. How? How did I know you’d need it one day? I knew from the beginning.”
“But that’s impossible,” Erin said. “I did everything I could to keep you from talking to me about God.”
Kaely didn’t say anything, just stared at her.
“You knew because God told you?” Her eyes filled with tears.
The love of God overwhelmed her. Even though she’d done everything she could to reject Him, He’d claimed her as His daughter years ago.
That voice from inside her, the voice Kaely had told her about, suddenly whispered to her.
The words weren’t audible, but they were more powerful than any she’d ever heard.
You were always My daughter. From the foundation of the world, I loved you.
For someone who’d lost her parents when she was young, the knowledge that she’d always had a Father watching over her touched her more than words could say.
For the first time in years, she felt complete.
The hole in her heart had been filled with a love so strong, she wanted nothing more than to spend her life thanking God for what He’d done for her.