69. Lost Not Found
Lost Not Found
Fly
There’s got to be something, some little clue I missed, something.
“Where did you disappear to, young man?” The little old lady pops up as I reach Sheri’s car.
“My woman is missing. I believe she might have been kidnapped. I’m going to search through her car to see if I can find some clues.”
“Oh dear. I was afraid of that. I’ll call my grandson. He’ll come help. He’s very good at these sorts of things.”
Her grandson is most likely the local cop. I don’t hate cops, but they also make doing what needs to be done harder. “I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
She stops moving and raises her eyes to me. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I know exactly what I’m doing and what I’m going to do when I find her.
“And you are aware of the possible repercussions?”
I know how to disappear and make a body disappear. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You love her that much.”
“More than that.” I would do this a thousand times over for her. Though I could really do without her ever getting kidnapped.
“Well then, get to it. I’ll make sure you aren’t bothered.”
What? Did that little old lady just promise to keep the cops away? “Thank you.”
“Do you need help getting into her car? It’s locked.”
“No, ma’am.” I learned how to not only break into a car, but also hot-wire one by the time I was eight.
She nods. “You seem like a smart boy. Be respectful.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will be.” After popping the lock, I start sifting through things, returning everything exactly where I found it.
My hand stops on an old cigar box. The kind they haven’t made in decades. There’s even a hint of smell left in it. I flip it open and find dozens of envelopes, all from the exact same sender. Each and every one of them unopened.
I slide one open and pull out the single piece of paper in it.
“That’s a cashier’s check. You’re holding twenty-five thousand dollars in your hand.” It seems the old woman is determined to help.
Are they all the same? I open one other, and another check for twenty-five thousand dollars drops into my hand.
“Why is Sheridan living in her car when she has millions of dollars?”
That’s a good question, but better ones are: why didn’t she open them, who sent them, and why is someone sending her millions of dollars? “I don’t know.” But I aim to find out. I put the cashier’s checks back and stick the box back where I found it.
“You aren’t going to hang on to it? Keep it safe for her?”
“No, ma’am. I have more important things to worry about.”
“It’s a good thing Beach Haven is a safe town.”
“I really don’t care if it is, or it isn’t. It’s just money.”
She raises an eyebrow at me. “How much are you worth?”
“Enough that I don’t care how much is in here. Though even if I was penniless, I wouldn’t care right now either. What I don’t have is time for pointless questions.”
“They are far from pointless. And I might not look like I’m doing much, but right now every shop owner on Main Street is checking their security cameras to see if they got the perpetrator on video.”
Wow. “Ma’am, you scare me.”
“I like a man who respects his elders. Keep working.” She steps away from the car.
Item by item, I sort through Sheridan’s life. It’s hard not to start to understand why she ran. There are no cards from family. No presents. No tchotchkes.
Does Sheridan have anyone in her life outside of the women in Urbium? At least the townspeople seem to care for her here.
There isn’t even a gas station receipt that might help.
My last hope is behind the partially used roll of toilet paper.
Jackpot.
There’s an envelope filled with cash. I dump it out, and a letter drops into my lap.
“For someone with so many money problems, she sure has a lot of money hidden in there.”
The old woman isn’t wrong.
The letter is signed Dahlia…Vex. He sent her here to be taken.
“Found it.” Rhys comes running out of the shop. “I’ve got him on video shoving her into his car. His face and everything. He didn’t even try to hide it.”
We found her. We’re going to get her back. “Can you send that to me?”
“Already did. You should be getting it—”
My phone pings.
I immediately send the message to Whiz Kid.
Fly
Find him!
Whiz Kid:
On it.
Vex did this. He’s going to help…if he doesn’t make it for the extraction, he can at least be here for the clean-up.
I dial his number.
“You must have a death wish. I told you I was going to take a nap with my wife.”
“And you sent my woman away to be kidnapped.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.” I send him the video.
A few seconds later…“Well, someone needs to teach him some manners.”
“You don’t sound upset.”
Vex yawns. “Trust me. I am. When I see you next, I’m going to punch you.”
WHAT? “Are you insane?”
“Maybe. But I also know your woman wasn’t kidnapped. I asked a friend to ensure her safety until your arrival. It seems he’s a little unsure of how I would have reacted if something happened to her. So he made sure she was safely ensconced in his custody.”
“Sounds like you had her arrested.”
“He’s not a cop by any means. But that’s a good idea. I might try that the next time one of these women decides to go off and do something insane.”
In custody. Arrested. Not kidnapped. “What are you saying?”
“That your woman is just fine. Make sure you teach that idiot some manners for me when you pick her up. I’ll send you the address.”
“That’s it? She’s safe?”
“She’s safe, but you’re not.”
Whatever. “Thanks. Though next time you could just tell me you had her picked up.”
“I told you she was safe. I never lie. Nor do I risk a woman. Don’t insult me again.”
“Got it.”
“Good. I’m going back to sleep now. You’ve got to get yourself a wife soon. This is the best part of life.” He clicks off.
An address in Center City pops up.
Sheridan is safe.
I turn to the old woman and Rhys. Both of whom aren’t even pretending not to be eavesdropping. “She’s safe.”
“Heard that.” The old woman’s smile lights up her face, making her look dozens of years younger. “You going to go get her?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And when you’re done, will you be coming to visit my shop?”
Um…“Yes, ma’am.” Not that I have any idea which shop is hers.
“Sheridan seems like the type to like a lot of babies. You’ll bring them here every winter to visit the beach and let us get to know them.”
Um…“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I’ll call my grandson to keep an eye on her car.”
“Thank you. And ma’am. It was nice to meet you. I want to thank you for all your help. My name is Fly.”
“That’s a peculiar name. It’s nice to meet you. My friends call me Gertie. Now I need to get going before my granddaughters send out a search party. Don’t you forget.”
“I won’t.”
She nods and walks away faster than a woman that age should be able to.
Rhys grins. “Before you ask, yes, she’s always like that. Just be glad she likes you…If she doesn’t, you’re better off just moving.”
I can see that. “Thanks for your help today.”
“Anytime. I really hope you two work out. And let me know if you want a tattoo later. I’ll fit you in.”
Huh?
My phone rings, and the Whiz Kid’s name pops up.
“I found him. And get this. He’s an ally. Well, an ally of a friend. Max said if you have any issues, he’ll make a call for you. But you shouldn’t. This is a stand-up guy. Very trustworthy.”
Vex knows what he’s doing. “Thanks, Kid.”
“I’ll send you the address. If you have any problems, just give us a call.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you going to just ask her?”
Nosy kid. “Yeah, I am.”
“Cool. I think I’m going to try asking Jett out. Maybe we can double-date sometime.”
I groan silently. “We’ll talk. I’ve got to go.” Clean up the mess I made.
Clean up. I dial Havoc’s number.
“What’s up? The crew is leaving in five.”
“Cancel it. No clean-up needed. She’s fine. Vex had her.”
“But isn’t Vex in Urbium?”
“It’s a long story.” A very weird, long story. “I’ve got to go get her and teach someone some manners.”
Havoc chuckles. “Have fun with that. And congrats, brother.”