7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Cameron
I don't understand. The words keep circling in my head as I stare at the letter in my hand. None of this makes sense. Melanie loved her dress. The setup for her mom and aunt was ready. She loves me. Why would she run?
All the girls, including the makeup artist and hairdresser, said she was on a call with her mom and aunt, but that was a lie. I called them myself, they haven't heard from her since yesterday. Now her aunt's as worried as we are.
An imposing man with dagger tattoos delivered a box and wouldn’t let anyone know who or what it was. The ladies said he stressed it was for Melanie’s eyes only. Who is this man?
This letter... I smooth the crumpled paper again, though I've memorized every word. She doesn't love me? When did that happen? How did I miss something so fundamental? The words are cold and calculating, not at all like Melanie. I don't understand.
“Any contact?” Dad's voice pulls me from my thoughts as he re-enters the room, Mom right behind him. Her eyes are red-rimmed from crying.
“The guests who stayed are eating,” Mom says quietly. “We thought we should, since the caterer's already been paid.”
“Fine, whatever.” I'm still in my tux, sitting on the floor with my arms draped over my knees. The letter trembles slightly in my hand.
“Cameron.” Dad's voice holds that careful tone he uses with frightened patients. “I know I asked before, but have you thought of any reason? Anything at all? Are you sure you two didn't have a fight?”
“No. No fight.” My voice cracks. “I thought she loved me. Thought she loved all of us.”
“She does love you. She loves this family.” Mom's conviction rings through her tears. “Your brothers are at her apartment. Maybe they'll find something to explain this.”
“I hope they find her passed out on the floor.” The words taste bitter. “At least then we'd know what happened.”
“Honey, what she said on the phone...” Mom exchanges a look with Dad. “We think we should call Tobias.”
“What's the Sheriff going to do? She's an adult. He won't do anything.”
“He will,” Dad's hand lands on my shoulder. “You heard her mention 'he', Cameron, I think something's happened to her.”
His words threaten to make me physically ill. Deep down I know he's right; I know this isn't like her. But then on the phone, why didn't she tell me what was going on? Even give me a hint?
“This isn't like her at all, I'm frightened,” Mom said, “which is exactly why I'm calling Tobias.” She marched to the corner and grabbed her purse.
“Your mother's right.” Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Time to bring in help.”
Mom's already dialing. “Tobias? Evelyn Whitaker. We need you... No, it's Melanie. She's disappeared... Yes, before the ceremony. No one saw her leave. Cameron spoke to her once - she was frightened, mentioned a man... Tobias, this isn't like her. You know Melanie...”
The door opens and my brothers enter with Michael. Their faces tell me they found nothing. All three glance at me then back to Dad.
“It looked ransacked,” Carson reports. “Drawers open, desk a mess.”
“Moses wasn't there,” Colton finishes grimly. “She must have taken him, there was a can of food on the counter.”
“Do you think she was on her own?” I ask, afraid of the answer.
“Tobias is in the area,” Mom announces. “He wants us to wait here.”
“You called the police?” Michael asks in a voice that holds an edge.
No doubt my best friend is thinking the same thing I'm clinging to. That Melanie left of her own free will. I can deal with that, reason with her, get her back. I don't know what to do if the real answer is that someone took her. Who would do that?
“Of course I called Tobias,” Mom draws herself up. “Melanie wouldn't just vanish. From that phone call, she's in trouble.”
“She left a note saying she doesn't love Cameron.” Michael shrugs. “Seems pretty clear.”
“Where have you been their entire relationship? It's not clear at all.” Mom's eyes flash. “What if someone forced her to write it? What if she's in danger? These things happen and time is of the essence.”
“I just meant...” Michael backs down from Mom's glare. “Of course, we all want her safe.”
A sharp knock interrupts. The door opens to reveal the well-loved Sheriff Tobias Trenton, radiating authority. His six-foot- three stance along with sharp features and impressive muscles only add to his presence. The salt and pepper colors on the sides of his black hair hint at his experiences. Sheriff Trenton's military bearing shows in his precise movements as he surveys the room.
“Whitakers.” His deep voice carries years of command as he gives a nod to Dad. “Tell me everything.”
As we recount the morning's events showing the Sheriff where Melanie was last seen, the bridal suite looks frozen in time - makeup scattered across the vanity, her overnight bag still packed for our honeymoon. I watch his eyes note details - the pristine dress hanging forgotten, the half-empty champagne glasses, packing peanuts askew on the bride's ready room floor. Nothing seems to escape his attention.
“Where are the bridesmaids?” He asks Mom.
“Downstairs trying to maintain some order for the guests that stayed to eat.”
He shakes his head, “gotta have that free meal.” Dad and Colton chuckle. “I'll need to speak to them.” He pushes the radio mic on his shoulder. “Trenton to Roberts.”
“Roberts here. Just arrived.”
“Quietly gather the bridesmaids from the ballroom and bring them upstairs by the groom's ready room.”
“Ten-four.”
Tobias turns in a circle, “you said they told you she'd gotten a package?” All of our eyes drop to the floor. Lavender packing peanuts lay askew on the floor. “Any idea who the package came from?”
“No, just that some thug brought it.”
“Thug?”
Mom speaks up, “that's what the girls called him. A huge guy, all in black with face tattoos. They said he made them uncomfortable. They said the front desk girl brought him up.”
“Her name's Sofia. Here,” I step over to the Sheriff. “I can access the front desk video from my phone.” I speed it up, slowing to show Mom, Dad and Melanie arriving. She looks so happy it makes my knees weak. They stopped and got the keys to the bridal ready rooms. I speed it up again, showing the bridesmaids arriving. The amount of stuff the ladies brought with them makes it look like they were taking up permanent residence. My heart skips a beat when the man in question appears. Thug, gangster, terrifying, all would be fitting to describe him. He approaches the front desk; we watch him have words with Sofia then he proceeds the same way as the rest of people involved in the wedding did. Sofia emerges from the door by the desk and hurries after him. All the while he holds a lavender colored box in his left hand.
“You know him?” Sheriff Trenton questions me.
“No, I've never seen him before. I can send you this if you want.”
“I want.” The Sheriff eyes everyone else in the room. “This guy sound familiar to any of the rest of you?” Everyone shakes their heads no.
“Trenton to Roberts.”
“Roberts here.”
“Go to the front desk. Ask Sofia to stay until one of us has spoken to her.”
“Ten-four”
“Trenton to Sang.”
“Sang here.”
“You better get rolling out here, too. Whispering Pines Inn. Meet us upstairs by the groom's ready room.”
“Ten-four”
“So, the ladies didn't see Melanie leave this room?” Sheriff Trenton slowly turns in a circle taking everything in.
“No, they thought she was on a call with her aunt.” Mom answers.
“The question is, then how did she get out of the room?”
“Oh my God, the passage.” I spin around and go to the closet. The Sheriff right behind me.
“Passage?” He asks but I'm standing at the door so I just show him by popping it open.
Sheriff Trenton unsheathes his flashlight from his belt. Shining the bright beam into the passage. He brings the light down to examine the floor.
“Looks like scuff marks. How'd she know about this passage?”
“She didn't. I mean I don't think she did.” The realization hits me. “None of the guests knew. Only long-term staff and we never use it. It's not safe.”
“So, long-term staff over the years and anyone who might have studied the building's layout.” Tobias's eyes narrow. “That's a pretty broad field. Let's go back to the groom's room. Who has a key for this suite?”
“I do,” Mom pulls the keycard from her pocket and hands it to the Sheriff as he ushers us all out.
Back in the groom's suite, he takes my statement while Deputies Roberts and Sang interview the others. No, we hadn't been in any fights. No, I had no idea who could have done this. I describe our phone call, how strange she sounded, the way the call cut off.
“She said she had to prevent deaths. The words still make no sense. She said, not dead. I just... I can't... I can't be the cause of the deaths. I have to save you. I begged her to tell me where she was if she was hurt.”
“And?” He looks at me with soul-boring eyes.
“She said, no, Cameron. No. I can't - he'll know. I have to figure it out. I don't understand how he- check on mom for me. Our... And that was it, then her phone must have,” I pause, unwilling to add the word.
“Run out of battery?” Tobias offers and I nod. “You have a good memory to remember the call word for word.”
“While we were waiting, I typed the conversation into my phone. Dad always told us the more information we gave him the better the outcome.” I shrug. “I guess I just went with what I've been taught. Do you think that guy took her?”
Tobias makes another note, his jaw tight. “I can't say. But something seems to have happened. You have a key to her apartment?”
I hand over her key, a thought striking me. “She took her cat. Would someone forcing her to run let her bring a pet?”
“People surprise you.” Tobias's eyes look into mine. His hold decades of hard-earned wisdom. Mine threaten to burst with tears. “Sometimes what looks like a simple choice isn't simple at all.”
I retrieved the hotel surveillance video from the morning. Interrupting his questioning of Abbi, I give it to Tobias. Then I went to sit in the Groom's room. Taking up my spot against the wall, I lower myself to the floor. Colton takes a seat next to me.
“Dad?” My voice sounds young even to my ears. “Mind if I stay at your place tonight?”
“Of course, son.”
“You can crash at my place,” Michael offers.
“Thanks, but I'll go over there.” The thought of being alone in my house - our house - is unbearable. “Come over if you want. I could use the company.”
“Sure, anything you need.” Michael shoulders his bag. “Let me grab my tablet first I've got some work to research.”
“You're all free to go.” Tobias announces to the room. “Just don't go far in case we have more questions.” His eyes on me as he speaks.
“What about Melanie's things?” Debbie asks.
“We've closed the room until we can go over everything. We'll be in touch when you can come get her personal items.”
Everyone nods their understanding. Colton stands and offers me a hand. Pulling me up I stand next to him. Carson steps next to us. Wrapping his big brother arms around the two of us, Carson hugs me too.
“We're here with you little brother.”
“Whatever you need.”
What I needed they couldn't give me. What I needed was my Melanie back.