Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Nora waited for Austin’s reaction, to hear whatever else he had to say.
His jaw tightened. “Has anyone else in your family heard from my father?”
Nora’s shoulders stiffened. “No.”
“You didn’t tell them he contacted you.”
It wasn’t a question.
She answered anyway. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to build conversations around possibilities that lead to false hope.” She kept her voice low as she continued. “My mother finally has her son home. My sisters have been through enough. I didn’t want to worry everyone over a maybe.”
Austin understood the impulse.
“It seems as if my dad was asking questions about your family,” Austin said. “Someone here might know why.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Roy Callahan’s name was circled twice in his notes. My father didn’t do that for nothing.”
Something shifted in her expression.
Austin caught it, and his eyes narrowed. “That name means something to you.”
“I suspect Roy had something to do with all of this, but I don’t know what.” She glanced toward the closed door. “My father and Roy had a falling-out not long before Christian disappeared.”
“Over money?”
She blew out a breath. “Roy kept adding appearances that took us hours out of the way or left us sitting in the same area for an extra night. Dad thought the schedule made no sense. Roy said somebody else was covering the expenses, so it didn’t matter.”
“But you don’t believe that was the whole story.”
“I never had a reason not to.”
“Until now.”
Her eyes met his.
Austin pushed away from the wall. “Did my father ask to speak to your dad?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Then maybe that was why he came back to Knoxville. Maybe he has a lead, and he wanted to talk to you all.”
Nora looked at the door again. “I didn’t stop him from talking to anyone except Christian. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“Where is your dad now?”
“He’s at work.”
“I’d like to talk to him.”
Her gaze returned to Austin. “Of course. I’ll give him the message.”
Austin followed Nora out of the small front room and through the kitchen.
Her mother glanced up from unloading the groceries but didn’t ask anything. Nora gave her a quick look that seemed to communicate later. Christian stood at the counter pouring himself a glass of water. His gaze followed Austin across the room, but he didn’t say anything.
Nora pushed open the back door, and cool air met them on the porch.
They had barely reached the steps when Austin’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office—the same agency he’d filed the missing person report with before leaving Knoxville.
His stomach tightened.
“Give me a second.” Austin moved away from Nora and answered. “Donnelly.”
“Mr. Donnelly, this is Deputy Harlan with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. I’m calling about the report you filed on your father.”
Austin stopped walking. “You found him?”
“We located his vehicle about twenty minutes ago—a silver Toyota Camry registered to Jeffrey Donnelly.”
“Where?”
“At a trailhead off Old Mill Road.”
Austin turned away from the house. “Was he with the car?”
“No, sir. The vehicle was unoccupied. It was also unlocked, and there were no signs of a struggle. We have deputies checking the immediate area.”
Austin’s grip tightened around the phone. “How long has the car been there?”
“That’s undetermined. A hiker called it in this morning and said he remembered seeing it yesterday evening. The engine’s cool to the touch as well.”
“My father was an FBI agent.” Austin forced his voice to remain even. “Have you secured the perimeter?”
“Affirmative,” Harlan said. “We’ve got it locked down. Only one deputy entered the vehicle to confirm the identification.”
“Good. I’m on my way. I’m probably thirty minutes out.”
Austin ended the call and stared at the screen. He tried not to jump to conclusions, but dread had already begun filling the empty spaces.
“Austin?” Nora stood several feet away, watching him carefully.
“They found my dad’s car in the Old Mill Road area.”
Her expression changed. “And your father?”
“He wasn’t with it.” Austin started toward his SUV.
Nora followed.
He glanced back at her and frowned. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going with you.”
“Why would you do that?” The words came out sharper than he intended.
“Because your father disappeared while investigating my brother, and he called me before he vanished.” She held his gaze. “I also know the Old Mill Road area. And I’m a nurse. If he’s out there hurt, I might actually be useful.”
Austin’s first instinct was to refuse. He didn’t want company, and he certainly didn’t want responsibility for anyone else right now.
But Nora knew the area better than he did, and he couldn’t afford to waste time arguing.
With that thought, he muttered, “Fine. Let’s go.”