Chapter 24
“I’m really worried about her,” Tracy said, standing in the doorway of her apartment.
“How long has she been missing?” I asked.
“She didn’t come home last night. I started to get worried when she didn’t call me back. I left a voicemail and sent a few texts. It’s really not like her.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Yesterday morning. I pulled a double and didn’t get home until late. We were supposed to go sailing today. She said we could take out her boss’s boat.”
“Who does she work for?”
“The Pearsons.”
I shared a look with Jack.
“What, do you know them?” Tracy asked.
“Yes. What does she do for the Pearsons?”
“She’s the nanny, but she likes to call herself an au pair. Thinks it sounds more sophisticated.”
“Was she working last night?”
“I don’t know. She’s usually there during the day.” Then she added, “I thought she might have been with her boyfriend last night, but I called Caleb, and he hasn’t seen her either. Said they got in a fight and broke up.”
“Are you close?”
“Yeah. For sure.”
The pieces all came together. “Can you tell me what her relationship with Mr. Pearson is like?”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “What do you mean?”
“Were they having an affair?”
Tracy looked stunned. “No. No way. She wouldn’t do something like that.”
I gave her a look.
She frowned, then admitted, “Well, okay, yeah. But she swore me to secrecy.”
“Is that why she broke up with her boyfriend?”
Tracy nodded.
“I’m guessing she wanted something more with Mr. Pearson.”
Tracy hesitated a moment, and her mouth scrunched as she debated. “Well, she was pregnant.”
That hung there for a moment.
“Riley was pretty worried about how she was going to manage.”
I shared another look with Jack.
“Do you have a recent picture?” I hadn’t looked up her socials yet.
Tracy pulled out her phone and thumbed through some images. She showed me a pic of the two in bikinis on the foredeck of a boat, red drink cups in hand. They were having fun.
Riley was a gorgeous blonde with a trim, all-natural figure. With tawny eyes and pouty lips, Riley had alluring qualities. The resemblance to Julie Pearson was uncanny. An attractive, younger version. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think she might have caught Richard’s eye.
“How long has she been working for the Pearsons?”
“I don’t know,” Tracy said. “Maybe six months.”
“Do you happen to have Caleb’s number?”
“Yeah.”
I dug into my pocket and handed her a card.
She texted me his info.
I told Tracy we’d look into this and would be in touch.
She bit her lip, “Do you think she’s okay?”
“Don’t worry just yet. Most people who go missing turn up within 48 hours.” I tried to sound more optimistic than I was. “Can you think of anywhere else she might be?”
Tracy’s face scrunched as she racked her brain. “Not really.”
“Does she have any family in the area?”
Tracy shook her head. “No. Her mom lives in Miami, but they don’t talk.”
We said our goodbyes, left the apartment, and ambled back to the elevator.
Jack said, “I’m going to go out on a limb and say Richard knocked up the nanny, then got rid of the problem.”
“I’m sure she wanted some kind of support. Richard might have a hard time explaining that to Julie.”
We took the elevator down to the lobby. I called Caleb. It went to voicemail, and I left a message.
The bright Florida sun beamed down, baking the parking lot. JD and I hustled to the van and drove back to Stingray Bay. We had a few questions for the Pearsons.