Chapter Nine
Anxiety rolled through Olivia like a bowling ball.
Zoe was in trouble. Olivia called Officer Billings again.
When he didn’t answer, she left another—more urgent—message, saying she had important information about Zoe’s disappearance.
Then she started for her Prius. She needed help.
If the police weren’t going to assist, then Lincoln would.
Nicki rolled down the overhead door. “Are we going to leave this unlocked?”
“No.” Olivia retrieved her lock from her gym bag and used it to secure the door. The smaller padlock looked flimsy, but it was all she had on hand.
“Let’s go.” She stowed Zoe’s phone and receipts in her purse. They got into the car and drove out the gate, noting the arm opened with a motion sensor, with no need to enter the code on the way out. She parked in front of the office, and they went inside once again.
The clerk gave Nicki a questioning glance.
Nicki shook her head. “She wasn’t in there.”
The poor guy visibly deflated with relief.
“Are there surveillance cameras anywhere around the facility?” Olivia asked, as if she didn’t know.
“A couple. The coverage isn’t good, though,” he admitted.
“How about the one on the gate?”
“Let me see.” He returned to the computer. “Huh. I know that camera was working last week because someone hit the gate and I needed to send the footage to the insurance company. But it looks like it went down. I don’t see a recording of you going through just now.”
Nicki leaned on the counter. “What’s the last time it recorded an entry?”
“One forty-five this morning,” he said.
If Zoe had left Scarlet Falls when she’d received the Run message, then she would have reached Kellsville at just about that time.
He turned the computer so they could see the screen.
They watched a video of Zoe’s Jeep going through the gate.
The time stamp read 1:45 a.m. Zoe’s profile was visible, and the passenger seat appeared to be empty.
The footage was too dark to see farther into the Jeep.
“There’s no video after that, but the electronic exit gate recorded opening at 1:58 a.m. The camera should have captured the vehicle leaving. ”
Did Zoe have a vehicle stashed in the unit? It seemed unlikely that she’d left on foot. There was nowhere to walk to. Unless someone picked her up . . .
“Could you give us a copy of that video?” Nicki asked.
But not even her charms could entice him. “Not without checking with my boss, no.”
“I understand.” Olivia didn’t blame him at all. They weren’t law enforcement, and they’d provided no evidence of their story. “But if I were you, I’d make sure it doesn’t get deleted in case the police need it.”
He nodded. “I’ll make a copy.”
“Do you know how long ago she rented the unit?” Olivia asked.
He tapped on the computer. “The current owners changed the system when they bought this place eight years ago.”
Olivia couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Did you say eight years?”
He nodded. “Actually, her record is older than that, but I don’t have an actual date. Not sure if it’s possible to find it either.”
Olivia was too shocked to respond. Eight years—or more—was a long time to keep a secret this big. What was Zoe afraid of? It had to be a major threat to go to these lengths to be ready to run and to conceal those plans.
“Thanks anyway. You were really helpful,” Nicki added.
“I hope you find her,” he said.
Back in the Prius, Nicki asked in a worried tone, “What happened to Zoe?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would someone tell her to run?”
“I don’t know that either.” But Olivia was going to find out.
They drove back to Nicki’s apartment with much less conversation, as if Nicki was also processing the events of the day and what they could mean for Zoe. Lincoln texted to let Olivia know he’d be home soon.
Olivia pulled to the curb in front of Nicki’s apartment.
In the passenger seat, Nicki showed no signs of wanting to get out of the car. “What now?”
“I don’t know.” Helplessness swirled in Olivia’s gut. All of her instincts were screaming that Zoe was in deep trouble. But neither the police nor Zoe’s producer had returned her calls. “I need to regroup and talk to Lincoln when he gets home.”
“That’s it?” Nicki’s voice rose with urgency. “Wait for Sharp is your plan?” Everyone called him Sharp except Olivia. She refused to call the man she was in a relationship with by his last name. And she’d known from the very first time they’d met that he’d had that potential. Chemistry didn’t lie.
“He’s very good at what he does,” Olivia said. “He found me.”
“Yes.” Nicki reached over and squeezed her hand.
Olivia squeezed back. “Try not to worry too much. We know Zoe was alive and well very early this morning.”
“Not exactly,” Nicki said. “We know she drove her Jeep into the storage facility. The gate recorded a vehicle leaving, but we didn’t see Zoe. We’re assuming it was her.”
“That’s a good point.” Olivia was worried.
“What if someone was waiting inside her Jeep for her at the office and made her drive to the storage unit?”
“That’s a lot of conjecture,” Olivia warned. “We can only go by the facts. But you’re right. We didn’t see her at the unit. We only saw her Jeep. But I still need some time to review and process everything.”
“I could cancel my plans for tonight and help. You have Zoe’s phone, and the number that texted her to run.”
“And researching those things will take time. Lincoln will help, and I have other people I can reach out to.” Olivia had established connections over her long career.
“OK.” But Nicki sounded disappointed.
“You have a date tonight and work tomorrow?”
Nicki shook her head. “For the tenth time, it’s not a date. It’s coffee.”
“How many coffees progress to dates?”
“Not very many,” Nicki admitted. “I haven’t had any luck since Trevor.” She said the name like it was dog poo.
“Trevor was a jerk.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“You’ll meet someone.”
“I’m not in a rush,” Nicki said. “I’m happy by myself.”
“That’s good.” But Olivia thought she must be lonely.
Nicki had ended her relationship with Trevor because he’d cheated with her best friend.
She’d lost her boyfriend and her bestie in one day.
She and Olivia had always been close. But since the breakup, they’d spent even more time together.
Not that Olivia was complaining. She enjoyed her niece.
Nicki continued. “I’m open to a relationship with a man who adds value to my life, but I don’t need one just for the sake of having one.
Aren’t you the one who always told me I should be content with myself first?
That I should choose to be with someone because I like being with them?
I should never hook up just because I don’t want to be alone. ”
Olivia laughed. “Yes. I’m glad you’ve been paying attention. You shouldn’t settle for less than you deserve. Enjoy your evening. Maybe this young man will be worthy. You never know.”
Nicki reached for the door handle. “OK, then. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“OK.”
“And you’ll let me know if you discover anything really important?”
“Sure.” Maybe. “You’re going to change your clothes and comb your hair before you go out tonight, right?” As soon as the questions left her lips, Olivia regretted them. Why was she so superficial?
“Probably.” Nicki tilted her head. “But shouldn’t a man like me for my intellect and personality rather than for my looks?”
“Yes,” Olivia admitted.
“Not everyone needs to look perfect like you all the time,” Nicki said.
“I do not look perfect.”
“Oh, please.” Nicki pointed to Olivia’s hand on the steering wheel. “I bet the polish on your toenails matches that gorgeous bronze on your fingertips right now.”
Guilty. The heat that flushed Olivia’s cheeks was her answer.
“You know how absurd that is, right? You’re wearing boots.” Nicki pointed to them.
“Point taken. You’re right. I’m too concerned with appearances. Does it make a difference that I do it for me and not anyone else?”
“Yeah. It does.” Nicki grinned. “And you do always look fabulous. Love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She leaned over and gave Olivia a quick peck on the cheek.
“Love you too.” Olivia watched until Nicki was safely inside her building.
Then she checked her rearview mirror. She’d seen no sign of anyone following them, but she was not going to relax her vigilance.
She texted Lincoln to let him know she was on her way.
He replied with a smiley face, which made her snort.
He didn’t seem like the sort of man who would use silly emojis, and she loved that he did.
She sped up, anxious to talk to him. They’d only been dating for a little over three years, but their connection felt like it had spanned decades.
He’d become her anchor. They’d met on one of his investigations.
He hadn’t wanted her help, and he’d resisted the pull between them just as hard, but he hadn’t been able to deny the attraction either.
She drove home without incident. The kitchen smelled like tomato sauce. Lincoln stood at the island grating a block of Parmesan cheese. Water boiled on the stove, and red liquid simmered in a saucepan. A pot of tea steeped on the counter. He looked up as she shed her jacket, boots, and purse.
“Have you been here long?” She kissed him lightly, then rested her head on his chest. He’d recently showered. She breathed in the comforting scent of his citrus body wash.
“About a half hour.” He dropped the cheese and grater, wrapped both arms around her, and kissed the top of her head. “Rough day?”
“Yes.” Peace washed through her. She leaned back, taking in the weariness on his face. “I should ask the same of you. Your eyes look tired.”
“I spent the day lying on a roof squinting into a pair of binoculars. And because absolutely nothing happened, I get to do it again tomorrow. You?”