Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Sean was a lovely man, and Quinn did not feel any awkwardness as she explained the situation and asked for his advice.
She knew he wouldn’t dismiss her fears, but neither would he stoke them unnecessarily.
What she really wanted was for Sean to tell her that everything would be all right and Logan would return to them unharmed, but he wouldn’t do that either.
He would give her his honest opinion, both as a friend and as an experienced policeman.
“Who is it, darling?” Sean’s wife, Carla, called out in the background when there was a lull in the conversation. “Is it Edie?”
“It’s Quinn.”
“Echoes from the Past Quinn? What does she—?”
“I’m sorry about that,” Sean said as it grew quiet in the background. He must have walked into the bedroom and shut the door.
“What should I do, Sean?” Quinn asked. “Should I go to the police?”
“Give Logan until tomorrow afternoon,” Sean advised.
“Because someone needs to be missing twenty-four hours to file a missing persons report?” she asked.
“That’s not strictly true, but in the case of an adult, it’s advisable to wait.
People go AWOL all the time. It’s irresponsible and inconsiderate, but not answering one’s messages for a few hours doesn’t prove that the person has been a victim of a crime or in an accident.
Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the misper turns up on their own, looking shamefaced and spouting excuses. ”
“But what if Logan doesn’t come back?” Quinn asked.
Sean’s advice made perfect sense when applied to strangers, but Quinn knew with unwavering certainty that Logan would never not show up for Max. Anyone else, but never his baby.
“We’ll deal with that if it happens,” Sean said, and the use of we made Quinn feel a little calmer. She trusted Sean and knew he would do everything he could to help if the situation escalated.
“Is Logan seeing anyone?” Sean asked. His tone was casual, but Quinn knew her answer mattered.
“He hasn’t been in a serious relationship since he and Rafe Hoffman broke up a few years ago.”
“But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been dating,” Sean replied.
“Do you think he went off with some random bloke?” Quinn retorted. She didn’t mean to sound angry or defensive, but that was the way it had come out, and she was instantly contrite. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s only that Logan wouldn’t do that.”
“That’s not what I was getting at,” Sean replied calmly. He had dealt with countless worried family members over his thirty-year career with the Met and had probably heard it all.
“What, then?”
Sean sighed. “There are individuals who are unable to deal with rejection. When someone is assaulted—and I’m not saying that’s what happened to Logan—it’s rarely random.
That does happen, of course, but a strong young man is not a likely candidate for a mugging.
Those looking to rob someone of their valuables will choose someone they can easily overpower.
So when an individual is targeted, chances are the victim and the perp have crossed paths before. ”
“You think Logan was attacked by someone he’d gone out with?” Quinn asked.
“It’s not beyond the realm of possibility. What’s Logan’s dating MO?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is he the sort of person to see someone a few times, or is he more of a one-night stand kind of guy?” Sean asked patiently.
“I really couldn’t tell you. Logan has been in two committed relationships since I first met him, but he’s been single for a while now. I have no idea what his MO might be, or if he even has one. Perhaps that depends on who he’s seeing.”
“Let’s put his love life on the back burner for now,” Sean suggested. “Is there anyone who might hold a grudge against him? Anyone he’s had an altercation with recently?”
“Like whom?”
“Maybe a disgruntled patient, or a relative who took offense at something Logan said or did while caring for their loved one.”
“And so they kidnapped him and are holding him hostage?” Quinn exclaimed, horrified by the suggestion.
“I’m not suggesting that Logan was kidnapped, but maybe someone approached him, an argument ensued, and things turned nasty.”
“Logan left work at five o’clock. It’s now after eight. Even if that happened, it would have been hours ago,” Quinn reasoned.
“Maybe he went to A&E.” Or was taken to A&E and was in no condition to ask anyone to ring his next of kin seemed to hang in the ether between them.
“Should I ring the hospitals?” Quinn asked.
“Any injuries that are a result of obvious violence or a serious accident will be reported to the police by A&E staff, so you don’t need to do that. If anything happened, the police would come to you. They would be able to track down Logan’s next of kin even if he was unable to tell them himself.”
“So, I just wait for news and hope someone comes?” Quinn cried, a tad hysterically.
“Quinn, you need to keep a cool head,” Sean replied calmly.
“I know you’re worried, but Logan has been out of touch for less than four hours.
If he was a minor, I would be more concerned, but he’s a healthy, fit man in his thirties.
If he doesn’t surface by tomorrow morning, let me know, and I’ll make some calls.
Until then, try to remain calm. That little boy will be watching you for any sign of fear, and he will know if something is wrong and internalize it.
So until you’re sure that something really is wrong, you carry on as normal. ”
“Should I go to Logan’s house and check if he’s there?” Quinn asked in a last-ditch effort to identify something she could do.
“No. If the police need to get involved, they will have to search the premises, and you might unwittingly destroy crucial evidence. I know it’s hard, but please, be patient.”
“All right. Thank you, Sean,” Quinn said contritely.
“You’re very welcome. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
Quinn ended the call and set aside her phone.
She acknowledged that Sean was right on all counts, but her insides twisted with apprehension.
The best thing she could do was to focus on the practicalities.
She found a T-shirt, track bottoms, and a sweatshirt Alex had outgrown and set them aside for Max to wear to school tomorrow.
Then she prepared pajamas and took out the hooded towel Alex used to love.
The hood had a monkey face and brown terrycloth ears.
She’d give Max a bath, put him to bed, and tomorrow she’d take him to nursery.
Then she’d pop to the shops and pick up a few things for him.
He couldn’t keep wearing Alex’s cast-offs.
She paused just as she was about to turn on the taps in the bath, having realized that she was already assuming Logan wouldn’t come back.
That frightened her even more. Despite Sean’s calm reassurance that Logan was most likely all right, deep down she knew something was wrong and she had just gone into crisis mode.
It took all her self-control not to show Max that she was worried.
She gave him a bath, made sure he brushed his teeth, and put him to bed on a foldout sofa in Alex’s room.
Max was asleep in moments, Alex’s teddy bear tucked up against his side.
By the time she got into bed herself, Quinn was thrumming with anxiety, and Gabe gathered her into his arms and held her close until his breathing slowed and he fell into a deep sleep.
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to rest, Quinn reached for the plastic case and closed her fingers around the delicate earring. She may as well see what happened next.