"Missing? How? Did he not come back yesterday?" Amy's eyes had grown saucers from shock.
After their little baking tradition with Stacy joining in on it, Amy went home to take a nap because she felt tired. She woke up to find dinner set on her counter by Stella. She hit it up, ate, freshened up before getting into bed to talk to Zach. She figured Stella and Richard and gone off to drop off their grandkids probably because Alex had come back from her trip.
"He didn't come home last night. We only dropped off Stacy, so Alex sent him a text to go straight home. But he didn't show up. She thought he slept over when she called me this morning and that's when we realized-"
Stella broke into a heartbreaking sob. Amy was quick to pull her into a hug and rubbed soothing circles on her back. The car echoed with Stella's soft sobs and sniffles. Her shoulders shook as she cried.
Amy's mind started working. Where could he have gone? She did not remember the streets in their neighborhood having any security cameras. She could track down his phone location as long as it was on or retrace it's signal to where it disappeared. But their streets led into town where there were plenty of CCTV on the roads or shops, she was sure she could find something. She just hoped nothing had happened to him.
"But he could be at a friend's place", Stella started as she pulled away. Amy took a box of tissues from the glove compartment and handed it to her friend. "Thank you."
Amy nodded as she tucked some stray strands of Stella's brown hair behind the woman's ears. Her frown seemed to grow deeper and her mouth was upturned into a pout as she took in Stella's tear stricken face.
"But it's scary because he's never done this and his phone is off", Stella sniffled before using the tissue to blow her nose.
"Can I help?" Amy asked softly.
"Thank you, dear. But there's nothing we can do. And we can't report it to the police until 24 hours passes with him missing. All we can do is keep trying to reach him."
"Could you share me his contact? I'll try calling him as well."
Stella gently patted Amy's cheek. "Thank you dear, I'll really appreciate that."
Stella didn't waste a second and gave her the number. With the little talk she had with Amy, she didn't feel too stuffy any more. So she started the car and pulled out of their driveway.
The ride was not as noisy as it normally is with Stella since the disappearance of her grandson took a toll on her. Even after opening up the library, Stella hardly stepped out of her office. And when she did, her phone was pressed to her ear calling Ian's number.
Amy took over his cleaning duties and library duties. She helped the different customers while her computer run a search of the possible captions of the young man's footage in the different CCTVs in West Village leading from their street.
After helping a customer get a book from a shelf, she went back to her workstation where her laptop was shieleded by the high desk. Since the search she was running was akin to looking for a niddle in a haystack, it was taking a while. Ian could have gone anywhere and taken any direction; or whoever was with him.
'Could he be with Mona?' she mused.
But he had broken up with her, things seemed bad between the two. So she ruled out the possibility. Still, she needed to che-
A woman in her early thirties rushed into the library with puffy eyes. Amy could pick on the resemblance to Ian and Stella especially the hazel brown eyes and shape of the mouth. She could also tell the woman was trying not to cry. Was she Ian's older sister?
The woman wore some slacks and a shirt that was tucked in with matching flat shoes. She walked up to Amy's desk and didn't bother to smile.
"Excuse me, do you know if my mom is in?" The woman spoke.
'Whoa!' Amy was stunned. Was it in their blood to look younger than their age? And very beautiful, might she add.
"Yes, go right ahead", Amy gestured with her hand.
"Thank you."
Amy watched the woman disappear in Stella's office's direction. Even the way she walked was exactly like Stella's. Amy left her workstation and went to the conference room where she made two coffees and served them with cookies. She loaded everything on a tray and made way to Stella's office.
"She doesn't know. I told her he had gone for a sleepover at his friend's place. I didn't want her to worry about her brother", she overheard Stella's daughter speak.
"You did good. Stacy would be disturbed if she learned of her brother's disappearance", Stella commented.
Amy was disturbed by this fact. Sudden disappearance could take a toll on the person's loved ones. She could see how painful it was for them. Was this how painful it was for Zach? However, they were strangers when they met and when she left. But he sounded really sad when she didn't tell him her whereabouts, she could feel it. Especially during Ian's visit that looked like a possible break in. Ian.
She snapped out of her thoughts and balanced the tray on one hand before using the other to knock. When she got the response, she opened the door and was sure to close it behind her. She went ahead to serve them on the glass coffee table.
"Oh! Emily, this is my eldest daughter Alex. Alex, this is Emily", Stella made the introductions.
"It's nice to meet you Emily", Alex stretched out her hand and forced a smile even when her eyes were teary.
"Likewise."
Amy did not know what to say. She wanted to comfort her but at the same not sound like she was offering condolences. Ian was missing not dead. She could only offer a sympathetic smile.
"Thank you for this. I wish we could have these but we have to leave for the station to make a statement. And we have to be done before I can go get Stacy from school", Alex gave her an apologetic smile as she stood up.
Amy shook her head showing she understood the gravity of the situation. Stella took out her phone and dialed a number.
"Richard could you pick up Stacy from school? Alex and I have to go to the police station..... Thank you darling..... I love you too. Bye", she hang up the phone.
"Mom, you know he can't drive", Alex's brows furrowed.
"If he starts walking now, he'll get there in time", Stella responded.
Amy wanted to chuckle thinking the woman was joking to lighten up the mood but it seemed she was serious. Odd. It seemed the story was not so simple. But she had never been one to pry. So she cleared up the coffee and cookies as the women left.
She returned to her post and went back to her laptop. Finally, she had gotten a footage of him leaving town on foot in the early hours of yesterday before she found another of him coming back in the evening. But he wasn't alone. Her jaw dropped when she saw the familiar brunette petite figure walking with him past the flower shop in town.
He stopped and held out his hand to which the person with him took it. Amy's brow arched when she saw this. But there was no amusement in her eyes as she watched on. That person better not be the reason for him putting everyone in a panic and especially making Stella cry.
She finally got results of where his phone signal last stopped. She used Google maps to check the location's topography and it seemed to be in the woods. The time showed it to be during the afternoon. But they were back in town by evening. Unfortunately, his phone was still off! She needed to find them.
And they were going to get it.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m