Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT EVELYN DISAPPEARED
The threatening messages stopped.
For two days.
Then Evelyn's mother vanished.
Margaret had gone to the pharmacy at four in the afternoon.
She never returned.
Her phone went straight to voicemail.
Her purse was found near the parking lot.
Evelyn called the police immediately.
She answered questions.
Provided photographs.
Described her mother's medication and usual route.
Then she sat in the hospital break room, staring at her phone.
Waiting.
At 8:43 p.m., a message appeared.
If you want your mother alive, stop talking about Daniel Mercer.
Evelyn couldn't breathe.
Another message arrived.
No police. No reporters. No Adrian Vale.
Her hands began shaking.
She called Detective Reyes.
He instructed her to preserve the message and remain in a secure location while investigators worked.
But Evelyn was terrified.
Her mother was sixty-eight.
She had a heart condition.
She needed medication.
Evelyn stared at the phone.
Then opened the contact Dante had given her.
Adrian Vale.
She called.
He answered on the second ring.
“Evelyn?”
Her voice broke.
“They took my mother.”
Silence.
Then Adrian said:
“Where are you?”
“St. Matthew's.”
“Are you safe?”
“I don't know.”
“Stay with hospital security and Detective Reyes.”
She swallowed.
“They said not to contact you.”
Adrian's voice hardened.
“Then they know exactly how frightened you are.”
Evelyn began crying.
“Please.”
His tone softened.
“Evelyn, listen to me.”
She closed her eyes.
“I'm listening.”
“You did the right thing calling the police.”
She nodded, though he couldn't see her.
“I'll provide everything I know to the investigators.”
She whispered:
“Will they find her?”
Adrian paused.
Then answered honestly.
“I don't know.”
Her heart sank.
“But we are going to do everything we can.”
An hour later, Adrian arrived at the hospital.
He didn't enter with an entourage.
Only Dante accompanied him.
Evelyn sat in a private room beside Detective Reyes.
Her eyes were red.
Her hands were trembling.
Adrian stopped in the doorway.
For a moment, he looked at her.
Then he crossed the room.
“Evelyn.”
She stood.
And without thinking, threw her arms around him.
Adrian froze.
Dante looked away.
For eight years, Adrian had kept everyone at a distance.
Now an exhausted nurse was crying against his chest.
May you like
He slowly raised his arms.
And held her.
