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SERAPHINA
“That went well,” I said out loud, rolling my eyes as I watched Noah Ridge drive away.
I’d certainly made a mess of trying to get the help I was beginning to sense I’d need. Of the two ways I could’ve approached him, I’d chosen pissed off and argumentative, bluffing that I had enough evidence to arrest his best friend.
Maybe if I’d started by explaining I was worried about my sister, the conversation would have gone differently. Not ending with him stalking out of the restaurant before we’d had the chance to order, or driving away, leaving me standing in an empty parking lot in the pouring rain.
I regrettedmy conversation with Noah more after another two days passed without a word from my sister.
Neither my mom nor I had been able to reach her. I’d gone so far as to show up at the university, only to be told she’d emailed at least one of her professors, saying she was leaving town and wouldn’t be finishing the semester.
With only a month left until graduation? She’d never do such a thing. Something else was going on here, and the more time passed without us hearing from her, the more frightened I became.
While the police had let my mother and I file a missing-persons report, that my sister sent her professor an email saying she’d left town was evidence enough for them that she wasn’t missing.
My argument that she wouldn’t quit school so close to graduation hadn’t swayed their belief we were wasting their time at all.
I didn’t know much about Luisa’s boyfriend, Jorge, including his last name. In a city where twenty percent of its population was Hispanic, I could hardly walk around asking if anyone knew someone who went by Jorge.
My gut told me something was wrong. Really wrong, and when it came to a missing person, time mattered.
I knew my best option to get the help I needed to look for her was to swallow my pride and contact Noah. If Los Caballeros truly did exist, maybe I could convince them to help me look for her, even if it meant paying them.
I didn’t have a lot of money saved, but I had ten grand set aside toward a down payment on a house. I had a long way to go, but I made decent income, working for the DA. If I had to use my savings to find Luisa, I would.
I called Noah, not surprised when he didn’t pick up. I left a message, saying it was urgent I speak with him, but after several hours, he hadn’t returned my call.
I’d also called Zin Oliver, a local attorney and good friend of Noah’s who was also rumored to be connected to Los Caballeros. I left a voicemail for him too.
Finally, after not hearing back from either Noah or Zin, I called the sheriff.
“Ms. Reeve, I was headed out the door.”
“I won’t keep you. I’m trying to reach Noah Ridge on an urgent matter. I’ve left messages, but he hasn’t returned my call.”
“My guess is he’s already at the Wicked Winemakers’ Ball, where I’m also headed.”
“If you see him, can you please relay the message that it’s imperative I speak with him?”
“If this is about Addison Reagan—”
“It isn’t. It’s not about her or her mother or Brix or Los Caballeros.” I took a breath. “If you see him, would you please reiterate what I said?”
“If I see him.”
The call ended abruptly, as did my hope Sheriff Krouse would tell Noah he’d spoken to me.
I opened my laptop and searched for the fundraiser he’d mentioned, then clicked on the page to purchase tickets, knowing if it was sold out, I’d still go. That’s how desperate I was to talk to Noah.
When I clicked the button to purchase entry to the event and chose a single ticket, another tab immediately opened, asking for payment.
First hurdle, crossed. Now, what in God’s name would I wear to a black-tie event? I rummaged through my closet and found a maxi-length black dress that was far too informal for the ball, but at least, it was long.
After putting my hair in an updo and makeup on, I grabbed a pair of black heels and raced out the door. If I arrived too late for the bachelor auction, at least the hundred dollars I’d spent on the ticket would go to charity.
