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“I have to think,” Rina said, turning away and stepping out the door. “Goodbye, Penny.”
ChapterEighteen
After she got the text from Steve, Claire waited at the window like a golden retriever, watching her neighbors’ cars crawl past. Snow was as thick as icing across the windowpane, glinting in the January afternoon. Upstairs, Abby was giving an online presentation to her classmates, and Claire could feel the vibrations of her voice through the house. Somehow, Abby kept going, even as Claire felt herself disintegrating by the minute.
Steve’s truck pulled into the driveway a few minutes later. After he shut off the engine, he and Rina spoke for a few minutes, Rina touching her brunette bob. Claire’s heart surged. This was the woman who would bring her Gail back home. She was putting all her trust in her. Since they’d told her yesterday they were coming across the continent to help her, Claire had scoured the internet, reading stories in which Rina had been responsible for reuniting families. If she’d done such remarkable work for them, why wouldn’t that luck extend to Claire?
As Rina and Steve ambled up the front walk, Claire bucked to the foyer and opened the door. All at once, Steve’s strong arms were around her. “Welcome back,” Claire heard herself cry. “I’m sorry you had to leave the California sunshine for this.”
Rina hugged her, too. “I needed a break from California. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Claire poured them coffee and asked them strained questions about their flight and about Rina’s mother’s health.
“She’s doing better every day,” Rina explained.
“What happened?” Claire asked.
A wave of sorrow passed over Rina’s face. “My mother and father had an argument on a staircase. My mother smacked my father on the arm and lost her balance.”
Claire’s jaw dropped.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Rina hurried to say. “And no. I genuinely don’t believe my father pushed her. Those two are thick as thieves. They always have been. For better or for worse.”
Not long after that, Steve headed out to check on things at the auto shop. This left Claire and Rina alone in the kitchen as the house creaked against the winter winds. Rina took out a notebook and clicked the end of her pen. Claire understood it was time to tell her as much as she could.
“Steve said you need any information that comes to mind,” Claire said.
“From you, Abby, and Russel,” Rina affirmed.
Claire sighed and rubbed her neck. “That’s the thing. I wouldn’t talk to Russel if I were you.”
Rina’s eyes lit up. “And why not?”
Claire felt as though she was living in a nightmare. “Apparently, Abby and Gail fought about Russel. Gail suggested Russel wasn’t who we thought he was, and Abby got angry about it and refused to listen.”
Rina clicked the end of her pen again and then scribbled something on her notepad. Her handwriting made Claire delirious to look at; it was only a scrawl.
“But you said Gail’s disappearance probably has something to do with Nathan Rodgers, right?” Claire hurried to ask. “I mean, nine times out of ten, young people run away with their romantic partners. Right?”
“We can’t rule anything out,” Rina said quietly. “And if Abby indicates this was a topic right before Gail left, we have to take it seriously.”
Claire’s heart dropped. She took a long sip of coffee. “Have you found any sign of Nathan Rodgers?”
“Unfortunately, whoever this Nathan guy is, he’s very careful about his internet presence,” Rina said. “He moved out of his off-campus house toward the end of the year, but his roommates have no idea where he went. When my associate asked about Gail, the ex-roommates said she used to hang around there quite often. They hadn’t seen her since the beginning of December or so.”
“Which makes sense,” Claire hurried to add. “Because she was studying for finals. She was writing papers.”
“Maybe,” Rina said. She eyed the ceiling. “Do you mind if I go upstairs and chat with Abby for a while?”
“Of course not,” Claire said. “Her class should be over by now.”
Rina padded upstairs gently, leaving Claire alone in the kitchen. She checked her phone for a text from Russel in the city, but there was nothing.
A split second later, a text came in from Steve. It was as though he knew she needed it.
STEVE: Sorry I left so quickly. The auto shop is a mess.
STEVE: How are things with Rina?
