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With a sigh, Ryker dragged himself out of bed and brewed a strong pot of coffee. After showering and dressing, he finished his second cup of coffee. He had a short coughing fit on the strength of it and prepared to head to work. Staying home was his kryptonite.
Something had to give because Ryker didn’t know how much longer he could go on without Oakley. Losing her would destroy the future they were meant to share, and the life they were just beginning to build. She was his heart, his home.
“Hey, Ryker,” Jac called out, approaching Ryker as he entered Reynaud and Associates’ building, his brow furrowed. “I spoke to Shandra again. She said there was another incident that she remembered. Evidently, the sister of a patient seemed agitated during their brother’s last session. She can’t identify her, but she hasn’t left Oakley alone ever since.”
“Oakley never mentioned it. Why didn’t she mention it?” The anguish was loud in his voice.
“It’s her patient’s confidentiality. You get it. Anyway, the sister had been calling and harassing her verbally during the workday, saying something about killing people’s souls. Could be something, could be nothing. But I thought you should know.”
Jac was back to using his guys, except for Alpha Team, to do their regular assignments. Garrett and Jac, and to some extent, Sharlee and Kaden, were always available if called into action, but the rest were working, checking in when jobs were completed. The girls had cooked so much food he had run out of freezer space and had asked them to stop. He wasn’t interested in food eaten without Oakley.
“Thanks, Jac,” Ryker responded, nodding appreciatively. “I assume you’ve already started following up on that lead. It might be our best shot right now.”
“Right. If you want to go with one of the guys, you are welcome to do that. It looks like the brother lives or is staying in assisted living. I guess Oakley goes to see him at his facility.”
“I’ll go with the ones interviewing the friends and family. I am likely to strangle the brother if he gives me attitude.”
“Good idea.” Jac grabbed Ryker for a hug. Stepping back, he slapped Ryker on the back. “We are going to find her any moment. So when I say jump, you be ready.”
“Love you, man.”
“Back-atcha. Now let’s stop this touchy-feely shit and find your girl.”
Together, they spent hours interviewing the patient’s friends and family, searching for any connection to Oakley’s disappearance. But once again, they hit a wall. Then, when it was mentioned to Charles’ aunt that the sister, Audra Riley, was nowhere to be found, she said a strange thing.
“Now, don’t quote me because I won’t deal with the fallout, but Audra is not quite right. Well, neither of them were, but at least we know why Charles was off. Bi-polar does strange things to people, plus he hasn’t been right since finding his father hanging from the stairwell handrail at seven. Then after the military, well, I’m sure you know what that does to some people. I can’t imagine the horror.” The woman shuddered. “But Audra is obsessive and controlling. She wants things her way, or she thinks you’re against her. With that girl, the only opinion acceptable is hers. She’s the leader of some odd group—something about medication misuse.
“What was their reason for forming?” asked Jac.
“I have no idea, really. But for Audra, it is probably all about Charles. He was kicked out of schools until his mother decided to home-school him, but that didn’t work out because sometimes he would just sit in a room with the tv or radio blaring. Finally, she gave up, and when doctors couldn’t help, they doped him up. It didn’t help him, but it made it easier for others to live around him.”
“What happened when he was grown?”
“I was gone for a while, but when I came back to live here, Audra was back in the home caring for Charles, who had been discharged from the military and looked worse for the wear. She had some of these medication veto people around her about then.”
“What happened to their mother?”
“I don’t know, really. My mom said she just left one day and didn’t return. The family thinks that between Charles’ crazies and Audra’s obsessive control, it just ran her out. I heard something happened in the home, but honestly, I don’t know. I’ve probably said too much.”
“I appreciate all you’ve told me. Can you tell me where Charles lives now? Is he still with Audra?”
“Oh, no. About six months ago, he raged in public and was detained for his own and public safety. Then he found a really nice doctor, she’s a psychiatrist, I think. Addi something, I think.”
“Addison? Doctor Oakley Addison?”
“Yes, that sounds right. Anyway, it was upsetting to Audra. She got his social security and her income from caring for him. I thought that was really why she hated him being there and not home, but I could have misread things.”
“So where is he?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I think he was moved to an assisted living home outside of the city. But I don’t know more than that. I will tell you, though, now that he has a doctor and is on some medications, and he has friends, he looks so much better. But that was before he left for the new place. I haven’t seen him since.”
“You’ve been so very helpful. May I call you for clarifying information if needed?” asked Jac.
“Sure. Let me give you my number.”
Jac took the number, and both men gave her their cards. “Thank you again for everything, Ma’am.”
“I hope you find your friend. You didn’t say who it was you were looking for.”
