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I look over at Tavers once we’re in the truck. “This is a fucking mess,” I growl, gripping the steering wheel with tight fists. “There must be something somewhere. No crime is this perfect.”
“Maybe there is no crime.” I shoot my eyes to him, and he clarifies. “Think about it. Maybe she just left? Maybe she was tired of being stuck in the same house day after day, even if it was by choice. I realize it’s highly unlikely that someone with her problems would change so drastically like that, but it’s an avenue we should pursue.”
He has a point. Although I doubt that’s the case. The chances of someone like Rebecca suddenly wanting to leave the protection of her home is extremely rare. But our options are limited at this point, so it wouldn’t hurt to look into other means of her disappearance.
“You’re right.” I rub my forehead, feeling a headache forming. “Start formulating a list of local transports, and we’ll start there.”
I pull away from the curb as Tavers pulls out his notepad.
* * *
Hours later,I’m back at home. Sweat drips down my chest as I silently count the pull-ups I’m doing on the bar I installed in the doorway of Tori’s old room turned weight room. My muscles burn as I pull myself up and slowly let myself back down.
Once I’m done with my reps, I drop to the floor and wipe the sweat from my face. I’ve been going at it for a couple of hours now. I haven’t had much time lately to get in any good exercise. The move, settling in at the department, working tirelessly on Aislin’s case, and repairing her house has taken most of my time. It feels good to get in a good workout. It also helps to lessen the restless energy I have.
I grab my water bottle from the small table inside the weight room and chug several swallows. Capping it, I take it with me to the bathroom connected to my bedroom. I strip down and climb into the cool shower to wash away the sweat and grime of the day. I brace my arms on the tile in front of me, hang my head, and let the water beat down on my tense shoulders.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m dressed in a pair of dark gray sweatpants and I’m grabbing a beer from the fridge when my cell phone rings. I grab it from the counter and hit talk.
“Hey, Mom,” I say by way of answering.
“Hey, sweetie, how are you?”
Taking my beer with me, I walk out of the kitchen and into the living room. I flip on the TV, making sure it’s muted, and take a seat on the couch.
“I’m good. Just sitting down to catch the last of the game.”
She laughs. “Your dad is going through withdrawals. Going to all the home games for the past five years spoiled him. When I told him he’d have to switch teams so he could go to the Florida games here, his eye twitched… right before he threatened to divorce me.”
“Well, you asked for that one,” I say, chuckling. “You know how he is about his Buckeyes.”
“That I do,” she replies with a giggle. “Anyway, I called to ask if you could go up to the attic and grab something for me. There’s an old box of patterns up there that belonged to Grandma. I asked Christopher to get it for me before we moved, but you know how your dad can be forgetful at times.”
“Yeah, Mom. I can do that.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
I prop my feet on the coffee table then smile when I think about Mom hitting the back of my head if she saw me doing this.
“Anything else you need me to send your way?” I ask, taking a swig of my beer.
“Nope. Not that I can think of. Oh!” she exclaims. “I talked to Tori today. She mentioned possibly coming out for a visit in a couple of months. I was thinking maybe your dad and I could come as well. Have a family gathering or something.”
I haven’t seen my sister in almost a year. She and her husband moved out to Phoenix a couple of years ago for Michael’s job. They have two kids now, but I’ve only met their oldest, Bryanna. When Trey, their youngest, was born, I was working a big case and couldn’t get away from work. There hasn’t been a good time since then for me to make the trip out there. It’ll be good to see them.
“I’ll give her a call tomorrow. Find out what her plans are and let you know.”
“Okay.” She’s silent for a moment then she asks hesitantly, “Have you talked to Reece since you’ve been back?”
“Once,” I grunt.
Reece and I haven’t been close in years. He’s the oldest of us three siblings. Five years my senior and three years Tori’s. Guilt eats at me because the distance between us is my fault. When Aislin disappeared, I pushed everyone away, and it hurt him when all my focus turned to finding out what happened to her. Even as a teenager, I did what I could to find her. My hurt and anger overshadowed everything else, and I just wanted to be left alone. He tried to tell me to forget it, that Aislin simply ran away, and it pissed me off. I became resentful toward him. Eventually, he stopped trying and turned bitter. By the time I realized what I had done, that I caused him an immense amount of pain by pushing him away, it was too late. I’ve tried over the years to form a bond with him, but he wants nothing to do with me and only barely puts up with me when forced.
“Do you think,” Mom starts, pauses, and then starts again. “Do you think we could get him to come to dinner one night when we come?”
I sigh. “I’ll talk to him. It may not go over well, but I’ll get him to come.”
I can hear the hope in her voice when she says, “Thank you, Niko. I know things are tense between you two. I had hoped that strain would dissipate some with you living so close again.”
