Page 16 of A Constant Reminder

Sam paced the kitchen. She’d thrown on some jeans and one of my t-shirts, and her dirty blonde hair was up in its typical messy bun. Her bare feet padded back and forth before I walked over enveloping her in a hug.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like that.”

Playfully, she smacked my shoulder. “Stop being dramatic.” Her green eyes found mine. “But I get your point. I’ll try to relax.”

I leaned down to kiss her, but before our lips met, the doorbell rang.

Here we go.

I hurried after Sam as she sprinted to the door.

When she swung it open, we exchanged pleasantries, and five minutes later, we were all seated in the dining room, each with a cup of coffee in hand.

Sam started the conversation. “I’m sorry, but weren’t there two of you that came to see me in the hospital?”

“Yes, that was Detective Brown. Unfortunately, he has been…pulled to another assignment.”

She sighed. “Of course he has. So, what information do you have for us?”

“Miss Flemming,” he paused. “I looked into James Sinclair.”

She interrupted, “Let me guess. He has an alibi?”

“No. Actually…we can’t seem to find James Sinclair at all.”

When she didn’t say anything, he continued, “There isn’t a single record of a James Sinclair from Armstrong, Kansas for about a year and a half. Nothing. No taxes, no receipts, no license plate renewal. Nothing. It appears he’s gone completely off the grid.”

This time, I spoke, “How is that possible? I just saw him a few weeks ago in Kansas. Did you talk to anyone in the town?”

“Seems like no one in a small town looks too kindly on a big citycop asking questions about one of their own. Every person said they hadn’t seen him…including his own parents.”

My blood was boiling. “They’re lying!” I spat.

He held his hand up as if to calm me. “I know they’re all covering something up. What I don’t know is what. But I came here today to let you know that I’m not stopping until I find out. I give you my word, Miss Flemming, that I won’t stop until I find this man.”

Although I didn’t know how Sam would react to what I was about to share, I felt like I had no choice. “He may be living in Texas.”

Her head snapped over to look at me in utter shock.

“What do you mean? How would you know that?” She snapped.

“When your family was here, they told me that James moved out of Armstrong after high school. Only comes back periodically, and there are whispers that he moved to Texas.”

Betrayal showed on her face as she caught on that we were all talking about her behind her back.

The detective could tell the two of us clearly had a lot to discuss, so he stood up while saying, “Okay, I will start the search in Texas as well and see what I can dig up.”

Quietly Sam spoke before he left the room, “Do you believe me that it was him? Even though I didn’t see his face?”

“Miss, you said he spoke to you. And you used to date this man. I believe you know what his voice sounds like. Plus, the fact that he has disappeared doesn’t bode well for any story he tries to tell. Don’t worry, I’ll find him. I just need you to trust me and give me a bit of time.”

Sam forced a smile, but I count was written all over her face.

I couldn’t blame her. As much as I wanted to believe this guy, I knew Sam had her reservations. And why wouldn’t she? James always seemed to have the last word.

It took every ounce of my self-control to avoid using my money to hire every single resource I could to find this asshole. But Sam was adamant that she didn’t want me doing anything that might put my safety at risk too. It was getting harder and harder to respect her wishes.

“Just be careful, Miss Flemming. Until I do some more digging, we have no clue were Mr. Sinclair might be,” Detective Macintosh said before standing to leave.

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