Page 44 of Brutal Heir

Cold, hard fear settles in. I can almost feel someone comingup behind me. I check over my shoulder to make sure that isn’t the case. I’m alone. Just miles of mesquite and brush all around me. God protect me, but, for the first time since the incident, I wish I had a weapon.

“Elena,” I call out in desperation. I make it all the way around to the parking area. Her car is still there, so I haven’t missed her. I scan the ground, looking for signs of a struggle, and find nothing. That leaves me with an even bigger mystery.

I turn back to my cell, scanning the screen for the number I need. My stomach is in knots as the phone in the guard shack rings. After what seems like an eternity, Ochoa picks up. “What time did Elena come in?” I ask, voice holding a slight tremble.

“Elena?” he says, confusion clear in his tone.

“Yes, Elena Santos.” As if there’s more than one. “What time did she come in this morning?”

“Uh, just a sec.”

Papers rustle on the other end of the line as Ochoa searches for something. My stomach clenches with anxiety, and I take a deep breath to try and calm myself. Finally, he speaks again.

“Sorry, Sage, but Elena hasn’t been to the office this morning.” My knees go weak. This can’t be happening. “I thought maybe she came in before I got here, but no.”

“Check yesterday’s page,” I instruct, hoping against hope she was just missed somehow.

There’s a rustling sound as Ochoa flips the page. After a moment, he says, “No, I don’t see her on here.”

A sense of panic rises inside me. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” he replies firmly, papers still rustling. “Wait aminute. Rudy has her logging in on Friday.”

“Friday?” I come up with all kinds of scenarios in my head. Was there a fight? Was it an illegal alien? Was it a wild animal? I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I get a flashback of the snake incident.

“There’s no exit,” he says, catching on to my concern. “Hang on. Let me call him.” He puts me on hold, but, seconds later, he comes back. “No answer. I left a message and…I just sent a text.”

“Thanks.” I’m dreading the next steps, but it has to be done. “I’ll call Bill. You get on the radio to gate five and three, tell them to shut down and get over here so we can search the perimeter.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Code 10-40, Ochoa.” The code giving them authorization to speed on the premises, without using sirens.

“Roger that,” he says, sounding serious.

I take a deep breath and pick the phone up again, this time calling Bill. The phone rings once, twice, three times. My heart sinks as his voice mail starts. Elena’s like one of his own kids, so I know he won’t handle this well.

Taking a deep breath I try and figure out what to say without causing a panic. Bill has enough going on with his wife being sick.

“Bill, it’s Sage. Can you give me a call as soon as you get this message?”

Ochoa comes down the road and pull into the parking lot. “What’s the plan?”

“We need to check the perimeter.” I swallow hard. “In case there are signs of foul play.” I can’t even imagine having to doa notification on someone I know. Especially someone I just sat down with a couple of days ago.

Ochoa looks out at the brush. “You think she got taken?”

The memory of feeling like someone was coming up behind me returns. A memory of a fist coming down. Pain exploding on the side of my head. My ribs breaking. I shake the memory away.

“I don’t know.” Which isn’t going to set anyone at ease. “But we have to start somewhere.”

He nods. “I’ll get my gaiters.”

“Damn.” I curse under my breath.

“No snake guards?” he asks.

You’d think I’d have some with me after what I just went through. “No, I don’t.”

---