Page 47 of Tied

“I mean, it doesn’t look like a big search is under way yet,” he clarifies. “I mean, it’s been five days. Her sister must have noticed. We have a close eye on her and that husband of hers, but I’m not even sure they went to the police yet.”

“You’re not sure?”

Jack shrugs. “As far as I know, they didn’t. Sister doesn’t seem overly concerned. Could be she simply doesn’t know yet. Maybe they’re not as close as you thought they were?”

I shake my head, unsure what to think. As far as I know, Riley’s older sister, Alena, is her only living relative, and the one who raised her after their parents’ deaths. We never talked much about it, but from what Riley shared with me, I had the feeling that they were as close as sisters could be, despite their differences. I’m sure that Riley must have told her sister about the job interview. Wouldn’t she call to hear how it went?

“What about her phone?” I ask Jack.

He gives me a quizzical look, his eyebrows arched so high that they draw a deep furrow across his forehead.

“What do you mean?” he asks back. “We turned it off and tossed it in a river like you told us to.”

I sigh. Of course, they did.

“Why?” he probes now, leaning forward with interest. “Anything wrong?”

“No, nothing,” I hurry to reply. “I’m just surprised that her sister hasn’t done anything. I expected her to worry and go to the police on the first day.”

Jack shrugs again. “Siblings, man. Don’t think my sister cares much about my whereabouts.”

Yes, but you are a fucking thug who has disappointed and betrayed his family multiple times throughout his life.

“Keep an eye on her anyway,” I tell him. “It makes things easier for now, but I don’t trust this calm. We need to be alert in case they kick the search into high gear or something.”

Jack nods and gets up from his chair. “Anything else?”

“Not for now.”

He turns his back to me and is almost out the door when he hesitates. His hand is resting on the doorknob when he looks back at me over his shoulder.

“We’re still going according to plan, right?” he wants to know.

The short moment of silence weighs heavily between us as our eyes meet across the room. His are narrowed and laced with skepticism. Not good.

“Yes, we are,” I let him know, adopting a strong stance while my probing gaze pierces him. “Nothing has changed.”

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