Page 6 of The Fate of Us

I pull into a gas station just outside Hilton Head Island when my phone rings. I pray it might be Anna but an unknown number pops up on my screen. “Hello?”

“Hi, is this Noah Taylor?”

“Speaking.”

“Hi this is Detective Tyler Marks. Hunter Taylor is your brother, right? I got your message, but he also told me you might be calling.”

“Yes, Detective.”

“Please call me Tyler. I don’t need formalities with you. Besides, if I remember correctly, you are a police officer up in Asheville.”

“I am.”

“What can I do for you? Need help with a case?”

I rub the back of my neck before I answer. This is against all protocol. I know as a cop we aren’t supposed to use the police systems for personal use but many of us do. “I was actually looking for a missing person.”

I hear him rustle papers in the background. “Is there an APB out on the subject?”

“Ugh—no. This is personal.”

“You know I can’t—”

“Look, I am not asking you to do anything crazy. I just want to know if you can run some plates. See if a car has been pulled over or at least passed through a toll.”

I hear Tyler sigh on the other end of the phone. “Is that it?”

“Yeah. I hate asking this, especially because you don’t know me. But it’s my girl and she got some bad news and ran off. Her family is looking everywhere for her.”

“Why would she be out here?”

“She told me once about a cottage she used to go to. She never told me where it was specifically, just that it was outside Hilton Head. I am just praying that it’s in your jurisdiction and maybe you have some evidence that she was around.”

“I hear ya, man. And I get that you’re a cop. So you know that this might sound suspicious? I’m not saying you are abusive, but you know what I am saying?”

“I know. But I swear I am telling the truth. You can call my brother.”

“Oh I will.” He clears his throat. “Let me look into a few things. Make some calls. If you can text me the license plate of her vehicle, I can start looking.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“Sure thing,” he says before he hangs up.

I send him a text of the make, model, and plate of Jed’s vehicle, explaining the situation. I text my brother and tell him not to be a dick, to tell his friend this has to do with Anna.

My brother met her once and fell in love with her. So I know he will do what he can to help me out.

I pull into a hotel for the night. It’s too dark out for me to try and find a lime green cottage with pink shutters. Not to mention there is a lot of coastline to cover.

I wake up to my phone ringing just after midnight. My neck cracks as I sit up from the awkward position I fell asleep in sitting on the balcony of my room. I see it’s Detective Marks and quickly answer the phone.

“I didn’t get any hits on the plates,” he says.

“Fuck.”

“I’m sorry, man. I talked to Hunter. He told me you filled him in on everything with your girlfriend. I’m sorry and I know you hate to hear this, but I am sure she will go home eventually.”

I groan as I stand up and head inside. “I know. Thanks for checking, man. If you ever need a favor up in Asheville, you know how to reach me.”

---