Page 27 of The House Guest

‘She has a working visa.’

‘Hmm. And she’s been fired from her job. I’m guessing Immigration Services would be interested to hear about that.’

‘Wait, you’re going to report her to Immigration?’

He tilted his head. ‘If you want me to file an official report – which you’d have to come to the station house to do – then Immigration Services will need to be informed.’

‘Uh-oh,’ said Jack.

Krugman smiled without opening his mouth. ‘What about her folks? Her friends? Have you spoken to any of them?’

‘She doesn’t have any family. And she doesn’t really have any close friends either. She’s been so focused on her career ...’

‘Hmm. I assume you’ve checked her social media?’

‘Yes. She’s not on Twitter but I’ve checked Facebook and Instagram. She hasn’t updated either of them since I saw her.’

‘You said she has an iPhone. Does she have the Find My iPhone app? Not that I’m suggesting you should log in to her account ...’

‘I’ve already thought of that. I don’t know her new password and her MacBook is missing.’ Ruth had changed her iCloud password after her phone was stolen.

‘I see.’ He paused. ‘What about your relationship? Had you had an argument? Any reason why she might not want to contact you?’

‘No.’

‘Not that he can remember, anyway,’ said Jack.

I shot him an irritated look. He really wasn’t helping. Mona looked annoyed with him too. She seemed to be the only other person who was taking Ruth’s disappearance seriously.

‘You have to understand that this is all completely out of character,’ I said. ‘Firstly, not contacting me. We usually text each other all the time.’

I didn’t want to admit that, recently, she hadn’t texted me as often as I did her. She was too busy.

‘More importantly, I can’t see her risking her part in the play like that. She’s reliable. Almost pathologically so. She’s never late for anything.’

‘But she did drink a lot on Friday night?’ Krugman said. ‘About a third of a bottle of tequila? Maybe half? From your description, her body weight is about half mine and I’d struggle to get out of bed after that.’

‘I know, but ...’

I trailed off. This was intensely frustrating. I didn’t think Ruth would be a high priority for the police. I didn’t, however, expect them to do nothing.

‘So, what you’re saying is that we need to keep our fingers crossed and hope she comes back?’ I said.

He didn’t like that. For the first time, I saw a hint that Krugman, while looking and sounding like a friendly bear, was not someone to be fucked with. The atmosphere in the room cooled rapidly and he pointed a huge index finger at me.

Mona interceded before he could give me a piece of his mind. She spoke gently. ‘What about this girl, Eden? She came into our home, pretending that she knew us. Isn’t that ... trespassing or something? Shouldn’t you be looking for her?’

Krugman shook his head. ‘It’s not a crime, as far as I can make out. She didn’t take anything, did she?’

‘Except for Ruth,’ I said.

He turned his attention back to me. ‘Do you think Eden would be physically capable of dragging Ms Armstrong out of here?’

I pictured Eden, with her slight frame and slender limbs. Ruth wasn’t exactly Lara Croft, but I thought she could beat Eden in a fight. She certainly wouldn’t be overpowered by her.

‘No,’ I replied. ‘But Eden could have had a weapon. Or she could have lured Ruth outside, got her in a cab ... I don’t know. Anything could have happened!’

‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘And I’m sorry, but right now we have no evidence that a crime has been committed.’ He turned to Mona and Jack. ‘That’s the way I see it, anyway. And all my experience tells me that your friend will turn up soon.’

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