Page 43 of Save Her Life

“It’s going on nine o’clock at night. This must be important.”

“Olivia’s missing, and the video I’m after may be our first solid lead.”

There was silence at Nigel’s end. “Olivia’s missing? When did this happen?”

His shock manifested much the same as Elwood’s had. She appreciated that he knew better than to ask if she was sure and how she knew. They had a solid foundation though, and Nigel was also a realist. “This afternoon between four forty-five and five-ten. The early end was the last time she was seen by her best friend at the DiversaBlend on M Street NW. Her phone was found under Key Bridge. Someone’s taken her, Nigel. I know it as a mother and a fed.”

“Run me through exactly what you need.”

“A warrant for the surveillance video from DiversaBlend.” She provided him the street number and added, “Eyewitnesses describe a man about fifty leering at Olivia and leaving just after she did.”

“Did these eyewitnesses see himfollowher?”

“Not exactly.”

More silence spread across the line, then, “Sandra, I’m not sure what I should do here.”

“Just say ‘granted.’”

He didn’t even take five seconds to deliberate. “Very well. You have my approval. I’ll get the paperwork over to you as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.”

“And, Sandra, I sure hope Olivia’s okay. She’s an amazing girl.”

Emotion kept Sandra from responding immediately, but eventually she was able to push out, “That she is, and thank you.”

Nigel was gone, and the silence of the empty line thundered in Sandra’s head.

“He’s getting you the warrant?” Eric asked.

“He is, but it might take a minute or two. We can’t just stand still waiting on it.”

Eric nodded. “You got it. We know when she left DiversaBlend, and she would have likely been heading home or…?”

Sandra shook her head. “Based on when she left, she was likely going straight to her violin teacher’s rowhouse. Besides, I had already spoken to Earl, and he said he hadn’t seen her.”

“All right, but I say we still pop by in person. We can have him looking out for her if she does turn up.”

“Okay.”

“Does the violin teacher live far from you?”

“No. Just over on 30th Street NW.”

“That narrows things down some.”

She nodded, but her legs were temporarily unable to move. Fear had her grounded to the sidewalk.

Eric slipped his arm around her waist. “We’ll find her, Sandra.”

“I wish that was a promise you could make, but there is a chance that…”

“Nope. Don’t even go down that road. It’s far too soon.”

She heard his words, his advice, and they held merit. “You’re right. Olivia needs me to stay strong so she can come home safe.” She started walking toward her building. Normally, Georgetown’s old-town charm filled her with a sense of security and blanketed her with warmth. Not tonight. The cold night air bit her nose and assaulted her cheeks. She tucked her head down and trudged along the red-brick sidewalk.

Olivia, your mom’s coming.

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