Page 38 of Once Marked
With Ann Marie on her heels, Riley hurried up the walkway and ascended the steps two at a time.The door swung open, and the cheerful jangle of the bell clashed with their grim purpose.Inside, Grace Mitchell’s eyes met theirs, wide with anxiety.
Riley’s memory summoned the image of Grace consoling Linda Morris and Lucy North earlier that day, her demeanor then unflappable and yet full of worry and compassionate concern.This same woman now seemed brittle, like fine china on the verge of shattering.The lines on her face, normally smoothed by careful grooming and makeup, were now ridged with worry.
Riley remembered her earlier words, “I can’t help but feel...well, responsible.”
She must feel even more so now,Riley thought.
Sheriff Beeler came through the door and began questioning.“Ms.Mitchell,” he said solemnly, “We understand your employee, Rachel Brennan, is missing.”
Grace’s confirmation came with a visible tremble, her voice quivering as if each word was difficult.“Yes,” she whispered, her lips barely moving, “I’m terrified for her.”
“Rachel is more than just an employee to me,” Grace’s voice wavered as she spoke.“She’s a vital part of my life.She’s a confidante, a protégé, a friend...I trust her, rely on her more than anyone else.She’s never let me down.”
“Did she seem at all … well, anxious today?Worried?”Riley asked.
Grace’s eyes flitted away for a brief instant before looking back to Riley.“No,” she murmured.“She seemed just fine this morning.Then we went our separate ways for the day until …”
Grace’s voice faded.
“Can you tell us what happened?”Riley’s voice was soft.
Grace’s response came after a moment, haltingly, as if each word were pulled from a well of reluctance.“Rachel and I...we were supposed to meet for drinks and a late afternoon snack at our favorite spot, the Thirsty Gull.”Her hands tightened around one another, knuckles whitening.“It’s something we do often, you know?A kind of daily ritual.A chance to unwind, discuss business in a more relaxed setting.”
As Grace continued, her voice faltered, the strain evident.“But Rachel didn’t show,” she said, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond the walls of the office.“I warned her, you know.After those two murders...I told her to be careful.But I should have done more.I should have...”Her voice trailed off.
Sheriff Beeler calmly suggested an alternative explanation.“This could simply be a mix-up in plans, or perhaps Rachel changed her mind about meeting up.”
Grace nodded slowly as she considered his words.“That’s what I thought at first,” she admitted.“I assumed something had come up unexpectedly and that she’d contact me later on.I just had my drink and a bite to eat, did a little window shopping and finally came on back to the office.”
She looked away for a moment, then continued.“But more and more time passed with no word from Rachel.I couldn’t reach her by phone and …” She raised tear-filled eyes to meet Riley’s gaze.“That’s when I knew something was wrong and called the police.”
“Ms.Mitchell,” Riley leaned forward, wanting to reassure Grace while also emphasizing the urgency of their mission.“You mustn’t blame yourself for this situation.The best thing you can do right now is help us find Rachel.”
Grace straightened in her chair.“Of course,” she replied, determination replacing some of the fear in her eyes.“Of course I’ll help however I can.”
Riley thought for a moment.“Do you have a photo of Rachel?”she asked.
“Yes, she’s in a number of these casual shots.”Grace got up and moved to a nearby shelf lined with framed photos.She picked one up carefully and handed it over to Riley with trembling hands.
“This is Rachel,” Grace said, pointing to one woman in particular within a group photo taken in front of a ‘For Rent’ sign - all smiling faces under sunny skies.
Riley studied the photo, taking in the young woman’s high cheekbones and light brown hair.In the photo, the woman’s hair was long, cascading down past her shoulders.Riley couldn’t help but wonder if it was still the same, or whether those long tresses had already been cut short.
She shared a significant look with Ann Marie before her junior partner spoke up.“With a haircut…” Ann Marie mused aloud, trailing off as she mentally compared the woman in the photo to their previous victims.
Grace frowned at Ann Marie’s words, confusion clouding her features.“What do you mean?”she asked, her gaze darting between the two agents.
Instead of answering that question, Ann Marie raised her notebook like a shield.
“Can you tell us the last place you know Rachel to have been before her disappearance?”Ann Marie asked.“Did she mention anything specific about her plans for the day?Any appointments or properties she intended to visit?”
“Rachel mentioned she was checking on one of our properties,” Grace said.“We had housekeepers prepare it for a showing tomorrow.She said she was going there this afternoon for a walk-through.She wanted to ensure everything was perfect—just as she always did.That’s the last place I know of where I’m sure she went today.”
“Do you have the address of this property?”Riley asked.“We’d like to check it out ourselves.”
Grace nodded, her movements suddenly brisk and purposeful.She scribbled on a yellow Post-it note with a hand that shook just a little.Handing it to Riley along with a brass key that glinted in the light, she said, “It’s a beachfront house with a wraparound deck.The number is clearly posted.You can’t miss it.”
Riley pocketed the key, feeling its cool metal against her palm, a tangible link to the missing woman.
