Page 50 of Chasing Dreams
“The McCullough woman’s working at a hamburger joint in Panama City, Florida. They followed her to the Starlight Motel. Later, a man joined her. Detectives went to the door and confronted her. She left her husband and took off with this guy last July. They traveled around some, but have been holed up there for over a month.” He lay on his back and stared at the skylight. “You were right.”
She absorbed his words, as well as the unspoken distress beneath them. “That’s good, isn’t it? That I found her?”
He faced her. “It’s good. You solved a missing-persons case.”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re not entirely comfortable with this?”
“There’s nothing comfortable about the whole process. It’s hell, and you’ll have to see that sooner or later.”
She knew that. He’d made it clear from the start. She lay back down. He hadn’t really answered her question. Her finding the McCullough woman wasn’t sitting right with him.
Shaine studied the heavens above the skylight.
“It’s not always like that,” he said finally. “Try not to count on it.”
“Didn’t you ever find anyone alive?” She waited.
“I can count them on one hand. We see so differently, you and I.” Thoughtfully he said, “I just can’t quite put my finger on something important we’re not understanding.”
“This proves that I can do it, though, doesn’t it?” she asked.
“Oh, you can do it,” he replied.
“What now?”
He sighed and rolled toward her. “You have to touch something of Jack’s.”
Her stomach clenched. He was right. This was what all their work together boiled down to. “His things are in my extra bedroom.”
“I know you’re upset about leaving Maya there alone for so long. Would you like me to go to Omaha with you?”
She raised herself up again, laying a hand on his warm shoulder. “Would you do that? You wouldn’t mind?”
“You want my help, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And getting back to the inn would solve one of your problems. I can wait a while to take more work.”
“Oh, thank you, Austin.” She leaned into a kiss, and his arm came up and pulled her against him.
“I do like the way you show your appreciation,” he said with a grin.
His playful words nagged her briefly. She did appreciate him. She did need him. But she wasn’t willing to analyze her reasons just then. She was taking one day at a time until she found Jack.
* *
Austin made plane reservations while Shaine called Maya, and afterward they packed. He knew someone in Gunnison who cared for Daisy when he traveled so they dropped off the canine along with his food and toys. With a grin, Shaine watched him tell the dog goodbye.
They caught a commuter flight to Denver, and a late flight out of Denver to Omaha. It was after midnight when they stepped out of Eppley’s doors and she spotted Craig Pruitt’s truck in the pick-up and drop-off lane. Craig got out and loaded their bags into the back seat and held the door while Shaine climbed in beside the luggage.
“This is Austin Allen,” she said. “Austin this is Craig.”
“Sorry to keep you up so late,” Austin apologized.
“No problem. Shaine and Maya have met me at the airport plenty of times.”
Austin sat in the passenger seat while Craig drove away from the airport. Seeing the familiar sights of her hometown without much feeling, Shaine’s thoughts centered on the task looming before her.
