Page 110 of His Last Shot
“Of course. Whatever you need,” I reply. I nudge my head toward the double doors. “Go be with your wife. I’ll take care of the kids.”
“Okay. I’ll call in about an hour to talk to them.” I nod as he quickly turns on his heels, heading back to Laura.
Each step to the parking lot is a struggle, the weight of my sadness pressing down on me, the air hung heavy and still.
Facing a life destined to be forever without Rachel.
33
AFTER LOCAL MAN DISAPPEARS IN MIAMI, EVIDENCE INDICATES "FOUL PLAY," OFFICIALS SAY
By Emily Kelley
Authorities are investigating the disappearance of a local man, 44-year-old Drew Jenkins of Warren, Ohio. Mr. Jenkins was last seen in a rented BMW convertible, later found abandoned in an upscale Miami, Florida, neighborhood. Law enforcement initially said Jenkins went missing under “suspicious” circumstances. As the investigation progressed, Miami-Dade Police Department revealed that evidence suggests there was foul play.
“Based on the information obtained from the victim’s vehicle, our investigators believe there was evidence to indicate foul play,” the Florida State Bereau of Investigation wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon. As of this report, no arrests have been made.
The state investigative bureau on Sunday announced it would open a probe into the man’s disappearance, at the request of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, whose jurisdiction includes the suburban neighborhood where Jenkins’ rental car was discovered.
Miami Highway Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for Jenkins, on behalf of the Warren Sheriff’s Department, on Saturday, once family noted Jenkins never returned home from a planned vacation to the Sunshine State. That alert deemed Jenkins to be “at-risk,” although few details have been shared publicly about the events leading up to his disappearance.
Jenkins was traveling on vacation with friends before he vanished. According to the missing persons report, on the night of the 15th, Jenkins was scheduled to “attend a meeting with colleagues,” which he never showed for. He was last seen on surveillance footage leaving a Whole Foods Market at approximately 7:52 pm. This is the last known sighting of Jenkins. His vehicle was discovered three days later along the side of the road in the suburban neighborhood. The local residents noticed the abandoned vehicle and reported it to authorities.
Miami-Dade have released images of Jenkins, along with a written description. Jenkins is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, bald, with blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, denimshorts, and sandals, according to the alert. He also has several tattoos, one of which is the Chinese symbol for love with the name ‘Rachel’ tattooed on the left side of his chest.
Florida State investigators said they are working with local law enforcement to find Jenkins. They have asked anyone with information about the man’s whereabouts to contact the bureau.
CBN News contacted both the Ohio and Florida Bureau of Investigation for more information about the man’s disappearance and the missing persons case but did not receive an immediate reply.
34
Ginger Ale and Lorna Doones
Rachel
Four years since the breakup
The cool metal of the needle pierces my skin, a brief, sharp pain as the nurse inserts the IV, followed by the dull ache of the catheter. I wince.
“Sorry,” she apologizes as her lips form a tight line while taping it in place.
“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “I’m used to it at this point.”
She finishes setting me up for my monthly infusion. A treatment that has helped my RA far better than anything the doctor back home could do for me. Transferring my care to the Cleveland Clinic was the best decision I ever made for my health. Although there is no simple fix for my RA, these infusions have given me my life back. Literally. My pain has decreased, my joints are less stiff, and my quality of life has returned.
The nurse double-checks everything as I get comfortable in the chair. Reclining back, readying myself for the next two hours.
“I’ll be back in a little while to see how you’re doing. Do you need anything? Some Ginger Ale and Lorna Doones?” she asks with a wicked grin because she knows what I like.
“Oh, you know it.”
As she scurries off to get my treats and tend to the other patients, I scooch down in the recliner, adjust the blanket over my legs, and settle in. With a tap, I open the news app on my phone to get caught up on the local happenings.
Recently, the local news cycle has been dominated by one grim and upsetting report in particular that hits far too close to home, leaving me uneasy.
Because that’s how I found out about Drew.
No, we weren’t friends, and I haven’t spoken to him since the finals. However, at one time, he was a big part of my life. He was someone I dated, got engaged to, loved, and the man who broke my heart. But that doesn’t mean I wanted anything bad to happen to him. Not even a little bit. I knew deep down the longer he had a relationship with my uncle, the more likely this was going to happen.
