Page 23 of Out of the Shadows
“Someone accessed his condo and cut open the safe. Logan should call the police about the break-in.”
“Charlie doesn’t use the safe,” Laura said. “Logan had it installed when he lived there but I don’t think Charlie even knows the code.”
“Are you certain?”
She hesitated a fraction of a second. “Almost certain. Logan would know. He would have given Charlie the code, or created a new one for him.”
“No one has seen him since late Friday morning, when he left for lunch and didn’t return to work. You may want to contact the police and file a missing persons report.”
“And say what?”
“That you haven’t been able to reach your ex-husband and it seems someone broke into his condo. At a minimum, they can issue a BOLO for his vehicle.”
Laura looked torn. “He could have a logical explanation,” she said.
“He could. Why wouldn’t you call?”
She didn’t have an answer.
“He’s not going to get in trouble if you call the police.”
“If I can’t reach him before the end of today, I’ll do it. Is your sister still looking for him?”
“Yes. Do you know his friends? Where he hangs out?”
“I’ll make a list.”
While Laura did that, Jack called Logan and told him what Margo had learned.
“Someone cut open the safe?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes. Do you know if Charlie used it?”
“He said he didn’t need the safe and I never gave him my code.”
“When did he move into your condo?”
“Eighteen months ago.”
“Where was he living before then?”
“He was renting a room near the Wigwam. He had a job there.” The Wigwam was a golf resort and spa in the west valley, not far from where Jack had lived before his divorce. Now he had a little house near the Cardinals stadium. “But Laura didn’t like the people he was living with and didn’t let the kids stay overnight. She can tell you more about that situation.”
“Margo doesn’t think that Charlie has been at his condo all weekend, but she’s going to talk to neighbors and businesses in the area. I’d suggest you call the police about the break-in, and we go from there. Both Charlie and Laura had break-ins this weekend—that is no coincidence. We find Charlie, I’m certain we’ll get answers.”
“And you’ll watch my sister and the kids, right?” Logan asked. “I don’t know what Charlie is up to, but if he brought something dangerous into Laura’s life, I’ll never forgive him.”
“I’ll stay,” Jack said.
He turned and saw Sydney standing in the hall staring at him, eyes wide.
“I have to go,” Jack said and hung up.
“Where’s my dad?” she demanded.
“We’re looking for him,” Jack said. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for why he hasn’t returned your mom’s call.”
“He hasn’t called me back, either. His phone went straight to voicemail.”
