Page 56 of 1st Shock
I will kill him.If Billy Ray lays one hand on my sister, I will kill him.
I'm usually rational in a crisis, levelheaded. It's one of my skills. Nothing rattles me. But right now? I'm a basket case. This is my fault for not seeing what was right in front of my eyes.
We’re nearing D.C. when JJ reaches over and pulls my shaking hand into his. I'm praying by the time we land, one of us will receive a call that the police or FBI have found Billy Ray—and Meg—safe and alive.
No such luck.
The updates from everyone are the same-–both in the wind. I call Dixie, but there is no answer. Did she lie to us? Is she in on it too? JJ orders another police unit to go to her apartment and workplace to find her.
My mind circles in ever tightening loops. Where would Billy Ray take Meg?
I place a call to Grey as JJ drives us to meet Matt at the duplex. Grey is silent as I give him the scoop. "Is there any way Teeg can track her phone's GPS with it turned off?" I ask, pleading inside that he'll be able to work a miracle.
He assures me there is not. When JJ and I arrive the van isn’t there. I unlock the door on her side, anyway, calling her name as I rush through the place, leaving Grey on hold. Matt arrives seconds later, and I shake my head as he comes barreling inside, JJ on his heels.
"Charlie?" Grey asks, his voice sounding a million miles away even though I have him on speaker. "Is she there?"
The panic threatens to cut off my voice. "No," I answer barely above a whisper.I've lost her.
I never cry, but a wave of heat rises in my face, hot tears pushing against my eyes.
"She doesn't have OnStar or LoJack on her van?" Grey asks, checking off boxes.
"The thing doesn't even have power locks." I'm still shaking but talking to Grey takes the edge off. I blink away the tears, worthless in their appearance. Matt's presence, too, helps me take a deep breath. JJ rubs my back, supportive and protective. After another breath, I look at Matt and JJ as I say to Grey, "I need some fucking suggestions."
"You know your sister better than anyone," Grey answers. "If she's not at the office or home, where would she go? Is there a grocery store? A favorite coffee shop? An art supply store or a gallery she likes to visit?"
Our parents' home. "She goes to see our mom and dad, but I've already called them multiple times and left messages on their machine. They're not home"—a horrible thought hits—
"oh shit."
What if theyare? What if Billy Ray has...
"What?" All three men—JJ, Matt, and Grey—shout in unison.
I swallow the rough pit lodged in my throat, my hand holding the cell falling to my side. I'm shaking so hard, I don't know how my legs are holding me up, but inside I've gone very still. "What if Billy Ray has all three of them?"
JJ grabs my free hand and yanks me toward the door. "Let's go. I'll send a black and white over there. Matt, follow us."
I hear Grey's voice coming from the phone. "I'll meet you there!"
It takes twelve minutes, JJ breaking all speed limits on the way. We pull down the long drive. No van.
I curse under my breath, and in the next, pray again to whatever power might be listening.
The house is empty, the answering machine blinking with the messages I left my parents.
All the way there, I kept going over Grey's words. Where would she go if not here?
An art supply store or a gallery... I grasp my phone, open the security system app again and study her going out the back exit to get in her van. "She has her sketchpad!"
JJ and Matt look at me with confusion.
"She's gone to her happy place. In the woods!"
Relief swamps me first—she's okay. She's at the boulder, sketching. Then comes irritation—why the hell would she go off alone when a serial killer is running loose?
Panic hits again.
