Page 54 of When I Found You

“She left wearing the clothes I found her in.” I try to remember the morning when she was unconscious and I checked her pockets for identification. There was nothing but some garbage. “I doubt I’ll find anything to help us.”

“Then we need to find her.” Rob hands me the paper. “This is the detective’s number; in case we need to enlist some help finding her.”

I slip the paper in my pocket and nod. “Thanks.”

“Okay, let me clean up your nose so you can get out there and find her.”

Twenty minutes later, I step out into the brisk January night. Gentle flakes of snow fall from the sky dusting my face and clothes. From here I can see the lights in the Empire State Building reflected in the falling snow. I wish Kate were here to see it. It’s peaceful and beautiful. I can almost see her dancing in circles trying to catch the icy flakes on her tongue.

Shit. I need to find her. She’s tainted everything, leaving impressions of herself across the city. I fucked up. I pray it’s not too late.

I locate the car where Cyril is waiting and climb inside. Neither of us speak, but once we reach my building, I give him instructions to watch for her.

There’s no one home when I come in the door. I half hoped she would return, or that I would find Marcy with her sitting on the couch laughing at the whole situation. But the apartment is dark and vacant of all joy.

In my room, I sort through all the clothes and makeup my sister brought. There’s nothing there revealing anything of relevance. Her scent lingers in the room. My gaze fixes on the bed where I buried myself inside her and made her come with my tongue.

I shake the memories away and search the drawers beside the bed, hoping I’ll find something. After a thorough search, I realize there’s nothing, and if there is, she’s taken it with her.

I collapse on the edge of the bed and stare out over the city. Snow cakes to the glass leaving a frosted imprint wherever there’s moisture. The lights glitter beyond the pane and I’m mesmerized by the sight.

She’s out there. Somewhere. I whisper a prayer for safety. Nonna used to say it at night before she went to sleep. Her way of asking for protection for those she loved. I’m not a religious person, but I can’t ignore the peace it gives when I murmur the words.

My head swims, and I lie down. Her scent clings to the pillow. I slide my hand beneath it and inhale deeply careful not to bump my nose. My fingertips brush against something.

I pull a small notebook from beneath the pillow. It looks like one of mine, but when I open it, it’s Kate’s handwriting I see.

As I read, my jaw drops. The words are a direct portal into her thoughts. Over the past week, she’s filled the pages with details and information I can’t even fathom. The more I read, the more I realize how wrong I was.

Kate’s not crazy. She knows things no one can possibly know. I flip through the pages, devouring the words and their implications. Then I see the papers I found in her pocket the morning we met. They’re pressed flat between the pages. A ticket stub and a receipt. Nothing of consequence, until I read the dates. December 29, 2020.

Then I remember her coat. Victor’s coat. No wonder it looked so familiar. It’s the same coat, but hers is worn and ragged from years of use. Holy shit.

When the detective said there was no record of Kate, I didn’t understand. But now I do.

The phone rings in the other room. Taking the notebook with me, I run to try to catch the call.

“Hello?” I pray it’s Kate.

“Hey. I found her. She was at Victor’s place.” Marcy’s voice cuts through the line.

“Was?” My heart sinks.

“Yeah. She bolted without a word.” My sister’s voice cracks. “But we’ll find her.”

Disappointment and anger, mostly at myself, coagulate into a mass pulling me into darkness. “Shit.” I throw the notebook down and it splays open on the floor. A simple, rudimentary sketch of a building lay between the creased pages. Then it hits me.

“I know where she is. I’ll call you later.” Without waiting for Marcy’s response, I hang up the phone and snatch the book off the floor. As I dart out the door, I tuck it into my pocket and race down to the lobby.

Cyril is the best driver in the city, but I feel I could have made better time on foot. We’re stuck in a traffic jam two blocks away, so I climb from the car.

“Go get her, boss.” He shouts before the door slams.

I take off down the street shoving through anyone crazy enough to be out in this cold snowy night. When I reach the building, I wave to the night guards and punch the number for the observation deck.

Excitement builds inside me. She has to be here. It’s the only possible place she could be. The elevator reaches the main deck, and I step out, anticipation thrumming through my veins.

I round the corner and see her standing against the railing. The snow falling around her creates a beautiful ethereal halo of light against the dark sky.

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