Page 42 of Lost Without You
“Do you have a spare one I could use in the meantime?”
“I do, in my office.”
Ethan cleaned up the kitchen while Rachel got changed. By the time that was done, the field agent had arrived to take possession of Rachel’s laptop.
Rachel and Ethan headed out to take a drive along the coast. Afterwards, they stopped by a local market to stock up on food. Arriving back at Ethan’s in the evening, they cooked dinner together—seared scallops and angel hair pasta—and enjoyed another evening on the back deck.
“How about a stroll on the beach?” Ethan suggested after dinner.
The sun was setting low in the sky and bathed the winding path to the beach in orange and pink light. A thick hedge of tall grass and brush gave the cove privacy while still retaining its natural beauty. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the smell of the salt air soothed Ethan’s troubled mind. The cool breeze and the soft sand between his toes didn’t hurt either. He often ideated the twists and turns of his book plots on such walks.
“Tell me, Ethan,” Rachel asked as they neared the waters’ edge. “Do you think this case is about more than just the fraud?”
“I do. The missing person case opens new avenues for investigators. Now your dad’s departure, after what we’ve uncovered, is viewed as suspicious. The FBI will start digging. I’ve got a bad feeling about what happened to Finley Hatch as well. And there’s no statute of limitations on…” Ethan paused, unable to say the words.
He didn’t want to hurt Rachel.
“You can say it, Ethan. Murder. I’ve thought about that possibility for many years.”
Ethan nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Rachel replied.
Ethan led them over to a rock formation and sat down, Rachel beside him.
“My mind is spinning in so many directions, I don’t know what to think,” Rachel murmured.
Ethan slid his arm around her and pulled her in tightly to his chest. “I know it sounds trite, but you can only take it day by day.”
Then there was a pause of silence as they took in the last rays of the sun and watched the sky above them turn dark.
His phone buzzed and he reluctantly glanced down. Only, it wasn’t a personal message from someone he knew.
It was his home security system sounding an alarm.
Chapter Eighteen
Rachel
“My house alarm just activated. I need you to stay here while I check it out.” Ethan murmured.
“No way, I’m going with you. Wait, shouldn’t you call the police first?”
“Automatic 911 notification sent to the local authorities if the alarm code isn’t activated within two minutes, but I’m calling just in case.” Ethan dialed the police as they slowly made their way back. He spoke in calm tones and explained the situation. The emergency operator told him to stay on the line until the police arrived. “Fuck, I wish I had my gun on me.”
“You own a gun?”
“I keep it in the safe in my office. Never thought I’d need to use one again,” he whispered as they walked on the path to the house.
Rachel held tight to Ethan’s other hand as they slowly crept along, mindful to be quiet. Thank goodness for the darkness covering them.
They approached the end of the path, and the house was in view. Some of the lights were on, as they’d left them, but Rachel noticed the ones on the second floor were now turned off.
“Stay here,” Ethan whispered as he turned to her. “I’m going to get closer to investigate.”
“No way. You aren’t armed and we don’t know how many people are in there!” Rachel hissed. “Wait for the police.”
“As soon as whoever is in there hears the sirens, they’ll take off.”