Chapter 23
I pulled into the school ten minutes past noon. Finding a parking space, I pocketed the keys and headed into the building. I thought about sending her a quick text, but a surprise sounded better. When I entered the office, the woman behind the desk recognized me from earlier, and gave me a warm smile.
“Is it alright if I head down to Zoe, uh Ms. Cruz's room?” I asked leaning on the counter.
“She left about a half an hour ago. Her brother came to pick her up, some kind of family emergency.”
I felt my stomach drop to the floor. Jake didn't have a car, and they didn't have any family in the area. Their parents were gone, and as far as I knew it was just the two of them. “Did he come inside? Her brother?” I asked, trying to remain calm.
“No. She just came into the office and said she needed to leave.”
“Did you see what kind of car she got into?”
“Is something wrong?” She asked.
“No. I don't think so. Just.. did you happen to see the car?” I stammered.
“It was black. Some kind of SUV I think. The windows were pretty dark.”
Without saying another word, I ran out of the building and back to Zoe's car pulling my cell out along the way. Finding Zoe's number, I hit send. It went straight to voicemail. I tried again, and again, each time being greeted by her recorded message. Swearing under my breath I dialed Jake and waited. I got the ignore button the first three times I called, and the next two just rang. I wasn't giving up though, I needed to know what was going on. Finally, after about twenty times, Jake answered.
“Whatever it is Wes. I'm not in the mood right now.” He said, sounding defeated.
“Is Zoe with you?” I asked, ignoring his attempt to make me feel bad.
“She's at work.” He said, with annoyance.
“That's the thing. She's not. I dropped her off this morning, came by to take her to lunch, and she's gone. The receptionist said she left with you.”
“What do you mean she's not? I'm at the house. Haven't left all day. Did you try her cell?”
“Yea. Straight to voicemail.”
“Come to the house. Now.” He said, with a finality that I knew to listen to.
Starting the car, I peeled out of the parking lot. I drove through stop signs, and red lights, the feeling of uneasiness getting worse and worse the closer I got to Zoe's childhood home. What were the odds, that on the day I spoke to Cole, Zoe was suddenly gone. I dialed Cole's number, connecting the bluetooth so I could concentrate on driving. Unlike Jake, he wasn't completely ignoring me, and he answered on the third ring.
“Cole!” I practically shouted. “Have you heard from Zoe?”
“What ya lost her already?” He joked. “Need some lessons from your little bro do ya?”
“Cole! This is serious. She's gone. I think Vanessa-”
“Vanessa?” He interrupted me. “Wes, you need to get it together man.”
Hitting end, I tossed my phone down onto the seat beside me, just as I pulled into Jake's garage. I left the keys in the car, and ran into the house in search of Jake. I was prepared for an argument, accusations even, but what I wasn't prepared for, was Jake's fist making direct contact with my eye. “What the fuck!” I yelled, placing my hand over my rapidly swelling eye.
“What the hell did you do?” Jake asked, stepping towards me and grabbing me by the front of my shirt.
I put my hands up in surrender, not wanting to fight my best friend. The important thing right now was finding Zoe, and we weren't going to accomplish that if we were fighting with each other. “I don't know what's going on. Not for sure.” I said.
“Start talking.” Jake gritted out, giving me a shove against the refrigerator.
I told him everything. I started with driving Vanessa when I was a teen, and ended with telling him about our meeting yesterday. Jake was seething, and it was clear he wasn't the only one putting two and two together. His thoughts mirrored my own, and his anger quickly escalated. This was it. The fight that I knew was coming. The one I was hoping we never had to have. Funny thing about hope, no matter how much you want it to, it doesn't always seem to work out.
I took it. I let him hit me once, twice, three times, I just stood there. What was I supposed to do? This was my fault. Zoe was gone because of me, and I deserved every punch that Jake had to throw at me. It wasn't until he realized I wasn't fighting back that he stopped.
“One thing Wes. I asked you not to do one fucking thing!” Jake gritted out, his fists still clenched, ready to start in on me all over again.
“I'm sorry man. I don't know what else you want me to say. I fucked up! I never should have, we never should have. I just... fuck, let me think alright. My shop. There's a file folder there, maybe we can take it to the police?”
“Give me the damn keys.”
“They're in the car.” I said, and without another word, the two of us climbed in, and sped from the driveway towards my shop.
“How much does she know?” Jake asked, after driving in silence for a good ten minutes.
“Everything.” I admitted freely.
“Everything?” He asked, glancing at me before returning his gaze to the road.
“Yeah. We got really close Jake. I know you don't want to hear it, but I love her.”
“Yeah? And look where your love has gotten her! Kidnapped by a crazy woman who blames you for something you had no fucking control over!”
I wanted to argue with him, to tell him he was wrong, but I couldn't. He had every right to blame me, hell, I blamed me. “Look, when we find her, and we will, I'll end it. I'll stop seeing her. She deserves better than me, she always has. I'll make this right Jake. I promise.”
Before he could respond, we pulled up to my shop. I slid from the passenger's seat and ran into the building full speed. The new hire was on the phone placing orders when he spotted me, and gave me a friendly smile. I didn't bother to return it, just pushed the chair with him in it away from the desk, and yanked the drawer open. Finding what I needed, I ran back to the car and tossed the folder to Jake.
“This is all about her sister. She changed her name, and moved. If I had to guess, that's where Vanessa would be.” I said, shutting myself back inside the car. “The address is in there.” I added, pointing my finger at the folder. ”
“Maybe we should go to the police?” Jake said, flipping through the folder.
“You go. Take the car, take the folder. Tell them everything. I'm going to follow my hunch.”
“You can't go into an unknown situation with no backup. No weapon? Hasn't the army taught you anything?”
“This isn't the army Jake. This is the woman I love.” I said, reaching for the door handle.
“Fuck.” Jake said under his breath, before slapping his hands on the wheel. “Let's do this.”
“Hooah.” I said just under my breath, as Jake put the car into drive.