Chapter 16 Then
I had been back to work for three weeks now, and I was more bored than ever. I was on desk duty so to speak. I got to help coordinate special ops, but I couldn't actively participate until I had a clean bill of health from my doctors. I spent most of my time working out. The physical activity helped to keep my mind off of my lack of deployment, as well as my lack of Evie. Our last night together was amazing, and I had only talked to her twice since.
The first time we spoke about her classes, and how she was looking forward to her residency. She seemed really excited, but when I tried to Skype her a few days later, she never responded. I waited a week, and tried again, but when she answered, she wasn't herself. She said she was coming down with something, and that we'd talk soon. That was last week, and I had some down time, so I opened my laptop, and sent her a video chat request.
I hit send, and an error message popped up on my screen. “This user profile no longer exists.” What the hell? I thought, typing her screen name into the search bar. “No results.” Picking up my cell, I dialed her number. “This number is no longer in service.” Checking my phone, I dialed again, only to be met by the same recording. Baffled, I dialed my sister's number, hoping that maybe she'd heard from Evie.
When Zoe didn't answer, I left her a message. There wasn't much more I could do, so I went to find Wes. He was shipping out in two days, and I wanted to talk to him before he left. I found him sitting on his front porch, a beer in one hand, and a book in the other. You'd never know it by looking at him, but the man was an avid reader. “Hey, man.” I said. “I'm not interrupting anything am I?”
“Nah, come on up.” He said, gesturing towards the empty chair beside him. “You want a beer?”
“Can't.” I said, pointing to my head. “Docs have to give me the all clear, plus I'm working on recon for your upcoming OP.”
“How do you like the recon side of things?”
“Honestly? It's nothing like being waist deep in the thick of it. I miss it already. The smells, the sounds, the adrenaline rushing through your veins. Hard to feel all that sitting behind a computer, and punching in coordinates.”
“You've only got another what? Three weeks?” He asked, even though he already knew the answer. He was humoring me, and I was okay with that.
“Twenty – one days.” I said, with a curt nod. “Ive been trying to reach Evie.”
“You need to borrow my wi-fi?” He joked.
“I wish it were that simple brother.” I said. “I think something might be wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“I've tried Skype, video chatting, and calling her cell, but everything's disconnected.”
“Have you tried Zoe?” He asked raising his eyebrow in question.
“No answer, but I left her a message.”
“I wouldn't worry too much into it. She may have just changed her cell number. New phone, new number, she'd have to manually add her apps back. Give it a day or two, and try again.”
“Yeah, maybe you're right.” I reasoned. “It's just so out of character for her, you know?”
“I thought you guys agreed to slow things down? Maybe it's just easier for her if she keeps some distance between you?”
“When the hell did you get so intune with women's inner feelings?” I joked.
“Why just last night, I got pretty fucking intune with Jessica's inner feelings.” He shot back, draining his beer. “The single life really is the way to go brother.”
“You trying to convince me, or yourself?”
“No convincing needed. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the mission. I'd be thinking about the little lady back home, and worrying about getting home to her. Too much stress. This way I just get to blow shit up.”
“Hoorah!” I called out, making him laugh, and repeat the sentiment. He had a point, blowing shit up was pretty fucking cool, but it wasn't the reason I came to see him. The truth was, I owed him. If it weren't for him, my injuries would have been a lot worse in the field. He never gave me any shit for the whole situation with Evie, and he always had my back. He was one of the best men I knew, and he was quickly becoming my best friend. “Look, before you head out, I wanted to thank you.” I started, but he held his hand up stopping me.
“You would have done the same for me.” He said. “You'll make it up to me one day.” He winked. “Who knows, maybe you'll let me take your sister out.”
“Zoe?!” I laughed so hard I thought I was going to fall over. “She can't stand you!”
“We have a mutual understanding.” He said, knowingly.
“Yeah? And what's that?”
“I don't let some dick head blow you to smitherines, and she doesn't kill me for letting it happen.”
I shook my head. Leave it to my sister to make a deal for my life. She was the only family I had left in this world, so I got it, but it still surprised me. The fact that she'd even bother reaching out to Wes to secure my safety made me smile. Of all the things she's done to drive my completely insane, this was one of the saner things.
Leaving Wes to his own devices, I headed back home to try Evie again. I wasn't surprised when all the same recordings played back in my ear. I send Zoe a text this time, asking her to call me asap. I even included a 911, it was a code we sent when things were urgent, and important. A few seconds later, my phone rang. “Hello?” I answered.
“What's wrong? Are you okay?” Zoe asked, full of concern.
“I'm fine.” I said, brushing her off. “Have you heard from Evie?”
“Evie!?” She yelled, with exasperation. “You don't text me 911, when you're on a freaking army base, recovering from a head injury Jake!”
“You're right. I'm sorry.” I said, instantly regretting the use of the number. “But, this is urgent. Evie's number has been disconnected, and all of her online accounts have been deactivated. Do you know what's going on?”
“I talked to her a few days ago. She mentioned starting her residency, but she didn't say where.”
“I've got a job here, but when it's finished, and Wes leaves for overseas, I'm coming home. I have a bad feeling Zoe.”
“It's probably nothing. You guys have a weird relationship any way. I wouldn't worry about it. But since you'll be home, you think you can help me put some new parts on my car? The mechanic wants to charge me an arm and a leg, and I know you can do it so much better.”
“I'll be home in three days at the latest.” I said, ignoring her question. She already knew I'd do the damn job, it was just a matter of me being there.
“Ok. See you soon.” She said, hanging up without another word.
I rolled my eyes, tucking my cell back into my pocket. Wes, and Zoe seemed to be on the same page about Evie, and I, but something just wasn't sitting right with me. Even though we agreed to end the benefits portion of our friendship, we didn't agree to end the actual friendship. What reason would she have to just drop off the face of the earth. No Facebook, Instagram, not even Goodreads, and the woman had loads of books on her to be read list.
All of my questions would have answers, and I only had to wait a few more days to get them. This was the first time since I enlisted, that I wished I could just leave the base. I always followed my gut, and it was telling me that something bigger was going on. Maybe I shouldn't have returned to work so soon. Maybe I should have stayed in San Franscisco until I was clear for active duty. There were too many maybes, and not enough sure things in my scenario, and unfortunately all I could do was wait.