CHAPTER SIX
BROKEN DREAMS OF screams, fire tinged grass, and the lost look in Autumn’s eyes haunt me. I jerk awake for the hundredth time this week. I catch the sight of my phone illuminating, six in the morning. Stretching my tired muscles, I walk over the expansive window over looking L.A. Since her disappearance my world has been devoid of color. The emptiness in my chest expands and seeps its way into my bones.
It’s been a week, and we are no closer to finding out where she is. Wolf verified there was a small gas leak coming from the stove. He said at some point during the night there was a short that sparked, igniting the gas. He’s still waiting for the full report from his guy before giving any more information. According to Wolf and the man he talked to, we were lucky to get out alive. The house should have exploded right away, but didn’t. He said it was a pure miracle. I can’t see how, since I still lost my everything that night. Although the man told Wolf that it was an accident, I could tell from Wolf’s voice he suspected otherwise.
Wolf believes foul play, considering the coincidence of Dr. Morris being paid off and Autumn being suddenly moved without anyone’s knowledge. He’s having someone thoroughly investigate the fire further. As far as the staff at the hospital, Wolf explained it would take longer than a week to go through everyone’s background check. The hospital is fairly large and even though not everyone was on duty that night, he wants to check everyone.
I let my mind wander to that night as we were laying down for bed. The subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, and coffee lingering in her smooth dark hair. The feel of her soft lips as she pressed them against my chest. The way her fingers combed through my chest hair with the lightest touch. I held her close to me, feeling her warmth, listening to her soft even breaths. I never thought our night would end the way it did. I remember her inhaling deep. Something she does when she feels safe. My scent doing the very same thing to her as she does to me.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. “Come in.” I look over the gray city scape un-impressed with the towering buildings half hidden by a thick layer of fog.
“Sir,” Mark says just behind me. When I pull my gaze from the skyline to his drawn face he continues. “You need to go back to the office.”
“No. I need to be here. Wolf and I have a meeting this afternoon.” I say waving him off as I make my way to the kitchen.
He doesn’t say anything as he follows me. Pulling open the fridge and freezer, I look at all the food and want nothing. I have barely eaten anything for a week. I thought the pit in my stomach would dissipate as we focused on finding her, but it’s only gotten worse. Instead I settle for coffee, filled with primarily Bailey’s just as she drank it. The thought makes me feel closer to her ,somehow.
“Was there something else Mark? I need to get ready.”
He hesitates a moment. “Sir, I cancelled your meeting with Wolf. Actually we agreed.”
“What?” I snap holding back the surge of energy filling my veins. “I need to stay—”
“I know sir.” Mark interrupts, not backing down. “There is a pressing matter at the office that you must be present for. And Wolf and I both believe it would be in your best interest to get out of L.A.”
“That isn’t your decision to make!” I growl, seething with an intense amount of anger.
“I’m sorry, sir. But in this case it is. You are needed at work. Nothing will change. Wolf and I will continue to work tirelessly to find her. Neither of us are giving up hope. But we don’t know how long this could take.”
“I don’t care!”
“You are going back to work. This isn’t a discussion, sir.” Mark says his tone grave. There are very few times he has ever spoken to me like this. It only has one outcome, and it’s always him getting his way. It makes me feel like a child. “You are overcome with guilt, fear, and rage. I understand it’s justified, all of it. But I have watched you spiral out of control this week. You have barely eaten anything this week, and I have replaced that Bailey’s bottle four times already.”
I look down at the nearly empty bottle in my hand. Have I drank that much this week? The last few days are a blur. I can’t even remember exactly what I have done besides worry and yell at people.
“Mark, I can’t leave her.” I say, my voice almost a whisper.
He walks up taking the bottle from my hand and placing on the counter. “We will find her. Until I find her, I will not give up looking for her. You have my word.”
I feel small, childlike. It’s a feeling I’m not comfortable with at all. I hate feeling helpless. But being here, consumed the multitude of feelings swirling inside me, isn’t doing her any good. What help have I really provided so far?
“Your flight takes off in a few hours. I need to get you to the airport. If you want to stop off and see Wolf before we head out he can meet us.”
Leaving my coffee on the counter I head back to the room. “Does he have anything for us?”
“No, sir.”
“Then no. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” I’m about to shut the door when I remember, “Have we received the security tapes from the hospital yet?”
“Wolf should be receiving them today. He said he will go through the tapes as soon as he gets them and get back to us. It may take him a while. It’s a considerable amount of footage.”
“Tell him to get help if he needs it.” I add before closing the bedroom door. My phone lights up the nightstand. Walking over, I pick it up noticing a message from Wolf asking to meet me.
I check the clock. Mark said we have a few hours. I’m sure a quick call won’t take up to much time. Tapping his name, the call rings a couple times before I hear Wolf’s breathless voice, “Hello?”
“Wolf, what did you need?”
“Oh Kage, hang on.” I hear the phone get put down on a wooden surface. His heavy foot steps dash along the floor, and I barely hear him say thank you before closing a door. “Sorry man, you still there?”
“Yes, what is it?” I ask laying out my charcoal gray suit.
“I need to meet you, today. I’ll get you the address. I agree with Mark. You haven’t been yourself this week. And your company needs you.”
I roll my eyes and sway my head side to side. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Who was at the door?”
“Messenger. They just delivered the security footage from the hospital. I’m still waiting on the rest of the employee files.”
“I thought you got all of those already?” I ask pulling out a deep green tie that reminds me of her eyes.
“They only sent the ones of who was on duty that night. I need them all. Everyone who has inside access to the hospital is a suspect until I decide otherwise.”
For some reason, Luke’s face flashes in my mind, and his harsh reaction. “This will include the paramedics employees as well, correct?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“It’s probably nothing, but one of the paramedics rubbed me the wrong way. Over reactions and such. He tried to keep me out of the ambulance. He said it was for family only. He also stayed at the hospital longer than he probably should have.”
“Huh. That’s not right. Usually anyone can ride in the ambulance and the paramedics usually drop off and leave shortly after. What was his name?”
“Luke something. I’m not sure. His partner was fine, but Luke kept telling me family only. He was the one that put her in the truck too. They almost left without me. Didn’t seem like they waited around for any other survivors either.”
“Interesting. Hang on a moment.”
I place the phone down and put him on speaker so I can get dressed. I can faintly hear the rustle of papers, and card stock in the background. Glancing in the mirror, ignoring the dark bags under my eyes, I straighten my belt and tie. Wolf comes back on just as I finish fastening small infinity cuff links on my shirt.
“Okay. I have a few employees named Luke, but none that are listed as paramedics. His file must be with the ones I’m missing. They should be here later today or tomorrow. I’m missing over half at the moment. I’ll keep you informed.”
“Thank you Wolf. I don’t think I could do this without you or Mark.” I pull on my jacket, and grab my bag and phone before walking out of the room.
“I know you are tired of hearing this Kage, but we will find her. Just don’t give up. It could be years, but she’ll resurface.”
Years! My heart drops out of my chest. It can’t take that long. What she could undergo in that time sickens me. “Keep me informed.”
Hanging up, I toss my bag to Mark, just as he stops to meet me. “Wolf?”
“Yes. He said he’s missing over half the employee files for the hospital?”
We walk toward the penthouse elevator scanning the rooms as we go for anything left behind. “Yes, sir. A miscommunication with the hospital. He should have them soon.”
“Did he have any news for you?” He asks as we step into the elevator.
“Just that the tapes just arrived. He looked for the paramedics file from that night, but said it must be with the others.”
“I’ll follow up to make sure he receives everything he needs.”
The elevator pings at the hotel lobby. Besides the second glances as I walk across the marble floor, there’s no attention. I’m grateful we took care of the media as quick as we did. It won’t hold them at bay for now, and I’m sure the minute I touch down in New York things will be different. But for now I bask in the quiet.