Page 8 of Gemini

“Haven’t seen her but she mentioned she’d be in late,” they said.

“Can you have her call me if you see her?”

There was a pause, then, “Sure thing.”

I hung up and tried the Nectarine Lounge next but no luck there either. She wasn’t scheduled till Saturday.

I pressed my phone to my forehead. “Fuck it, I’m going over to her place. I don’t care if she’s asleep.”

“Probably a good idea,” Jamie said. “Just be careful, and call me as soon as you know what’s up.”

“You got it, talk soon.”

I stalked into my room and dropped my phone on the bed as I went over to the closet and changed out of my work clothes. The office got cold but outside the summer heat was setting in. Careful of each brace, I slipped on a pair of shorts and a new T-shirt, before tying on my boots. As I straightened, I caught sight of my little jewelry box on my dresser. Black wood with a silver trim.

I stared at it for a moment, my throat tightening. Trish had given it to me. But it wasn’t the box that made me go still, it was the contents inside.

Heat rose in my chest. A simmering anger I couldn’t quell. I almost went to the box and opened it but decided against it and moved to the door instead. I grabbed my bag off the hook and stuffed a thin black shawl inside, then went for my phone on the bed.

I froze as I grabbed for it, glancing at the screen.

There was a message.

I unlocked my phone and saw who it was from.

A voice message…from Trish.

“Fucking finally!” I exhaled loudly.

There was silence for a moment when I hit play. Then I heard her voice, low and deadly serious.

“Lena…” Her voice cracked. “Tell Mom and Dad I’m okay. I’m okay…” A pause, then, “Don’t go looking around and start trouble. I’m just…I’m just gonna be gone for a bit, alright? It’s nothing for you to be worried about. Please…”

The message cut there.

What the fuck?

This was not like her at all.

That bad feeling in my gut tightened. I shoved my phone in my bag and headed out.

Ten minutes later, I was outside my sister’s apartment, pounding on the door.

“Trish? Trish, open up!”

Good thing it was only a little past midday or I’d be waking everyone up. I called her name and the door shook from my fist against it.

“Trish!”

“Woah, Lena, what’s going on?”

I whirled around, coming face-to-face with Trish’s roommate, Denise. A tall woman like my sister, with thick, braided hair that swept down her back. Her honey-brown eyes were wide with concern.

“Hey, have you seen Trish?”

She shook her head. “Not since yesterday.”

“You weren’t here last night?”