Page 27 of The Liar's Wife

I stopped by the restaurant I’d watched them at earlier that day and then checked Gary’s Grill in case they’d returned there, but they were nowhere to be found.

It was as if they’d disappeared entirely.

I headed back to the apartment with fresh panic in my chest, each breath tighter than the last. Where could they be? What should I do next?

I pulled up to the apartment, checking the street and parking lot for Ben’s car. It wasn’t there. I walked inside quickly, using my hands as a makeshift umbrella, wracking my brain for where they might be, where I hadn’t thought to check.

Ice-cold fear hit me with a vengeance.The storm.What if they’d been in an accident?Should I check the hospital?What if something happened?

I pulled up Google in my browser as I climbed the stairs, searching for our local hospital’s phone number and pressing the phone to my ear when it began to ring.

“Saint Francis Medical.”

“Hi, um, I…I wanted to check and see if my husband and son were brought there. I can’t find them at home, and I’m worried they’ve been in an accident.”

The woman’s voice quickly changed from apathetic to concerned. “Of course. Can I have their names and descriptions please? Would your husband have been traveling with an ID?”

“Yes, he would’ve had his wallet on him. His name’s Ben Lewis. He’s got brown hair and a slim build. A tattoo of a compass on his right wrist. And he had my son with him, Gray. He’s just over two weeks old with reddish-brown hair and blue eyes.”

“Let me place you on hold just a moment, okay? Bear with me.”

I gripped the phone tighter, my palms slick with rain and sweat. “Okay, sure.”

Classical music rang out over the line, and I walked through my front door, looking around to be sure they hadn’t come home during my absence, but as I expected, they were nowhere to be found.

“Ma’am?” She came back to me as I ran a finger across our countertop. “Are you still there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here.”Please have them. Please let them be okay.I held my breath.

“We don’t have anyone here that matches the descriptions you provided.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure how to feel—happy because they weren’t in the hospital, or worried because that meant I still had no idea where they might be.

“You might try Western Baptist if you still aren’t able to contact them,” she offered. “I hope you find them safe.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, pulling the phone from my ear and ending the call. Back to square one. I walked to mycouch and sat down, every inch of my skin crawling with worry. I wanted to call the police, but I had no idea what to say. No idea if I was overreacting. I dialed Ben’s number again and was immediately sent to voicemail.

Where are you, Ben?

Where are you, Gray baby?

Crestview didn’t have a hospital, and the only other one in Oceanside was on the north side of town. It would’ve been out of the way if they’d had an accident between here and Crestview. I Googled the non-emergency line for our police department, staring at the ten digits with apprehension. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want them to think I was overreacting.

But I had to. I had to know what was happening.

I connected the call and followed the prompts until I was able to speak to a live person.

“Yes, hi. Um, my husband and my son are…missing, I think. I’m not really sure what to do.”

“Okay, well, what do you mean youthinkthey’re missing?”

I brushed away the tears as they came, my voice cracking with each word I spoke. I just wanted them to walk through the front door. I just wanted it to have all been a misunderstanding. “I came home from work, and they aren’t here. I can’t get a hold of my husband. I’ve already checked our local hospital.”

“Okay, let me transfer you to one of our officers. Please hold.”

An hour later,the police were in my apartment, dripping wet. They walked through the apartment, checking over it with a fine-toothed comb. Once they’d done that, they returned to me.

The first officer, Officer Kessler, was friendly but professional, her long black hair tied back in a tight bun. She set me down on the couch, as her partner, Officer McGuire, did the same. I was having trouble focusing on what she was saying while my mind was listening carefully to every bump outside in the hallway. I just wanted him to come home. “Okay, so we’re going to get through this the best we can. I know it’s an emotional time, and I know you’re scared. We’re going to do everything we can to find your family, Mrs. Lewis, okay? First, we just need to get some information so we can get an idea of where to start. What can you tell us about your husband? Was it usual for him to go anywhere during the day? Does he have any places he frequents? Have you checked with his friends?” She held unrelenting eye contact with me as she fired the questions at me.