Page 18 of Vanish From Sight (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #2)

T he panic was unmistakable.

“Whatever it is, Tanya, it’ll have to wait because—”

“Is he with you?” she asked, quickly cutting him off. There was an edge to her tone.

“What?”

“Ray.”

“No. Why…?”

“I can’t find him.”

Tanya was known for making a mountain out of a molehill, it’s what had led to the demise of her first marriage, at least according to Ray. Everything was an issue even if it wasn’t.

“It’s Ray. You know him.”

“And I know he’s not like this.”

“Look, take a breath and calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down. I’m worried. I can’t find him.”

Noah inhaled and let it out.

“Did you check his house?”

“What do you think?”

He raised his eyebrows and exchanged a glance with Callie who was feasting on fried potato skins. “What about the casino?”

“Already phoned there.”

“Maybe he got called into work.”

“Noah. I know his schedule.”

He sighed. “It might be overtime or an emergency. Local PD is helping with the case of the woman pulled from the lake.”

“That’s not it. He phoned me last night.

Drunk. A mess. Apologizing. Saying I deserved better.

That he wished things could have been different.

You know, the usual crap that he tries to pull to get me to come back.

I hung up on his ass. Then when he didn’t call back, I got worried and decided to swing by his place today. ”

“And?”

“His truck was outside, the curtains were drawn. I figured he was sleeping it off. But he didn’t answer his phone.

So, I went back around there this afternoon and his truck was gone and the door to the house was unlocked.

He never leaves it unlocked, Noah. His phone and wallet were inside too.

” She paused. “I’m worried. I’m scared he’s going to hurt himself. ”

“Tanya. Ray wouldn’t do that.”

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“He’s my brother. I think I do.”

“Yeah? Did he tell you he’s in the hole?”

“What?”

“He owes a shitload of money. That’s why I left the first time. Somehow he managed to dig himself out of that mess, I think it was with the help of your father, but this time. Noah. Please, would you just look around and see if you can find him.”

“You’re sure he’s not at work?”

“I dropped by. He’s not there. No one’s seen or heard from him.”

“Are there any bars, motels, places he’s gone to before?”

“I don’t know.”

“Great. That helps,” he said in a low voice under his breath. “All right. All right. Leave it with me.” He hung up and sat there for a second or two. Callie was chewing, studying him.

“What’s happening?”

“Look, we’re going to have to stick a pin in this. Do you think you can find out who that phone number belongs to and when the Academy calls back, let me know.” He got up.

“Noah. Where are you going?”

“It’s a family matter,” he said, turning and heading for the door.

This was one of the many reasons why he’d been hesitant to return, besides his father’s insistence that he stay away.

He knew he would be pulled back into the drama of it all.

Outside a light rain was falling, making the night seem even more miserable than it was.

On his way to the Bronco, he placed a phone call to Maddie. It went straight to voicemail. He figured that Tanya would have called her and she had probably gone into mother mode, but just in case he left a message.

Getting in his vehicle, he contemplated calling his father but then he’d have to explain why he hadn’t been in contact since he’d returned and that was the last thing he needed right now.

It was easy to swing by the house and Casino and see if Ray had returned.

Knowing him, he’d simply ignored Tanya’s calls and hit the bar for the day, or an eighteen-hole round of golf had morphed into one too many drinks .

Ray had always been the most reliable in their family, answering his calls or at least getting back in touch within a couple of hours.

As an officer, Ray knew all too well what worry could do.

Despite Tanya’s history, Noah couldn’t help feel a knot form in his stomach, especially after the tragedy of Luke.

It filled him with a sense of dread. Alicia had warned him that returning to High Peaks was not in his best interest but he figured that was just her.

On the way back through town, Noah tried calling Ray himself, but got no answer. He tried again, but the result was the same.

When Noah arrived at Ray’s place, a two-story brick home in a quiet suburban neighborhood, he noted his truck was still not there. He got out, approached the door, twisted the knob and entered.

“Ray!”

A quick search of the house yielded no answers. Nothing was in disarray as if someone had ransacked the place. No note was to be found. Seeing his wallet wasn’t a good sign, however, had he been drinking he might have forgotten to take it with him.

Drinking?

Shit. Had he gotten into his vehicle drunk and ended up in an accident? Noah phoned High Peaks Medical Center, followed by the one in Saranac.

It turned up nothing.

“Where the hell have you gone?” Noah exited the house and got back into his vehicle. Although Tanya said she’d phoned around, he called the casino and the department.

“You’re saying you can’t find him?” the sergeant on duty, Vern Rollings, asked.

Noah didn’t want to make a big thing out of it, especially since it was probably something minor, a momentary lapse in judgment, too much to drink, or he’d overlooked the time, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The last thing he wanted to do was have other officers searching for him and wasting their time.

“I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Noah. If you don’t have any luck, give us a call back.”

“Will do.”

Noah’s pulse ticked upward as he drove the streets of the downtown, scanning every corner.

Had something happened to him? Or worse, had he done something to himself?

He didn’t want to go there, to think he might be capable of that, but anything was possible.

Questions raced through his mind as he drove, his eyes darting from side to side.

He dropped by the High Peaks Pub he knew he was just going to get into it with him.

Noah made a beeline for the trailhead, his mind focused only on the worst possible outcome.

As the last rays of the sun began to set and streetlights flickered on, Noah’s search continued.

He drove out on Route 86 to Haystack Mountain Trailhead but the pull-off area was empty.

He did a U-turn in the road and headed back into town, calling his father back again. “Anywhere else?”

“Um. I’m not sure.”

“Dad. Think.”

“Well, there’s Luke and your mother’s grave, or one of the other trailheads heading up to Whiteface Mountain. He’s been known to park there.”

His father didn’t have a clue. He was just throwing out ideas as they came to his mind. In some ways he was fortunate that Hugh could remember anything with all the talk of him having early Alzheimer’s. He’d yet to see it but then again, he hadn’t been around him long enough.

Somehow, Noah remained composed. Years of working in law enforcement had shown him that despite urgency and anxiety, a cool head prevailed. He couldn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment or deter him.

After checking the cemetery, the search seemed fruitless. Noah drove out of High Peaks heading toward Whiteface Mountain. He scanned the trailhead parking for Connery Pond, Shadow Rock Pool, Owen Pond and Coopers Pond Trailhead.

Nothing.

He was going to try one more up near Wilmington Notch Campground when he passed High Falls Gorge parking lot and caught sight of his brother’s black Ford truck.

Noah slammed on the brakes, fishtailing. He veered into the lot and brought the Bronco up beside the 4 x 4. The cab was empty. He got out and called out his name, but got no reply. The wind howled in his ears.

Fearing the worst, Noah hurried into the 22-acre park along a trail which gave access to the waterfalls. His heart pounded in his chest as the rush of water grew louder. With each step, his mind was filled with terrifying thoughts of what might have happened.