Page 102 of Vanish From Sight

Noah jabbed a finger at him. “Watch your mouth.”

“I will when you show me some damn respect. I’ve been at this longer than you!”

The two of them closed in on each other but Callie was quick to get between. “All right, fellas, all right, let’s just let this play out. At least we’ll get some answers.”

“Yeah, even if they are wrong,” Noah said, walking away.

Callie muttered something to McKenzie before hustling to catch up with him. “Hey hold up. Where are you going?”

“To see Charlie Delaney.”

“You still think it’s worth it now?”

“Yeah. I do. If not for this investigation, for the one that should have happened a year ago,” he said, skirting around the house back to his vehicle. His mind was preoccupied by what he’d seen, his conversation with Isabella, and Lena when the phone rang.

It was Gretchen.

He had a mind to not answer but he knew she wouldn’t have called him if it wasn’t important. He tapped accept as he elbowed his way through the crowd like a fish going upstream. Reporters peppered him with questions. It was a chaotic scene, a whirlwind of activity and noise. “Gretchen. Can I call you back?’

She muttered something but he couldn’t hear it.

Noah turned, losing his cool, and told the media to back off before he got into the Bronco and slammed the door shut, sealing out the ruckus.

“Sorry. What were you saying?”

“It’s Ethan. Noah. You need to come by.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s safe. Mia too but he needs his father, not some old lady.”

He clenched his eyes shut. “I’m right in the middle of...”

“Listen to me, boy. I will always go to bat for you. You’re my blood and I’m not one for telling you what to do but this is one time you need to listen or you will lose your kids.” He glanced out at the crowd, his mind churning over before he answered to say he would be there in ten minutes.

CHAPTER 28

Wednesday, November 23, 3:10 p.m.

Noah took a deep breath as he climbed out of the Bronco.

Gretchen was standing at the window, waiting for him. She still lived in the same house that she and his uncle Patrick had built thirty years ago. It was a rustic private property nestled in a clearing located beside Echo Lake just off Mount Whitney Road.

Standing tall and proud amidst the lush greenery of the forest, the five-bedroom abode was a charming retreat worth millions now and would have netted Gretchen a tidy profit, but she refused to sell it. Even though she was getting on in age and it would have made sense for her to move into a small condo, it wouldn’t happen. Her words, as he could remember them, were something to the effect of they would have to carry her out in a coffin before she let the place go.

It wasn’t all stubbornness; it was nostalgia and love that kept her there.

The truth was it was a physical tie to Patrick who had tragically passed away in his sleep two years after Noah lost his mother to an aneurysm.

The exterior of the house was a stunning blend of natural materials, featuring a mix of sturdy wooden beams, rugged stone accents and traditional shingles. The roof had a steep pitch, creating a striking silhouette against the clear blue sky.

The wraparound porch, which added to the allure of the property, was full of comfortable seating that invited guests to relax and take in the tranquil scenery.

As Noah approached the house across a cobblestone walkway flanked by rows of colorful wildflowers, he eyed her.

“He’s around the back, Noah,” Gretchen said, waiting at the door.

“And Mia?”