Page 42 of Vanish From Sight

After hanging up, Lena looked at the number. Something about the situation made her uneasy. She picked up the phone again and dialed it. Some woman with a harsh throaty voice answered.

Lena introduced herself and asked if they were a registered breeder.

“Yes.”

“Can you give me any more information, references, or can I come and see the mother and father?”

“We don’t do that.”’

“Why not?”

“Look, are you interested in the dog or wasting our time?”

“I just wanted to see where the dogs are being kept and the parents.”

“Like I said, we do things differently. If you are interested in seeing a dog, we can meet you and show you one or two.” Lena thought for a moment and then agreed to meet them.

12

Monday, November 21, 4:20 p.m.

Every investigation was full of secrets and lies, the truth lay somewhere between.

It wasn’t so much a matter of retracing her steps on the night she went missing as it was understanding the victim. In doing so they might learn what happened. Noah was acutely aware that he was probably only hearing half the story and parts were being purposely left out. The question was why?

Finding the women’s shelter wasn’t easy.

Katherine never told her husband where it was, only the name. There was good reasoning behind that, in the event that she might need to go there again. Most emergency shelters for women coming out of an abusive relationship operated that way.

It was for safety reasons.

The actual residence was only made known once a personhad been carefully vetted. They didn’t want an ex-husband or controlling boyfriend to show up unannounced. For it to be an effective safe house, anonymity was crucial.

Still, Noah figured if Katherine had continued to go to work while staying at one, it couldn’t have been too far away. There were only two in the county. A quick conversation with administration at each of them eventually yielded an address.

It was located up in Wilmington, New York, a quiet town twenty minutes northeast of High Peaks. It wasn’t far from one of the State Police Satellite Offices, a location that seemingly had been picked in the event they needed to call for assistance.

The building was set back from the road with a manicured lawn, pristine landscaping and plenty of trees that provided privacy and a sense of calm. It was an historic, two-story brick building with an additional side building that resembled a small motel. The residence had a modern aesthetic, offering simple sleeping quarters and living spaces. Noah was struck by its humble exterior. The faded sign which read “Adirondack’s Safe Haven,” and the brick wall surrounding the property showed signs of wear and tear.

“My sister was in one of these places,” Callie remarked.

“Because of an abusive relationship?”

“Not exactly. She was trying to get her life in order. It was a combination of substance abuse and depression. She felt like she didn’t have anywhere to turn to. Had she reached out to me, I would have put her up.” Callie picked at dust on her pants. “She lives out west now. California.”

Noah stuck the gear into park. “Did it help?”

“Yeah. It gave her a way to rebuild her life, save money and eventually get a place. But unlike what they’ll say, it doesn’t help everyone. Only those who want to help themselves.”

“Isn’t that always the case,” he said, pushing out of the Bronco.

Upon entering the building, they were greeted by the sound of bustling activity as volunteers and staff attended to the needs of the residents. They were directed to a small office in the rear of the main building where they were met by the shelter’s director, Sandy Willis.

“Please,” she said, welcoming them and offering them seats. The office was small and tidy but functional, with a desk, a computer and several filing cabinets lining the walls. There were a few posters reminding readers that despite their circumstances, they were strong and capable. Some showcased self-care tips, including suggestions like going for a walk in nature or taking a bubble bath. For those in survival mode, it was a welcome reminder to take care of themselves. Noah eyed one that had a woman standing on a mountaintop, arms outstretched toward the sky, and encouraged having dreams even in the darkest moments.

Sandy noticed him observing them. “We try to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and encourage the women.”

“Does it work?”