Page 47 of Vanish From Sight

“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 injudgment, 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 & Brewery which was now under new management. He received a few worried glances from the new owner, Bob Westman, a well-to-do guy who had decided to take it on despite its name having been dragged through the mud. “Sorry, we haven’t seen him.”

Out in the parking lot, he stared at his phone. It was the last call he wanted to make but he opted to do it. Strangely, Hugh picked up. “Hey, Dad.”

“Well, isn’t this something. Good to hear your voice.”

His positive note caught Noah off guard but maybe that was because Hugh didn’t know he was back.

“Is Ray with you?” Noah asked.

“No. Why would you ask that?”

“Look, I’m just going to put it out there, we can talk about it later, but I’m back in High Peaks. Permanently. At least for now. Ray’s gone missing.”

“Um. Hold on a second. You’re back? Since when?”

“It doesn’t matter. Look, have you seen or heard from him?”

“No. And why are you acting like it’s a missing person case?”

“Tanya phoned me. Said she can’t find him and…”

He laughed. “Oh, so she phones you and you drop everything to go scour the streets, is that it?”