Page 55 of Vanish From Sight

Tuesday, November 22, 7:25 a.m.

The pressure was relentless.

The news that another person had gone missing arrived by way of a phone call to his mobile at after six fifty in the morning, waking Noah from his slumber.

“Yeah?” he mumbled, pawing at his eyes.

“We’ve got another,” Callie replied.

Ana Silva had called the county sheriff’s office late in the evening after her partner Laura had failed to return from her evening jog.

It was a common myth among the public that they had to wait twenty-four hours or discover something unusual before they could report a loved one missing. Having been involved in numerous searches, Noah was all too familiar with the problems that arose when a family took too long to call the police.

In this case, however, Ana had trusted her instincts, called it in and then gone out to search. She was the one to find her shoenear a trailhead not far from Laura’s Ford Explorer. Fortunately, she had the good sense not to touch it.

Having slept at Ed’s the night before, Noah had only a short drive to River Road, one of the many running routes used by joggers. The four-mile stretch ran along the Ausable River, offering breathtaking views of the High Peaks. North of the local airport and southeast of the town, it was a common spot for those training. It was also very remote with few homes nearby.

Noah sipped at the coffee Ed had handed him on the way out after reassuring him that his brother was in good hands.

If he took a turn for the worse, Ed had told Noah he would strong-arm Ray into his truck and take him to the hospital. Noah still wasn’t convinced it was the best thing to do but his brother had been adamant — no hospital. So, he’d slept on the sofa across from him, his mind chewing over what Tanya had told him about Ray’s debts. He would have that conversation when he was well enough, until then, he’d opted to give him space.

Morning offered positive signs. The color was back in his cheeks. He was sleeping so Noah didn’t bother to wake him. Still, he wasn’t out of the woods yet. The first forty-eight hours were critical. Any number of complications could arise from water exposure – infection, pneumonia, heart failure, it was all on the table.

“Meet me at the Connery Pond Whiteface Landing Trailhead,” Callie said.

“I thought you said River Road?” Noah replied as he drove out.

“I’ll explain when you get here.”

He couldn’t miss it, as it was the exit and entrance that led up to Ed’s place.

Arrivingthat morning as the sun began to rise, Noah noted the presence of multiple cruisers. They’d already cordoned off the area. He swung the Bronco around and parked it alongside the others.

“Yes, just keep them back. I want that road blocked on both ends. The only ones that get through are those who live on that road,” Callie said to another deputy before turning and crossing the trailhead lot.

She fell in step with him, pointing to an area close to a 2020 Green Explorer.

There were several yellow sandwich board markers placed to preserve spots where evidence had come to rest. “One of her sneakers was found there, her headphones a short distance away, over there. It looks as if she was dragged to a waiting vehicle.”

Noah eyed the path through the gravel. “No dog?”

“Her partner says she doesn’t own one. She was out for her evening run. Never missed a session. She’d just come off a four day stretch of ten hour shifts over at High Peaks Academy.”

Noah turned abruptly.

“I know. A coincidence or targeted?” Callie said, nodding. “Seems she works in their infirmary as a nurse. We assume she knew Katherine.”

“And her partner?” Noah asked.

“Oh. Um. Ana Silva. Forty-six. They’ve been seeing each other for just under a year. Ana works for city hall. She doesn’t live with her but she’s a resident of High Peaks. She was cooking dinner at her house when Laura stepped out to squeeze in the evening run.”

“What time was that?”

“Just after six.”

He nodded. “So, it would have been dark out.”

“And with next to no traffic out here, and homes spread far apart…”