A week before their high school graduation, Ellie's boyfriend walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight, just like any other night. But there was nothing ordinary about what followed. Austin disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again...
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"I just dropped your car off at the dealer," my brother-in-law said as soon as I answered the phone on the hands-free system in my sister's car, which I was borrowing for the day since mine was going in for a tuneup.
It was Monday morning, and I was on my way to work but I was running a few minutes late because of the cat and a tea mishap, but I had no meeting scheduled until the afternoon, so it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Thank you so much. Did they say when it should be done?"
"Why? You don't enjoy your sister's mom-mobile?" he teased.
"Brian," I sighed, and he laughed. He teased my sister about her SUV all the time, but she claimed it was safer for Brielle and I think she had a point. I'd never really expected she'd trade in the Mercedes' she drove before she got pregnant, but she did it without hesitation. I loved that about her, that she was first and foremost a mom. She would do anything and everything to keep Brielle safe and happy.
I would probably do the same if I ever got the chance to become a mom. And that thought brought my mind back to Austin and I couldn't help but smile. Our evening phone calls, which had become a little more raunchy after Memphis, were what kept me sane. But they also made me miss him like crazy.
He'd make a great dad one day...
"Ellie," Brian called, which brought my attention back to him and our phone call.
"Yeah."
He'd offered to drop my car off at the dealer on his way to work for its scheduled maintenance check. I was pretty sure he missed Aubrey's old car more than she did and enjoyed the opportunity to get on my sporty BMW more than he let on.
"This afternoon. They are doing the required maintenance and oil change, so unless they find something wrong, you'll have it back tonight."
"Perfect. So I'll meet you there?"
"Yeah, unless you want to keep the mom-mobile?"
I laughed. "No, I think Aubrey wants it back, and I don't need it. Selma doesn't take up that much room. Her pet carrier fits just perfectly in my rear seat."
"But you have a boyfriend now," he teased, and I felt my cheeks go hot. It was a good thing he couldn't see me. I didn't want him to know his jokes had the intended effect.
"What time, Bri?" I asked to deflect.
"Around 5:30?"
"Sounds good. Thank you so much."
I hung up the phone and welcomed the music that came back on once the call disconnected. It was some kind of pop music my niece loved and I didn't mind it. I sang along to the catchy tunes as I turned into the parking garage at work.
I was a few minutes later than normal, but still early enough that my boss wouldn't be in yet. The many empty spots in the garage showed people were on vacation. Only about half of the regular spaces were filled with cars.
With the half-empty cup of tea in my hand and my purse over my shoulder, I stepped out of the car to walk towards the side entrance of the building, which most of the employees who parked in the garage used. It brought you straight to the second floor of our building. But in doing so, you had to cross a small bridge which gave a full view of the front entrance below.
I hummed to a popular pop tune and was about to step out onto the pedestrian bridge when something caught my eye down below, near the corner of the building. At first, it was just like a quick reflection of light, but it was enough for me to hesitate and step back into the shadows of the garage. I had learned the importance of trusting my instincts and the need to stay vigilant from Austin.
"What the hell, Ellie," I muttered to myself as the uneasiness grew. But instead of hurrying inside, I peeked out from behind a giant concrete pillar and over the half wall.
At first I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, just the occasional reflection of light, but something told me there was more to it.
It took a minute, maybe longer, before I could make out the shape of the man leaning up against the outside wall of BioloGen. He was well hidden in the shadows of the built out portico of the front entrance. I wouldn't have seen him if it wasn't for the reflection of his watch.
The uneasy feeling that had begun once I noticed the reflection of light, rapidly grew into full anxiousness. Seeing a man waiting outside my job was kind of strange. We didn't have a lot of visitors, but there was a reception desk inside with a small lobby. Why someone chose to wait outside in the Georgia summer heat, even though it was still relatively early, didn't make sense to me.
Something told me to remain where I was. Call it a gut instinct. I don't know what it was, but I did. If I had learned anything from spending time with Austin, it was that there was pure evil in this world and that it was important to be careful. Better safe than sorry was something my grandmother used to say when I was little, and that was exactly what this was.
A couple of other cars pulled into the garage, but neither one of the drivers came my way. Since the garage connected to other buildings, they were most likely employed by some other company. Part of me felt that was a relief because I must've looked pretty stupid as I hid behind that pillar, but the other part of me was scared and hoped someone else would show up.
Another car, which I recognized as belonging to Ralph, one of the human resource employees, pulled into the garage and I took a sigh of relief that I wouldn't be the only one going into the building, and then I laughed at myself.
Maybe I'd spent too much time getting swooped up into Austin's world to realize that there was no danger here. Just a man waiting for something outside an office. That wasn't unusual.
At least not that unusual.
I shook my head to myself and was about to step out from behind the pillar and walk inside when the man below did exactly that. And when he stepped out into the sunlight, my chuckle stopped dead in my throat.
I recognized the man.
He was tall, at least six foot, but probably taller and built. His hair was cropped short, and he looked like he spent as much time in the sun as he did the gym.
The man scanned the area as he walked towards the front door like it was his job. I remained behind the pillar but took a step further back. There was something about the man that made me anxious.
Where had I seen him before?
He looked up at the parking garage and for a second I was sure that he'd seen me, but he continued to scan the upper floors and then he opened the door to the lobby. As he disappeared inside my place of employment, I realized where I'd seen him before. Outside the BioloGen building in Boston.
