Meet Me at Macys

Claire is Missing

MAXWELL

Maxwell sat rigidly in his chair. Scattered newspaper pages lay at his feet. Staring at the apartment wall, he felt empty inside.

MISSING: NIECE OF PROMINENT RECORD PRODUCER

Last seen standing in front of Macy's Department Store in NYC, Claire Ogilvie disappeared while awaiting a reunion with Pop Superstar Maxwell.

Maxwell Stoddard claims he had a prearranged meeting set for Thanksgiving morning with Ms. Ogilvie. The young lady in question was responsible for Stoddard's sudden rise to fame. The couple met in London and traveled extensively in Europe during Maxwell's first tour.

In an exclusive interview, Maxwell stated he proposed to Ogilvie in Paris, but she refused his suggestion that they marry. He did not know of her previous marriage to Gerald Revelle and was shocked when her husband reappeared. He stated that she left with Revelle to resume her life with him. Ogilvie promised to reunite with Maxwell if the situation with Revelle did not work out. Since Claire arrived at Macy's to fulfill her appointment, we will assume she decided to leave Gerald once again.

The police are conducting a complete investigation into the matter. Since Revelle has disappeared along with Claire, they are assumed to be together. However, we do not know whether she left with him willingly or if he forced her.

Maxwell has offered a substantial reward for knowledge of Claire Ogilvie's whereabouts. Thus far, no one has come forward.

Maxwell slumped further in his chair. Although he reminded himself that Claire kept their appointment, he felt jilted. He refused to make scheduled appearances and had no plans to write another album.

Harry and Amelia Ogilvie kept in constant touch with him. They, too, were gravely concerned about their daughter's whereabouts. Maxwell accepted their apology for forcing Claire to return to Gerald. They claimed they didn't realize he was abusing her. Maxwell took their apology with a grain of salt.

"I did what I could for her," Oliver Weeks lamented when he arrived in NYC. "I wish I'd kept her in London, but she was eager to see you. I was sure that once you reconnected, everything would go as planned."

"I'm thankful, Ollie," Maxwell muttered, barely cracking a smile. "You're a true friend."

"Always willing to help, lad," Ollie stated, returning a downcast expression. "She was such a lovely little thing. Couldn't help but fall in love with the little miss."

"Please don't speak of Claire in the past tense, mate," Maxwell remarked flatly. "I want to believe she's alive and trying to return to reality."

Oliver lowered his head, realizing he misspoke. He could not believe in a world without Claire in it. He hoped with all his heart that she was located soon and safe from harm.

A year passed with no sight of Claire Ogilvie. Uncle Maynard tried to persuade Maxwell to appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, but the young star refused to accept. Instead, he returned to Graceville, Maryland, and shared the meal with his family. Only Mackenzie tried to bring cheer to the occasion.

Maxwell felt his heart would never mend. Ollie remained close to him, but he rarely saw anyone other than his family and Uncle Maynard. Everyone agreed that, in time, he would grow away from the tragedy. Although no one spoke their feelings out loud, they all believed Gerald had murdered his wife.

In the third year, Claire Ogilvie's case went cold. The police detective in charge explained that they closed their investigation since there was a lack of evidence.

"If new evidence appears, we will certainly reactivate it," Lt. MacDonald advised grimly. "You are free to continue using your private investigators for as long as necessary."

"Thank you," Harry Ogilvie stated tersely. His wife edged closer to his side, and he draped his arm across her shoulders. Maxwell remained mute, his heart breaking.

"If I get my hands on that Gerald Revelle, I'll break every bone in his body," Maxwell exclaimed to Oliver Weeks. They sat in Maxwell's living room, a bottle of whisky on the table before them.

"After I finish with him, lad," Ollie added, tightening his hands into fists. "After I get finished with him."

"I'll tell you what," Maxwell slurred, reaching for the whisky bottle, "you hold him down, and I'll pummel him."

"Deal." The two men shook hands.

Another year passed, and another. The Ogilvie's admitted defeat and spoke about having their daughter declared dead. Maxwell adamantly refused to accept their reality. As time passed, a strong bond grew between the superstar and his lover's family.

"Claire's alive," Maxwell exclaimed, clasping Amelia's hands and searching her eyes. "I can feel it in here." He thumped his chest at heart level.

"I want to believe she is alive too," Claire's mother sighed, tears clinging to her lashes. "Oh, Maxwell, so much time has passed. I want my daughter home, but I have to face reality."

Maxwell could not face that reality. Every part of his conscience believed Gerald had Claire hidden somewhere. Although he continued to hire several private detective firms, their searches always came up empty. He gnawed his lower lip anxiously and wanted to continue to believe. Maxwell had to continue to believe to keep himself from going insane. The search for Claire continued.

Night after night, Maxwell dreamed about Claire. She stood before him with her platinum hair streaming behind her. Stretching out her arms, she begged him to save her. Swinging his legs off his bed, Maxwell stood and ambled toward the door, calling her name. Oliver always rescued him before he could leave the apartment.

"I know she's out there, calling to me," Maxwell stated while Ollie tried to get him back to sleep. "I dream Claire is in a forest. The mist creeps up her legs as she wanders, aimlessly seeking an escape. She calls my name. It sounds hollow and echoes through the woods. If I can find the forest, I can find Claire."

"That's your overactive imagination talking to you, lad," Ollie suggested, yawning. "Let's get back to sleep."

"I see trees and a mountain, Ollie," Maxwell explained, sitting up in bed. His eyes grew wide and alert. "She's in the woods trying to escape. Claire runs and stumbles and falls to her knees. She stands, and her hair falls over her eyes. Furtively, she looked over her shoulder and ran over fallen leaves. It's real; I can see her."

"You should see a psychiatrist if this keeps up, mate," Oliver recommended, meditatively looking down on his friend.

Maxwell flopped onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling. Perhaps his friend was right. Maybe he did need professional help. Still, he wanted to believe he would find Claire. He wanted her back in his arms, safe and sound.