Not to be found

Chapter 10 - Willsbury

I say goodbye to Noah and thank Mike and Julie for their hospitality, I drive my car out of their large wooden gates and stare down at the piece of paper with Noah's number scribbled on it. I need to get a new SIM.

It's dark now and the stars are out, I drive down the narrow roads and squint to get a better view, I'm tired it's been a long day. God knows where I'm gonna sleep tonight? There are no street lights which makes me more nervous but eventually the road widens and I approach a round about, I search the sign board and luckily I find one for the supermarket.

The supermarket is almost as big as the one we have back home and it makes my anxiety creep back into my head as I pull up into a space at the front of store; what if I'm recognised? I don't want to be dragged out of this place, how embarrassing. Okay Lacey, I mean Gracie, hood up get out move. The sooner you're in the sooner you're out.

I close the door on my car quietly trying it to draw any unwanted attention to myself away. I throw my satchel over my shoulder and walk towards the double doors, they're glass and above them say welcome to your supermarket in Willsbury. Willsbury, never heard of it in my life.

I walk through the doors and to the electronics section to see if I can find a SIM. I pull my hood down and tuck an unruly strand of hair behind my ear, as I do I'm given a few strange looks; please don't recognise, please don't recognise me the voice in my head pleads.

I stay focused on the task and head towards the isle that has electronics above it written boldly in white. As I stand there in the centre I scan the shelves for the SIMs and eventually spot one, I'm on contract at the moment so pay as you go is my best option. I pick up a SIM that costs £10 and head for the checkout not wanting to be in here any longer than what I need to.

The man at the checkout appears to be a couple of years older than me, he looks me up and down. Is he checking me out? No, he wouldn't. Look at me. I give him the money and leave the store, still feeling his eyes on my back as I walk out.

I get into my car and sit behind the wheel, I pull the SIM out of my phone and put it in my glove compartment I'll destroy that thing later. I then push the new one in and boot up my phone, it works and I'm given introductory credit to use for the next month that doesn't have a limit. I tap Noah's number into my contacts and then stare at it briefly. I then throw the phone into the passenger seat.

I start up my car and stupidly turn on the radio. At first everything is okay, I listen to a few songs that are played and then the news comes on:
"19 year old Lacey Grey is still missing. The 100 strong team of police officers and volunteers searched nearby land today around her home but found nothing. It is presumed that Lacey is in fact dead but her parents are hopeful that somewhere she is alive, the 19 year old was last seen at a service station withdrawing money; she is described to have got brown hair, hazel eyes, a distinctive scar on her upper lip and a mole on the right side of her face. If you spot her please call the police."

My body feels heavy, I would have brought some wine but you have to be 21 to buy alcohol in damn supermarkets. I've never been a big drinker, just the occasional glass at my parent's dinner parties, but I enjoyed the burn. Vodka is my favourite, Monica gave me some when we went on a 'wild' night out and within a couple of sips I was absolutely plastered. I needed to feel that intoxicated blur.

I'm tired, I need to sleep. I'm not checking into a hotel tonight, no way. Instead I drive a few miles to a secluded car park and lock all my doors, I then recline my seat all the way back and throw a blanket over my body which now feels numb. Almost instantly I fall asleep.

                     ***************
I must be crazy, here I am standing in the middle of a wooded area changing my clothes so that I'm completely naked. I pull the jeans from my body and replace them with black leggings, I then put on a black cami top and red check shirt. I pull my hair down and brush it so that it is now completely straight. I then sit in the drivers seat and correct my make up so that my scar is almost invisible and my mole is gone.

To heighten my craziness some more I find myself calling Noah, what the hell? I can't do this! He answers on the first ring,
"Hello?" He says, more like a question than a greeting.
"It's me," I say my voice still laced with sleep.
"Gracie?" He asks.
"Yes, Gracie." I say, "I was just wondering what you're up to today?"

There is a brief pause, "Nothing. Where are you?"
I look around the car park for a sign or something, there isn't one, "I don't actually know," I say the embarrassment must be clear in my voice.
"It's okay," he says his voice is soft, "I'll come find you, I can track you based on your phone signal, I'll leave now."
"Wait, you can do that?" I ask in shock.
"Sure I can, stay put and don't move." He instructs, so that is what I do.

                  ******************
How? is what I ask myself when I see Noah pulling up in the car park in his black Range Rover, how does he know how to track people?

He steps out the car and walks over to where I am perched on a rather large log, I smile at him and he does back.

"Morning," he says, I'm not sure if he's going to hug me so I don't advance.
"Morning," I reply.
"Did you spend last night in your car?"
"I might have done," I say clasping my hands together and looking down at them.
He takes a step closer to me, "you should have said, you could have stayed in our guest room."
"I didn't want to take advantage of your already generous hospitality."
He shakes his head in disapproval, "it wouldn't be taking advantage." He looks towards his car, "Come on, let's go."
"Where? And what about my car?" I ask.
"It's a surprise and we'll come back for it later."

I nod and follow him to his car. I'm reluctant to leaving mine here, in case someone spots it, but then again it isn't recognisable now and this place is pretty secluded. I'm no good with surprises they put me on edge and even more so with being with Noah. God, what is happening to me? Am I falling for this guy that I've only known for a day? All I know is that I'll probably do whatever he asks of me. Oh wow, I've fallen.