Dead Serious

Chapter 20 - The Final Twist

I was sat pensively in the den by myself, thoughts swirling around my head. Something was wrong. I could just feel it. Naomi and I were supposed to go out to see a movie after my work but she hadn't shown up yet. She was due here at 5 but it was now an hour later. I'd called her several times and left numerous messages, and even one very formal email, but I still hadn't heard anything.

I called the police to report her missing but they told me to go away. Apparently they'd had just about enough of calls and complaints coming from funeral directors. It was also less than 24 hours that she'd been missing so technically she wasn't missing anyway. I was starting to wonder if maybe the police force around here did less work than I did. Not a feat they should be proud of, if true.

"Still nothing?" Aaron asked, as he silently approached me. I shook my head. "Well whatever you did, let me know. I'd love to get Vanessa off my case every now and again!" I knew he was trying to cheer me up but it wasn't working. "Sorry. Too soon" He sighed.

Tom had been out looking for her, or at least he claimed to be. I personally think he was avoiding Steve. He'd forgotten to check a coffin earlier before we placed a body into it and we'd squished Alfred. Thankfully the cat was fine, but Steve was a little annoyed. He returned and shrugged his shoulders, signalling that he hadn't seen her either.

"Maybe she got lost outside?" He suggested. "We don't have any open graves do we?"

"Of course not. We're not Christian Goldstein" Aaron joked again. They both cackled and fist bumped before turning their smiles back into concerned expressions for my sake.

"This isn't like her at all. You've all met her. This doesn't add up" I sighed.

"Dude, stop worrying! She probably just dumped you, it's not the end of the world" Tom groaned. I glared back at him. "Alright, maybe it is" He shrugged.

Steve joined us then, telling me that he hadn't heard anything. He still had the contact details for all of her family after her grandma's funeral. This was the first time he'd had to call someone after the service though. A funeral director wasn't exactly someone who kept in touch.

"You don't think something's happened to her do you?" I asked nervously.

"It's definitely possible" Aaron sighed. I was glad that he was honest and actually taking me seriously now, even if I did hate his answer.

I was about to ask Steve if I could borrow one of the cars to go out and drive around town to look for her when my request was drowned out by the sound of "Shake It Off", the Taylor Swift song.

"What the hell is that?" Aaron asked before we all tracked the sound to Tom's cell phone.

"What? It's catchy" Tom shrugged.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" I prodded. Tom took the phone out from his pocket and looked at the screen. His brow furrowed when he saw who it was. "What is it?" I asked, loudly so that I could be heard over Miss Swift.

"It's Goldstein" He replied.

Aaron grabbed the phone and looked at the caller ID. Tom was right. "Is he Skype calling you?" He asked in confusion. "This guy is the worst arch nemesis of all time"

"This should be good" I smiled, my worry for Naomi forgotten for a split second.

Tom finally answered the video call and immediately put his middle finger up to the screen so that it was the first thing that Christian saw.

"Hello gentlemen" Goldstein sniggered.

"How did you get my number you creepy bastard?" Tom asked, moving his pudgy finger out of the way.