Page 102 of Night Watch
Kennedy would still leave him, still follow Finley. But at least he’d get to see her one more time before she was gone forever. It would be painful and joyous at the same time. Hopefully the joy would outweigh the pain.
He pressed his foot to the gas pedal. Racing down the roads with little traffic, he made the trip in twenty minutes.
“C’mon, boy,” he said to Pong, and they exited.
Pong had no idea where they were going, but he must’ve been picking up on Erik’s excitement as he was pulling at the leash, which he rarely did.
A light was still burning at the marina. Maybe the manager was working late. Erik crossed the bridge and arrived at Kennedy’s place to find the door slightly ajar. His heart rate kicked up. Their suspect was in county lockup, so what was going on? Even if Kennedy had already left with Finley, she wouldn’t leave the door open.
He tied Pong’s leash to the railing. “Stay.” He drew his gun and pushed on the door. It swung inward with a groan.
Her purse lay on the floor, her phone on the table. She wouldn’t leave them behind if she’d hadn’t gone into WITSEC. He checked her purse. Her gun was gone.
Had something bad happened again?
He had to know. Find her. Now!
He didn’t call out but moved room to room, up the stairs, each space empty and undisturbed just as it had been the night of the intruder. No sign of an altercation. Other than her purse on the floor and her missing gun.
A wave of fear washed over him. He rushed to the deck. The boat was gone. Had Kennedy taken it? No, she wouldn’t take a leisure trip in the night, would she? She’d never been into boating other than using it as a way to reach her diving locations. Surely, she wouldn’t go diving on her own. And especially not at night.
On the other hand, this could be her last chance to dive before going into hiding.
He raced to the outdoor closet and jimmied the lock open with his pocket knife. Her diving equipment was inside. Okay. She wasn’t diving.
Where was she?
“Kennedy. Are you here?” he called out.
No answer. None.
“Kennedy.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Kennedy!”
He shone his phone’s flashlight along the edge of the deck, searching the water, the current moving faster than normal. He looked up. The clouds had shifted overhead. A storm was coming, and she could be in even more trouble.
He tapped the contact list until he found Finley’s name and dialed. The call rang five times and went to voicemail.
He dialed the Veritas Center.
“Pete,” Erik said when the guard answered. “It’s Erik. Has Kennedy shown up there tonight?”
“Sorry. No.”
Erik hung up and called Finley again. Still no answer. Were they together somewhere? Maybe at Finley’s place? Or had they indeed been relocated already? But why did Kennedy leave her phone? True, she’d get a new one and new ID anyway, so maybe she didn’t care.
He needed to be sure she was okay.
Finley’s place.He had the address from their research. He’d go there to check.
He bolted through the house and grabbed Pong’s leash. They hurried to the lot, but Erik made a detour to the marina door. The same guy Erik had talked to before answered his knock.
“You again,” he said.
“My girlfriend is missing. Wanda’s daughter. Kennedy. Do you know her?”
He nodded.
“You see her today?” Erik asked.
