Page 64 of Race to Save Her

Katie’s phone rang and then John’s. They looked at one another, knowing there was another body—or part of one.

“Scott,” she said and looked at John as he answered his phone. “I’ll be there shortly.”

“What’s up?” he said.

“There’s been a woman reported missing and her last location was at seven this morning at the yoga and fitness studio on Pine where Shelby worked. What about you?”

“It was Eva. She wanted to remind me about some supplies coming in today.”

Katie looked down for a moment. What were the odds that a woman might’ve been kidnapped at the same location as Shelby—or near her workplace?

“You know, you could let McGaven handle it and take another day,” John said.

“No way. I’m going to get ready and get out there.”

Katie drove directly to the yoga studio and met McGaven there. She could see several small groups of people hanging around and watching. Two police cruisers were present. Down the street more officers were conducting a search of every business and most likely getting any video from security cameras. There were county cameras on the traffic signals and the edges of some of the bigger businesses too. They should be able to track what had happened to some extent at least. There were always uncovered areas and if the perpetrator knew it—then it was a problem.

McGaven jogged up to meet her. “Nice to see you, partner.”

Katie knew he was worried about her and relieved things hadn’t taken a different turn yesterday. He seemed stoic and wasn’t cracking his usual tension-breaking jokes.

“Hey. What do we know?” asked Katie.

“Apparently, one of the patrons of the yoga studio left early from one of the classes yesterday and hasn’t been seen since.”

“Her car?”

“Still parked in the parking lot. Her keys were found near it,” he said.

“No one saw anything?” she said.

“No one yet.”

“How can that be possible?” Katie walked across the street to the parking lot and saw they had already put yellow tape on the doors. She looked around and then across the street. “There’s a direct view from the coffee house. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“What if there was a truck or van, or even a delivery type of vehicle pulled up right here blocking the view?” she said.

McGaven walked to the curb and studied the area. He nodded. “That’s a definite possibility and could be why no one saw anything. I’m going to talk to the canvassing officers to see if we can get some footage from here.” He hurried to speak with patrol.

Katie decided to talk to the owner of the studio, Cindy Ware. She saw her standing outside with two other women who appeared to be instructors.

“Ms. Ware,” said Katie. “Can I speak with you?”

The woman walked up to her. “It’s horrible.”

“Can you tell me anything about the missing woman?”

“Patricia Kahn has been coming to the studio for almost five years now. And…” She was barely able to speak.

“Take it easy. Inhale and slow down,” said Katie.

“She looks… so… much…” She could barely catch her breath.

“So much what?”

“Patricia looks so much like Shelby we used to joke about it, calling them long-lost twins…”