I hadn’t slept.

Not really.

My mind had chewed through the night, replaying the note, the hill, Kari’s absence, repeatedly until the sun bled weakly into the sky. By the time morning came, I was already in my car, gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary as I drove toward Kari’s house.

She hadn’t answered my text.

Granted, I’d sent it late. It wasn’t irrational to assume she just hadn’t seen it yet. But Kari wasn’t the type to ignore messages… at least I don’t think she was.

If she were home and well, I’d pull her out for breakfast. Ease her into talking about what had been weighing on her these past few days.

And if she wasn’t home…

I tightened my grip.

Then I hoped she’d be at the office.

Her house came into view. The slightly overgrown lawn suggested neglect. Both her car and Adam’s were still in the driveway.

I parked at the curb and stepped out, the morning air cool against my skin. I rang the doorbell.

Nothing.

I waited. Rang it again.

Still nothing.

My pulse ticked upward. I pressed it a third time, then began knocking. The wood thudded beneath my fist, small flecks of dust shaking loose with each hit.

Still no answer.

I stepped back and pulled out my phone, dialing Avery.

“Hey,” he answered. “What’s up?”

“Is Kari there?” I asked quickly.

There was a pause. Shuffling. “No. She’s not.”

A breath slipped out of me, thin and strained. “Is Jack there at least?”

“Yeah. He’s been talking Eric’s ear off since he got in.”

“Thanks.”

I hung up before he could ask anything else and immediately called Jack.

He picked up after a few rings. “Yeah?”

“It’s Selene. Do you know where Kari is? I’m at her house and she’s not answering.”

“Yeah,” he said casually. “She told me she was heading out of town. Something about… something serious happening to Adam. She took leave indefinitely.”

For a second, I thought I’d misheard him.

“Indefinitely?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

“Yeah.”

My blood ran hot. “And you didn’t think to inform me? The leader of the team she’s assigned to?”

“I was going to mention it at the next team meeting,” he replied flatly. “It’s not like her absence is going to derail much. Her contributions were minimal at best.”

I froze. 

Minimal?

“Do you even hear yourself?” I snapped. “She’s part of this team, and her not being here definitely matters.”

“To you, maybe.” His tone turned colder. “Honestly, if she didn’t improve within the next month, the higher-ups were planning to move her anyway. So, you should be happy this saves us all that hassle.”

My jaw tightened so hard that it hurt.

“And her leaving for her husband?” he continued. “That tracks. She was always orbiting him. Going on and on about how amazing he is.”

“That’s enough,” I cut in, voice shaking now… not from fear, but fury.

“I’m busy,” he said dismissively. “If that’s all.”

The line went dead.

Silence rang louder than his voice had.

I lowered the phone slowly, staring at Kari’s front door. How could someone change so much? Ever since the incident, Jack had hardened into something unrecognizable… sharp edges of bitterness, unless Eric was involved.

Minimal.

As if Kari hadn’t poured her all into her work.

I shoved my phone back into my purse and stepped closer to the door again, scanning the frame. That’s when I noticed it… the faint splintering of the lock. Subtle. But wrong. Or rather, was it just a sign of its age?

I leaned in.

“Miss? Are you looking for Mr. or Mrs. Pine?”

I spun.

A woman approached from the sidewalk, a leash looped around her wrist, tugging her dog to a halt. Her honey-blonde hair moved in the breeze, turquoise bright eyes against rosy lips curved into a polite smile.

“Yes,” I said cautiously. “I’m Selene Ray. Kari’s coworker. Do you know where she is?”

“Unfortunately, no,” she replied gently. “I’m Sarah, their next-door neighbor.”

She extended her hand. I shook it automatically. Her grip was firmer than expected; her palm rough and calloused.

Her dog licked my fingers, its fluffy-white tail wagging.

“But actually… a few days ago, she gave me a letter addressed to you. She mentioned you might stop by here at some point and to give it to you then.” She said, petting her dog softly.

My heart skipped.

“A letter?”

“Yes. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll fetch it.”

I nodded, stepping back toward the sidewalk.

Her house was pristine. A neat garden framed the walkway, with flowers carefully tended. Maybe her hands were so rough from frequent gardening. 

Movement caught my eye.

Upstairs. A tiny figure stood at the window, watching me.

Tiny hands lifted in a wave.

I hesitated, then waved back.

The curtain shifted.

“Sorry for the wait!” Sarah called as she returned, slightly breathless. “It seems I can’t find the letter at the moment.”

My pulse ticked again. “You can’t find it?”

“I must have misplaced it. Could I have your contact information? I’ll bring it to you as soon as I find it.”

She glanced briefly toward the upstairs window. The small figure vanished instantly.

Something about that made my skin prickle.

I pulled out my business card and handed it to her. “Please call me the moment you find it. Any time of day.”

“Oh, of course.” She smiled brightly. “Any friend of the Pines is a friend of mine.”

We exchanged goodbyes. She opened her door, then paused.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, turning back. “When Mrs. Pine handed me the letter, she mentioned she’d be leaving town for a while.”

“For how long?”

“She didn’t say. Just that she might not be back for some time.”

“I see,” I replied carefully. “Thank you.”

She nodded and disappeared inside.

I stood there longer than necessary, staring at the closed door.

Kari had never left without telling me. Not once.

Even when Adam got deployed for extra training. Even when work overwhelmed her. She always told me. 

Unless she didn’t have time.

Unless she didn’t want to.

Unless she couldn’t.

I pulled out my phone and began scrolling frantically: news reports about the fires out west, firefighter injuries, casualty lists. Nothing. No mention of Adam. No Pine.

My mind refused to settle.

If Eric saw her last at the office, then Michael would’ve been the next person to have seen her.

And Liam.

If she had interviewed Liam that day…

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself.

This wasn’t a coincidence. Not with everything else happening.

I climbed back into my car and sent a quick text to Avery and Eric, telling them I was heading to Michael’s office at the prison.

Then I started the engine.

If Kari had disappeared, I was going to find out why.

----------------------------------------------------

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