Missing Laura – Chapter One

"Plans for the long weekend, Miss Holt?" asked Mildred Krebs as Laura Holt locked up her office, slung her handbag over her shoulder, and headed for the door.

"Oh! Mildred. I didn't know you were still here. I thought I was the only one who stayed late to tidy up messy files."

"Just fooling around on the computer," explained Mildred. "The instructor at the evening class I'm taking said that's the best way to learn the stupid thing."

Laura noticed Mr. Steele's closed office door. "I see Mr. Steele didn't bother burning the midnight oil tonight." She sighed. Mr. Steele was always the last to come in the morning and the first to go home at night. Still, he was learning. Much less the figurehead he had become when she met him a couple of years ago, Laura had to admit that there were many times on many cases when she didn't know what she would have done without Mr. Steele. It would be nice if he stuck around every once in a while. Maybe they could check out that little English-style pub that opened up a couple of blocks away, or maybe they could grab a movie together.

"He said something about wanting to get an early start on the weekend," Mildred said, giving Laura an odd look. "Did you want him for something?"

"No!" Too fast. Too desperate sounding. Laura tried to recover. "I mean, I hope he has a good time, whatever he plans for the weekend."

Mildred smiled an enigmatic smile. "Oh, from what he told me, Miss Holt, I think he'll have a wonderful time."

"Yes, well . . . have a good weekend, Mildred." Laura regarded the older woman non-chalantly. "Do you have any special plans?"

A spark lit up Mildred's eyes. "Some friends and I are going to a computer expo in Silicon Valley. I thought I could learn a lot there. Plus, I want to see about ways to update our system here in the office."

Laura's heart sank. She would be alone for the weekend. Again. And this wasn't even a regular weekend. She had to deal with Monday, too. She had already called Frances and Donald. They were heading up to Bear Lake for a camping trip with the kids. They had asked Laura to join them, but she didn't want to be a burden on them. She knew they cherished their family time together. She didn't want to horn in on that.

After bidding Mildred a final goodnight, Laura took the elevator down to the parking garage, got into her VW Rabbit, and drove through the night to her loft. Maybe she shouldn't stay home alone after all, she thought. Maybe she should pack a bag and head up the coast, take a little vacation. If she was going to be alone, she might as well do it in a little hotel somewhere on the beach, eating out and enjoying the sights.

She noticed the wounded animal as soon as she parked the Rabbit outside of her building. Somebody had probably hit it with their car and left it to die. If it was still alive, she could take it to an animal hospital. It was cruel to leave it lying there suffering.

Laura grabbed a sweatshirt she had in the trunk of the car to wrap the animal in. As she got closer, she wondered if the poor thing was dead after all. It wasn't moving at all, and it wasn't making any kind of sound. Then she thought it looked very strange. What kind of animal was it? It wasn't until she was right on top of it that she saw it wasn't a real animal at all, just a very realistic-looking stuffed animal. She didn't know whether to smile that she didn't have to worry about the well-being of another living thing or to kick herself for being so stupid.

It was this thought that was on her mind when she felt two strong arms encircle her from behind. She smelled the rancid odor of foul breath and felt the sting of a needle in her arm before losing consciousness completely.

Unaware of her own fate, Laura was shoved roughly into the back of a cargo van, her assailant taking a moment to bind her ankles and wrists with duct tape. For later. He also put some over her mouth and eyes, just so all bases were covered. Then he threw his stuffed animal bait in with her, shut and locked the door, slid into the driver's seat, and drove calmly away.

In less than two minutes time, Laura Holt had disappeared off the face of the earth.