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Chapter 4: Missing
Janie went to work with a smile on her face. She sat down in her cubicle and took a sip of her coffee when the front page of a newspaper was slammed onto her desk. She looked up and saw her eternally grumpy boss, Oliver Wendall, practically steaming. "Good morning to you too," she ignored his broodish manner and looked at the picture covering the front page. She read the headline: HEATH BARKLEY AND MYSTERY GIRL
"Apparently Heath Barkley went out on a date last night and it was caught on camera."
"It's a free country, he is allowed to date," Janie tried to hide the fact that she knew more than she was letting on. The picture showed Heath Barkley with a blond woman who's hair was covering most of her face.
He leaned down on her desk and whispered, "Come on, I know that's you. I recognize that outfit," he jabbed the photograph of her with her hair covering her identity. "You wore that shirt at the stupid indoor cookout a few weeks ago. Why didn't you tell me you were on a date with Heath Barkley?"
Janie looked around before whispering back, "Because it wasn't your business."
He looked extremely hurt, "How could you?"
Janie shrugged and grinned, "Because I wanted to."
"Did you ask him?"
Janie rolled her eyes and set down her mug and opened her computer screen, "No, he called me. And no I'm not going to let you use it for your next scoop. Now, shoo!" It took her a while, but she soon convinced him to leave her alone and he went back to his office. For the rest of the day, Janie was absentminded and could not take her thoughts away from his blue eyes. Maybe she needed more coffee to get her mind to focus. Janie went to the breakroom and refilled her mug.
Monica just put away the creamer in the fridge when Janie approached. Monica scooted closer to her coworker, "If I don't tell a soul, will you give me every detail about last night?"
"What do you mean?"
"I totally overheard you and Oliver. I can't believe Heath Barkley asked you out!" she exclaimed in a hushed whisper. "If just one of them Barkley boys looked in my direction, I know I would just melt."
Janie giggled, "I can't talk about it."
"Where did he take you? Don't tell me he took on his motorcycle. Did he kiss you goodnight? Please tell me he kissed you."
Janie looked around then leaned in quietly, "His favorite burger joint, yes he did, I kissed him."
Monica gasped quietly, "You kissed him?!"
"On the cheek. He said he doesn't kiss on the first date."
"Which implies he wants another one. Oh, I'm dying," Monica waved her hand rapidly.
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That morning at the Barkley Ranch breakfast was already underway, but Heath's place setting was empty. They grew a little concerned when Silas returned from checking the young man's bedroom. "His bed doesn't look slept in," he informed them.
Nick cleared his throat as he sipped on his cup, "Maybe his date lasted till the morning."
Audra grinned sheepishly and looked at her mother who only shook her head and took a bite of her toast. "I'll text him," the youngest Barkley whipped out her phone and sent her blond brother a text. Throughout breakfast they had idle chit-chat, hoping to hear a reply from Audra's phone. When the dishes were cleared and still no word from Heath, Victoria looked at her daughter.
"Audra, can you try calling him."
Audra nodded and dialed. The phone rang and rang but there was no answer.
"I'm sure he is just fine, Mother," Jarrod reassured in his soothing voice. "He'll be back soon," Jarrod stood, kissed his mother goodbye and turned to his brother, "Well, Brother Nick, care to walk me out?"
Nick and Jarrod left the dining room and went toward the parlor. Once they were out of earshot, Nick spoke up, "Way ahead of you, Jarrod. I'll check out his favorite places and retrace his steps."
Jarrod nodded as he grabbed his briefcase, "Swing by Armando's. Heath usually goes there. I will have a talk with Miss Cadwell."
Nick waved his brother off before heading to the garage.
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Jarrod was sitting in his office preparing a brief for the next day when he received a call on his personal phone. He recognized the number, "Nick, any luck?"
"Armando said that Heath and that Cadwell woman were there last night. They left around 8:30. Audra said that Heath still hasn't returned home. You get in touch with the reporter?"
Jarrod leaned back in his chair, "No, she is out all day, unreachable."
"I talked to Audra. She tried locating Heath with his GPS on his cellphone and it is turned off. I don't like it. It's not like him to disappear."
Jarrod leaned forward and rubbed is forehead, "I'll put a word in to a buddy of mine in the police department. He'll keep an ear out."
"Jarrod, you don't think this has anything to do with that interview Heath did?"
Jarrod shook his head, "I don't know, Nick. It wasn't received as a bad interview. Don't worry. We'll find Heath."
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That night at supper, the Barkley's were quiet. Jarrod told his mother that he put in a word to the police who will be discretely looking for him. "Heath has his family looking for him, he'll be found."
"He could be riding his motorcycle and out of range," Nick suggested, "Wilson said his bike isn't in the garage."
No matter how many ideas were put on the table, none of them eased Victoria's concern. She picked at the food on her plate and sent up a silent prayer that her youngest would return safely home. Audra and Nick finished early and left the room, Jarrod sat across from his mother as he sipped from the china tea cup.
"What's really bothering you, Mother?" He finally asked.
Victoria Barkley looked up from her untouched plate of food, "Jarrod, from the day Heath came to us, he's had to prove to the people of this city that he's the equal of anyone: that his word counts no less than any other Barkley," she paused, "What if – what if he decided that this was too much for him? What if he left?"
Jarrod's sparkling blue eyes glimmered across the table, "You don't really think someone as tough as Heath would just give up, do you?" He stood and went over to the other end of the table, knelt down beside his mother and took her hand in his. "Heath fought his way into this family. There is no doubt in my mind that he would just up and leave. He would have a pretty big fight from us," he smirked which made her smile for a few seconds.
"Then another fear is that Heath is in some kind of danger."
Jarrod patted her hand, "Oh, I doubt he is in any danger, but wherever he is, he knows that we won't stop until we find him and return him safe and sound. Try not to worry – too much," he kissed her on the cheek, "We'll find Heath."
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That evening in her apartment, Janie was going over her notes for an article she was researching. She had the television on in the background and was sprawled out on the floor with her laptop and several notebooks laid out in front of her. She took a sip of her beer when there was a knock on her door. "Coming," she called as she jumped up and went to the door. When she opened it, she saw two policemen.
"Hi, Janie," one of them greeted politely.
"Hi Sarge," she nodded knowingly to the other man in uniform, "Davidson. What brings you by?"
"Um, a source told us that you were seen with Heath Barkley the night of August 12th."
She huffed, "Oh! That Oliver Wendall! Or was it Monica? I'll kill her. Wait, why do you need to know that?"
"Barkley never showed up at his house and his family is worried. You were the last person to see him before he went missing."
"Wait, went missing?" Janie could not believe what she was hearing.
"I take it you haven't heard from him?" Davidson asked.
"No, what is going on?"
"We don't know."
"You checked his GPS?"
The Sarge nodded, "Can't locate him. Thanks for your cooperation."
"You guys will keep me posted? As a friend, not a reporter," held up her right hand as a promise.
The next morning, Janie downed two cups of coffee and smacked her cheek to stay awake. She did not sleep much the night before with the thought of Heath missing. She stared blankly at her computer screen and blinked a few times. She huffed when she realized she had typed the same sentence three times. She could no longer just sit around. She had to do something. Maybe she could patrol the streets for signs of Heath's motorcycle or go back to the burger joint or the river they walked.
Janie sighed. Those were things she was sure the police had already done; but she had to do something. Janie collected her cellphone and a few other items and put them in her purse. She jumped when the phone at her desk rang. She grabbed the receiver and cleared her throat, "Hello, Janie Cadwell."
"Miss Cadwell? This is Audra Barkley."
Janie looked around to make sure she was not within earshot. "Miss Barkley?" her voice was quiet.
"Did you hear about Heath?"
"I did. I am so sorry. I was about to do some – you know – I guess investigating."
"That is very kind of you."
"You up for some?" Janie gathered her purse then grinned when she was answered in the affirmative. She then gave her cellphone number for Audra to call then hung up.
Janie climbed into the front seat of her car and hooked the Bluetooth around her ear when she received a call from Audra. "Hi, I'm all set," Janie pulled out of the parking garage and drove out into the city, "What are Heath's favorite routes in town on that bike of his?"
"Jamerson street. South on Sequoia toward Mertle, there isn't traffic," Audra said.
"Okay, I'll start with Jamerson," Janie turned toward that direction.
"Wait!"
"What is it?" Janie stopped her car.
"I finally hacked into my brother's phone. It is at the intersection a block east from where you are; on Jamerson."
"Are you tracking me too?"
"Of course. Oh, shoot. His phone just died."
"Least you found it before it died," Janie turned right onto Jamerson Street and pulled over and parked next to the curb. She got out and looked around.
"What do you see?"
Janie looked all around. "If only you could call his phone," she spoke aloud and looked around the intersection. She had a hunch and went to the gutter. Janie brushed and kicked aside mounds of leaves and got excited when she found Heath's phone amongst the leaves. "I found it," Janie looked around the intersection and got an eerie feeling, "Audra, I'll call you back in a few minutes," Janie hung up and studied the intersection for quite some time. She looked at the traffic light polls, the road, the cars, and the buildings. Something was not right.
She turned when she heard the screeching of tires and a car that came to a quick stop. Nick Barkley hopped out of the driver seat and strolled up to her.
"Mr. Barkley."
"Miss Cadwell. Audra called me. I was uh—in the area. So you think this is where Heath – disappeared?" he looked around the intersection.
Janie held up the phone, "Here's his phone. Found it in the gutter."
"That it?" He took the phone from the reporter.
Janie hesitated then shook her head, "You aren't going to like what I have to say."
"Give it to me straight."
Janie sighed and gestured for him to follow her to the traffic light polls, "See this? It's clipped wire. There is an identical one on that poll," she pointed to the one across the street. "The security camera has been moved slightly upward and there are single tire marks and scuffs in the street aligned with these poles."
Nick tried putting it all together but shook his head, "What are you saying?"
Janie sighed, "It was a trap. They were waiting for him," she inhaled deeply, "I've seen my share of crime scenes. This one in particular. They strung a wire across the street and when a rider comes by, he's – hit by the wire," she paused as she saw the information sink in on Nick's face.
"How can you be sure?" Nick cleared his throat and his voice was quiet as he glanced nervously down at his feet.
Janie bit her lip before confessing, "My brother was a police officer. Someone – he had the same thing happen to him."
"Was?"
Janie hesitated, "It killed him."
Nick almost growled then looked distraught.
"But I don't think Heath is – if they had just planned to kill him, they would have left the bod—him here. But they took him and his bike. You might be getting a phone call soon."
Nick nodded slowly, trying to remain positive. Janie could see the anger and pain in his face. She knew that both brothers had a strong connection; Heath had spoken often of his elder brother when they were on their date.
"Right. Right, well – uh it's been more than 24 hours, you'd think we would have gotten a call by now."
Janie nodded.
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Heath woke with a searing pain across his chest and a pounding in his head. He blinked a few times, trying to remember what happened. He remembered Janie and dropping her off. His head hurt and he closed his eyes. He had been riding home when something threw him off his bike.
Heath surveyed his surroundings. He was on a cot against a wall and his hands were zip tied to the wall. His wrists were already hurting from the restraints. His heart rate accelerated as he looked around the foreign room.
The long and narrow room was dark with no windows, a curtain at one end, supposedly hiding a door. It was cold and a single low hanging bulb was swinging gently from the ceiling.
Heath backed up a little when a shadowy figure materialized from the darkness wearing a hood to conceal his face. The figure clicked on a voice changer which made his voice unrecognizable, "Heath Barkley. It seems I will finally get what I want and your family will show their true colors as to how they feel about you."
