"I better go. I told my Mom I would be back home in a couple hours." Sue said as she sat up straight a little while later.
"Already? It's not even 10." Jack said, getting up and followed his fiancé into the house.
She shrugged as she woke up the now-exhausted Sunny and put on her leash. Once finished, she looked and Jack and smiled widely. "See you later."
He nodded, then watched her walk out the door.
"C'mon Sunny." She called as she gently pulled on the leash. She was still sleepy and was reluctant to leave. "Don't worry. You're going to live here starting tomorrow. One more day." She prodded as she looked at her fiancé. Sunny finally moved and they got to the car. "Here we go!" She exclaimed, opening the back car door for the dog.
?-?
Jack awoke early the next morning to a dog barking. He sleepily opened his eyes, saw it was dim outside, then shut them again. "Barky, shut up please. People have to sleep." He grumbled into his pillow.
Upon hearing his name from the floor, Barky stood up and placed his paws on his bed.
"Ah!" Jack exclaimed, scared from the movement, opening his eyes wide. He was now wide awake. "What, the," he said, seeing his dog, yet hearing another, familiar dog. "Sunny?" He hypothetically asked, getting up to check it out. He looked out of his window which faced the backyard. Nothing. Still hearing the barking, he left his room to check the hallway window, which faced the front, Barky padding behind him.
What on earth?" He asked, seeing Sue's car in the driveway, a shadow of movement in the backseat. "Sunny, why are you locked in the car? Where's Sue?" With that, he hurriedly walked down the stairs to check it out.
?-?
"Good morning!" Carla exclaimed, coming into Sue's empty room. Not seeing her daughter, she frowned at the made bed. Though she was a morning person, Sue never made the bed this early, especially on her wedding day. "Sue?" She needlessly called, looking around the room, then the rest of the house, not finding her daughter. "Oh if I didn't go to bed before she came home!" She complained to herself. Her sons and their families left around 10 and she stayed up a little while longer, but couldn't stay awake anymore, so she went to bed a little before 11. Thinking Sue had done the same thing, fall asleep, she figured she would be home soon. "Why didn't I call her?" She complained to herself as she looked out the front window. Her car wasn't there. "Did she come home late then leave early? Where would she have gone?" Quickly running to get her phone, she dialed Sue. Straight to voicemail. Then she tried the next best thing.
?-?
Just as Jack stepped onto the first floor, he heard his phone ring. Hoping it was Sue explaining herself, he quickly ran up the stairs to get it. "Hello?" He worriedly said when he answered it.
Jack! Is Sue there?" Carla asked.
"I was about to ask the same thing. Her car's here, Sunny in the backseat, but I don't see her. I was just going out to investigate when you called."
"Oh dear." She whispered. "Keep me on the phone with you as you investigate, please?" She asked, louder.
He nodded, walking back out of his room and down the stairs. "Yeah." As he opened the front door, Barky woofed, asking if he could come outside as well. "Yeah, yeah. Come on." He said, waving his hand out the door. Barky took the opportunity and ran out the door, onto the grass. Unlike his owner's worry, he was happy to be outside.
"Hey, Sunny! What are you doing here?" Jack asked as he neared the car. When he got closer, he saw some objects on the driveway near the driver's side door. "Oh no."
"What? What do you see?" Carla worriedly asked.
"Uh, her purse and keys." He replied, afraid to even touch them, but continued to stare at them.
"Good Lord." She quietly replied, knowing what that meant.
Special Agent kicking in, Jack took the bottom his shirt and tried to open the back door. It was unlocked and once the door opened enough, Sunny hopped out, grateful to be out of the car, running to Barky. "It looks like she didn't even make it out of the driveway." He quietly said to himself. "Oh, why didn't I watch her get in the car!" He exclaimed loudly, kicking one of the tires in frustration.
"You are in as much fault as I." Carla replied, trying to console the both of them. "I went to bed, thinking she would be home soon. If I didn't, Sue wouldn't have spent needless hours wherever she is."
"No, it's my fault. I let my guard down and he knew it." He replied.
"Who knew it?" Carla asked, confused as to who he meant.
Jack sighed. "Kevin."