CHAPTER 4-THEORISING
(I watched the Alfred Hitchcock movie, 'The Lady Vanishes' before writing this chapter, and it inspires this story somewhat. If you've seen the movie, or indeed read the source novel, you'll know what I mean. If not, well, I hope you enjoy anyway. Apologies for no Scott or Mickey as yet-I wanted to eke it out a bit longer,lol. I think Control's cameo will be at the end-and Jimmy may make an appearance too, simply because I think he's funny,lol.)
"It shouldn't seem like that." Nicole replied. "I mean, not with the note, but...I don't think she left that apartment on her own speed, Robert. I think there's someone else involved."
McCall nodded slowly, considering this, then asked, "What exactly did the note say, can you remember?" Nicole threw him a sly smile, then dug around in the back pocket of her jeans, produced a piece of paper, and handed it to him. Robert unfolded it, looked at it, then glared at her disapprovingly, and her smile faded slightly, his expression making her more than a little nervous. "I took it while their backs were turned." She said quietly. "I guessed they wouldn't miss it."
"Nicole, you can't go around stealing evidence from a crime scene!" If his expression had made Nicole nervous, the tone of his voice downright scared her, but she protested desperately, "But it's not evidence! The cops aren't even treating this as a crime, so how could it be evidence?"
Robert couldn't argue with her point, but threw her one last angry look for effect, before turning his attention back to the note. "This is definitely Amy's handwriting, yes?" He asked shortly.
"Yes, sir." The reply was so low that McCall barely heard it, and when he looked up at Nicole again, he was horrified to see that she was almost in tears. Tough, this girl undoubtedly was-but not when it came to him, apparently. Why had he been so annoyed with her, anyway? She was just doing all she could to help a missing friend, and besides, she was right-according to the police, there was no crime.
"I'm sorry, Nicole." He said gently. "I didn't mean to snap. I just don't want you getting in trouble. Again."
Nicole gave him a watery smile at the emphasis on the last word, then asked, "So, what do you think?" "Well," Robert's reply seemed uncharacteristically hesitant. "There doesn't seem to be any clue in the note itself. Often, when people are in trouble, they can word things in a certain way to let people know they need help. But this seems fairly straightforward, and something tells me the owner of an art gallery wouldn't know how to use..." He stopped short, realizing he had come very close to giving too much away. He had been referring to hidden code in letters, which he was capable of deciphering. It was far too easy to trust Nicole, who already trusted him without question, who obviously longed for his approval. But there were things she would never know about him. That none of his clients would ever know about him.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he turned to a different tack. "Do you know if Amy has any enemies?" He enquired. Nicole looked shocked by the mere suggestion. "Enemies?" She repeated incredulously. "Not that I know of. I mean, she is pretty rich, but it's not exactly something she shouts from the rooftops, you know?"
"But it's possible this could be about money." Robert pressed, and Nicole looked puzzled now. "Well, it could be." She replied. "But wouldn't there have been a ransom note, instead of Amy writing the note herself? And I think-" She broke off, blushing suddenly, and Robert leaned forward. "You think what?" He prompted, his voice gentle, but with more than a hint of demand.
Nicole shook her head, feeling embarrassed now. She had a very strong suspicion about the note, but didn't want Robert thinking she was being paranoid. "It's just that," She said hesitantly. "I know Amy wrote the note herself, but...oh god, this'll sound crazy!"
"Someone will write anything with a proverbial gun to their head." Robert finished. "Or, depending on the situation, a literal one." Nicole looked up, gratitude filling her heart. He understood. By some miracle, he understood.
"You believe Amy was somehow coerced into writing that note, don't you?" McCall looked deadly serious now, and she nodded. "Yeah, I think so." She replied. "I think someone forced Amy to write it, and then took her. But I don't know where. Or why."
"Well", he said smoothly. "That's where I come in." Steepling his fingers against his forehead, Robert took a minute to sift through all the facts. A woman who had disappeared, a seemingly innocuous note, an overturned lamp, an open window...and a neighbour who had heard some sort of commotion.
"The neighbour who reported hearing noise." He said quietly. "Do you remember if the police said she saw anyone unusual around Amy's apartment at any time that day?" Nicole didn't reply for a minute, then said, "I don't think the cops even asked, Robert. Once they got in there and saw the note, they lost interest."
McCall sighed, running fingers impatiently over his grey hair. Sometimes, the incompetence of the police force astonished even him. And of course, Nicole knew only too well about police incompetence-which was why she showed them neither trust nor respect.
"It might be worth asking." He mused. "Just in case she noticed anything." A pause, and then he added, "Wait-you said the kitchen window was open. How many floors up is Amy's apartment?"
"Six." Nicole told him. "But the window leads out onto the fire escape, so..." She stopped, eyes widening in growing realisation and horror. "Oh, Robert." She gasped. "Oh, god, Robert."
McCall nodded grimly. "It's possible that whoever came for Amy took her out that way, which explains the commotion, the overturned lamp, and then the empty apartment." He was talking quickly now, putting things together in his head. "And it would definitely explain the open window. However, did they also enter the building through the fire escape-or simply knock on the front door?"
Nicole frowned. "If they did that, and Amy just let them in, then she'd have to know them." She said. "More than that, Nicole-she'd have to trust them." Robert conceded. "We have to consider the possibility that Amy knows her abductor, or abductors." He paused to smile slightly, but reassuringly, at Nicole. "We'll find her." He said firmly. "I'm going to make some calls, enlist some help-but for now, get some rest. I'll call you in the morning, and let you know of my findings. Alright?"
Nicole knew that expression on his face; it was a look of determination and stony implacability that both moved and frightened her. She knew from that look that finding Amy would be inevitable-she just hoped she'd be ok when she was found.
"If I hear or see anything in the meantime..." Nicole began, and McCall immediately said emphatically, "You call me. No matter what it is, or how small or inconsequential it seems, you call. Understand?"
"Inconse-what?" Nicole had never been stupid, despite missing many years of formal education, but often, longer words were simply beyond her.
"Inconsequential, Nicole." Robert repeated patiently. "Or trivial. Do you understand now? Don't hesitate, whatever it is. Just call, okay?"
"Yes, sir." Robert smiled at her respectful formality, then told her, "If I don't hear from you, I will call in the morning. If the lady who received me earlier doesn't mind, that is."
"You mean Rebecca?" Nicole scoffed. "Some lady, Robert. She's got an ego the size of South America-thinks she should be running The Gallery instead of Amy. I think she's actually happy that she's disappeared." She saw McCall's expression change, and shook her head, smiling. "I know what you're thinking." She said. "But there's no way Rebecca could be involved. Plenty of ego, but not much brainpower, know what I'm saying?"
"Crime often doesn't involve brainpower, trust me." Robert seemed to be saying this to himself, more than to Nicole, he said it so quietly, and then added, more loudly, "I'll talk to you soon, Nicole. Try to get some sleep tonight, alright?"
On his way out the door, Robert nodded to Melissa and Rebecca. Rebecca gave him a perfunctory nod in return, while Melissa tried to accessorise her nod with a smile, but even Nicole could see that it didn't quite reach her eyes.
As soon as he was gone, Rebecca snapped, "Who was that man, Nicole?" "A friend." Was Nicole's instinctive response-but was that strictly true? She was merely a person whom Robert had helped, really. "A friend who agrees that something bad has happened to Amy. A friend who is going to help me find her."
Rebecca merely rolled her eyes and turned away, but Melissa came over, still looking uncertain. "Is he really gonna help?" She enquired. "I mean...are you sure about this guy?" Nicole gave her friend a withering look. "Robert McCall is one of only two people in my life I've ever been sure of, Mel." She replied coldly. "Why do you ask?"
Melissa seemed genuinely thrown by her response, then wrung her hands awkwardly, and said, "Well, it's just...it's just…the guy scares me, Nicole."
Nicole grinned; she had been expecting this reaction. She knew how intimidating Robert was, and his strict air of authority only added to that.
"Oh yeah?" She quipped. "Then try being the bad guy."…
(Next: Jimmy and Mickey are called in, and Scott and Nicole finally meet. Please R&R!)
Top of Form
