Broken Souls ... by Annay Dawson
Chapter 25
Looking at her watch for what seemed the three-hundredth time today she realized it was eleven thirty and about time to take her class to lunch. Addy couldn't say that it was her best day teaching but at least she was here and things were getting accomplished. The kids had noticed how anxious she was and that hadn't helped. Cindy had also asked her what was wrong as Mia wasn't her usual bouncy self today. All she had told Cindy was that Holden had taken off back to Baltimore for a while and they were just a bit worried about him. As of yet, Kari's disappearance had not hit the grapevine. Once that happened, there would be no way of stopping Cindy's questions. Addy had made three more calls to Holden and still hadn't gotten ahold of him. It was beginning to worry her, not to mention letting her imagination roam about what really had happened.
With phone in hand she lined up her class and opened the door for them to follow Cindy's class to lunch. Before the door could even close she was redialing Holden's number. As it rang and rang she started to tap her foot. It was getting more than a bit annoying that she couldn't reach him. When the answering machine came on again she left a terse message to the point that he either needed to answer his phone or return her messages. Hanging up she decided to call the police officer that had stopped by this morning to see if they had found Kari safe and sound. Maybe that was why nothing else was happening.
"Yes," it was very businesslike and was all he said. He was trying to sound polite but it had been a long day and he was only working on three hours of sleep. He was back out at the parking lot and talking with the search coordinator. They had found her cell phone in the car so it was of no use to them. It must have either fallen out of her purse as she got out, or the other was a little to gruesome to think about. So far they had found nothing of importance on any trail. Looking at the hiking trail maps of the park they had marked off the ones they had covered with and without the dogs. So far it was looking like a bust. One of the problems was that she had walked so much of the park it was hard for them to find a clear sent trail, that and the fact that every trail was, or could, be over twenty four hours old.
"This is Addison Westlake, you stopped by this morning," when she heard the gruff confirmation she continued, "I wanted to know if you have found Kari yet?"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Westlake we haven't found anything. I have tried to reach your brother and the only thing I get is voice mail," he looked out toward the trailhead, "Have you been in touch with him?"
"No, that's why I was calling. I was hoping you had been able to get ahold of him or had at least found Kari," Addy started to pace the floor.
"We are still looking," he wasn't going to go into details that there weren't enough search and rescue dogs around to check all the trails faster, or that the age of the trails could be a problem or that in a few days they would call in the cadaver dogs instead. He also did not mention that he had talked to an Agent Ryan somebody from the FBI because Mr. Parker was across state lines. If they didn't find something soon he'd have to call them again, "If you hear from your brother, it is very important that you contact me and tell him to come in to the office immediately."
"Don't worry officer, I'm sure he will as soon as he knows that Kari is missing," Addy was less and less sure as the moments ticked on that she would even hear from Holden.
"Kari's missing?" came a voice from behind her. Addy turned and looked straight into Cindy's eyes. She put the phone down. "Is that what's going on? Is that why Holden is missing? Is he out looking for Kari?"
"Cindy," and that's when it happened. The tears started to slip from her eyes, "I just don't know." Cindy was right there with a chair. Wrapping her arm around her friend she waited until the crying had ceased and then helped her to the chair. It had been hard on Addy this last few months and just when she could see the light at the end of the tunnel the door had seemed to fly closed. Cindy wasn't sure of all the details but she was sure of one thing, Addy needed her now to get through this.
"Okay hon, we will get through this," and she picked up Addy's phone. Not bothering to look that Addy had already sent a ton of text and probably left messages all over the place for him she dialed Holden again. When she got no answer she put the phone down. "Maybe you should go home this afternoon. I can take your class in with mine until a sub gets here."
"No, if I go home the things I am thinking will only get worse," Cindy had a puzzled look on her face, "I found Holden sitting at the table yesterday morning very upset."
"He seemed okay when he was here," Cindy sat down in front of Addy and handed her some tissues.
"Trust me he wasn't. Said something about really messing up with Kari and," Addy paused looking away trying to remember everything exactly, "He had been sitting at the table for four hours thinking. Said that they had both said things but I never let him finish."
"What's the big deal about that, all couples fight," Cindy was holding her hands trying to comfort her.
"That's what I said but," her eyes dropped to the floor, "Then all he did was talk about things in the past tense."
"Don't," and Addy looked up, "Don't think that way."
"But he's been so different, troubled," Addy stood up and started to pace again, "I know. I know, but you can't blame me for thinking those things."
"Okay, I can't but you know that's not Holden so lets get something to eat and we can then try to call him again," Cindy went to the small refrigerator.
"I'm not really hungry," Addy couldn't think about eating when her stomach was doing flips.
"You have to have something. It will do you no good to starve yourself especially when it will all be just fine," or she hoped. The worst thing was that after Addy had said that Cindy's mind was doing the same creative adventures. "Is there anyone else that you can call that would know where or what he's up to?"
"He said he was going to see his editor and I tried calling Tyler at about ten this morning and he didn't pick up either," she took the sandwich that was handed to her, "If I don't get ahold of him by six tonight I'll call Tyler again. I just don't want to get everyone flustered if there is no reason for it."
"Want me to take Mia home with me tonight?" Opening the jug of water and handing it to Addy signaling her to drink. Addy did so obediently.
"No," and she took another sip. The cool water was more refreshing than she thought it would be. Sighing she continued, "I was thinking of asking if she wanted to go home with Daniel today. You know how that always goes over so well. I can give his mom a call in a bit and make sure it is okay."
"Why don't I do that now," Cindy held up her hand, "I won't tell her why, just that Holden had to go out of town and Mia is a bit down."
"That sounds better than what I would come up with," Addy looked at her phone again.
"Give him a try," and the next part she said with more conviction than she felt, "You know men. Sometimes they just don't look at their phones."
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