When Summer Comes (Whiskey Creek #3)(67)
Author: Brenda Novak

Where had she gone?

The obvious answer was the studio. She must’ve had work to do. But if that was the case, why hadn’t she driven there? Her SUV was parked where she’d left it when she got home last night.

She had to be with someone else. He just hoped it was Kyle or one of her other friends, because the more time dragged on, the more concerned he became.

Surely, Denny or Powell hadn’t gotten hold of her….

He already knew what he’d do to them if they’d hurt her. But he couldn’t think about that or he might tear them apart without any proof.

Telling himself to calm down, to fix some dinner and wait a little longer, he went inside. It wasn’t as if she’d just disappeared. She’d left him a note, hadn’t she?

She was probably fine.

Probably… But he found it strange that she hadn’t mentioned having to be somewhere so early when they were together last night. It was also odd that she hadn’t taken her car.

When he got out of the shower and there was still no sign of her, he ran out of patience. Digging his motorcycle keys out of his pocket, he put Rifle in the house and drove his bike past the Gruper rental.

Denny and Powell weren’t home. At least, Denny’s truck wasn’t in the drive and no one answered Levi’s knock. So he went to the photography studio.

No one was there, either. Reflections by Callie was dark and locked up tight. He banged on the door, just in case someone was in the back where he couldn’t see the light, but there was no response.

What now? he asked himself. He didn’t have her cell phone number, or even a cell phone of his own to call her with. But this was a small town. Everyone knew everyone else. He figured he’d ask around.

He went to the Gas-N-Go first, since that was the place he was most familiar with. Joe had just finished for the day, but Levi managed to catch him before he could climb into his truck.

“Hey!” he shouted above the noise of his bike as he rolled to a stop.

“What’s up?” Joe asked. “You gonna be able to come in tomorrow?”

Levi killed his engine. “Tomorrow?”

“You didn’t hear? I left Callie a couple messages, trying to get hold of you. I’ve got a busy week coming up and one of my techs will be out on vacation. I could use a hand through Saturday if you’re around.”

“I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

“Eight or nine is fine.”

“Okay, but…speaking of Callie, when you called, did you actually talk to her?”

“’Fraid not. Got transferred to voice mail both times. Why? Something wrong?”

Levi didn’t want to throw everyone into a panic. This could be nothing. “I doubt it. I just…I expected her home by now, thought I’d check on her.”

“Where is she supposed to be?”

“She didn’t say. Would you mind trying her cell again?”

Joe seemed mildly surprised by Levi’s concern, but he pulled his phone out.

Levi waited, hoping for the best, but he knew he wasn’t going to learn anything new when Joe shook his head.

“Voice mail.” Joe held the phone out so Levi could take it and leave a message if he chose to, but Levi waved him off. He didn’t see any point in telling Callie he was worried and wanted to know where she was, not when she’d have no way of calling him back.

“What about Kyle?” Levi asked.

“You think she might be with him?”

“Could be, right? They’re friends. Do you have his number?”

“No, but I could get it from my sister—”

“Maybe you could just tell me where he lives and I’ll go by there.”

“This time of day he’s probably still at the plant,” Joe said, and gave Levi directions.

It turned out that Kyle was gone for the day, but the house on the corner of the property hardly looked as though it belonged to an employee, even a manager. The place was too nice. Levi guessed Kyle owned it, so he took a chance and stopped there.

Sure enough, Kyle answered the door—and was visibly shocked to see him. “What’s going on?”

“Do you know where Callie is?”

Kyle hesitated as if all the doubts he’d had about Levi were flooding back, but he seemed to put some effort into reserving judgment. “No, why?”

“She left early this morning and hasn’t come home. You haven’t heard from her?”

“Not a single word.”

Kyle didn’t add, “Since you came to town everything has been different,” but Levi got the impression that was implied.

“You’re worried that Denny might’ve…hurt her?” Kyle guessed.

“I am. Something feels off.” Considering Kyle’s previous relationship with Callie, Levi couldn’t explain some of the nuances that figured into his concern. Like the fact that they’d made love last night and he thought if she had to get up early and leave, she would’ve mentioned it. Or that he was impatient to see her again because they had unfinished business. He hadn’t meant to sleep for hours, hadn’t meant to leave her unsatisfied as if he didn’t care about her fulfillment. That was a small thing compared to her overall safety, but the way their time together had ended contributed to his sense of unease. Maybe she was so disappointed she wasn’t in any hurry to come home….

“Do you think it’s too soon to go to the police?” He hated the idea of contacting Chief Stacy. Their last conversation hadn’t gone well. But he knew he’d do whatever he had to.

“Have you tried her parents?”

“I don’t know where they live.”

Kyle opened the screen door and held it wide. “Come on in. We’ll give Diana and Boone a call.”

* * *

Callie couldn’t get the doctor to release her. She was feeling better, wanted to go back to the farm. As confident as she was that she wouldn’t have any more problems, the doctor said he preferred to keep her overnight so the hospital staff could monitor her progress. If she experienced any more internal bleeding, there was a chance she’d need a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Then it would be a few days before she could go home, and only if she remained free of infection.

“So what are you going to tell everyone again?” she asked Baxter.

Despite her protests, he’d insisted on staying the whole day, had sat by her bedside even while she slept. Occasionally when she woke up, she’d find him frowning at all the equipment, the tubes running into her body, instead of thumbing through his magazine, as he did when he knew she was watching. Reading was all he could do. He’d left home in such a hurry he didn’t even have his computer. But now it was after dinnertime. He needed to go eat, shower and get some rest.