Page 83 of Little Hidden Fears

What kind of man beats a woman when she’s pregnant ...

I’d never fully understood why Noelle hired a private investigator to find Dawn or why her situation was different than the other women who came to the women’s center, until now. Sure, I’d started connecting the dots between Dawn, Noelle, and the tennis club ... but learning Dawn was pregnant?

It changed everything.

Before I left Austin’s office, I asked him how he knew about Dawn’s baby. When Noelle took Dawn to be looked over by a doctor, Dawn asked Noelle to sit in the waiting room while she met with him. And for good reason. The doctor ran a few tests, and upon discovering the pregnancy, he asked Dawn if she knew she was with child. She did, and she admitted she’d only agreed to go to the hospital to make sure the baby was all right.

At first, Noelle knew nothing about Dawn’s pregnancy. But once the doctor learned Dawn had left the women’s center and was missing, his conscience got the better of him, and he couldn’t keep quiet. He shared news of the pregnancy with Noelle, hoping she would do what she could to find Dawn.

That’s when she hired a private investigator.

As I thought about Dawn and what the odds were she was still alive, Giovanni pulled to a stop in front of her apartment.

Turning toward him, I said, “I’m not sure what to expect. The apartment could be rented to someone else by now.”

He nodded. “Let’s find out.”

We exited the car, and as we approached the front door, I noticed a woman eyeing me from the next building over, the look on her face one of skepticism. We made eye contact. She was around my age I guessed and on the shorter side with curly, red hair and matching eyeglasses.

Wagging a finger at us, she speedwalked our way, her bright, flowy, multicolored dress swishing from side to side as she shouted, “You two. Stop right there!”

We did as instructed and waited for her to catch up to us.

When she got to the door, she said, “This is a private residential community,” she said. “I’ll not have you or anyone else nosing around. And just so we’re clear, I want no part of your news article or podcast or whatever you people are here for, either.”

“We’re not reporters, and we’re not with the paper or a radio show,” I said.

“Well then, who are ya? And what’s your business here?”

I made the introductions, explaining who we were and why we were there, adding, “We weren’t even sure coming here was a good idea. Dawn’s been missing for several weeks now, long enough that I expect her place might be rented to someone else.”

“Dawn’s paid through the end of the month. As far as I’m concerned, the unit is still hers until I have no choice but to rent it to someone else.”

“I take it you’re the apartment manager?”

“And her friend, I’d like to think, which is why I’m so protective about people coming around, poking in business that isn’t theirs.”

“All we’re trying to do is find her.”

She studied me like she was trying to decide whether to believe me or not. “You aren’t the first ones to claim you care about Dawn’s whereabouts. Betting you won’t be the last either.”

Giovanni smiled at the woman. “We’ve just introduced ourselves, but you haven’t done the same. Miss ...?”

“Ramona Olson.”

“Ramona, what a lovely name.”

She moved a hand to her hip, brow furrowed. “Well ... you’re a charming one, aren’t ya? Let me tell you a little somethingabout me. I know all about men like you, men who’ll say anything to get what they want. Let’s get one thing straight?—

I’m not the gullible type.”

Giovanni tipped his head back and laughed, and I couldn’t help but do the same.

“Why are you laughing?” Ramona asked. “What’s so funny?”

“You’re one feisty woman, Ramona,” I said. “I can relate.”

She elbowed me in the side. “Us broads have to be if we wanna make it in this world.”

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