Page 47 of The Familiar Stranger

“Okay, looks like their wrapping it up,” I said. “Let’s go in and see what we can do to help.”

We slid out of the car and approached the house. Before I could knock on the door, Mike opened it, his expression one of despair.

“Perfect timing,” he said. “The officers are just leaving. Maybe you two can do what those two will not.”

He threw a thumb behind him toward the officers, who stood expressionless with their hands on their belts.

Mike stepped aside, and we stepped inside. I’d hoped I would recognize the officers from the old trafficking case, but their faces were unfamiliar. I introduced us as family friends. They nodded, told Mike to keep in touch, then left.

The sound of their cruiser starting, then pulling away filled the space.

“Come on in, have a seat,” Mike said, dragging his fingers through his hair.

Maddie rushed over and gave him a hug. “Oh, Mike. We’re so sorry this is happening. What did they say?”

“Took the information I gave them down but can’t file a report because it’s only been, like, what? An hour? They thought I was nuts. And yes, they both knew about our prior traumatic experience.”

“I would have expected that to have some impact, at least.”

“I mean, maybe it did. Who knows? They’re going to talk to the neighbor friend at least.”

“They didn’t look sympathetic,” Maddie put in.

“Ya think?” Mike scoffed. “Hell, I don’t know what to do with myself right now.”

“Did you tell them about the note from the coffee shop?” I asked.

He slapped a hand to his forehead, head shaking. “Oh crap …”

He hadn’t.

It would have made all the difference, but I couldn’t fault him for not remembering. I hadn’t even thought about it until just now.

“Call them, let them know about the note,” I said. “They’ll understand why you’re all over the place. Meanwhile, we’ll drive around and see if anything jumps out at us. If we’re lucky, it’ll be Andi.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“I think it’s better for you to stay put. You need to be here in case she comes home.”

Maddie held up a finger. “I have an idea. If Mike is okay with it, why don’t I take his car, you take ours, Sloane, and that way we can cover more ground together.”

“Sounds good to me,” I said, “Mike?”

“Yeah, great idea, Maddie. Thank you so much.” He walked over to a wooden bowl sitting on a table along the wall and pulled out a set of keys. “Standard SUV. Nothing fancy.”

Maddie took the keys. “I can handle that.”

“We’ll fan out from the neighborhood,” I said. “You go one way, I’ll go the other. Cover each block as best you can.”

“Will do.”

I turned my attention to Mike. “Call one of us if you hear anything else. And call the police department about the note. It might make a difference, convince them to look for her sooner than later.”

And then we were off.

My route took me past Andi’s friend’s house. The empty cruiser was parked in the driveway, so the officers were talking to the neighbor family like they’d said they would. Much wouldn’t come from it, but then again … sometimes we caught a break in the crime-fighting world. I prayed this was one of those cases.

Thirty minutes into my search—with the windows down despite the cold—and all was quiet. Barely a vehicle on the road. No one walking about. No screams, no struggles.

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