Page 44 of Twice Missing
As they pulled away from the curb, heading towards the casino, neither of them noticed a figure emerging from an alley beside the Green Leaf, a phone pressed to their ear as they watched the detectives’ car disappear down the snowy street.
17
The late afternoon sun spread across Callie Thorne's living room as she methodically wiped down the coffee table. The rhythmic motion of her cleaning was interrupted by the shrill ring of her cell phone. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw Ray Sutherland's name flashing on the screen.
"Ray?" she answered, a hint of concern in her voice. It wasn't like Noah's brother to call her out of the blue.
As Ray explained the situation, Callie's brow furrowed. Gretchen's medical emergency, the sudden need for someone to watch Mia and Ethan, and the underlying tension in Ray's voice all pointed to something more serious than a simple babysitting request.
"I'll do it," Callie said, her mind already racing through the implications. "But Ray, I need you to check with Noah first. He wasn't too keen on me using my time off for this before."
Ray agreed, and within minutes, he called back withNoah's supposed approval. Callie couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story, but she pushed her doubts aside. These were Noah's kids, after all.
After ending the call with Ray, Callie dialed Jake Richmond's number. The forest ranger picked up on the second ring, his deep voice tinged with anticipation for their planned dinner date.
"Jake, I'm sorry, but I have to cancel our plans for tonight," Callie began, explaining the situation with Noah's kids.
To her surprise, Jake's response was immediate and supportive. "No need to cancel completely. I'll finish up my shift and join you all later this evening. It'll give you some peace of mind, and honestly, I could use the company too."
Callie felt a wave of relief wash over her. Jake's presence would indeed be a comfort, especially given the vague sense of unease that had settled in her stomach since Ray's call.
As the afternoon wore on,Callie found herself navigating her Jeep along the winding, snow-covered roads leading to the Sutherland family cabin. The scenery transformed from the familiar streets of High Peaks to the rugged wilderness of the Adirondacks. Towering pines lined the road, their branches heavy with fresh snow. The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks obscured by low-hanging clouds.
Mia and Ethan sat quietly in the back seat, their facesilluminated by the glow of their phones. Callie caught glimpses of them in the rearview mirror, noting how much they'd grown. Mia, at seventeen, had a composed, almost regal air about her, while sixteen-year-old Ethan seemed lost in his own world, his face a mask of teenage indifference.
The cabin came into view as Callie rounded a final bend. It was a sturdy, two-story structure made of dark wood and stone, nestled in a small clearing surrounded by dense forest.
Callie guided the Jeep up the freshly plowed driveway, the tires crunching on the packed snow. As they came to a stop, the teens stirred in the backseat, stretching and yawning as if waking from a long nap.
"Home sweet home," Ethan muttered, his voice a mix of sarcasm and genuine affection for the place.
They piled out of the car, the cold air biting at their exposed skin. Callie retrieved her bag from the trunk, then followed Mia and Ethan as they trudged through the snow towards the cabin's entrance.
Inside, the cabin was warm and inviting. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall of the open-plan living area, while rustic furniture and soft, warm lighting created a cozy atmosphere. Callie set her bag down, shaking off the snow from her coat.
"Let's get a fire started," she suggested, moving towards the stack of firewood near the hearth.
"How long will we be here?" Ethan asked, his tone carefully neutral.
"A few days," Callie replied, arranging kindling in the fireplace.
"My dad really thinks there is a threat, doesn't he?" Mia's voice was quiet but steady.
Callie paused, choosing her words carefully. "No, he just wants you guys to get away for a couple of days."
"I might be a teen, but I'm not a fool," Mia said, her eyes meeting Callie's. "This is related to the Emily Carter case and him being driven off the road, isn't it?"
Callie busied herself with the fire, avoiding a direct answer. She was saved from responding by Ethan's frustrated groan.
"Man, I'm only getting one bar out here, and even that keeps dropping," he complained, waving his phone around. "If I had known that, I would have ordered satellite internet or brought a few books with me," he added with a wry smile.
As the fire began to catch, Callie excused herself to retrieve one last bag from the Jeep. Outside, the wind had picked up, howling through the trees. She glanced down the road, an inexplicable feeling of being watched creeping over her. Shaking it off, she hurried back inside, locking the door behind her.
"So, Jake is coming over later?" Mia asked, settling onto the couch.
"He said he would, but that could change if he gets called in," Callie replied, moving to the kitchen to assess their food situation.
"How do you like him?" Ethan piped up, perching on astool at the kitchen counter and helping himself to some grapes from a bowl.
