No Place to Vanish

by Jaden Skye

  “Exactly who was the last to see your wife alive?” the reporter asked a couple of times.

  “She’s still alive! We know it,” Sean insisted in a faltering tone. “We’re calling for prayers for Raine at the vigil back at our church in Miami soon. Please pray for Raine wherever you are!”

  “Did you know about the vigil?” Olivia quickly asked Wayne.

  “Yes, that’s another reason I’m down here. I want to find out exactly who is attending.”

  “What do you want to say to your wife, if she’s still out there?” the reporter asked Sean hurriedly.

  “Raine, come home.” Sean’s voice broke. “We love you, we need you! Clea’s waiting for you.”

  Completely choked up, he then fumbled away, practically incoherent, unable to say another word.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Olivia stood there feeling extremely uneasy as she watched the TV. She’d never seen Sean so upset or out of control.

  “This is not the Sean I know,” she said to Wayne.

  “Raine’s missing and it’s becoming a reality,” Wayne replied. “He’s overwhelmed.”

  “I’m surprised he never told me about the vigil, either,” Olivia went on. “It’s on TV. Everyone else knows about it!” exclaimed Olivia.

  “You don’t have to go to the vigil if you don’t want to,” Wayne commented, soothingly. “I’ll be there.”

  Olivia was relieved. There were so many bases to cover, she couldn’t be everywhere. And she didn’t want to meet Raine’s mom at the vigil, either. Her dad would be there, too. Olivia liked Raine’s dad and the entire situation would be too upsetting.

  “I appreciate that,” she said to Wayne as they both fell silent then, finishing up their meal quickly. “I have to pick my battles. It’s too much all at once.”

  “Of course it is,” Wayne replied. “In fact, I’ve been wondering how long you could even stay down here. What’s going on with your job back at home? How much time are they giving you off?”

  “It’s a good question,” said Olivia, “and I don’t have an answer. They’re not about to give me much more time. In fact, they’re demanding I let them know if I’m even returning at all.”

  Wayne’s eyes opened wide. “Really?” he exclaimed. “Are you thinking of leaving your job?”

  “I am,” said Olivia, surprising herself. “I returned for a short while and it was suffocating.”

  Wayne stopped drinking his coffee and listened.

  “I felt trapped, confined, part of a world that had no more meaning to me,” Olivia added, also putting her coffee cup back on the table.

  “Todd’s death turned your world upside down,” Wayne commented.

  “Yes, it did,” agreed Olivia. “First meeting him turned my world upside down, and then his sudden murder. But it wasn’t just his death, either, it’s all the things I found out about him since.”

  “Hard to take, for sure,” Wayne reflected.

  Olivia was surprisingly glad to be talking about this to Wayne. “More than hard,” she went on. “It makes me question everything about how I see people. Who they are really, and who I am.”

  “I certainly can understand that,” Wayne agreed. “Those are important questions. I ask myself them almost every day of my life.”

  Olivia was delighted that Wayne resonated so deeply.

  “So what’s next?” Wayne took his credit card out of his pocket then to pay the bill.

  “That’s the question, isn’t it?” Olivia commented.

  “Yes, it is. And don’t be in a hurry to answer it, either,” said Wayne. “If you’re not going back to work, why not stay down here for a while with us? See how you like it. For all you know this work could really fill the bill.”

  “Is that how it happened for you?” asked Olivia.

  “No, for me it was instantaneous,” Wayne said without hesitation. “I’m a guy who requires justice. From the time I was a kid I always wanted to be a detective. There was nothing else I ever wanted to do.”

  “That’s lucky,” said Olivia.

  “More than lucky,” Wayne commented. “This work is a blessing for everyone! Both the detectives and the devastated victims of crime.”

  *

  After brunch was over and Wayne left for his meeting, Olivia had some time to spare. She decided to take a few moments alone to walk at the beach. The day was warm and the air clear after the storm. She had a longing to feel her feet on the damp sand.

  As soon as she got down to the beach, Olivia took off her shoes and made her way down to the ocean. Whenever Olivia was upset or confused there was nothing like the ocean to make her feel settled and grateful just to be there, breathing alongside it.

  As Olivia stood looking out into the horizon, thoughts of Raine filled her mind. How long would this search go on? Had Raine vanished of her own will? Had she just decided to chuck it all and run away? Was she still alive? Olivia looked down at the sand then and picked up a seashell that lay at her feet. It was perfectly shaped and beautiful, as Raine had been. What happened to her? The urgency to know was increasing quickly. Had Raine taken her own life due to depression? The thought that Raine might be dead was horrifying. Still, Olivia had to take it into consideration. Anything was possible at this point. Anything at all.

  Olivia turned and started to walk along the edge of the water. How likely was it that Raine had come to harm? Was there someone who hated her, or wished her ill? Had Raine done something terrible to offend someone? Speaking with her friends, it didn’t seem so. They all had nothing but praise for her. But who knew how truthful they were all being? Who knew what was lurking deep inside their hearts?

  The waves played with Olivia’s feet as she walked. It was good being down here, near the surf and sky. It was also fascinating to join the search for Raine. Olivia was finally doing something that felt real.

  She stopped walking suddenly and sat down on the sand. Wayne had asked her good questions about her future. He was smart and perceptive, no doubt about that. By now Olivia needed to give answers. She couldn’t go along like this in no-man’s-land.

  For starters, Olivia realized that she had come back down to Key West to find answers about her own life, as well as Raine’s. She’d also needed to work out her feelings about Todd. But something larger was happening as well. Olivia was feeling useful, alive, and appreciated, operating on all cylinders. That was something she’d never felt in her entire life. She had suddenly fallen into a lifestyle that seemed completely suited to her. At least for now. She was definitely far from making any permanent decisions. But Olivia also could not delay answering the emails from back home at work.

  Olivia reached into her bag, pulled out her cell phone, and without a moment’s hesitation, wrote an email and then with the click of a finger, sent it off.

  Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply to you. I hope you will understand, but it doesn’t seem as if I can return to my job at this time. I just can’t do it anymore. Too much has happened. Thank you for being so considerate during this confusing time. It’s been wonderful working with you.

  After Olivia sent off the email, she stared out at the rollicking sea. What would her friends and family say when they heard the news? In just the flash of a second, she’d given up a life and job she’d loved and worked hard for. For a moment Olivia felt completely unanchored, having no idea what was coming next. The next minute she felt centered and certain. Joyous even. She was being called to something and she felt it. She didn’t have to know exactly what it was either, right now.

  Relieved that the decision had been made, Olivia got up from the sand, brushed herself off. There was time before she and Wayne went to the casino. Olivia decided to briefly stop in at Sean’s house to see how they were all doing. She was ready to meet Raine’s mother now too, and anyone else who might be there.

  *

  Olivia drove back to Sean’s house quickly, invigorated from her time on the beach. She also felt freer having made a choice about work.
Olivia could be here wholeheartedly now. She would let the next steps lead her where they did.

  When Olivia pulled up in front of Sean’s house, she was surprised to see Wayne’s car outside as well. It was fine, she thought. After the big announcement on the news Sean would most likely be delighted to have all the support he could get.

  Olivia rang the doorbell quickly, and to her surprise Sloane answered again.

  Olivia registered her surprise. “Still here?” she asked.

  “Why shouldn’t I be?” Sloane sounded put off.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Olivia said, edging into the house through the open door. “I just meant it must be hard for you being here so many hours.”

  “It’s harder for Raine,” Sloane answered in a throaty voice. “Wherever she is, this has to be harder for her. And for the rest of the people who love her.”

  Olivia couldn’t dispute that. “Of course, you’re right. I saw the newscast and Sean looked completely wrecked.”

  “Sean is strong.” Sloane immediately defended him. “He’ll pull through this, if anyone will. I’ll see to it that he does!”

  Olivia was taken aback by the intensity of her feeling. “He’ll pull through because of you?”

  “Sean will pull through because he loves his daughter and he’s the kind of dad who would never let her down,” Sloane added defensively.

  Sloane looked at Olivia unwaveringly. She was certainly a person Olivia needed to know better.

  “We’ll have to talk more soon,” Olivia said to her.

  “Yes, we will, but not right now,” Sloane hedged, once again. “By the way, your partner’s here, too. He’s been talking to Raine’s mom, Barna.”

  Olivia wondered who Sloane meant by her partner. Then she realized she must be referring to Wayne.

  “Wayne’s not my partner.” Olivia set the record straight. “I’m working directly for Sean.”

  “Really? Wayne referred to you as his partner.” Sloane’s eyebrows rose.

  “Wayne probably meant I was someone on the case with him,” Olivia corrected her again. “Wayne has a partner, Lorna.”

  “So where is Lorna then?” asked Sloane. “If you’re a person’s partner you’re with them when they need you. Otherwise the word means nothing!”

  Sloane had a blunt way of putting things. “I’d love to talk to Raine’s mom now if I could.” Olivia wanted to get off the topic.

  “Barna’s been busy talking to Wayne, your partner,” Sloane repeated. “And she’s thoroughly exhausted by everything. Wayne will tell you whatever she said. It’s better to leave her alone for now. Listen, don’t waste your time here now anyway. There are plenty of people around. If you want to talk to someone, go three blocks south and talk to Miranda.”

  “Why Miranda?” asked Olivia.

  “Miranda’s a very close friend of Raine’s. They see each other all the time.” Sloane seemed insistent. “And Miranda’s the only one who saw Raine the next morning after the party, before she disappeared.”

  “What are you talking about?” Olivia was shocked. “I didn’t realize that! Nobody does.”

  “But it’s true anyway and I know it,” Sloane whispered.

  “This is important information. You shouldn’t hide it.”

  “I didn’t hide it. I just told it to you, didn’t I?” Sloane looked away.

  “Yes, you did and I thank you for it.” Olivia was rattled.

  “So, go talk to Miranda now. I’d go with you, but I have to help with Raine’s daughter. I adore that child completely, always have. In fact, people are saying I’m practically a mother to her now.”

  Sloane’s words disturbed Olivia. “But her grandmother is here, too.”

  “Yes, of course, but Barna’s older, she’s tired. I’m stepping in, big time. Clea needs someone, doesn’t she?”

  “Of course she does and I’m sure Sean appreciates that very much,” breathed Olivia.

  “More than you can imagine,” Sloane assured her. “And so do I.”

  Sloane gave Olivia Miranda’s contact information and Olivia turned to leave, when Wayne swiftly came up behind her.

  “What are you doing here? Where are you going now?” Wayne asked, startled to see Olivia.

  “I came to talk to Barna,” Olivia replied. “I heard you just did that.”

  “That’s right,” said Wayne. “She’s resting now. In fact, I was just about to call you. I’m on my way to the casino. I’ve got a few good leads there. Let’s go.”

  “Okay, let’s do it,” said Olivia, planning to see Miranda right after that.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Mayfair Casino in Miami spread over two, long blocks. Well known and heavily attended, the casino had big potted palms standing in front of it, along with flashing lights.

  “It’s important to check in here,” Wayne said to Olivia as they pulled up. “I have a forensic accountant checking all Raine’s accounts. He pointed me to a few people at the casino. Always follow the money, I say. You can’t go wrong.”

  Olivia appreciated Wayne sharing his strategy with her. She felt included.

  “It’s equally important to follow Raine’s personal life, dig up everything we can find out about her,” Wayne continued. “Just the slightest slip by someone can open everything up.”

  Olivia wondered whether she should tell Wayne what she just found out about Miranda, but decided to wait until she spoke to her first.

  “Someone either wanted Raine’s money, her heart, or her life!” Wayne continued. “Raine could have hurt someone a lot, or else wouldn’t pay up on a big debt.”

  “That’s summing it up,” Olivia answered.

  Wayne nodded. “Of course, nothing can be summed up in a nutshell. The pieces come from all over the place. We’re also finally getting some calls on the tip line.”

  “Like what do you hear?” Olivia was eager to find out.

  “Someone called and said he’d spotted Raine in South Beach,” Wayne continued.

  “South Beach?” Olivia got excited. “That’s not far from here. Raine’s still around! Let’s go.” Olivia was thrilled. She couldn’t wait to get there.

  “Hold on.” Wayne held up one hand. “We’ve got officers checking it out. Don’t get excited, you always get all kinds of sightings and reports. Most of them amount to nothing. People want to feel they’re part of the story.”

  “I’m still hopeful,” Olivia said.

  “Don’t be,” Wayne instructed. “If Raine’s there, we’ll find her. But don’t count on it. It’s not good to get excited. You get too disappointed then. Slow and steady is the best. Do all you can and expect nothing, is the best way.”

  Olivia wondered why Wayne was so afraid of getting excited and hoping for the best. What had disappointed him so much? But Olivia wasn’t going in that direction. She wasn’t ready to give up hope.

  “Raine could be close by, walking around,” she murmured.

  “I doubt it myself,” Wayne responded.

  “Why?” asked Olivia, her heart suddenly aching to see her friend again.

  “If Raine’s walking around, she would have seen us searching for her on the news and gotten in touch immediately. If she left on her own, she’s far from here by now.” Wayne was laying it all out, methodically. “If she was taken for ransom, they’ve got her well hidden.” Then he stopped talking abruptly.

  “What else?” Olivia pressed, as the car came to a halt in front of the casino and he parked.

  “If Raine’s killed herself, we may never find her at all,” Wayne went on. “She could be at the bottom of the sea. If someone else killed her, we have to find out who and why!”

  “That about sums it up.” Olivia was shuddering. Wayne’s words were so cut-and-dried, she couldn’t accept them. A person’s whole life couldn’t be reduced to a few possibilities.

  “There are no other scenarios?” she asked.

  “Can you think of one?” said Wayne.

  “Raine might have
had an accident?” Olivia speculated. “She was high, she was drunk, she could have fallen down somewhere, or gotten hit by a car. Possibly she’s in a hospital somewhere and we don’t even know it?”

  “The police have checked the hospitals out already,” Wayne answered. “It’s one of the first things we do.”

  “Or if she’s not in a hospital, she could be laying somewhere on a street?”

  “Unlikely,” Wayne responded. “Someone would have found her and reported it. Listen, most missing person cases go cold sooner or later. People disappear and we never know why. We beg for leads, follow them, and then all of a sudden they all trickle away. We’re left with nothing. It’s awful for us and hell for the family, too.”

  Wayne started to get out of the car and Olivia stopped him. “Wait a minute,” she said. “What was it like speaking to Raine’s mom? What did you learn from her?”

  Wayne took a second to think it over. “I learned that Raine has a totally self-absorbed mom. She keeps hatching all kinds of plots, dreaming up ideas about where her daughter might be or what happened to her. She even told me she thought you were in danger being here, and I should make you go home.”

  “How does she know I’m here?” Olivia was startled to hear that.

  “Sean told her about you. It upset her greatly. No one has any idea why.”

  A moment of hopelessness swept over Olivia. She wondered if Raine had said anything about her to her mother. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” she whispered.

  “With a mother like that, I can see why Raine had trouble being a mom,” Wayne mused. “Okay, come on, let’s get into the casino. There are people there waiting to speak to us.”

  *

  The casino was surprisingly crowded for the time of day. People were at tables, at slot machines playing blackjack, or generally drifting around. A few restaurants were open too, serving early. Music was playing and Olivia could see how Raine would thrive on the general sense of excitement wherever you went. Olivia looked more closely, though, and also saw the deep hopelessness etched on many faces as well.