One Day Gone

by Luana Ehrlich

He gave a short laugh. “Yeah, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m actually in Columbia tonight, Dad.”

  “Is that right? Your mom’s already in bed, but you know the guest room’s always ready. I’ll turn the alarm off, and you can come in whenever you want.”

  “No, Dad, there’s no need to do that. My office booked me a suite at the Broadway Hilton. I’ll just stay here tonight.”

  “I’ll say one thing; those elected officials don’t mind spending our tax dollars. Does that mean you’re here investigating someone?”

  “No, not exactly. Senator Allen’s daughter, Lizzie, is a junior at MU, and he’s worried about her because she didn’t show up at her apartment last night.”

  “Has he called the police yet?”

  I should have known he’d slip into his PI role, so before he could begin asking me the inevitable follow-up questions, I gave him a brief synopsis of my interview with Savannah, and what I’d learned about Lizzie’s activities in the last twenty-four hours.

  “The cops must be keeping quiet about this,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything about it today.”

  “That’s one of the reasons I was calling you, Dad. I thought you might have heard something from one of your buddies.”

  Although he’d left the police force years ago, my dad still maintained close ties with the CPD, and there were even times when he assisted them in criminal investigations, especially when their interests overlapped.

  Unlike the way the movies portrayed the relationship between law enforcement and private investigators, Kelvin Grey had always tried to keep the lines of communication open.

  “No, Son, I haven’t heard anything. I even ran into Lieutenant Lawrence at the courthouse today, and he never mentioned it.”

  “Who’s he?”

  “The head of Criminal Investigations.”

  “What happened to Sam Tucker?”

  “He retired five years ago. There’s only a couple of the old guys left now.”

  “In the event Lizzie becomes a missing person, is there someone at the CPD you’d suggest I contact to get more information about the investigation?”

  “Yeah. Connor Ross. He’s one of the good guys in the department and an excellent detective. He’ll be straight with you, but whatever you do, don’t call him Connie.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  After he spent a few minutes giving me some background on Ross, he asked me how I was doing.

  By the way he phrased the question, I figured he wanted to know about my emotional state since my breakup with Paige. After I assured him I was fine, he made me promise to drop by the house before I left town.

  “Your mother would love to invite Curtis and his family over and cook a big meal for everyone. I’m sure you know that.”

  “Yeah, I know. She thinks if she sees me eating, there’s nothing wrong with me. But tell Mom not to worry. Before I fly back to Washington, I’ll let her watch me make a glutton of myself.”

  “We’ll look forward to seeing you, Mylas, and if I should hear anything about Lizzie Allen from my contacts, I’ll let you know.”

  After I hung up, I realized I should have asked him if he knew anything about Montgomery Auto Service or Gus Montgomery.

  It really wasn’t necessary, though.

  If Lizzie wasn’t back at her apartment by tomorrow morning, I’d have Nina Rivers run a full background check on him, and I’d go check him out for myself.

  Right now, Gus Montgomery was my number one suspect in the disappearance of Lizzie Allen.

  Chapter 7

  Wednesday, October 10

  When I returned to my room after having breakfast in the hotel’s Mizzou Diner, I pulled out my laptop and wrote a quick report for Lockett on my interview with Savannah.

  Once that was done, I sent him the report, along with a copy to Nina Rivers, and then I gave him a call.

  The first thing he told me was that Lizzie was still missing. After that, I proceeded to tell him what I’d written in my report.

  However, I knew the redundancy wouldn’t bother him.

  Having a written report meant he could attach it to the senator’s daily briefing summary, and the details in the report would also provide him with the documentation necessary to justify my expense report for the trip to Columbia.

  “It sounds like you covered all the bases with Savannah, but that won’t impress the senator unless it helps you find Lizzie.”

  “Honestly, Nathan, I thought for sure she’d be back at her apartment this morning.”

  “I was leaning in that direction myself.”

  “So what’s the senator’s next move?”

  “He’s already made it. An hour ago, he filed a missing persons report with Columbia’s Chief of Police, Jordan Cotton.”

  “Already? It’s only seven o’clock.”

  “I think he forgot Columbia is on Central time. He got the guy out of bed at six o’clock.”

  “Does that mean Senator Allen will be coming here?”

  “No, he thinks that would be too disruptive to the investigation. He’s authorized you to be his representative with the CPD, and he’s instructed Chief Cotton to notify you of any developments in Lizzie’s case. Of course, Senator Allen also expects you to conduct your own investigation while you’re there.”

  “That’s all well and good, Nathan, but shouldn’t the FBI be involved in this? As far as I know, investigating a missing person has never been part of the R & I Group’s job description.”

  “If foul play is involved, calling in the FBI is definitely a possibility, but for now, the senator is simply asking the local police to use all the resources at their disposal to find his daughter. As far as the R & I Group is concerned, do I really need to remind you that it’s up to Senator Allen to decide what the group’s priority will be? It’s his prerogative to set your agenda, not the other way around.”

  Even though I could hear the note of reprimand in Lockett’s comment, I didn’t let it stop me from expressing my frustration at the sudden change in my schedule. “Of course, Nathan, I’ll do whatever the senator wants, but he needs to understand as long as I’m in Columbia, my investigation into Judge Woodard’s background will have to be put on hold.”

  “I’ll relay your concerns to him, Mylas, but, frankly, I don’t expect him to change his mind. All he can think about right now is his daughter, and he’s convinced you’ll be able to find her.”

  “If that’s the case, I need to talk to the senator directly.”

  When Lockett started to object, I said, “No, I didn’t mean to imply I wanted to go over your head and argue with him about being involved in Lizzie’s case. I meant I’d like to ask him some personal questions about Lizzie. I especially want to ask him about her boyfriend.”

  “Do you suspect him of being involved in Lizzie’s disappearance?”

  “Right now, I don’t have a reason to suspect anyone. I’d just like to have some more information about him.”

  “I’m sure the senator wouldn’t mind answering your questions about Lizzie, or about Gus either for that matter.”

  “Do you happen to know if he’s ever met the guy?”

  “No, I don’t think so, but I couldn’t say for sure.”

  “Has he ever told you what he thinks about Gus Montgomery?”

  Lockett took a deep breath. “When he told me Lizzie was dating the guy who’d done some work on her car, he seemed more amused than concerned. I think he figured it was just a phase she was going through, and there was nothing to worry about.”

  “Now that Lizzie’s been listed as officially missing, I’m sure the police will question Gus a lot more thoroughly than they did yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were at his place right now.”

  “What about you? Do you plan to question him?”

  “Oh, you bet, but since Senator Allen’s already spoken to the Chief of Police, my first priority this morning will be to stop by the station and meet him.”


  “I don’t think that’s necessary. Your liaison with the CPD will be Lieutenant Aaron Lawrence, the head of Criminal Investigations, but when you meet Lieutenant Lawrence, you should be sure and use Senator Allen’s name.”

  “That brings up something I wanted to talk to you about, Nathan. I’m not exactly working behind the scenes on this investigation, am I?”

  “No, it’s a whole different ballgame for you, Mylas. You’ll have to readjust your thinking on this one.”

  “Are you aware Tina booked me into a suite at the Broadway Hilton and told the management I was on Senator Allen’s staff?”

  “She was just following the senator’s instructions. He believes his name will open doors for you. I doubt if he’s wrong about that.”

  I didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds, and when Lockett asked me if I was still on the line, I said, “I’m still here. I’m sorry, Nathan, but I got distracted for a moment. I was reading a text Nina just sent me.”

  “About Lizzie?”

  “I guess you could say that. I sent her the same report I sent you about my visit to Lizzie’s apartment, and she just texted me to let me know it wouldn’t be a problem for her to hack into Lizzie’s computer, if I’m still unable to figure out her password.”

  I heard Lockett chuckle. “Let me check with the senator about that. I’d be surprised if he knows Lizzie’s password, but technically, the computer belongs to him anyway, so he may be okay with it.”

  “It would definitely help me out if I could see what’s on her computer before the police get their hands on it.”

  “I’ll mention that to him.”

  “When do you think you could arrange a time for me to ask the senator some questions about Lizzie?”

  “It’ll have to be this afternoon. Of course, that could change if the media gets wind of Lizzie’s disappearance. If that should happen, he’ll have to hold a press conference, and he won’t be able to speak with you until this evening.”

  “Have you informed the staff about Lizzie yet?”

  “I’m planning to do it at our ten o’clock staff meeting. I’ll tell everyone we’re not prepared to go public with Lizzie’s disappearance until after the police have had a chance to look into it, and I’ll ask them not to talk to the media about it.”

  I had a feeling Jenna Myers wouldn’t heed that warning, and Senator Allen would be holding a press conference by midafternoon.

  I decided I wouldn’t mention Jenna’s loose lips to Lockett.

  Having a press conference about Lizzie’s disappearance actually sounded like a pretty good idea to me.

  * * * *

  After I got off the phone with Lockett, I called Nina Rivers. I told her Lockett planned to ask the senator about giving her permission to hack into Lizzie’s computer, but I figured the answer would be yes.

  Then, I gave her what I knew about Gus Armstrong so she could query her various databases about him.

  “Shall I run a full spectrum background check on him or do you just want the basic facts?”

  “I’d prefer to have everything on him you can possibly give me.”

  “I’ll have the preliminary results for you in a couple of hours. Is that soon enough?”

  “That’s perfect. I’ll be paying him a visit sometime today.”

  “I guess that means you’re not flying back to Washington today.”

  “No, unless Lizzie Allen turns up, I’m stuck here for a few more days, maybe even longer.”

  “I’ve already put together a dossier on Lizzie for you. It includes information from her social media accounts, all the data from her high school and college records, and also some press reports about her.”

  “That’s great, Nina. Just email me that file. You didn’t actually start a casebook on her, did you?”

  “No, nothing that extensive. I didn’t think that was necessary.”

  A casebook was what Nina called the compilation of all the documents that went into an investigative report of a judicial nominee.

  The casebook was tabbed, color-coded, and arranged into files, depending on the nature of the documents. The files included all kinds of records—bank records, court records, financial records, employment records—plus photographs, press reports, and dozens of potentially embarrassing interviews with family, friends, and co-workers. A whole section of the casebook was devoted to social media activity, while another contained any email correspondence received on a subject.

  “No, of course not,” I said. “There’s no need for you to do a casebook on Lizzie. I’m sure whatever you have is more than sufficient.”

  “Speaking of which, I’ve recently added several items to the casebook on Judge Woodard. Do you want me to send you a list of the documents in case you get a chance to work on it while you’re there?”

  “Sure, you can send me the list, but I doubt if I’ll have time to work on it until after this is over. The senator wants Judge Woodard’s investigation put on the back burner for now.”

  “It’s a shame you haven’t been able to hire a deputy investigator. If Floyd were still around, he could finish up Judge Woodard’s casebook for you.”

  I suddenly realized I still hadn’t told Nina about the senator hiring Charlie Hayes as the new deputy investigator, and as much as I hated doing it over the phone, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer.

  “Actually, I’ve got some good news about that.”

  “I knew it,” she said. “You’ve hired Leslie Irving, haven’t you?”

  A few weeks ago, when Leslie was in my office for her first interview, I’d introduced her to Nina. Later, I’d asked Nina for her opinion, and she’d practically begged me to hire her.

  “No, I didn’t hire her. She was an excellent candidate, though. You and I were in agreement on that. I’m sure you would have enjoyed working with her.”

  “Me? I was thinking more about you. After your breakup with . . . ah . . . the person whose name shall not cross my lips . . . well, let’s just say I was hoping you and Leslie might hit it off.”

  After I’d broken up with Paige, I’d asked Nina not to bring up her name again. She hadn’t. Instead, she’d found a way to bring up her name without bringing up her name.

  Like some redheads I knew, Nina occasionally exhibited a bit of a rebellious streak.

  I mostly ignored it.

  “Well, that’s not happening,” I said. “The senator’s hired Charlie Hayes as our new deputy investigator. I’ll send you his resume as soon as we get off the phone. “

  “Give me the highlights.”

  “He’s from St. Louis and has an impressive background in law enforcement.”

  “You’ve never met the guy, have you?”

  “No, but I’ve talked to him on the phone.”

  “When you said the senator hired him, you meant that literally, didn’t you? You didn’t have any say in the matter.”

  “No, and neither did Nathan.”

  “I wonder if the senator knows that eighty percent of all employees feel better about a new hire if they’ve been able to have some input into the decision. The success rate of—”

  “The senator’s too worried about Lizzie to care about statistics, and to be truthful, Nina, I was hoping I could count on you to make Charlie feel welcome when he drops by the office in the next couple of days.”

  Even though Nina had a rebellious streak in her, she was also extremely conscientious about being dependable.

  I admit I exploited that trait whenever it benefitted me.

  “Wow, he’s coming to work that soon? You know I’ll do everything I can to show him the ropes around here.”

  “Thanks, Nina. I knew I could count on you.”

  “When will he be here?”

  “Charlie said he’d be in D.C. looking for an apartment this week, and he might drop by the office then, but he doesn’t officially come to work for another week or so.”

  “Hmmm. You said his name is Charlie Hayes? By any chance is he related to
Malcolm Hayes of Hayes Energy?”

  “He’s Malcolm’s son.”

  “Well, that explains a lot.”

  “I just sent you his resume. You might want to take a look at it before you jump to any conclusions.”

  “Is that what you did?”

  “Sorry, Nina. I have to go now. I’ll call you later.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  Granted, I knew Nina pretty well.

  However, she also had my number.

  Chapter 8

  I figured seven-thirty was too early to show up at the police station to meet Lieutenant Lawrence, so when the valet brought my car around, I decided to drive over and say hello to my brother first.

  Curtis was the pastor of the North Point Community Church in Columbia, a position he’d taken not long after I’d gone to work for Senator Allen.

  The fact that Curtis had returned to Columbia after receiving his seminary degree had surprised my parents, but it hadn’t surprised them as much as Curtis becoming a minister in the first place.

  When we were growing up, our family hadn’t been religious.

  Sure, I remember our family going to an occasional Easter service, and I also remember attending a candlelight service at the Presbyterian church one Christmas Eve, but other than that, Curtis and I hadn’t had any connection to organized religion.

  However, when Curtis was a junior at MU, he decided it was time for him to start attending church when he met Heather Butler, a girl in his chemistry class who refused to go out with him because he wasn’t a church-goer.

  At the beginning of his senior year, after attending Heather’s church for over a year, Curtis had what he called a conversion experience.

  As I watched his behavior change in the months that followed, I finally decided conversion was an accurate word to describe what had happened to him.

  He told me—and anyone else who’d listen to him—that on the night he was converted, he was reading a passage of Scripture from the Bible when he suddenly realized he was guilty of turning his back on God.

  He said he recognized he was a sinner, and for the first time in his life, he understood Jesus had come to earth to pay for his sins, and that by committing his life to Jesus, he wouldn’t have to spend eternity in hell paying for his sins himself.