No Stone Unturned by Brandon Massey

Author:Brandon Massey [Massey, Brandon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Corner Publishing
Published: 2022-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

25

Eric was parked at the Grisby Chick-Fil-A working through a chicken biscuit and cup of coffee when Alyssa called him with the news. He nearly spat a mouthful of coffee onto the dashboard.

“Jalen happens to have a backup phone number for Destiny,” Eric said. “But she doesn’t know where she’s hiding? Did she say if Destiny’s okay?”

“I was fortunate that she shared the phone number,” Alyssa said. “If she knows more, she’s not telling.”

Eric tossed the remaining portion of the biscuit into the take-out bag. He had lost his appetite.

“Does Val know?” he asked.

“I think you’d have to ask your sister yourself. She was rushing out the door when I saw her.”

“Do you think she was behind the phone showing up in the basement?” Eric asked. “Val is one of the few people who has a key to our house.”

“That sounds like another topic of discussion between you and your sister.”

“But what do you think? You’re the psychologist.”

“I’m not a mind reader, babe. I ask questions. People either answer them or they don’t. Usually, what they don’t reveal is as telling as what they choose to share.”

Eric drained the rest of his coffee, suddenly desperate for caffeine, as he expected he had another long day ahead of him. He was going to call Val; he was going to call his niece, Jalen. Someone owed him some answers.

“I’ve texted the number to you,” Alyssa said. “I suggest that you do not reach out to her via this new channel. If she’s okay and simply doesn’t want us to find her, we need to try to understand what’s going on.”

“What do you think I’ve been doing down here?” Eric said. “Sightseeing?

“I think her fear of her boyfriend is still at play,” Alyssa said.

“I promise not to call her, okay? But I need to find her.”

He heard Alyssa sigh. “What’s next on your agenda?”

“I’m going to see Maurice Turner at home. He’s in the phone book. He’s the only Maurice Turner in town.”

“Please keep me posted on developments.”

“What exactly have you been doing?” he asked. “You been quiet about your activities, but I know you’ve been up to something.”

“We’ll talk soon, and I’ll share all the details. Love you.”

She ended the call. He loved Alyssa to death, but sometimes her habit of keeping her cards close to her vest drove him nuts.

Eric rang Deacon and pleaded for a new ping—expedited—on the second phone number. Deacon promised to do his best and repeated Alyssa’s same warning: don’t try to call Destiny on the new line. If his daughter was in hiding, blowing her cover might trigger her to take off again.

Why was she avoiding him? It didn’t make any sense. He wasn’t the bad guy here. He was only trying to help her.

Eric next called Val, but she didn’t pick up; neither did Jalen. Were they stonewalling him?

He pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. Maurice Turner lived in an older section of Grisby, not far from where Eric had grown up with his grandparents.

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