Part 6 (1/2)
”No. Haven't been able to find out anything else about him. I'd be willing to bet he's not even in the country anymore. A friend did get a picture of him, though. It's not very good, but it's better than nothing.”
”Send it to me.”
”Hold on.” Daeng was quiet for several seconds. ”On its way.”
Before Quinn could even reply, his phone beeped with the incoming message. ”If anything else comes up, let me know right away.”
”Screw that. I'm flying back,” Daeng said. ”On my way to the airport right now. My ticket's for L.A., but if you think I should go somewhere else, tell me.”
Quinn was pleased to hear it. Though he hoped Daeng's help would turn out to be unnecessary, it would be nice if he were close, just in case. ”L.A.'s fine for now. Call when you land.”
”Will do.”
As soon as the line went dead, Orlando took the phone from him and accessed the photo Daeng had sent.
”I don't recognize him,” she said.
”Show me.”
She held the screen out so Quinn could take a quick glance.
As Daeng mentioned, the profile shot of the bald man in question wasn't the best. Quinn took a second look, and finally shook his head. ”Me, either.”
”I'm going to send this around, see if any of our regulars know who he is.”
Quinn nodded but said nothing, his dread growing by the second.
__________.
IT WAS STRANGE pulling up to the gate of his house after more than eight months since the last time Quinn had set foot inside. In some ways, it felt like the place didn't even belong to him anymore.
Orlando jumped out and punched the code into the keypad, triggering the gate to roll open. Before Quinn could even pull the car to a stop in front of the house, Liz hurried out the door.
She looked drawn and pale, her eyes bloodshot.
The moment he climbed out of the car, she rushed over and threw her arms around him, her head pressing against his shoulder. Momentarily caught off guard, he hesitated then returned her embrace, telling himself she was only looking for comfort, not trying to show him any affection.
”Have you heard from him?” she whispered anxiously.
”No,” he told her. ”But we've been checking with a lot of people. I'm sure we'll find out where he is soon.”
”He was supposed to meet me at the airport. He was supposed to be there waiting.”
”I know, and I'm sure that's exactly what he had planned to do.”
”Then where is he?” She looked up at him. ”Why isn't he here?”
He knew those weren't really the questions occupying her thoughts. They were only masking the what-ifs.
What if he's in trouble?
What if he's hurt?
What if he's dead and never coming back?
”Let's go inside,” Orlando said, putting an arm around Liz's shoulder.
Liz let herself be pulled away from her brother, and they all entered the house. Orlando guided her to the couch, and the two of them sat down.
Quinn glanced around the room. Everything looked pretty much the same as when he'd last been home. There were a few different books in the bookcase, and a dark gray hoodie draped over one of the chairs, but that was about it.
Liz had left the blinds drawn across the back wall. He walked over and pulled them open, letting the late afternoon sunlight flood in through the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city.
As he walked back, he said, ”Liz, we're going to have to ask you a few questions. Are you up for it?”
”Of course,” she said quickly. ”Whatever you need.”
He smiled, hoping to relax her a bit. ”When you first came into the house, did you find anything unusual?”
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. ”No. Nothing.”
”Have you moved anything?”
”Some soap in the bathroom.” A pause. ”A gla.s.s in the kitchen. That's it. Oh, and I lay on Nate's bed for a little bit. But I didn't put anything away, if that's what you're asking.”
”The gym?”
”I only looked in. I didn't touch anything.”
Quinn looked around. ”Where are your bags?”
”Just one bag, a carry-on. It's down in Nate's room. I can go get it if you want.” She started to stand.
”It's all right,” Orlando said, putting her hands gently on Liz's shoulders and easing her back down. ”It's not important.”
Quinn knelt in front of his sister. ”You're doing good. This is helping. Now I need you to do me a favor.”
”Of course. Anything.”
”Orlando and I are going to check around the house, see if Nate left something that'll help us contact him. I'd like you to stay right here. All right?”
”I...I can help,” she said.
”I know you can. But it'll go faster if only Orlando and I do it. We know what we're looking for.”
She stared at him, her eyes pleading for something to do.
”He's right,” Orlando said calmly. ”The most important thing right now is to let us do what we do best.”
Liz took in a deep breath. As she let it out, she nodded. ”Okay. You're right. I just...” She pressed her lips together for a moment, then said, ”I'll wait here.”