Daniel sat on a sofa in his room at the mansion, wondering if the investigator who specialized in missing persons and background checks was getting any leads. Then it occurred to him that tomorrow was Thanksgiving. Surely her uncle would have had contact by now. Reaching for his phone, he felt his chest begin to tighten. What if she’s there? What do I say?
Katherine was asked to do some karaoke since there were so many people in the bar. It always got folks to drink more, and that made her uncle very happy. Once the crowd saw her walk over to the machines and turn them on, they went wild. Her strawberry blonde curls were a little untamed, as Katherine played with her hair when she was worried or nervous.
She picked out a beautiful love song, the same one she sang to John that night. She wasn’t sure if she could sing it ever again. But at least if she closed her eyes while she sang, she could picture his face. Katherine started to sing with every ounce of her soul. But in her mind, all she saw was John dancing slowly and groping Emily. She kept her eyes open for the rest of the song.
Daniel dialed the number.
“Thanks for calling The Corral, Andy speaking.”
He heard loud music in the background. It certainly wasn’t the jukebox. Daniel could recognize that voice anyplace! He closed his eyes so tightly they were hurting him.
“Hello?”
Daniel hung up the phone and sprinted through the mansion.
“Carl, where’s my father?”
“He’s retired for the evening, Daniel.”
“Call for the jet! I have to get to Tennessee! Tell my father when he wakes up. Please hurry! I’ll take my car to the plane!” Daniel was running as fast as he could down the steps while yelling over his shoulder.
He bolted out the door and climbed in the Lamborghini. This was the first time in what seemed like ages that he was grateful for the car. Squealing his tires, he fled his father’s estate. Driving fast, and even recklessly at times, Daniel knew he had to get to Prairie while she was still there.
All Daniel did was hurry quickly just to find himself waiting for the jet. He dug his cell phone out of his pocket. “Carl, where’s the jet?!”
“Daniel, I’ve been trying to phone you. The jet is getting some maintenance done. It won’t be available until Monday. Your father cleared it. We didn’t expect anyone to travel this weekend, it’s a holiday.”
“I’ve got to catch a plane then! I’m going to the airport.”
Daniel drove quickly to the airport, not even caring that his car would be parked in a regular lot. He bolted toward the ticket counter. There were people everywhere, and what he didn’t need was to have to wait in line. There were several people in front of him. After forty-five minutes, it was his turn.
“I need a flight to Nashville, Tennessee.”
“I’m sorry, Sir, all the flights have been booked. It happens on holiday weekends. I can get you on a plane this Monday.”
“No! I need one tonight!” Daniel felt his blood pressure rising.
“I can put you on standby, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.” The young blonde woman laughed and winked. Daniel wanted to shake her.
“Thanks anyway.” He walked slowly back to his car, feeling totally defeated. She was right at the tip of my fingers! Damn!
Chapter 10
Katherine heard her door open up on Thursday morning while she stood in the little kitchen making pies.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Katherine!”
“Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Uncle Andy.” She turned around and gave him a big hug.
“This place smells heavenly!”
“Good, I hope they taste like they smell.” Smell. John’s smell. What a bastard. I shouldn’t have said I was sorry for calling him a pig. Even though the thoughts of John and Emily haunted her mind, she couldn’t help herself. She needed as much information as she could get so she wouldn’t dwell on John and could enjoy her holiday with her uncle and friends. “Can I ask you something about that fire at the Montoose Farm?”
“Sure, but I don’t know too much information.”
“Did anyone die?”
“I don’t think anyone died, but I could be wrong about that. Seems a man was the one who got the horses out of the barn. The fire happened in the middle of the night, so I’m guessing, whoever it was, lived there. But we’re planning on dinner around two. Do you think you’ll be finished up in time?” Katherine’s interest in John Williams didn’t escape Andy. She’d never been this curious about a man.
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully they’ll be nice and warm when they’re served.” Katherine gave her uncle another hug before he turned and walked out the door.
She immediately went to her bed and began to do a search on the little laptop as soon as the door closed. The article didn’t mention that anyone had died. Thank God. Now to find John Williams, in New York… Wait, why are you looking for him?
But she did anyway, and the list was huge. With eyes full of sadness, she returned to the pies. He probably hates me as much as I hate him, especially because I left town without a word. If she hadn’t been so livid at his behavior with Emily and for punching her cousin, she would have explained things. If only…
“Katherine, are you going to eat this delicious food or shove it around your plate?” asked her uncle as he crammed more turkey in his mouth.
“I ate so much! I’m just getting full now.” She tried to give her best smile.
“Bullshit. This is the same plate of food, Katherine. Eat it.” Her uncle looked at her through serious eyes. She knew she wasn’t going to win. Slowly, she lifted her fork.
The rest of the weekend was quiet. Katherine did a couple of Karaoke nights, but other than that she tried to catch up on some much needed sleep. Fitful dreams awoke her frequently. Mostly she dreamed of John burning in a fire and her not being able to save him.
On Sunday evening, Katherine boarded her flight to go back to her little, freezing apartment. This was the last week she had to find a model. It was stupid of her to sign up for the sewing room, knowing she had nothing to make.
That evening she checked her emails. No one responded to the ad. That’s what I get for advertising through a holiday weekend. Hopefully someone will call this week. Katherine didn’t have the money to waste on another week of ads. But by then it would be too late to find a model anyway. She’d just have to retake the class, which would put her graduation date off by a year. The course was only offered in the fall. My life sucks.