Page 327 of Nobody's Girl

“How would she get here? Did you send her on that plane?”

“No, she took her car.”

“What car?” she asks.

“Oh, we gave her a car. Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll cool off today and come back, or call, or something. I just wanted to be sure she wasn’t up there before we started looking for her around here.”

“You gave her a car?” she asks.

“Yes, I’m sure she wants to tell you all about that. If she calls you, please let me know.”

“You do the same for me.”

“Yes ma’am, I will. Talk to you soon,” I say, and then hang up.

“Not there either, huh?” Kyle asks me.

I shake my head. “Let’s give her until this evening. If we don’t hear from her, we can figure out what else we need to do. She can be really stubborn.”

Kyle looks distracted, yet not all that concerned, as he says, “You know her best.”

I watch for his reaction as I say, “No matter how mad she is, or why, she’ll realize she can’t just turn her back on us. It’ll just take her some time, I guess.”

Eden rises and moves towards me. “Alyssa, maybe you should take a ride around town and see if you can find her car at a motel or something. If you can find her, you can talk her into calming down and coming back.”

“Alone?” I ask him.

“You have the GPS system. You’ll be fine,” Kyle says. “Go look for her, Alyssa.”

I head up the stairs to get my things. “Okay, then. I’ll grab my purse and keys and see you two later. I might stop and pick up some steaks or something to cook later.”

CHAPTER 66

ALYSSA

I drop the top on my BMW. The air feels cool and crisp. I’ve not driven the car very much at all. I turn up my radio and breathe in the fresh air. The pine trees that line the driveway give off an aroma that makes me feel at home, just like they do back in Cloudcroft. It’s hard to believe such a small amount of time has passed since we were there.

A small motel sign pops up as I drive down the road. It’s not far from the house. I pull into the parking lot, but her car isn’t there. I drive further down the road and find another little motel, but her car isn’t here either.

What is up with her? Why is she so mad? How can she do this to Kyle?

A small grocery store is up ahead. I pull into the parking lot. It’s such a small town that I decide I can leave the top down on the car as I run in. The small store has a pretty good meat market. I find several steaks quickly, then get some potatoes to bake and some fresh green beans.

“Will that be all for you today?” the lady at the cash register asks me.

“Yes, thank you,” I answer her.

I look out the glass front of the building and see a police car driving slowly as it passes behind my car. “Can I ask you something?” I ask the lady.

“Yes,” she answers.

“Do you happen to know the sheriff?”

“He’s my uncle,” she tells me.

“Oh! Then it is safe to say he’s a stand-up kind of person, right?” I ask, not believing how small this town is.

“He’s the best. Why do you ask?” she asks me.