Page 20 of Traces of Kara

It was extreme, and Mimi acknowledged as much in her mind as she sat in the waiting room of the police station, but after receiving the phone call from Jackson Darner, what else could she assume? Kara hadn’t shown up for work, and she hadn’t called to say she’d miss her shift. That wasn’t like Kara at all. After the Williamsport grapevine heated up the lines about Kelly and Daryl, who knew what she might do. Or had the news already made its way through the small town? Had Mimi just been oblivious to the reality around her? Had she been too focused on making sure Kara didn’t transfer her feelings about her own father leaving to Daryl and her own marriage to notice? Had Mimi missed what was right in front of her this whole time?

Mimi didn’t want to believe that Kara might harm herself, but she’d gone too long not protecting her daughter. Maybe something terrible had happened to her. She’d never gone so many hours without talking to her. Kara could be in trouble—or maybe she just wanted to be left alone. Mimi’s shoulders sagged. She exhaled. What was she doing? Kara would only get angrier once she found out her mother had involved the police. A drama queen, was that what Mimi had become? Had her own life been so dull that she really was reaching out to create excitement like Kara had accused her of so many times before? Mimi pushed to her feet.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Detective Mitchell Grant, Mimi’s brother’s best friend from high school, stood before her. His tight-cropped silver hair illuminated his blue eyes. Mitch had had a crush on Mimi while they were growing up, and standing there now, with his open and welcoming smile, she felt badly for how she’d treated him so long ago. They’d gone on a few dates after graduating high school. He was a gentleman, kind and thoughtful. Then one night he’d had to cancel their date, and she’d gone out to pick up takeout Chinese food, and she’d met Al—tall, handsome, and a few years older. Mimi was drawn to his confidence. He was divorced and seemed so worldly. Mimi ditched Mitch without much thought or care. She’d left town two weeks later and married Al shortly thereafter. Years later, after things with Al had fallen apart and she’d returned to Williamsport, she’d turned to Mitch for help. There was no harboring of ill will whatsoever. Mimi had entertained the notion of dating him again, but she’d wanted to focus on Kara, and then, Ted had come into town and swept her off her feet. Ted.

Mimi’s shoulders sagged. She looked down at the floor. “It’s okay. Actually, I was just leaving,” she said. “I…I made a mistake coming here.”

Mitch set his rounded jaw in a friendly smile and shook his head. He took her by the elbow and guided her back to his office. “Now, Mimi, if you’re in my office, there’s a darn good reason.”

Mimi sat in the chair across from his desk and looked down at her hands. Mitch had always been there for her. She didn’t want to waste his time. Surely she was overreacting. “It’s silly, really,” she said softly, then looked up at him. Fine lines had developed around his deep-set eyes, making the blue pop against his olive skin.

Mitch smiled. “I like silly. Try me.”

“I can’t find Kara,” she began, feeling embarrassed. I’ve lost my daughter.

Mitch raised his eyebrows. “Does she know you’re looking for her?” He crossed his arms across his thick chest.

Mimi repositioned herself in her seat. She knew how irrational she sounded. Kara was an adult, after all. She let out a loud sigh, then shook her head. “Oh, Mitch. I know how silly this sounds. But she hasn’t returned my calls, she didn’t go to school today, and she didn’t show up for work.”

“Mimi.” His tone was gentle, his gaze soft. “She’s probably just taking a break. With Daryl and Kelly, well, it’s gotta hurt.”

“You know about that? How can I be the last to know?” she asked, exasperated.

“Friends protect friends,” he said. “Look, Mimi, Kara’s a grown woman. Give her space. When she wants to be found, she will be.” He leaned in close. “Unless you think there’s more to this?” He cocked his head. “The past creeping in?”

Mimi thought about it. “No, I’m overreacting.”

“It’s been years since that whole mess took place. What? Twenty-some, at least?”

There was a knock at the door. It flew open, and a tall, lanky young man stuck his head in the office.

“Oh, hi, Mrs. Stone.”

“Joey,” she said. “How’s your mom?”

He walked into the room and set a piece of paper down in front of Mitch. “She’s fine, just fine. Baking today. Apple pies.” He had the same gap-toothed smile he’d had as a child.

“I’m sorry, Mimi, just a second.” Mitch lifted his eyebrow toward Joey and picked up the paper.

“There’s a truck, sir, right on the West Virginia line, over the Route 11 bridge. West Virginia wants us to process it, Manny wants them to do it.”

Mitch rolled his eyes.

“WVA said the dealer identification is gone. No tags.”

“No wonder they want us to deal with it.” He turned to Mimi. “I’m sorry. Give me a sec, would you?”

Mimi gathered her purse and stood. “Thanks, Mitch, but I’ll be going. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

He was already out the door, speaking to Joey as they walked in front of Mimi down the hallway. “Tell them this one’s theirs.”

“They want prints, the whole rundown,” Joey said.

“Give it to them. We don’t have time to clean up their mess.”

Chapter Seventeen