Captive- Veiled Desires by Clarissa Cartharn Read Free Book Online Page B

US Department of State has extended its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir. Because Miss Jennings traveled to Kashmir in spite of the warning, there is little we can do under the circumstances.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding-”
    “Until then, Miss Jacobsen,” he continued, cutting her off. “We’ll just have to wait for any news regarding Miss Jennings. And should you happen to hear from her, please let us know immediately as well.”
    She pulled in a deep breath, trying to control her temper. “And you will update me on anything you will find, right?”
    “I’m sorry, that is something we still won’t be able to do until you provide us with a written consent from Miss Jennings.”
    She grew quiet. She wanted to shout and scream at the man. But that wouldn’t help her at all. In her career as a nurse, she had long learned that it was patience and placidity that resolved even the toughest of situations. She could recall several occasions where relatives had screamed at her about a patient’s health. And many a times she had wished she could shout back at them. For Nora’s sake, she had to repose herself.
    Her mind raced through any details she might have overlooked before Nora’s departure to India. Letter of authority to act? She couldn’t remember her saying anything about such a letter.
    “Miss Jacobsen,” the man said, breaking through her thoughts. “Will there be anything else?”
    “No, that is all,” she muttered mindlessly.
    “Good luck, Miss Jacobsen. I do sincerely hope that your friend is well.”
    “Wait,” she blurted quickly. “How can I contact you again if I do hear something from her?”
    “Of course,” the man stammered.
    His supervisor whispered something behind him and the man repeated it aloud. “You can contact me on this number.” He rattled out the case number and his contact details and Amy scrolled it quickly down on a notepad.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    She disconnected the call and bit her lower lip in deep thought. Surely, there was something she could do to know if Nora was fine.
    “What’s going on, Amy?” Jake asked, leaning forward concernedly.
    She looked up at him, her eyes deeply lined with worry. “I think something’s wrong with Nora.”
    “What do you mean?” He frowned. “Hasn’t she been keeping in touch with you?”
    She shook her head and he put an arm around her, letting her lean into him. She gladly tucked her head into his chest, appreciating his protective presence.
    “How long has it been since she last contacted you?” he asked.
    “A week,” she muttered. “I’m so worried, Jake.”
    He caressed her head. “There must be a good reason why she hasn’t. There is every possibility she is simply enjoying herself and hadn’t had the time to call or email. She hasn’t had a good holiday in a long time and this was her first trip overseas. Maybe, she has met someone? A man?”
    She pulled back and looked up at him curiously. “Come to think of it, there was this picture of a man she had uploaded to her online database. It was one of her last photographs of Dal Lake.”
    “You think he could possibly be someone she would be interested in?”
    She cocked her head to the side, thinking deeply. “I don’t know. The picture wasn’t all that clear so I couldn’t tell by his face. He had a great profile though.  His clothes were ethnic and I think he could possibly have been a Kashmiri native.”
    “Well, that could be it then. She must be in love and simply hadn’t had the time to contact you. Give her some space and I’m sure she will.”
    She sighed. “Yeah, I suppose. That is what that guy from the Office of Overseas Citizen’s Services said.”
    “And he could be right. They deal with these cases all the time. He should know.”
    She nodded. “I panicked. But that is only because she’s more than just a best friend, Jake.”
    “I know.” He wrapped her arms around her as he looked ardently into her face.
    “And I’m so