Vanished (Private Justice Book #1): A Novel
tossed her keys on the table in her tiny foyer and headed straight for the shower. It might only be April, but the day had been very warm, and her tank top was clinging to her.
    Moira lingered under the cool spray, wishing she could wash away the memory of Friday night and all its repercussions as easily as the water washed away the grime of the day.
    On second thought . . . maybe she wouldn’t want to wash away everything that had happened. Meeting Cal Burke had been pleasant, despite the circumstances—and his marital status. If he was as ethical and honorable as he seemed, his wife was a lucky woman.
    A little niggle of envy surprised her, and Moira did her best to subdue it as she reached for a towel. Just becauseshe’d picked a loser didn’t mean she begrudged Cal’s wife her good fortune. Nor Linda hers.
    But why couldn’t she get lucky in the romance department?
    Before her melancholy degenerated into a pity party, she shut off the water, gave herself a vigorous rub with the towel, and tucked it around her sarong style. She had a nice life. A tad lonely once in a while, true, but there were other compensations.
    Like Pulitzer prize nominations.
    As she leaned down to retrieve her blow-dryer from under the vanity, a greenish spot on her left thigh caught her eye in the mirror. She shifted sideways to check it out.
    Was that a bruise? Right where she’d felt the glass on Friday night?
    Brow furrowed, she swiped a hand towel over the mirror to clear away the lingering steam and edged closer.
    The skin wasn’t broken, but yes, there was a round, quarter-sized bruise.
    She did a quick body check. Other than the purple-hued bump on her temple, that was the only other mar on her skin.
    But if broken glass wasn’t the culprit, what had caused it?
    Moira didn’t have a clue.
    All she knew was that it added one more piece to an ever-growing puzzle.

4
    M oira slid onto a stool at the pass-through island in her tiny kitchenette, picked up her fork—and wrinkled her nose. She liked macaroni and cheese just fine, but every other night since she’d gotten her car-repair estimate more than two weeks ago? Overkill.
    It was, however, easy on a budget that had just taken a big ding.
    She poked at the noodles, rested her elbow on the counter, and settled her chin in her palm. For some reason, the silence in her condo felt oppressive tonight. Maybe because it was Friday and, as usual, she had no social plans.
    It was going to be a long evening.
    As she reached over and flipped on the small television at the end of the counter, a muffled rendition of “Für Elise” drifted her way.
    Leaving her dinner behind, she jogged into the living room to retrieve her cell before voice mail kicked in. After a quick glance at caller ID, she pushed the talk button.
    “Hi, Dad.”
    “How’s my favorite daughter?”
    She smiled. Their phone conversations always followed the same opening script—one of the few things in her life that had been predictable of late.
    “Your only daughter is fine.”
    “Just wanted to check in and make sure you got your wheels back.”
    “This afternoon. Almost good as new.”
    “And you’re feeling okay? No side effects from the concussion?”
    She dropped into her favorite reading chair and propped her feet on the footstool. “No. I’m almost good as new too.”
    “I’m glad that’s behind you. An accident was the last thing you needed while learning the ropes on your new job.”
    And that wasn’t the half of it. But her father didn’t need to know about the vanishing people. That would only worry him.
    Besides, it was over. Once Cal Burke had called her the day after her visit to his office, she’d been forced to concede defeat. If a pro like him couldn’t find anything to investigate, there must not be anything to find. She had to let it go.
    Even if she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d failed the terrified woman in her headlights.
    “That’s how life works, I guess.”

Similar Books

Tainted Ground

Margaret Duffy

The Secret in Their Eyes

Eduardo Sacheri

Sheikh's Command

Sophia Lynn

Ophelia

Lisa Klein

The Remorseful Day

Colin Dexter

Bring Your Own Poison

Jimmie Ruth Evans

Cat in Glass

Nancy Etchemendy

All Due Respect

Vicki Hinze