Page 41 of The Vanished

Quinn felt her exasperation mounting. “So, all DI Malone knows is that one man left Logan’s house on the night he went missing. He does not know if the man driving Logan’s car was in fact Logan, nor does he know what happened to the other person.”

“Quinn, there are no cameras facing either the front or the back of Logan’s house. The closest cameras are at the junctions, and they caught the image of the car. Since there was no one at the house when the police went to check, Logan or the man who’d followed him could have left by either the front or the back door and got lost in the crowd.”

“So, what now?” Quinn asked.

She was suddenly very tired, mired in hopelessness that did not seem likely to lift on its own. She needed something to hold on to, some scrap of encouraging news, or at the very least reassurance that everything possible was being done to find Logan.

“Because Logan is still missing and blood was found at the scene, DI Malone has opened a case into Logan’s disappearance and Max’s attempted abduction. I’m sending you his contact information. Ring Malone tomorrow morning. He’ll probably ask you to go to a local station. They can set up a secure video link so DI Malone can speak to you directly. And if you spot either the man or the woman in the photos, call the police immediately.”

“I understand.”

“I will let you know if there are any new developments, but I doubt Malone will keep me looped in on the investigation now that it’s official.”

“Thanks, Sean.”

“Call me anytime. And stay safe,” Sean said and rang off.

Much as she needed time to process what Sean had told her, Quinn didn’t care to remain outside a moment longer. Night had fallen, and the landscape that had appeared so picturesque only an hour before now seemed to pulse with malevolence. She shuddered at the possibility of being watched. What if someone was out there, just biding their time, waiting to snatch Max?

Her trainers thudded dully against the wood of the dock as she sprinted back to the house and locked the door behind her.

Once the children were in bed, Gabe opened the bottle of wine Sam had so thoughtfully provided and poured them each a glass. He then settled next to Quinn on the sofa and gave her his full attention as she summarized her conversation with Sean and showed Gabe the photo of the man who might be responsible for Logan’s disappearance.

“I can’t even begin to understand what’s happening,” Quinn said after Gabe had looked at the image and handed the phone back to her.

Gabe looked thoughtful. “Perhaps these people want something from Logan and had hoped to use Max as an incentive.”

“But what could they possibly want?”

“Logan works in a hospital and has access to drugs. Opioids, antipsychotics, morphine.”

“Logan would never steal medications.”

“He would if his child’s life were in danger,” Gage pointed out, then another thought seemed to occur to him. “Prisoners are sometimes brought to the hospital for treatment. Perhaps these people were hoping to break out one of their own.”

“Be serious. This is not an episode of Line of Duty.”

“I’m just thinking out loud,” Gabe said, a tad defensively.

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just so rattled.”

“Let’s see what DI Malone has to say when you speak to him tomorrow.”

“What can he say?” Quinn replied. She felt sad and defeated and valiantly fought the tears that threatened to fall if she allowed herself to give in to despair. “All they seem to know is that a man they cannot identify followed Logan home from the hospital. Something occurred that resulted in one of them shedding blood. An as-yet-unidentified person was seen driving Logan’s car. The end.”

Gabe set down his empty glass and pulled Quinn close. “It’s not the end. It’s the beginning. You have to allow the police to do their jobs.”

Quinn sniffled and swiped at her leaking eyes angrily. “And how long are we supposed to hide out here? A day? A week? A month? Who’s to say they will find anything? What are we to tell Max?”

“I know this is not very helpful, but we have no alternative but to take this day by day.”

“You’re right. It’s not helpful,” Quinn huffed. “I can’t stand the not knowing.”

Gabe kissed the top of her head. “Not knowing also means there’s still hope. Now, come to bed. You’re exhausted and upset. Things will look better in the morning.”

“Will they?” she grumbled.

“Probably not, but we must remain stoic, for Max’s sake, and for the emotional wellbeing of our children.”