Chapter Twenty-Three
Paul Rupnik called Eva’s cell phone for the sixth time, and for the sixth time, there was no answer. He’d decided he simply couldn’t go through with it. He had no beef with Eva Raines, but he found his beef with Stephanie Lindstrom growing by leaps and bounds.
Damn it. Why the hell didn’t the woman pick up? He supposed he could try her business line. He searched the internet for ATAP. He’d handed the disposable phone back over to Stephanie, but while she’d been talking to her mother, he’d punched Eva’s cell number into his own contact list and saved it. He wasn’t using his cell phone today, though. He’d been trying to reach her from his home number. Paul’s home phone number was unlisted so it would simply show up as Private Name Private Number or Unknown on her caller ID. He’d prefer to remain anonymous, if he possibly could.
He tried the ATAP number listed online. He got a voicemail. Paul didn’t leave a message. What kind of message could he leave? Sorry I f*cked with your life? Sorry you’re going to be stuck with the bill for a thousand dollars worth of caviar and eight hundred dollars worth of wine? Sorry you may get involved in an investigation for credit card fraud? Sorry your bosses are going to be pissed as hell and I’ve just jeopardized your career and your reputation? Jesus, he was an idiot. How had he let himself get roped into this?
Paul opened his wallet and pulled out Edward Jamison’s card. He stared at it for a few minutes and then he decided to call the man. What was the worst that could happen? Jamison could tell him to f*ck off. Or he could call him a f*ck up. Big deal. He had f*cked up. From what Paul could tell, Edward Jamison had seemed reluctant to give Stephanie Eva Raines’ cell phone number. Good God, the woman thought she was on a righteous crusade, but Paul figured Stephanie had caught a bad case of the green-eyed monster. She was suffering from jealousy, pure and simple.
Paul dialed the number. He was immediately connected to voicemail.
“Mr. Jamison, this is Paul Rupnik. I’m an associate with Smith, Lindstrom and Peck. I need to talk to you. This is important. It’s regarding Eva Raines and Stephanie Lindstrom. Please call me at home as soon as possible.” He left his number.
Paul wondered if he should drive up to Napa and try to intercept Eva before she showed up at the retired Mr. Harding’s home, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He felt too ashamed.
* * * *
Where in the hell was Eva? Gabe had been phoning her since eight a.m. her time. He and Quincy were hiking along the shores of Lake Michigan and he was supposed to be enjoying himself, but all he could do was worry about Eva. She should have picked up. She should have picked up first thing this morning. Certainly, once she realized she’d missed his calls, she would have called him back. Even if she’d gone out biking or to run some errands, she would have called him. This wasn’t like her. Last he’d heard, she had the wedding on Saturday, but she’d said she’d be free all day today. Unless a job came up. Maybe that was it. He hoped it was a job because otherwise he had to assume she was lying in a ditch somewhere or she’d been mugged in the parking lot late last night, or goddamn it, who the hell knew what had happened to her. He couldn’t even call Tom and Marcus because they were camping on the Russian River until Wednesday. No cell phone service even if he’d had a number.
Quincy was saying something. Gabe tried to focus on the young man.
“What’s up with you, Gabe? I’ve been talking for five minutes and you definitely haven’t heard a word I said.”
“No, sorry,” Gabe ran a hand through his hair. “What were you talking about?”
“Seriously, what’s up? You worried about your girlfriend?”
“Actually, yes, I am, a little,” replied Gabe. “She should have called back by now.”
“Yeah, well, maybe she’s out biking in a dead zone. Could be a lot of things.”
“A lot of things are what I’m concerned about. Eva’s very reliable. This isn’t like her. She wouldn’t leave me hanging like this.”
Quincy thought for a moment. “You know what probably happened… she left her phone on all night after that wedding you told me about, and it’s out of juice but she hasn’t noticed yet. I bet as soon as she notices, she’ll charge it up and give you a call. She’s got a landline, right?”
“I suppose,” replied Gabe. “I’ve never paid much attention. I guess she does.”
“She unlisted?” asked Quincy. “Most women living alone would be unlisted.”
“How would you know?”
“My mom,” Quincy replied, his voice quiet.
Gabe winced. “Sorry. That was inconsiderate of me. I should know better.”
“Yeah, it’s okay. I’m glad you have your mom and your sister. I guess one of us should have some family.”
“Hey, you have family, Quincy. Elise and I are your family. Her two beautiful little girls are your nieces, exactly the same as they are mine, and this new baby will be your niece or nephew. My mother will be your family, if you’ll allow it. You’re not alone in this world, understand? I was twelve years old when our father walked out on my mom. He left us with nothing, just like you. Except for losing your mom, I know what you’ve been through. Honest to God, sometimes I wish I didn’t know what it’s like, but to tell you the truth, it’s made me a better person, a better man. Because I will never do to my wife and my children what our father did to us.”
“So you do plan to get married? Elise has wondered about that,” Quincy asked with a grin similar to Gabe’s.
Gabe was silent for a moment. “Until I met Eva, I wasn’t certain. I guess she’s made up my mind for me, in a hurry.”
Gabe pulled his phone out again.
“What are you doing?” Quincy asked.
“Texting her.”
“If she’s not receiving calls, she’s not going to receive a text either.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t give a shit. I want her to call me back. I’m going to phone Luis, see if she’s been up to the house.”
“Luis?”
“My caretaker. He lives on my property in Napa. He has kind of a father, daughter thing going on with Eva.” Gabe dialed the number and stuck the phone to his ear. “Hola, Luis. Buenos tardes. Cómo está usted?”
“Ah, muy bien, Se?or Abbott, muy bien. Y ustedes?”
“Estamos bien, Luis. Listen, I have to ask you, have you heard from Eva today?”
“Ah… Se?orita Eva… She was supposed to stop by for breakfast, but I have not seen her,” Luis answered.
“Has she telephoned?”
“No, Se?or.”
Gabe felt his insides twist just a little. “When was the last time you spoke with her?”
“She called me Friday afternoon, while she was working on the cake for the wedding. She said she would bike up here today and make biscuits. So sorry, Se?or Abbott, I hope this is not a problem.”
“No, Luis, no, of course that’s not a problem. I just… I can’t reach her. I’ve been trying since this morning.”
“Se?or, I waited for her, but she has not come.”
Gabe could hear the worry in Luis’ voice and his gut twisted a little tighter. “Luis, would it be too much trouble to ask you to drive by her house, see if she’s all right? If she’s there, could you ask her to call me? If she’s not there, would you please let me know if her car is gone, if her bike is there, if she left any clue as to where she might be?”
“Certainly, Se?or Abbott. If you’ll give me the Se?orita’s address, I’ll leave right away.”
“Thank you, Luis. Muchos gracias.” Gabe provided Luis with Eva’s cell phone number, her address and direction to her home. He clicked off.
“Shit,” commented Quincy.
“Something’s wrong,” said Gabe. “I can feel it. There’s something very wrong.”