Search for Maylee E-Book

Didi Oviatt

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Since Maylee was abducted from her high school the very month of graduation, her Aunt Autumn has never lost hope in finding her.

It's been three years. Autumn has finally reached inside herself and found the courage to track down an old lead, and travels across the country to find more clues about Maylee's disappearance.

But will she be able to pry Maylee's case back open, and what will she uncover in the process of searching for Maylee?

It's a cold, dark world we live in, and Autumn is about to find out just how cruel it can be. But strength and determination are on her side, and she will do whatever it takes to deliver justice.

Leseprobe

Search for Maylee

Didi Oviatt

Copyright (C) 2017 Didi Oviatt

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Cover art by Cover Mint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Chapter One

Autumn drew in a lungful of California air. Although it was thick, it was somehow refreshing. She looked to her side at the sun glistening off choppy waves on the oceanfront. It sparkled in bright flashes across the horizon. She was really going to miss this stunning morning view. A thin lilac tank-top dampened with sweat in the center of her back. Her feet were growing heavy, but she pushed herself and quickened her stride. Autumn had been running along the beach every day, sometimes a few times a day, for the past three years. She found that running helped to clear her mind, and tiring her body helped her sleep at night.

Every day during this run, the thought of Maylee's disappearance raced through Autumn's mind on a loop. Every intricate detail was recalled, in order, exactly as it happened. She remembered what Maylee had eaten for breakfast, and dropping her off at school that morning. Even the conversation they had haunts her.

“Don't you want some eggs?” Maylee chirped in her perky morning voice.

“Nah, I'll just grab a coffee.”

“Whatever Aunt Autumn, you're going to sneak one of those disgusting processed breakfast muffins after you drop me off, aren't you?”

Accusing eyes pierced Autumn's embarrassed face, forcing her to blush. Strange, how such a young woman could find so much fault over a simple guilty pleasure no bigger than a thin slice of cheese with sausage.

These memories continuously float in and out of Autumn's mind, circling her like a consuming shadow, just waiting for the right moment to swallow her whole. After reliving the worst day of her life, Autumn would clear her mind, steady her breath, and convince herself to focus on the present. It felt like an impossible task, to stop living in the past. Maylee was Autumn's niece, and she was seventeen years old when she was taken. Maylee was a high school senior with two weeks left until her graduation. She had her entire life ahead of her.

Now, three years later, Autumn was convinced that if she could just remember any tiny detail, something she may have skipped over, the police would be forced to pry Maylee's case back open. Autumn was more of a mother to Maylee than her junkie sister could ever dream of being – even on a sober day.

It had been nearly an hour since today's run commenced. Time seemed to escape Autumn as the worn out sneakers laced to her feet moved further down the beach. Her legs were starting to tingle and burn. They weakened, like noodles under her wearying body. The intake of air burned her chest, leaving her throat to feel like a charred tree – still intact and alive, but the edges burnt to a crisp. She could feel the color of her face darken as fresh oxygenated blood sped through her veins.

Over the course of the last few days, she had pushed herself even further than her usual run. She would be leaving her beautiful home in Northern California and moving to a cramped one-bedroom apartment, right in the center of Denver Colorado. Every detail of her life would change once again, and it was terrifying.

Autumn fell into a deep depression when Maylee went missing, and she became obsessed with the case. The only time she would leave the house was to go to the grocery store or police station. Her life's purpose became nothing more than to pester Detective Chance, or just Chance, as everyone called him. His full name and title was Detective Chance Rupert Lizhalia III. Clearly, the comfort of being referred to so casually by his first name was developed very early on in his career. The details and progress of Maylee's case were poked and prodded at by Autumn daily. It was a repetitive process until about five months after Maylee had disappeared. At that point, Chance put Maylee's folder on an overstuffed shelf to collect dust.

“We've done everything we can,” he told Autumn on that bizarrely hot fall afternoon as he slowly wiped the sweat from his full, perfectly squared hairline.

“So you're going to throw her away? Just like that, you're done?” Autumn demanded, tears welling.

“Every police station in the country has Maylee's picture.” Chance reminded her. “If anyone finds her or comes across anything that we can link to the case, then I assure you, Autumn, you'll be the first to know.”

The short conversation had rendered Autumn mute. She stood frozen in shock as he told her to move on with her life. Chance apologized for the loss in such a way that it was clear – Maylee would never be found. Then he brushed past her in the hallway of an over-lit police station, and went about his day as if nothing had changed.

Autumn recalled it now as she ran, remembering the emptiness in Chance's expression. The excruciating heat of that day hadn't even touched the icy daggers he sent jabbing into her chest. Even his outfit was seared into her memory. He wore a dark gray suit, complementing his tan, and an orange tie.

There was no denying it, Chance was a very attractive man for his age. The stress of the job was surely the culprit of a cluster of wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, although they only added to his enticing façade. Chance was the kind of man that you could take one look at and just know, without a doubt, he could defend himself. His build was strong enough to be noticed, with broad shoulders and a flat stomach, but his eyes were key. They were light grey and deeply piercing, always with a sharp gaze – like an eagle ready to swoop.

The afternoon Maylee's case was practically declared unsolvable and doomed for a cold shelf life, all hope drained from Autumn. Her car was left in the parking lot, and dragging feet carried her home. She moved in a blurry haze. Amidst the draining three mile walk to her front porch, the heat transformed into gloom, and before Autumn knew it she was engulfed in rain. The weather was unforgettably odd.

The door swung open, and she collapsed onto the floor, unable to take in air. Anxiety surged through her body in waves, and salty tears streamed down her face. God only knows how long she lay paralyzed on the floor before she got up and ran out the door. Pushing herself through the stinging oversized drops of rain, she rounded a corner and made her way to the beach. Giant deadly ocean swells had never looked so inviting, but she refused to stop, continuing to run faster. Step after painful step in the sand, she pushed forward.

Oxygen eventually stopped reaching her lungs, and her legs gave out. Several times Autumn collapsed to her knees and stared into the water while she wheezed and struggled for breath. Each time the slosh of wet sand sounded beneath her fallen body, she would pick herself back up and continue to run. By the time she returned home the sky had turned black, and there were no stars to be found. Autumn was completely surrounded by darkness, a perfect match to the way she felt inside.

A haunting recollection of her own swollen, bloodshot eyes staring back at her from the hallway mirror now left an imprint in Autumn's mind. On that traumatizing day she become a ghost – an empty shell of her once prominent self. Maylee's absence was officially real, there was a sense of finality, a permanence that made Autumn sick.

That night after her first run, the world went completely black. As soon as her head hit the pillow, exhaustion and grief took over, blocking out whatever was left of her subconscious. For the first time in those five miserable months, her body gave up. She had slept an entire night through, deep and dreamless. It was the first night without nightmares and cold sweats since Maylee went missing.

Since that painful day, Autumn continued to repeat that same beachside run. Slowly over time, she's made an effort to put her life back together. So far that effort has proven unsuccessful.

This would be the day Autumn was going to take what could possibly be the biggest step of her life. Giving up on Maylee was not an option. This move was bound to uncover something. It had to. The winding road came upon a corner and revealed a small deserted parking lot. She was close to home now, with only a few more blocks to go before the first 'For Sale' sign came into view. The signs were pointing in the direction of her striking oceanside condo.

Autumn slowed her stride to a heavy footed jog until she reached the lawn in front of her newly sold home. No sooner than her sneakers sunk into the freshly cut grass, she bent at the core and clutched her knees tightly, knuckles whitening, to catch her breath. Autumn glanced up to notice the front door had been opened a crack. She squinted over the top of her right shoulder, then abruptly to the left, peering down the road as far as she could see. There were no cars out of the ordinary aside from the large U-Haul sitting a few yards away.

Paranoia was common for Autumn. A constant nagging fear weighed in her chest at all times, she was forever burdened by this. It had taken a full year to convince herself to sell all of her belongings and take this giant leap. She had to be strong, and she had to leave California, for Maylee. With caution in each step, Autumn slowly made her way up to the condo. She peeked into each window, then tilted an ever listening ear toward the crack in the door.

“Oh, for hell's sake Autumn, you're such a weirdo! You're going to pack up all your shit and take off on some 'save the world trek', and you can't even walk into your own house without panicking!”

The voice was shrill and mocking. It belonged to Candace, Maylee's mother. Autumn exhaled and walked inside. The sight of her sister leaning against the bar that connected the kitchen to the dining room was a lot to take in. Candace was tall and skinny. Too skinny, Autumn noted. One bony leg was crossed over the other and a thick string of smoke lifted into the air from the cigarette burning between her fingertips. She rolled her eyes at Autumn dramatically, and then flicked a long ash onto the floor.

“Candace, do you really need to do that? You know I don't let anyone smoke in my house. You think it's okay to just ash all over the place?”

“Who cares, you sold it anyway.”

Candace walked over and ran what was left of her smoldering cigarette under water and dropped it into an otherwise spotless ceramic sink. The condo was empty, making it seem even bigger than usual. Autumn looked around her home, holding back the tears that were soon to inevitably flow – it was only a matter of time. The floors transformed from a dark marbled tile to white carpet in the living room. The ceilings were vaulted and the countertops were black with marbled granite.

Autumn had married at a young age and lost her husband in a car accident shortly after. She'd only known Keith for seventeen months total. A vow was made to herself when he died, she would never love another, and that was final. It'd been eighteen years since the accident, and so far she'd stuck to her promise. Autumn went back to her maiden name, Brown, in an effort to help herself move on from the trauma of his death. Keith had come from money and left Autumn a rich young woman at the time.

Initially, she bought the condo along with a dependable used car. Then she placed what was left of the settlement into a steady monthly income that was meant to last 20 years. Since then, the car had been traded in for a newer model, an end of this cash flow was rapidly approaching, and the condo sold. Autumn was trudging unfamiliar ground as her entire life was growing foreign, and that didn't even include her job.

After the loss of her young love, the years passed and the cost of living grew. Her fixed monthly income was barely enough to pay the bills and keep her fed. Enjoying nights out with her girlfriends, or buying new outfits were rare. A few years after Keith passed, Autumn picked up a job working as a waitress in a small crab shack just down the road from her condo. Surprisingly, she adored it. It didn't bring in much money, but it was enough for the little extras, and it kept her busy.

As Autumn stood across from Candace in her emptied kitchen, her mind wandered to the saddened look of shock on her boss's face when she'd quit. Autumn walked away from the steady job she loved, just over a week before. Candace cleared the tar blockage from her throat, pulling Autumn back to reality.

“How did you get in here?” Autumn asked. “And did you get me that address? I'm leaving soon. I only have a few more things to pack, so I need it. You promised.”

“You always leave that window in the back unlocked,” Candace said with another roll of her glassed over eyes. “And yes, I have your damn address.”

Candace dug a wrinkled piece of damp paper from her pocket, along with a chunk of dirty pocket lint and a couple of pennies. The goods were slapped onto the empty countertop. Candace then shifted restlessly on her feet, her eyes darting from one side of her head to the other. The look of a wild animal had taken over her face, as if assessing the possibility of an unexpected dash for the door. Unpredictable and permanently on edge, she finally continued in her scratchy smoker's voice.

“I still don't think you should do this. Craig's not a bad guy, he just gets a bad rep because of his record. Maylee's gone because she never paid attention to anything going on around her. It's probably her own fault she was taken, I'm sure Craig had nothing to do with it.”

Aside from the obvious itch to leave, Candace was without emotion, utterly careless about Maylee. She spoke as if Maylee wasn't her daughter at all, but a random girl she'd met on the street. It made Autumn's stomach wrench hearing her sister talk this way about her own child, her flesh and blood. How could she?

The thought of the opened back window in the condo was intentionally brushed aside. Autumn didn't even want to know exactly how her sister was privy to that information. The place would be deserted in a few hours, left for the new owners to deal with. The only thing that mattered now was how clearly strung-out and coldblooded Candace was. A surge of anger flowed through Autumn.

Autumn couldn't stand Candace for the evil woman she'd grown into. The fact that Candace cared more about herself and getting her next fix than she did about her own daughter was sickening. Autumn stormed over to the bar and snatched up the piece of paper. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary if Candace were to change her mind, steal back the address, and make a dash for the door. Frankly, it came as quite a shock to Autumn that her junkie sister had followed through on her promise to retrieve it in the first place. Once the address was safely in hand, Autumn finally spoke her mind.

“Maylee hated that man, and the rest of your friends. She was scared of him! She ended up here ninety percent of the time because you were a shitty mom, and your shitty friends are all terrible people. Open your eyes Candace! When are you going to understand that he was the only real lead the cops ever had? Now get the hell out of my house!”

Candace took a step back, shocked at Autumn's outburst. Her head tilted forward allowing her eyes to be shaded by the lowering of her brows. The shifty feet that struggled to hold up her stick-like legs for the first time held still. They'd gotten in several fights about Maylee over the years. They brawled more since Maylee's disappearance than ever before. Candace knew she hadn't been the best mom to Maylee, but she would never admit it out loud, and she didn't much care either way. Excuses were constantly shelled out for her behavior as she never even wanted a child in the first place. Candace justified her actions to herself in any way she could.

Autumn wasn't the only one with resentment, as Candace genuinely returned the disdain. For most of their lives Candace hated her sister for being the pretty one, the favorite. A prominent loathing of Autumn's perfection had taken up residence in Candace. There was even a slight anger toward Maylee for confiding in Autumn as much as she did. Candace would leave Maylee for weeks at a time, and then get upset when she'd find her at Autumn's house. Maylee was punished whenever her Aunt Autumn was mentioned.

Once Maylee was about twelve years old, Candace finally gave up and no longer asked or showed any concern. Candace couldn't care less whether Maylee came home or not. Candace knew that Autumn's was the only phone number Maylee knew by heart, and that's where she'd usually be. There was no point in the chase. Besides, the less Maylee was around, the more freedom there was for her. There were no whiny voices begging for food, or phone calls from teachers complaining about smelly clothes or random bruises.

Candace now stared back at her angry sister, contemplating what insult she would throw next. Whether it be about Keith dying, or about their Mom being in a nursing home, she usually thought of the things that would hurt Autumn the most before she spoke.

“You're not going to find her, Autumn. All you're going to do out there is waste what little money you have left and abandon Mom. You're leaving her here to rot while you chase a ghost.”

Candace watched closely and fully satisfied as Autumn winced. The fact that their mother would be left all alone pulled fluid to the surface of her eyes. Hannah Brown, Autumn and Candace's mother had lived with Autumn for quite some time after her stroke. Once she became too heavy for Autumn to lift, Hannah was checked into the nicest nursing home within a twenty mile range. Autumn would visit her on a regular basis. Candace, on the other hand, hadn't seen their mother in years.

Autumn watched her sister strut to the door, then turn to look back as she twisted the door's handle. “Good luck on your mission, Superwoman.” Candace sneered, chuckled lightly, and walked out.

Chapter Two

One single tear trickled down Autumn's face as she wondered how her sister's heart had grown so cold. The encouragement their mom had shown in finding Maylee burst into Autumn's memory. Hannah Brown was a strong woman and had raised her daughters well. There was no telling why Candace ended up the way she did.

Hannah's ability to speak clearly had been altered by the stroke, yet she was still able to consistently manage an expression of concern. She too was completely dedicated to Maylee's search, and insisted that Autumn never give up. Maylee was Hannah's only grandchild and she had all the faith in the world that Autumn could find her.

Autumn absorbed the emptiness of her home, feeling as stripped down as each wall. Her guts felt as hollowed out as the rooms she moped through. Over time she'd grown to love everything about the condo. It offered her a sense of safety and deep rooted security. She'd lived here for eighteen long years and was heartbroken to let it go. After locking the front door one last time, packing an arm full of clothing tightly between her dresser and a well wrapped mirror in the back of the U-Haul, she turned around to take a long look at the soon-to-be deserted home.

It was imperative that the move be made in one trip, so she had sold her car along with some other appliances that couldn't fit in the truck. The last two weeks had been like a free-for-all. Bargain shoppers trickled in from all over town, ready to haggle and drop the price on anything they could get their grimy fingers on. Fridge $50, stove $27, oversized propane barbeque equipped with a tank and utensils $32. With every item sold, the void in Autumn's chest widened. Everything she had left was crammed into the largest U-Haul she could afford.

“Goodbye.” An airy whisper escaped her.

Autumn flew to Denver a couple months prior, and stayed for a week to find an affordable place. The one she settled on was in the nicest neighborhood she could manage, but it was dicey nonetheless. Paperwork had been signed and prepared, even the first and last month's rent had been paid along with a cleaning deposit. Despite the feeling of chaos and frigid loss, life was actually in order. Every possible kink had been ironed. She was ready for the move, physically if not emotionally.

Autumn stuck her hand in her pocket and squeezed the small pink piece of paper. Just to make certain it was still securely on her person. Everything about her future and Maylee's – if she was still alive – depended on this address. Candace sure did cut it close in getting it to her. At least Autumn didn't have to postpone her planned departure date to go flipping over rocks in search for her sister. If there's one thing that irritated Autumn to no end it was unplanned inconveniences.

The giant step it took getting into the U-Haul was awkward, Autumn had to pull her weight into the vehicle with the aid of the seat and the steering wheel. Driving something this size would surely take some getting used to. The two day trip was sure to be long and weary. Though she was nervous about maneuvering such a load on unfamiliar roads, the sickening anxiety of leaving the town she spent her entire life in was even stronger. The drive would be manageable, if she could learn to control her shaking hands. The homesickness that had settled before even pulling away was crushing, it wouldn't be so easily dismissed. Autumn took a long intense look into her side mirror as she drove off. The condo grew smaller and smaller until it was gone.

After the emotional departure from her home, the realtor's office was Autumn's first destination. It was a quick stop to drop off her key and sign the last of an exasperating stack of necessary paperwork. A stout balding man took the pages from her fingertips. He played the busy role of a secretary for the entire office of realtors. There were seven total. Autumn had only sat down with her own agent a handful of times. It was usually this same jolly man she had grown accustomed to dealing with. She didn't mind, he was always in a joyful mood and was very easy to talk to.

“And that's it, my dear.” He said with a grin. “So what's your next big adventure, now that that beauty of a condo is sold?”

“I'm moving to Denver.”

The answer all but stuck to the back of her throat.

“Wow, big change. Hope it all works out for you.” His smile was genuine.

Autumn choked back the tears. Something about overly friendly people, they have a real gift for drawing up the waterworks. Talking about Maylee and the quest to find her wasn't exactly a subject Autumn was prepared to discuss. Especially to some strange man at her realtor's office. Despite how insane it would make her seem, Autumn was mostly worried about the puffy eyes and shaky voice that would surely accompany the explanation. So, rather than elaborate details, she stuck with a short sweet farewell.

“Thank you, Sir. I'm hoping to meet up with some family there, eventually. Good luck to you and your future as well. It's been a pleasure working with you.”

“The pleasure is mine, Miss Brown.”

His short chubby fingers extended toward her. She took them into hers and forced a full smile to accompany the handshake. Then she turned abruptly on her heels and practically ran for the exit. This entire day was already proving to be every bit as hard as she anticipated it to be.

Next stop, the police station. She drove up and down the street in front of the station a couple of times trying to find somewhere to park. The maneuvering of such a giant vehicle was far from an easy task. After a few ridiculously embarrassing attempts to parallel park, Autumn finally settled on leaving it at a gas station a couple of blocks down. She stepped out of the U-Haul and straightened her top.

A plain old faded black tank hung casually from her shoulders, and her most relaxed pair of jeans hugged loosely on her hips. Built for comfort, it was a great travel outfit choice. Now, glancing down the street toward the station, she wondered if it had been the best choice of dress. A short tiff in her mind commenced on whether or not to rummage through the back and at least find a dressy jacket. The practical side of her won out, and she decided to just suck it up and deal with the situation at hand. Autumn had to get past this conversation with Chance, and it really didn't make a difference on what she was wearing.

It was a short walk to the station, and she took it at quick pace. She had only seen Chance a couple of times since their awkward encounter three years earlier. Each time they bumped into each other, the pleasantries were short and awkward. There was something about this man that she couldn't quite put a finger on. Aside from the fact that his decision to put Maylee on the back burner practically ruined her life – for a second time – there was more. Something very unnerving always circled the air when she tried to talk to him. Autumn chalked it up as hate, of course. Hence, it was best to avoid him altogether.

The tall wooden door was heavy, but with some effort she was able to pull it open and step inside. The office was noisy and hectic with ringing phones and busy voices. Men and women in uniforms, suits, and skirts hustled from one side of the open room to the next. There were far too many desks crammed into such a small space. None of the faces turned to look at her. It was a sickening reminder of how ignored she'd been three years earlier. Her trips to this building were as regular as breakfast, yet not a soul gave her a sliver of recognition.

Autumn made a turn to her left, exiting the overstuffed and well-trodden entryway. The air she inhaled smelled of paper and old carpet. The hallway she moved through was stuffy and narrow. It was far too skinny and cramped to allow even a fraction of comfort. She stopped abruptly and stared at the name on the door in front of her. It read 'Detective Chance Rupert Lizhalia III' in large gold letters. She shook her head faintly and shoved the doubting thoughts out. Hesitantly, she pushed the door open and crept into his office. There was a striking young woman sitting at a small desk. The woman glanced up at Autumn and grinned from ear to ear.

“Please take a seat. Are you here for the detective?” She looked to be in her early twenties and was far too exuberant for Autumn's taste.

Lightly, Autumn eased herself down onto a thinly cushioned leather chair and replied quietly.

“Yes, please.”

It was a simple response. Autumn didn't see the need for small talk with this uncomfortably attractive woman. The woman stood and walked around a small corner into Chance's slightly opened office door. Autumn couldn't help but to spectate at the age of this attractive little tart. She also wondered what happened to the white-haired woman with a pearl string on her glasses who used to occupy the desk in front of her. Anita was her name, and she was practically the opposite of the new girl.

Autumn wondered if Anita had retired or if the detective traded her in for a younger, more attractive model on purpose. There was no denying the strange swirl of growing jealousy. Weird, she thought, then tucked the notion away. A quick glance at the nameplate on the young woman's desk read Vanessa. It was beautifully displayed in swirly silver letters. A gorgeous name to match the flawless face behind it.

It didn't take long before Vanessa was back to her desk flashing that perfect toothy grin.

“He'll be just one moment, Ma'am,” she confidently beamed.

Vanessa took her seat and went back to typing whatever it was she was working on. Autumn straightened her back and stretched her head toward the ceiling. What did she care if Chance had a beautiful young assistant? She reminded herself of the detest she once had for the man. After obliging Vanessa with a courteous nod, Autumn turned her head away, as to not make eye contact again.

In a matter of minutes Chance poked his head through the opened crack of his tall heavy wooden door. Clearly, he was temporarily dumbfounded. Those audacious eyes of his widened and jaw clenched, causing a tensed bulge in his neck at the sight of Autumn. She sat perched on the dark brown leather chair in front of his assistant.

“Miss Brown,” he managed to cough out, “come in.”

The words were stammered, he was unable to take his eyes off of her. Chance couldn't help but to notice the manner in which Autumn carried herself. She seemed much different than the frumpy, chubby, yet still attractive woman he'd grown to know and admire years earlier. Autumn was now lean, tan, and in very good shape. She wore little makeup, but didn't really need it as her skin was smooth and her bold green eyes were framed with thick, long, naturally black lashes. There was no question to her beauty, nor to his attraction to her.

Autumn swallowed her nerves and lifted her head in a managed confidence, willing him not to notice the slight shaking of her fingers. The pulsing liveliness in Chance's chest skyrocketed as he held the door open, allowing her to pass. Instantly drawn to her, he tapped a thumb on the door's handle, his growing tension a wreck. A comparison engaged through his mind, batting back and forth between the puffy eyed matted hair woman he remembered, to the clearly healthy woman she'd become. Seemed to him, she were two completely opposite people.

The old Autumn vs. the new, Chance couldn't get a grasp on the change, he was entirely engulfed by shock and disbelief. A hard lump formed in his throat causing him to choke on his spit. A balled fist was raised to his lips in aid of coughing it out.

“Excuse me.” He mumbled before taking a seat across from his unexpected guest.

Caught off guard by a waft of his cologne, Autumn instantly remembered the scent. He smelled the exact same as he had years before, memory of it flooded up her nostrils, sparking a strange flutter in her stomach. Maybe that's why he had made her so uncomfortable, she thought. That has to be it – it's because she loved the way he smelled, nothing more. She chuckled in her head at the silliness of the thought, reminding herself that she hardly even knew him. That's not to mention the fact that he angered her on a regular basis not so long ago.

Autumn avoided his penetrating eyes, glancing around the room uncomfortably. After a few quick moments of confusion and an embarrassing newfound dumbness, she strained to recall the speech she had practiced. There was a reason she was here, and nothing was going to get in her way. Not the sharpness of Chance's eyes, or even his divine scent could stop her. The entire conversation had played out in her imagination, over and over the night before. Everything she wanted to say was prepared and memorized. There was no turning back now. She exhaled a hesitant breath of relief as he spoke first.

“Miss Brown, I must say you're looking well. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I…I…I'm moving.” Autumn stammered, a little confused and beside herself at his compliment.

Everything she'd planned to say evaporated out of her mind, like the rolling steam off boiling water. She now sat ashamed and growingly ridged in front of this unnerving man. A stiff torso allowed her to lean back into the chair and dig around her pocket for the crumpled up paper. If she couldn't find the words to tell him, then she'd have to show him instead. The rumpled page, still slightly moist, was set hesitantly on the desk between them.

“I'm moving to Denver to find Craig. I'm going to look for Maylee myself.”

The shaking of Autumn's hands multiplied by ten while she spoke the words. There was so much more she'd intended to say, but for some uncomfortable reason her tongue wouldn't cooperate, and her chest failed to rise and fall with proper breath. These factors rendered her utterly incapable of the full speech she'd intended.

Tears welled in her eyes, stopping at the inside corners – teetering the edge of a full on meltdown. How embarrassing. It was easy to tuck away her anxiety and fears around her friends and family, but not so much Chance. All of her worries and doubts were somehow brought to the surface, just from the presence of him. Though so confident about the whole thing that morning, Autumn was starting to question herself at the mere sight of Chance. She couldn't decide if his facial expression read angry, worried, anxious, or what? His mind was tangled, clearly he was confused at her. The awkward demonstration of care in his face gave her a chill.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” He finally spoke upon reading the address scribbled across her page. “Because, I strongly advise against it.”

“Yes, I'm sure. No one else seems to care about finding her anymore. He was the last person she was seen talking to. Why would he be at her school? And why would he move away right after she went missing, unless he had something to do with it? Something to hide? I'm going to find him, and I'm going to watch him.”

Autumn paused, only to draw in a breath. Then she continued her venting rant. It's now or never, she thought, I have to get it out.

“I'm going to do whatever it takes to find her. I have to know if she's still alive. This is Craig's address, so I want you to write it down along with mine. I want you to have my information in case anything happens.”

Autumn successfully held back those irritating tears, forcing anger and determination to take over her sadness and fear, although she was still unable to steady the shake in her voice, or of her hands for that matter. He glared at her for what seemed like a soul sucking lifetime. With her breath held she returned the look, trying her best to stare him down. What could he possibly be thinking, why wasn't he talking to her?

Chance watched her close, half waiting for her to spill more information, and half unsure what exactly to make of her brave attempt at salvation for Maylee. A strong feeling of respect took over. He had to hand it to her, she was bold, undeniably brave. At the same time, how could a woman with absolutely no detective experience pull off such a task? She was doomed for failure and indefinite danger. How could he stop her from putting her life at risk? He couldn't, there was no question to that. Ultimately, he could do nothing but stare, and drink in the returned scrutiny of her beautiful eyes.

“Well? Do you want my new address or not?” Autumn demanded, growing more and more impatient by the second.

“Yes.” He quietly answered, and reached for a pen.

Autumn had expected, and even tried to prepare herself for an argument. His reaction had taken her by surprise. The stare down may have been slightly intense, but it was nothing compared to what she had imagined to happen. A sense of pride and accomplishment rested in Autumn's belly. She'd told him everything she came here to say.

Chance's strong, well-manicured fingers copied the barely readable scrawl onto a fresh sticky paper, just below Craig's address he wrote Autumn's, careful to make sure that every letter and number was correct. As soon as she was finished reciting the address that she'd memorized the very day she picked out her apartment, Chance grabbed a couple more pieces of paper. He scrawled Craig's address for a second and third time.

Autumn watched close, a little confused, but she didn't protest. Instead, she observed his hands working in silence and steadied her breath, trying to get a handle on her emotions. Chance gently reached across the desk and handed her the two new sticky papers, along with the original copy she'd retrieved from Candace.

“You might want to put a couple of these in more places than just your pocket. You know, in case you lose it.” He looked down at the desk avoiding eye contact. “You can never be too careful.”

“Thank you.” She sighed.

Oh how Autumn wished she would have come to him sooner, she would kill for an opportunity to listen to his tips and learn a few things before taking this step. The reason she hadn't, is because she was certain he would've tried harder to talk her out of the whole thing. Already full of self-doubt, she couldn't have risked it.

“I'm sure there's nothing I can say that will change your mind, Autumn. It sounds like you already have everything in order.” He was ever the professional.

“That's very correct, Chance, I'm going.” She returned the proficient tone. “So, if we're done here I have to get to it. I have a long drive. It'll take me a few days to get there and I'm already running behind schedule.”

Chance offered her a short nod only, no words, accompanied with softened eyes melting downward at the outer edges, wrinkles slightly ironed.

Autumn stood, looked down at her toes, and turned to exit his office. A hollow feeling swirled in the pit of her stomach. This visit didn't go at all as she expected it would. She'd imagined that he would have a load of questions for her. She anticipated his advice and was looking forward to at least a little bit of help in her journey. Disappointment gnawed at her chest, she was more than a little hurt by his reaction to her news. As she slowly and reluctantly reached for the handle, the sound of his voice made her jump.

“Wait!” He nearly shouted the request.

Chance wriggled around in his seat, and intentionally lowered his voice. “I… Um… It's about lunch time. Will you eat with me before you go?”