Gone (Gone #1) (22 page)

Hardware

Chad felt dizzy looking at all the choices for door locks. Wasn't a lock just a lock? The aisle was full of different types. Not wanting to read another box, he grabbed five boxes of the most expensive lock on the shelf. It had to be the best or it wouldn't cost so much.

Just as he set the last one in the basket, his phone rang. It was Alyssa.

"Is everything okay?"

"Just wanted to let you know that someone from the home security will be here in a couple hours. They're going to look at everything and make sure nothing is faulty. If it is, they'll upgrade us for free."

"They're going to upgrade us, period. I'll be there before they arrive. I've got the locks. Do you need me to get anything else?"

"No. There's a police car out front, so if there's any trouble, they're here."

"Good. I told them not to leave while I was gone. I'll be home soon."

"Okay. Chad?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

His heart swelled up. "I love you too, Lyss. Stay safe."

"Okay."

The call ended and he stuffed the phone back in his pocket. It was so nice to be getting along again, and he had been surprised at how quickly his old feelings had returned. He found himself eager to get back home to her. He picked up the basket and headed for the registers.

He had to turn down another aisle to get there. As he did, he saw Lydia. What was she doing in the hardware store? Had she been following him?

Chad turned around, but it was too late.

She ran to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked

"I was about to ask you the same thing. You're not following me, are you?"

Lydia's face fell. "I thought we were close."

"Look, Lydia, you're a really sweet person—"

"Oh, geez. I can tell where this is going."

"I appreciate you being there for me when I was going through a tough time, but I need to focus on my family now."

"Right. That's why I've been giving you space."

"Space? You're making my family dinner tonight."

"Do you want to explain to Alyssa why you don't want me over?"

Chad narrowed his eyes. "You know the answer to that."

"Then let me come over and cook you guys a meal. Everyone wants to help out. I called all the members of the homeowners' association, and each one signed up for a night to cook or bring you takeout. Everyone. Besides, I know how much you love my lasagna. I'll make it and leave. I don't have any ulterior motives. Well, maybe one."

"What?"

"Just to let you know that I'll be waiting. I'm not going anywhere, Chad. When you're ready, which I know you will be eventually, you can find me. I'll drop anything to spend time with you. I appreciate everything you do. Your blog is amazing. I know you'll be able to quit your day job any day now. And even though I doubt you've worked out lately, you still look hot as—"

"Okay, Lydia. Point taken. Why don't you try to rekindle things with Dean?"

She gave him an exasperated look. "The man who comes home three nights a month? No. You know why I stay with him: so I don't have to work. He works so much, I don't have to. Sure, I may have to fix a sprinkler head once in a while"—she held one up—"but other than that, I have the perfect life. Well, when you come over to play, I do."

Chad ran his free hand through his hair. "I need to get back home."

Lydia looked in his basket. "New locks? What's going on?"

"Why don't you ask Alyssa about it tonight? It'll give you something to talk about. Either that, or watch the news. Everything we do seems to end up there. I can't wait for the media to find someone else to stalk."

She raised an eyebrow. "I hope everything is okay. I'll see you tonight."

He nodded and turned to walk away. Why was she everywhere? He needed to get her out of his life so he could focus on Alyssa. She was the one he loved. Lydia had been nothing more than a distraction when Alyssa wouldn't give him the time of day. Lydia was a mistake, and one that he intended to forget about.

When he got to the register, the girl behind the counter stared at him.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"You're…you're the guy from the news."

He nodded. "I need to buy these."

"Oh, right. Sorry." She grabbed the basket and scanned the first box. "I'm so sorry about your daughter. She's beautiful, by the way. I hope she's okay."

Chad squirmed. This was why he hated going anywhere any more. It had been this way since Macy disappeared.

"Are you changing your locks?"

"Um, yeah."

"Aren't you afraid that if she tries to get in, she won't be able to? Won't she feel like you're trying to lock her out?"

Anger burned inside of him. "Not that it's any of your business, but our house is a target. If Macy comes back, she has the smarts to knock or use the doorbell."

A manager walked up to them. "Is everything all right here?"

Chad turned to him. "I'm trying to buy some locks to keep my family safe, and your cashier is trying to give me a guilt trip about my daughter."

The manager stared at him for a moment. Then recognition covered his face. "Oh, Mr. Mercer. We're honored to have your patronage. Please accept my apologies. This is my daughter, Sarah, and her mouth gets out of control when she's nervous. Let me give you those locks at a discount. Does fifty percent sound good?"

"I'm not looking for a discount. I want to get home and get these locks in without having to explain myself to anyone." He was aware of people staring, but he really didn't care.

"Seventy-five percent off. Now that's a deal, and those are our best locks. Houdini himself couldn't get through a door with those."

Chad shook his head. He pulled out his wallet, counted out the cash, and put them on the counter. "Keep the change." He stormed out of the store, never more eager to get back home. He was going to have to find a new hardware store.

He was glad to have the job of replacing all the door locks when he got home. He needed the distraction. But it didn't work; he kept hearing the voice of the cashier saying he was locking Macy out. By the third door, he couldn't take it anymore. He threw his tools down, swearing.

Chad needed his dad. He would know what to do. In fact, his parents would have flown in the moment they heard Macy was gone. He tried to picture his dad standing next to him. It was useless. His imagination wouldn't bring his parents back any more than it was going to bring back his daughter.

He leaned against the door and slid to the ground, staring into the back yard. Tears filled his eyes, blurring his vision. What was he supposed to do? He wanted to keep the locks that Macy could use, but at the same time he
had
to protect his family. Someone had gotten into their house while they all slept. He had no other choice. Macy would understand.

She loved them all and wanted them safe. Just as he loved her and wanted her safe.

But there was nothing he could do to protect her. He hated feeling helpless, and this was the worst kind of helpless.

Sure, he was the kind of dad who would tell his kids to toughen up when they got a scrape, but it wasn't that he didn't care. He just wanted them to be able to handle life.

He sighed, more tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill out.

Did Macy need him as much as he needed his parents right now? He rested his head on his knees, shaking with sobs.

This was the worst part: not being able to do anything. At least with the doors, he could do something useful. He was protecting his family. But that cashier had planted doubts in his head about even that.

Screw her. He stood up and grabbed his tools. Screw that cashier. What did she know, anyway? Did she have a missing kid? Was her family in danger? Screw her. She was probably one of those snot-nosed employees who ran to her dad whenever she had a problem.

He worked on getting the doorknob off so he could remove the lock. His vision was still blurry and now his hands were shaking. Why had he gone to that hardware store in the first place? He wouldn't make that mistake again, and he had every intention of writing all about it in his blog.

But Chad knew better than to write while he was upset. He didn't want to say anything that would hurt his reputation. If he came off as a jerk, that could potentially ruin how well his blog was going, or even worse, piss people off who were looking for Macy. He needed to keep the public's sympathy.

"Are you okay?" came Alyssa's voice from the other side of the door.

"Yeah," he lied.

"Can I come out?"

Chad wiped his face dry. "Sure."

She opened the knobless door and froze when she saw him. "What's the matter?"

"What do you think?"

"You don't need to snap at me."

"You're right. I'm sorry." He told her what had happened with the cashier, breaking down halfway through.

Alyssa's face softened. "Oh, Chad." She gave him a hug, and they stood in the back yard holding each other. "You know, you don't have to hide when you're hurting. I know you always want to talk with your dad, but I'm here. You can talk to me. This is something we're going through together."

"Do you think she'll understand?"

"Macy? Yes. She would want you doing exactly this. She would want us to be safe and to keep Alex protected."

"Why are we talking like she's dead? She
would
say this or that."

"Not because we think she's dead." Tears filled Alyssa's eyes. "Only because she's not here and we can't ask her."

He shook his head. "We're talking like she's dead."

News

Chad stared at the computer screen, unable to focus. Lydia was in the kitchen, preparing the lasagna—because she knew how much he liked it. Why was she even in their house? Why hadn't he been able to stand up and tell her no?

Because that would have looked suspicious, and the last thing he needed was for Alyssa to figure out what he had done. It didn't matter now, because it was over. He wasn't going to see Lydia anymore. He was going to repair his marriage and find a way to get his daughter back.

The screen saver popped up, startling him. He leaned back in the chair, rubbing his hands over his stubble. He had to find a way to get Lydia out of his life. At least she lived at the other end of the neighborhood. It wasn't as though she was next door. He could avoid her easily enough. She would find another guy to keep her distracted from thinking about her own husband.

He got up and paced around the office, picking up stray items. The office was a mess. He hated how he let it get so messy in there, but when he was in there, he was focused on the computer. After what seemed like only a few minutes, his office was organized. Alyssa had always complained about the mess, but she hadn't said a word about it since Macy had been missing.

Where
was
Macy? He picked up a stack of business cards and threw it across the office, sending cards everywhere. What would he do if she never returned? There he went again, allowing himself to think about her being dead. That was the last thing he wanted, but he couldn't seem to keep his mind from going there. The more time that went by, the harder it became to keep his hope alive. It had only been a week. What would he be like in another week if Macy was still gone? How would he survive another week? He needed her back.

Chad picked up a pen from his desk and chucked it at a bookshelf. Distress rising in him, he picked up the coffee mug holding all of his pens and pencils. He squeezed it and then threw it at the wall above the couch. It burst into tiny pieces all over the cushions and floor.

It felt good to break something. He went over to the bookshelf and grabbed a handful of paperbacks, throwing them one by one across the room. Once he had thrown them all, he picked up all his knick-knacks and threw them at the couch, knowing that if they broke he would later regret it.

With the shelf empty, he went over to the couch and grabbed a throw pillow, shaking the broken mug pieces onto the floor. He put his face into the pillow and screamed as loud as he could until his throat hurt. No need for his family or Lydia to hear him.

The cell phone rang. He stared at it on his desk. A feeling of dread ran through him. What if it was bad news? He picked it up and recognized the police station number. How sad that he recognized that number now.

"Chad here."

"Mr. Mercer, this is Officer Anderson. We need you and your wife to come down to the station."

"Again? Why?" Chad demanded.

"We need you two to come alone."

His blood ran cold. Had they found Macy? "Tell me what this is about."

"Sir, we received the results from the clothes."

"What? You said it could be a week or more."

"With this being such a high profile case, they rushed it to the front."