Jake rolled his shoulders. It only took about four hours to drive from Albuquerque to El Paso, but he’d put in a full work week before he’d left around two, and he started to feel it. He’d thought briefly about staying one more night in the hotel, but … hell, he needed to see Trish. Not for the sex, although, shit, he’d never had better. It was Friday, and that made it family night. He’d missed the kids, too. Trish closed up at six, so she and the kids should be home by now or would be soon. Should he surprise her, or should he call her and let her know he’d returned early? Knowing Trish, if he didn’t call, she’d already have dinner cooking, if she didn’t already, or she might take the kids out. Wherever she was, that’s where he wanted to be.
Jake dialed her house, but got no answer. She took the kids out then. He dialed her cell, but again, no answer. Maybe she got caught up at her parents’ house. He dialed that number, and her mother picked up. When he asked for Trish, she said she hadn’t been by to pick up the kids yet. Damn it, she’d said she wouldn’t work late anymore. He dialed the Lit Center, but no answer there either. Neither did it roll over to the recording to leave a message like it usually did after closing. That was strange. Diane never forgot to put on the answering machine. Jake thought a minute and felt the first twinge of concern.
Next, he called his grandfather to see if everyone had gotten together at the ranch, but he hadn’t seen Trish or the kids all week, and he had planned a quiet evening alone. He called his sister next, but neither Cade nor Callie had heard from her that day, and when he called Eva and Josh, they couldn’t tell him anything either.
That twinge had quickly morphed into a chill which was well on its way to full blown panic. He decided to drive straight to the Lit Center and look for her car. If he didn’t see it, he’d go on to her house.