“It was almost as if she was in a trance. She shook her head, but didn’t say anything. I remember she kept looking around the kitchen, like she wanted to hide somewhere. But one of my orders was called, so I picked it up and went into the dining room. It was soon after when we discovered she’d left.”
“And the man? The one she was talking to?”
“Oh, now that you mention it, he was gone when I returned with my order. The only reason I noticed was because he had caught my attention when he first sat down. He looked so sophisticated. More so than most of the customers we get. And as I said, I had to finish up her customers.”
Hunter stared off into the distance. If there was a connection between this man and Emily—and based on what Helen told him, he was sure of it—they would have left Guthrie together. If Emily was pale and shaky after speaking with the man, she didn’t go of her own volition.
“Is there anything else you remember? Did you see either of them outside the restaurant?”
“No. As I said, we were real busy that night.”
“Well, thank you very much, Miss Parker. I’ll bid you goodnight.” He turned to leave when she called him back.
“I think Emily is in trouble.” Helen chewed on her lip.
“I think so, too.”
“Help her. I wish I could, but I need to work.”
He flashed her a comforting smile. “Don’t worry, Miss Parker. I’ll find her.”
And bring her back.
Hunter spent the rest of the day talking to ticket agents at the Santa Fe Depot, but no one remembered a woman dressed in a Harvey House uniform accompanied by a man boarding a train on Saturday night. Another stop at the police station was a waste of time since the officer he spoke with had the same reaction as the one who took his initial report.
Since he knew so little of Emily’s background, the officer even suggested that perhaps Emily had hidden her background for nefarious purposes, and was now once again on the run. He would never believe that of her. He had too much law enforcement experience, and his gut told him Emily was not a criminal.
His break came two weeks later when he interviewed a taxi driver for one of Jesse’s clients. As he’d done every day since her
disappearance, he asked about Emily. To his shock and delight the man said he took a woman dressed in a Harvey House uniform, accompanied by a ‘dapper’ man, to the train station in Oklahoma City.
Hunter went straight from interviewing the man to Jesse’s office. “I’ll be gone for a while.”
Jesse regarded him with raised eyebrows.
Hunter tapped his foot, anxious to be on his way. “I have a lead on Emily.”
“All right, son. I can see from your behavior the last two weeks that this has been constantly on your mind. I don’t know what your feelings are with regard to this girl, but I don’t think you’ll be able to move on until you solve this puzzle.”
“Thanks. I appreciate your support.” Hunter blew out a breath.
Jesse opened his desk and drew out his check book. “Do you need money?”
“No. I’m all right there.”
He turned to leave the room when Jesse spoke. “Where are you headed?”
As he opened the door to barrel through, Hunter said, “Oklahoma City. From there I have no idea.”
Chapter 7
Galveston, Texas
Emily let out a squeak as she turned over in her bed and shifted around, sweat breaking out on her forehead as she tried to find a position that didn’t hurt. After settling into a somewhat comfortable spot, she thought back over the last couple of weeks.
True to his word, Louis never laid a hand on her the entire train trip from Oklahoma City to Galveston. Once they’d arrived home, he told her in no uncertain terms that she was to dress in a formal gown, and join him for dinner at precisely seven o’clock.
When she had arrived in the drawing room, he had been dressed elegantly as well, in a black formal jacket with black trousers braided on the outside seam. His white silk waistcoat covered a plain white shirt with three pearl studs. The sheen from his patent leather shoes reflected the light from the gas lamp. He stood staring at her while he sipped a glass of scotch.