Josh sat down next to her and gently shook her awake while Brad stood by, watching.
“Hey. What on earth are you doing here? Everybody’s worried about you.”
She frowned and spoke grumpily as she sat up, stretching her stiff limbs. “I saw their texts last night. I sent a text to Mom and Grace and Charlie and told them I was safe and not to worry. And I already called work and left a message I’d be out today because I’m not feeling well.”
“And then what? You turned your phone back off and spent the night here?”
“Yes. I didn’t have any other place to go.”
“Look Emily, I sent him a text and explained about racquetball. He’s not mad anymore. He’s going crazy looking for you.”
He glanced up at Brad who rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Women!”
But her eyes filled with tears that began to roll down her cheeks, rewetting the salty streaks that had previously dried there. She silently took out her cell phone and turned it on, ignoring all the new messages. She opened a photo and handed it to Josh.
He recoiled in astonishment at the image on the screen. “Okay. That looks bad, but there has to be an explanation. That could have been taken last year.” He handed the phone to Brad whose eyes bugged as he let out a low whistle.
“That’s what he had on last night. It’s the same clothes. The picture was taken yesterday.”
“Okay. But still, there’s got to be a reasonable explanation,” Josh insisted.
“Can you think of one?” Her voice was dead.
“Uhmm... I don’t know. Brad? You got anything here?”
Brad shrugged and returned the phone.
“Still, your whole family’s worried about you now. They asked both of us to tell them if we found you.”
“Please, don’t!” She looked up through wet lashes.
Josh stood and walked to the hallway, speaking with Brad in a low voice. “What do we do?”
Brad pulled out his phone. “I forwarded the picture to my cell. I’m going to send it to Spencer.”
“Only to Spencer? Not Grace or Charlie?”
He shook his head. “Just him. As guys, we owe him that much. We can’t let him get blindsided with this, no matter what he did. Let’s take her to our apartment and let her crash on the couch while we’re sleeping. We’ll make her send out one more I’m safe message. Tell everyone she’s spending the day in Central Park. When she wakes up and she’s good and ready, she can leave on her own.”
*****
Spencer was sitting stubbornly in the hallway outside Emily’s apartment where he’d spent the night, listening to Anne and Gherring arguing with him.
“It’s ridiculous for you to stay here waiting,” said Gherring. “I can’t believe you slept out here all night. She obviously found a place to stay last night. And, she’s already called in sick to work. So she probably won’t be back anytime soon.”
Anne said, “I’m still worried. I don’t understand what could’ve gotten her so upset. Are you sure nothing else happened? She didn’t kiss Josh, did she?”
“I hope not.” Spencer rubbed his throbbing head.
Anne and Gherring received simultaneous text messages. “Is it Emily?” asked Spencer. “What did she say?”
“She says she’s spending the day in Central Park,” said Gherring.
“She didn’t happen to mention where in Central Park, did she?”
“Sorry, Spencer. No such luck.” Anne shook her head.
Spencer’s phone received a text. His hope surged. Maybe she’d finally responded to him. At this point, he’d rather have her scream at him than continue to avoid communicating. When he opened the text, he noted with disappointment it was from Brad. He opened the attached photo.