Gone Missing by Camy Tang Page A

Elisabeth still volunteered at a local domestic abuse shelter, she knew several lawyers, and one of them had put in an urgent call to his friend Joanna Harnett in Phoenix. Joslyn had given Jo the copy of the video. Officer Winchester had apparently delivered the original video to the detective in charge of Clay’s case as promised, but the lawman had been stubborn about releasing Clay even when faced with clear evidence that he was innocent. Jo had pulled strings, because Clay was finally released an hour later.
    They sat on a bench outside the police station to eat their burgers. The salty bacon, melting cheese and juicy beef was exactly what he needed after the frustrating afternoon in police lockup.
    None of the people he talked to would believe him. He’d spent two years in jail for being a low-level thug for that Chicago mob family, and he’d gotten a good job as a bouncer for a nightclub in the years since he’d been out, but none of that mattered to them. He felt as if he would never be able to escape his past.
    All he wanted to do was to find Fiona, to apologize to her for that last fight they’d had before she left Chicago. To show her that he’d changed. To make up for all the grief he’d put her through.
    â€œThe detective will look into the accident,” Jo said around a mouthful of burger. “It wasn’t on a street with many businesses, so there isn’t a good chance some bank ATM camera caught it on film or anything like that.” She had a slight Southern lilt to her voice.
    â€œI don’t understand why they’d do that,” Clay said. “They tried to kill us with that bomb at Fiona’s house, then they followed us, but then they arranged to have me arrested. That’s like a step back.”
    â€œWe still don’t know for sure that they’re the ones who set the bomb,” Joslyn said. “But...I think I know why they wanted you arrested—to take you out of the picture. To separate us.”
    Clay’s shoulders grew rock hard. “What happened?”
    â€œThey tried to kidnap me at the mall.” She spoke quickly, as if nervous about telling him.
    â€œWhat?!” And he’d been stuck in a cage, unable to protect her. What good was he if he couldn’t protect people?
    â€œIt was fine, a police officer happened to be right there,” she said. “But they ran and he couldn’t catch them. It was the same officer who delivered the security video of you in the shoe store to authorities.”
    â€œThat was smart of them,” Jo said reluctantly. “Separate the two of you so they could more easily grab Joslyn. Then with Clay in jail, they could afford to wait and take care of him later.”
    Joslyn swallowed. “That’s what I was thinking. They’re probably upset you got Clay out of jail so fast.”
    â€œThey could’ve tried something,” Clay said, “but I wouldn’t go down so easily.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do now?” Jo wiped her mouth. She’d inhaled that burger.
    â€œWe still don’t know where Fiona is or why she disappeared,” Clay said.
    â€œI want to get online to do some research on Fiona and Martin Crowley,” Joslyn said, “but I can’t do that if we’re being followed. Those men would interrupt us before I even had a chance to log in to my computer.”
    â€œThose creeps have to know something about Fiona. I want to set a little trap so we can find out more about them.”
    â€œNope, I don’t want to hear this.” Jo stood. “As your lawyer, I don’t want to know.”
    â€œWe won’t do anything illegal,” Clay said. He’d learned his lesson years ago and was still paying for it now.
    â€œRegardless, it’s probably best if you don’t tell me.” Jo smiled at the two of them. “I hope I’ll see you again, but maybe somewhere other than the police