I leave the room without zipping my bags. I inhale deeply when I reach the stairs, hoping I’ll smell breakfast—but there is nothing in the air except the smell of cleaner and hardwood. Where is Hunter? Is he even here?
As soon as I step onto the first floor, the doorbell rings. Doorbells at surprising times remind me of the accidents my mom has had—accidents or incidents in which the cops showed up at our house. So hearing it now stops me in my tracks.
I look around.
It rings again.
I step over to the hallway that leads to Hunter’s study. “Hunter?” I call. Surely a house like this has speakers in most rooms; in fact, I think I’ve seen them. He’d be able to hear the doorbell, wouldn’t he?
The doorbell rings again, and I step slowly to the glass panes surrounding the doors. Against my better judgment, I peek out. I’m shocked to see Dr. Bernard. My stomach does a nose-dive. Oh, God. Did something happen to my mother?
Without a second thought, I unlock the door and pull it open.
I’m holding my breath, bracing myself for her news, when she reaches her hand out to me like she wants to shake mine. Her face is curious not grave as we shake hands like strangers.
“I’m surprised to find you here, Elizabeth. How are you?”
“I’m surprised to find you here,” I manage. I suck a deep breath in. “Are you…here to see me?”
“Actually, I’m not.” She smiles, a little awkward, but still warm and friendly. “Would you mind letting Hunter know I’m here?”
“Uh…one second.” I shut the door in her face without even thinking of asking her in. I turn around and there is Hunter. He’s wearing black jeans and a gray shirt, and he looks pissed. Behind him are three ripped, bodyguard types, all with guns on their belts.
“Is that Elizabeth Bernard?” he asks, frowning.
“Yes. She says she wants to see you.”
He nods, looking dazed. “I was in a meeting. I thought you were asleep.”
One of the men—they’re all still standing in a row behind him—tips a baseball cap at me, and I smile slightly before shifting my attention back to Hunter. “That’s okay. I only answered because I looked and saw her, and I thought she was here for me.”
Hunter looks over his shoulder. “Dave, Jake, Gilly, why don’t you wait for me in the kitchen. Bernita’s in there. She can feed you.”
One of them says, “Sure,” and the group takes off. I know I should do the same, but I’m too curious.
Hunter barely looks at me as he steps to the door and pulls it open. I watch him smile as he squeezes Dr. Bernard’s hand. “How can I help you, Libby?”
My jaw nearly drops to the floor. Dr. Bernard is the other Libby? Someone kind from Hunter’s past. Someone I remind him of. How weird is that?
I don’t get the chance to find out exactly how weird it is, because Hunter steers her toward his office.
I should probably go upstairs and figure out how I’m going to get back to California, but I can’t help lingering by the stairs. If I don’t, I’m afraid I won’t even get to say bye.
I sit on the bottom step for a moment, giving them a chance to get into the office and close the door. Then I follow the hall in that direction. I’m not surprised to find the big, wooden doors shut, but I am surprised that I can hear Dr. Bernard’s voice clearly through them. It’s not loud, but it’s crisp and clear. The woman has excellent enunciation. I take a step back, wanting to respect Hunter’s privacy but then I hear “girl who disappeared” and curiosity keeps my feet planted.
I inch closer, and I can faintly hear Dr. Bernard say: “...looking back through some of my files. Quite a few women at the ranch were friends with Missy King. I trust you know with what happened to her.”
“I do.”
“I spoke with several of our girls after she went missing. One of those women is still employed at the ranch, and she spoke with me yesterday about Sarabelle’s disappearance.”
“Do you have something?” Hunter asks. I’m shocked, because he sounds…desperate.
“I think so,” the doctor says. “One of the things that bothered this particular Love Inc. employee most was a connection she saw between Sarabelle’s disappearance and Missy’s. She said that Missy was rumored to’ve entered into a relationship with a man from San Luis in the weeks before she disappeared.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Jim Gunn.”
“How sure was she?”
There’s a brief pause. “She seemed certain.”
Hunter is silent. So is Dr. Bernard. Eventually, Hunter asks, “Did she say anything else helpful?”
“Nothing that stood out, but if I think of anything else, I’ll let you know.”
For a long second, no sound comes from the room.
Then I hear Hunter’s voice. He sounds choked up as he says, “Thank you.”