Nighttime Is My Time

93

Jake again asked permission to leave his car outside the delicatessen, and once more it was granted, but Duke's curiosity was now at a fever pitch. "Who are you taking pictures of, sonny?" he asked.

"Just of the neighborhood. As I told you, I'm doing a little story for the Stonecroft Academy Gazette. I'll give you a copy when I finish." Jake had an inspiration. "Better yet, I'll mention you in it."

"That'd be nice. Duke and Sue Mackenzie. No capital k in Mackenzie."

"Gotcha."

Jake's cell phone rang as, camera over his arm, he was starting out the door. The call was from Amy Sachs, on duty at the hotel. "Jake," she whispered, "you should be over here. All hell is breaking loose. Dr. Sheridan is missing. They found her car abandoned at Storm King Lookout. Mr. Deegan is in the office here. I just heard him shouting about something being lost."

"Thanks, Amy. I'll be right over," Jake said. He turned to Duke. "Guess I won't need that space after all, but thanks anyhow."

"There goes that fellow from the reunion I was telling you about," Duke said, pointing to the street outside. "He's going kind of fast. He'll get a ticket if he's not careful."

Jake looked out quickly enough to see and recognize the driver. "He's been buying stuff here?" he asked.

"Yup. Didn't come in this morning, but most days he'd buy coffee and toast, and sometimes stop by for coffee and a sandwich at night."

Could he have been buying it for Laura? Jake wondered. And now Dr. Sheridan is missing. I've got to call Sam Deegan. I'm sure he'll want to check Laura's old house. Then I'll go up there and wait for him, he decided.

He dialed the hotel. "Amy, put Mr. Deegan on. It's important."

Amy didn't take long to come back. "Mr. Deegan told me to tell you to get lost."

"Amy, tell Mr. Deegan that I think I know where he can find Laura Wilcox."