Jayden Roe Mystery 02-The Final Lie

three hours, nearly four if he included his stop for lunch. He took more time than usual over the excitement of eating food that was above prison standard. Every half hour he had tried Stella again with the same results as before. The trepidation in his gut had grown into a living thing that seemed apt to wriggle and squirm every time his mind wasn’t entirely focused on something else. He muttered a curse as he pulled into the familiar town and drove straight to the police station. He swore that if Stella wasn’t in hospital, in some kind of legal battle for her life, or similar, he was going to dangle her from the rafters.
As soon as he got out of the jeep, the few people on the sidewalk gasped in recognition and immediately started talking in furious whispers. He felt a small pang at the realization that no matter how much he wanted to rewind the time, this place would never again be his home. He looked over at the whispering bystanders, and they scattered, making him bite back a bitter laugh. Even if they could all be brought to believe that he had worked ultimately for their benefit, they would still never be able to let him move on from his past.
He entered the police station and was greeted by the sound of breaking pottery as Detective Hector Piers  dropped his coffee mug.
“Still the same old Hector, I see,” he smirked at the mess on the floor. “When are you going to learn to control your emotions?”
Hector stiffened his spine. “The fact that I haven’t punched your smug mouth should prove it,” he scowled.
Jay laughed, and Hector's hazel eyes lightened of the mock anger.
“It is good to see you again, Detective Piers,” Jay smiled, no hint of his usual mockery in his voice.
Hector rolled his eyes dramatically. “Sure, sure. What do you want? If this is about Stella, then that isn’t my jurisdiction.”
Jay felt his eyes go wide. “Explain.”
“Maybe out here isn’t best,” interjected a soft voice from behind Hector.
Jay watched as Natalie Hutt stepped toward them. Hector turned to her, nodded, and invited Jay to follow.
The three of them stepped into the office and Jayden caught sight of the gold wedding band on Dr. Hutt’s finger. His eyes immediately darted to Hector’s left hand and found a matching band.
Jay chuckled. “I see Hector finally realized his match had been standing beside him for years.”
Natalie smiled, but Hector scowled. “Don’t start playing Mr. Know-It-All already, okay, Jay? You just got back. I have had four years of trying to tell people that you aren’t the complete ass they think you are. Let’s not ruin all my hard work, yeah?”
Jayden grinned. “But I am right? You’re Mrs. Piers, now? Congratulations to you both.”
Natalie dipped her head once, and Hector muttered something unintelligible then sat behind his desk.
Jayden felt his smile fade as they both became solemn, and slowly took the seat opposite Hector.
“What is the last thing you knew about Stella’s plans?”
Jay’s eyebrows scrunched together at the odd question. “She was chasing some client. Her father was giving her hell for not being home enough and having, er, dealings with a convict. Stella was supposed to come and meet me today but never turned up. I haven’t been able to get hold of her by phone, nor has she sent any more letters. The last was three weeks ago.”
Hector heaved a huge sigh. “She had been meant to come here too. Told me that she’d be getting you a small apartment so you have a place to stay while you decide what to do next. She never turned up to get the papers. That was nearly a month ago now.”
Jayden swallowed past the vice in his chest and throat. “You trying to tell me she’s a missing person?”
Hector ran a hand through his hair. “No. At least, not officially.”
Jayden waited as his growing impatience was easily visible on his face.
“She never turned up here, at a meeting in Washington, and to meet you. She’s not a resident here so I have no real power or reason to dig deeper. As you might have found out already, her phone just goes to voicemail and her emails have started bouncing back.”
“When?” Jayden asked, leaning forward.
“About a week ago.”
Jayden muttered a curse and then shook his head. “So there’s nothing on my old plot?”
“No. The people you sent cleared away all the debris from your house, so it’s nothing but grass now. The new mayor has been bugging me to use my influence with you to get you to sell it.”
They both snorted, and Jayden sighed. “He might get his wish.”
“You’re going after her, aren’t you?”
“Of course. If she’s missing, I have to at least try to find her.”
“What if she’s just purposely severing ties?”
Jay flinched. Dr. Young had said the same thing on their last encounter. “Starting things and not finishing them is simply not like Stella at all so I don’t think that is the case.”
“I suppose not, though. I don't know her very well, other than as a thorn in my side.”
Silence fell as no one was able to take Hector’s attempt to lighten the situation to heart.
Jay rose, shaking his head and trying hard to remain calm. “Look, I know you don’t have much, but I need everything you have. Please.”
Hector’s lips twitched at the added ‘please’, but he nodded. “I’ll get it together for you. Where will you be staying?”
Jay raised his eyebrows at the almost offer in Hector’s voice. “Are you making an offer that’ll get me lynched? Or are you saying that I’ll actually be able to walk back into the park without earning a beating?” he asked.
Hector gave a rueful chuckle, and Jay moved on