There’s always someone on duty.”
“I’m not a resident,” Kate said. “I’m looking for my daughter. She’s late coming home, and I’m a little worried. I believe she’s with one of your tenants, Jay Rogers. I was hoping you could help me locate him or his mother. His mother has a different last name. I’m sorry, I don’t know what it is.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “Is Jay on the tall side? Nice looking. Sandy hair. Five o’clock shadow. About eighteen—give or take?”
“Yes,” Kate said. “Can you tell me where he lives?”
“No, sorry. That would violate our privacy policy. But I can call and convey a message.”
“Would you?” Kate said. “It’s really important.”
The woman opened the door and turned on the light. “By the way, I’m Betty Wilber, the day manager.”
“I’m Kate Cummings. I manage Angel View Lodge.”
“Nice place. My parents stay there when they come to visit.”
Kate paced in front of the window and saw her dad waiting in the car.
“Ah, here it is.” Betty picked up the phone and keyed in some numbers.
Kate could hear it ringing and listened intently.
“Hey, y’all. You’ve reached Sue Ann, soon to be Mrs. Richie Stump. Me and the groom are in Vegas. If it can’t wait, Jay can reach us. If it’ll keep, leave a message at the sound of the beep, and I’ll get back to you when we return.”
Betty handed Kate the phone.
“Jay,” Kate said, “this is Mrs. Cummings. I’m looking for Abby, and she’s not returning my calls or texts. Would you please call me as soon as you get this message, even if you don’t know where she is? I’m really quite concerned.” Kate gave him her cell number and then hung up. “Thank you, Betty. I guess all I can do now is wait.”
Betty studied her for a few seconds. “You know what? I’ve got teenagers and know how upset you must be. I’m going to turn my back, and if you should just happen to see Sue Ann’s apartment number, there really wouldn’t be anything I could do about it, would there?”
“Thanks.” Kate looked at the information on the Rolodex and wrote it down. “I really appreciate this. My daughter has never done this before, and I’m beside myself.”
“Good luck,” Betty said. “I hope you find her.”
“So do I. Thanks again.” Kate left the office, pushed open the door to the main entrance, and hurried down the steps. She got into her dad’s car. “Pull around to building three.”
Dad drove around to the building marked with a large numeral three, and Kate got out. “I’ll be right back.”
Kate walked inside and up the steps to apartment 3C and rang the bell. She put her ear to the door and didn’t hear anything. She rang the bell again and waited. Finally, she took a notepad out of her purse and wrote a message for Jay.
I came looking for Abby. I’ve left messages for her and for you. I’m very upset and worried. Please call me ASAP. Kate Cummings.
Kate added her cell phone number, then folded the note and pushed it under the door. What more could she do?
She started to leave and noticed someone in the apartment across the hall, looking through a crack in the door.
“Excuse me,” Kate said. “Do you happen to know where Jay is? I believe he’s with my daughter, and I’m trying to find her.”
The door opened wider, revealing an elderly woman wearing a floral house dress. “He goes to work at four. Some barbecue place.”
“Have you seen my daughter?” Kate held up a phone picture of Abby.
The woman smiled. “She’s pretty, that one. I haven’t seen her since Sue Ann and her beau went off to Vegas to get married. They’re fixin’ to be back on Monday.”
“You don’t have any idea where Jay might’ve gone—other than to work?”
The woman shrugged. “Had on hiking boots. Doesn’t usually wear those to work. Come to think of it, he left about an hour earlier than usual.”
“Have you ever heard him mention the slope?” Kate said.
“Can’t say as I have. We don’t talk much.”
“Well, if you happen to see him, would you tell him to call Kate Cummings right away? Here’s my number.” Kate tore off a sheet from the notepad and jotted down her name and number and handed it to the woman.
“My name’s Clara Bresden. If I see Jay, I’ll tell him to call. I might even knock on his door later and check on him. He’s usually home by ten thirty.”
“Thanks.” Kate shook