women found Reno setting the table. “About time. I was having trouble keeping my masterpieces at their peak of perfection.” He went to the oven and brought out a big tray of pancakes. “Hope you’re hungry.”
“Oh, I am. Definitely.” Lou sat down with a look of anticipation on her face.
“How about you, beautiful?” He pulled out Journey’s chair for her.
“I am. A bit.” She allowed him to fork a few pancakes to put on her plate. “Thank you.”
He bent to whisper in her ear. “Last night with you was the best sleep I’ve had in ages.”
Journey blushed and glanced at Lou, but her friend was too busy slathering her pancakes with butter to notice their whispered conversation. She turned her attention back to Reno. “Me too,” she said with a smile. Yes, they’d only slept, but the cuddling had been fantastic. “At first, I thought I might’ve dreamed it.”
“If you did, I had the same dream.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Lou asked around a mouthful of pancake.
“Nothing.” Journey winked at Reno. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, girl.”
After breakfast, while Lou and Reno cleaned up the kitchen, Journey took care of her chores. She tended the dogs, watered Myra’s plants, and spent a few minutes at her workstation in the sunroom mixing up a recipe of oils for toenail fungus. Just the thought of the malady made Journey shiver, but the icky condition was a problem for some – and she did have a solution. For every dropper bottle, she mixed in 15 drops each of clove, cinnamon, tea tree, and wild oregano essential oils, then finished filling the bottle to the top with a carrier oil. This time she used grapeseed. After tightening the lids, she decided to write out the labels later. She didn’t want to keep Lou and Reno waiting any longer.
When she rejoined them, Journey found Lou at work on the computer and Reno standing at his normal post, looking out the window toward Enchanted Rock. “Sorry, it took so long.”
“You’re fine,” Reno muttered. “Gave me a few minutes to think.”
Journey started to ask him what he’d been thinking about, but Lou stood and stretched. “Well, let’s get this ball rolling.” She indicated opposite chairs at the dining table. “Join me, please.”
Reno helped Journey into her chair, then went around to find his own seat. “We’re ready.”
“Good.” She stood for a few more seconds, then sat down to thrum her fingertips on the table. “Don’t mind me. I’m not nervous, just anxious. Okay, like I said yesterday, I want to use the both of you as a sounding board to start off with. My brain works in a weird way, I have to look at things in an orderly fashion. Plus, hearing myself talk seems to help my problem-solving process. In addition, you two are closer to the situation and might see something I don’t.”
“I seriously doubt that, Lou. You know I didn’t even attend college and you’re a genius.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, love.”
This comment came from Reno and gave Journey the boost she needed. “All right, I’m ready to listen.”
“Okay.” Lou pressed her lips together into a thin line. “As I was telling Journey last night, Reno, the topic I have chosen to write my thesis on is the phenomenon of missing people and the effects this has on society. When I first began my research, I was shocked to learn how many people vanish each year. NamUS is the national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing persons. The organization is managed by the University of North Texas and funded by the National Institute of Justice. Their resources are provided at no charge to law enforcement, medical examiners, forensic professionals, and of course – family members of those who are missing.”
“Well, I’m not missing, Lou.” Reno couldn’t help but point out the obvious.
“Well, you are. Actually,” Lou pointed out with a smile. “Just not on this end. You’re very much missing to those who knew you in the past. They have no idea where you are. Am I right?”
Reno nodded, looking toward Journey for emotional support. “You’re right. I’m sure Cole and his lawyer are beginning to wonder why I haven’t shown up by now.”
Seeing Lou looked confused, Journey pointed out what they’d concluded. “We think time is running parallel. The date he went through in the past is the same day of the month that he came through in 2019.”
“Interesting.” Lou made a note. “I should’ve realized that.” Lou flipped the page over