“A man?”
“That’s correct.”
Adrian knew exactly where his former asset was headed. He also knew Jenna wasn’t going to like it.
“So?” Jenna’s eyes bounced between him and Ben. “What does that have to do with her disappearing?”
“The man she was seeing disappeared at the same time Stella did.” Ben sat back in his chair with a sigh. “Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens more than people realize. Especially in a town like this. Single woman with no ties meets a single man with no ties. They hit it off and decide to run away together. Start a new life somewhere else.”
“If that’s what happened, there should still be a trail,” Jenna pushed on. “Credit card transactions, a canceled rent agreement on Stella’s apartment. I mean, what about the guy? Where did he live?”
“He owns a house here in town. Neighbors haven’t seen or heard from him since he left. But again, that doesn’t equal foul play. They could be using cash to stay under the grid. Hell, for all we know, they’re both happy as clams and living it up on a beach somewhere.”
“Doesn’t sound to me like you know much of anything.”
“Jenna.” Adrian put a hand on her leg.
“No.” She shook her head. “This isn’t right, Adrian. Someone should be looking for her. And this guy…what if he’s the one who took her? He could be some sort of serial killer or something.”
“He was a tech at the hospital here in town,” Ben shared more. “Name’s Tim Watson, and trust me when I say, my detectives did a thorough background on the man.”
“How thorough are we talking?” Adrian asked.
Ben’s dark eyes slid to his. “The works. No criminal record, solid work history. Watson even paid his taxes early every year. Guy’s clean as a whistle.”
“So was Ted Bundy.” Jenna arched a single brow.
Adrian noticed the smile teasing the corners of Ben’s lips, but the man cleared his throat and got serious. “Look, Jenna. I appreciate your concern for Miss Gallagher’s safety, and I wish there was more I could do. But unless there’s actual evidence that a crime has taken place, our hands are tied.”
Jenna turned her head, her eyes lifting to his. Even though she hadn’t spoken, Adrian knew what she was asking.
She wanted him to say something that would contradict what Ben had just said. It broke his heart that he couldn’t.
“He’s right, baby.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “Without some sort of proof that foul play was involved…”
Her disheartened expression told him she understood.
Without a witness or evidence—signs of a struggle or blood,somethingto prove the Gallagher woman had been taken against her will—there was nothing more that could be done.
“What about the other nurse?” Jenna asked. “I was told there were two who went missing, but one was found.”
“Fortunately, yes. She was.” Ben nodded.
“What happened?” Adrian asked before Jenna could.
“Nothing too surprising, I’m afraid. She went out dancing with a group of friends. They met some guys, she had too much to drink and ended up leaving the bar without telling her friends. Woke up the next afternoon in some guy’s apartment.”
Jenna shook her head as if she wasn’t buying it. “The other nurses said she’d been missing several days.”
“Apparently, the young woman was embarrassed and ashamed about what had happened. So she went back to her hotel, packed her bags, and went to stay with her parents in Nebraska.”
“Let me guess.” Adrian put the pieces together quickly. “She didn’t tell anyone she was leaving.”
“Not a word,” Ben confirmed his theory. “Didn’t check out of her room or tell anyone what she was doing, so it took a few days to figure out what had happened. When we finally tracked her down, she told the detectives assigned to her case what happened.”
A soft exhale hit Adrian’s ears. He glanced over and found Jenna looking slightly less tense. “That’s good news, at least.”
“Very good news, indeed.” Ben smiled.