Otis is so distressed, he can’t reply. Instead, he turns the phone to me. Sure enough, there’s a transaction logged at Variety Food Store two hours ago.
‘How did we miss her, Janine?’ he croaks. ‘How?’
‘I don’t know.’ I reach for the phone so I can check the transaction, mistrusting of its validity even though it’s written in black and white. ‘I don’t think we did. We couldn’t have.’
‘But there’s a transaction here, on her card.’
‘I know, but maybe…’ My voice wobbles, wishing I didn’t have to be the person seeing the situation as it is, not as they wish it would be. ‘Otis, have you stopped to think that maybe Alexa isn’t the person using her card?’
Otis’s head jerks back as if he’s been slapped. ‘Who else would be using it?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe it was stolen. Maybe someone Alexa is with is using it on her behalf. Either way, Alexa hasn’t used her card today, no matter what her account says. Maybe she never has.’
As those chilling words hang in the air, Otis pulls back.
‘That’s bullshit,’ he says, taking the phone from me. ‘Lex has to be using her card.’
‘Otis, we’ve sat here for hours. We haven’t seen Alexa.’
But no matter how calmly I speak, my words inspire a fear in Otis that he can only handle by being defensive.
‘Fine, maybe someone is buying food for her,’ he snaps. ‘Maybe she’s given her card to a friend, I don’t know. But something weird is happening here, and I’m going to prove it.’
With that, Otis sets off towards the store.
‘Wait! Where are you going?’ I shout, chasing after him, but he’s too enraged to answer.
An electronic chime rings out to announce our entry to Variety Food Store. I’m unsurprised to find the shop is as small and worn as its exterior suggests. Confectionery and carb-based snacks fill the head-height shelves, and a stand of gossip magazines lines the back wall. In the corner, a dated drinks fridge emits a low humming noise.
Otis doesn’t stop to take any of this in. Instead, he walks to the teenager texting behind the counter, clearing his throat to command his attention.
‘Have you seen this woman?’ Otis asks, holding up his phone to show a photo of Alexa.
The teenager shrugs, barely looking up from the message he’s typing. His rudeness provokes Otis enough to slam his hand on the counter.
‘I said, have you seen this woman?’ he barks at the now wide-eyed teenager.
‘Hey, let’s take this down a notch,’ I say, pulling the phone from Otis’s hand. ‘I’m sorry about my friend. His wife hasn’t been home in a few days. I’m sure you can understand why he’s upset. That’s why we need to know if you’ve seen this woman in here recently?’
This time when he’s shown Alexa’s photograph, the teenager studies the image. His eyes narrow, but then he shakes his head. ‘Sorry, never seen her before.’
‘Please, think carefully,’ I urge. ‘She might look different than she does in this picture. Maybe she’s cut her hair, maybe she’s not wearing make-up, maybe—’
The teenager shakes his head to cut me off. ‘I told you, I’ve not seen her.’
‘That’s impossible,’ Otis says, taking the phone back and holding it closer to the cashier. ‘Look again. Look at Lex’s face.’
‘I’ve seen it, but I’ve still no idea who she is.’
‘You’re lying!’ Otis cries. ‘My wife’s bank statement says she’s been coming here every day at one o’clock. It says she was here today, so you must have seen her.’
‘Mate, I’m telling you, I’ve never seen that woman before.’
Stumbling backwards, Otis’s jaw slackens. ‘You must have,’ he whispers. ‘Otherwise, what the hell have I been doing for the last few days?’
As Otis’s upset takes over, I make the mistake of reaching for him. ‘Otis,’ I begin, but the sound of my voice wakes his self-consciousness.
‘Forget it. He doesn’t know anything,’ he sniffs before fleeing the store.