Shock Wave. Dana Mentink

wasn’t sure how to answer. “No,” she said. “Why?”

      “I need to make sure she’s okay, and we have some business. If you see her, can you have her phone me?” He cleared his throat. “It’s rather urgent. I’ve tried calling her cell, but no answer.”

      “Of course.”

      “I am on my way down to the theater to make sure everything is locked up properly.”

      Her stomach tightened, but she forced a light tone. “I thought you had a caretaker for that.”

      “I do, but Rosalind thinks more highly of him than I do. Abandoned buildings are a beacon for the homeless or kids up to no good.” He chuckled. “I told Barbara the Imperial was an enormous black hole, sucking up money and attracting trouble like nobody’s business. She never did see things my way.”

      Something about the statement chilled Sage.

      “She loves the Imperial.”

      “Yes, she does.”

      “Promise me you won’t go back inside.”

      She tried for a light tone. “I never make promises anymore.”

      He hesitated. “Well, at least I can be sure you don’t go in there alone. I’ll be along shortly. Goodbye, Sage.”

      Sage clicked off the phone. She hadn’t realized she’d stopped moving until Trey joined her on the wide step. So Derick needed to see Antonia urgently. Not until Sage got to her first.

      “Trouble?” he asked.

      She nodded. “My cousin Barbara is missing.”

      He frowned. “How do you know that?”

      “Because her husband told me she left a message directing me to photograph the front lobby only.”

      Trey frowned. “And?”

      Sage locked eyes with Trey. “I spoke to her ten days ago. She wanted me to shoot every corner of the Imperial to document the remodeling project from the basement to the rafters. My cousin never does things halfway.”

      “So if the email is made up, sounds like he doesn’t want you wandering around in this opera house.” The concern on Trey’s face deepened. “Been to the police?”

      She shook her head. “I have an appointment this afternoon, but first I was going to...um, check on something.”

      “Sage,” he started.

      “Okay, okay. I just need to talk to Antonia Verde. She’s the painter Derick hired. I saw her at the house and she was having a heated discussion with Derick. Very heated. They both clammed up when they saw me, but Antonia knows something. Several times I got the sense she wanted to talk to me, but she didn’t want him to overhear. So we made an arrangement to meet at the theater tonight, but she got here before me. She’s not answering her cell, so I figured I’d snoop around until I found her.” Her cheeks warmed.

      He raised an eyebrow. “Going into the detecting business? You don’t seem cut out for that.”

      I’m not cut out for anything anymore. Sleepless nights. Panic attacks. Flashbacks and worst of all, the sense that she was dead inside. She forced her chin up. “I’m just here to talk to Antonia.”

      “This place...”

      “I know, I know. It’s not safe to stay here. I should wait outside while you go commando and find Antonia yourself, but the fact of the matter is, I’m not going to obey orders.”

      “Imagine my shock and disbelief.” He sighed, the sound bouncing along the darkened stairwell as he picked up a pack she hadn’t noticed before and handed her his flashlight.

      Surprised, she took it from his calloused fingers. “You gave up easily.”

      “No, ma’am. I’m army and we don’t give up. We just get the job done.” His tone was bitter.

      Sage huffed. “So you’re going to shadow my every move until I leave this place?”

      “That’s an affirmative.”

      “You aren’t a soldier anymore.”

      Her attempt to rile him didn’t work. He shot her a lazy smile. “Consider me your friendly neighborhood carpenter. You never know when you might need a guy with a bag of tools.”

      Biting back a remark, Sage led the way down the stairwell toward the orchestra seating where the nearest exit would be. Maybe Antonia had gone right for it after the last quake, and if they didn’t hurry, she’d make it outside before they caught up.

      Wally pranced ahead of them and disappeared.

      Suddenly she heard a shrill bark.

      A figure loomed out of the darkness, and Sage screamed.

      In a moment Trey was in front of her.

      Heart pounding, she couldn’t see around Trey’s blocky shoulders until he stepped to the side to reveal an old man, bald head shining in the lantern light. Wally stood next to him, tail wagging vigorously. Even the gloom could not hide the look of irritation on the man’s face.

      “Whaddya doing here?” he demanded of Sage, thrusting his lantern in her direction.

      Trey held up a calming hand. “Hey, Fred. Sage, this is Fred Tipley, the caretaker. Wally is his dog. I thought you were going to pack up your apartment today, Fred. Isn’t that why you asked me to check in on Wally?”

      “Forgot something,” Fred grumbled, eyeing the dog. “I was just on my way back to my truck. Seems Wally busted out of the utility room again.” The look he gave the dog pawing at his pant leg softened the edges of his face. “You’re a troublemaker, Wally, sure enough,” he said, giving the dog a pat. His eyes narrowed as he straightened. “Where’d you find him? Not safe to go poking around this place.”

      “He found me,” Trey said. “No poking involved.”

      He pointed a gnarled finger at Sage. “What about her?”

      Sage gave him a smile. “I’m working for Barbara Long. I’m her cousin, actually. She asked me to take some pictures.”

      “Not now, she didn’t. Miss Rosalind would have called me. She manages things here, not Barbara.”

      Sage eyed him closely. “Barbara and her husband own this theater and I’ve got permission to be here.”

      He grumbled some more. “Dumb idea to come here in the dark. Wood’s rotted. Plenty of places to hurt yourself. Didn’tcha feel that earthquake? Been happening on and off all day. Ain’t you got no sense?”

      Trey raised his voice a notch. “Fred, we’re just finishing up here and then we’re leaving for the day. I can keep Wally with me so you can go pack and I’ll make sure the doors are locked when I leave, okay? Call me when you get settled into your new place and I’ll bring Wally.”

      “Nah, never mind about that. My plans have changed. I’m here now so it’s you two that need to go.”

      Sage bent to pet the dog that was sniffing at her shoes. “When was the last time you saw Barbara, Fred?”

      He answered with a shrug. “Can’t remember. While ago. Heard she was in New Mexico or something.”

      Right. A very pregnant woman travels to Santa Fe at a moment’s notice.

      “Did you ever talk to her?”

      “Maybe once or twice.”

      “Did she hire you to work at the Imperial?”

      He folded his wiry arms across his chest. “Why the third degree? I just make sure the doors stay locked and keep trespassers out.”

      Had he been the one who left her trapped? Sage saw from the tight set to his lips that