and then Matthew frowned at him. That was his cue to calm down but it wasn’t working.
The older of the private investigators cleared his throat nervously. “Mr. Sorensen there is something. On the morning you left New York, your wife didn’t. She went into a bank and withdrew five thousand dollars from her personal account. She has been paying for everything with cash. There’s no record of her using credit cards. If she had, it would definitely have left a trail. The problem is cash doesn’t…ah, in most cases, that is.”
Blasted out of his usual cool by that less than helpful statement, he said, “Is that all?” His voice filled with anger. “If it is, then you haven’t given me a damn thing. You’re supposed to be the best. At the moment, I don’t see any evidence of it.”
On the receiving end of his icy tone, a red tinge skimmed the investigator’s faces. The one that had been speaking cleared his throat again and peered at his silent partner seated beside him.
“Huh…there was a spotting of her in Vermont a week after you left New York, but it couldn’t be verified.”
“That was two months ago. What else do you have?” Jake asked.
The man glanced at his notes in his lap and paused before looking at Jake. “She was also seen in Miami. A woman renting a small cottage on Star Island matched her description. I have dispensed my men to Florida to investigate.”
“How long ago was this?” Jake asked.
“Ah…three days ago.”
Jake walked to the front door of his home and opened it. “Find her,” he said in a soft, lethal voice that had the men hurrying to the door. “Hire more men. I want every state in the union searched. I want people at airports, trains and bus stations. None of your men rest until her whereabouts are discovered. I want a report within twenty-four hours.”
The men scurried out and he slammed the door behind them.
“Imbeciles,” he murmured and started to pace, knowing that his anxiety levels were high due to the fact that, as each day passed, the chance of finding her was getting slimmer.
He picked up the phone and dialed his pilot. “File a flight plan for Miami. I want to leave within the hour.”
“Jake—”
“I know, Matt.” He rubbed his eyes and started to pace. Sleep wasn’t something he was getting enough of lately. He was lucky to get a couple of hours a night. His work was suffering. He looked like hell but he didn’t care. Finding Melissa was top priority. “I really fucked up.” He stopped pacing, looked through the large bay window and then turned to his friend. “I’m paying for it. I’m her husband, damnit. She’s hiding from me.”
“I know,” Matthew said. “But you can’t keep flying off the handle at every disappointment. Going to Miami won’t help the situation. You hired the investigators, let them do their job.”
Emotions unknown gripped him. Never in his life did he feel the need to explain his actions to anyone and yet suddenly he was filled with a burning need to locate his wife and explain every tiny detail of his missteps.
He had hurt her and in the process hurt himself. Frustration and concern mingled when a severe attack of conscience hit him.
“For two months, I’ve sat back and let them do just that. Today’s information was like real time. Three days ago in Miami…I’ve been given a lifeline. I have friends who live on Star Island. I may be able to get some information about her.”
Surprise showed on Matthew’s face. “You’re going to expose the fact your wife left you? What happened to the ultra-private Jake Sorensen I know? Damn. You wouldn’t even give an interview to Forbes Magazine.”
Jake frowned. “I don’t give a fuck what I expose. If there is a chance in hell I can get her back, I’m taking it.”
Jake reached for the divorce papers lying on the table and tore them into pieces. “I’m not giving her a divorce. Somewhere in the last two months, she
The older of the private investigators cleared his throat nervously. “Mr. Sorensen there is something. On the morning you left New York, your wife didn’t. She went into a bank and withdrew five thousand dollars from her personal account. She has been paying for everything with cash. There’s no record of her using credit cards. If she had, it would definitely have left a trail. The problem is cash doesn’t…ah, in most cases, that is.”
Blasted out of his usual cool by that less than helpful statement, he said, “Is that all?” His voice filled with anger. “If it is, then you haven’t given me a damn thing. You’re supposed to be the best. At the moment, I don’t see any evidence of it.”
On the receiving end of his icy tone, a red tinge skimmed the investigator’s faces. The one that had been speaking cleared his throat again and peered at his silent partner seated beside him.
“Huh…there was a spotting of her in Vermont a week after you left New York, but it couldn’t be verified.”
“That was two months ago. What else do you have?” Jake asked.
The man glanced at his notes in his lap and paused before looking at Jake. “She was also seen in Miami. A woman renting a small cottage on Star Island matched her description. I have dispensed my men to Florida to investigate.”
“How long ago was this?” Jake asked.
“Ah…three days ago.”
Jake walked to the front door of his home and opened it. “Find her,” he said in a soft, lethal voice that had the men hurrying to the door. “Hire more men. I want every state in the union searched. I want people at airports, trains and bus stations. None of your men rest until her whereabouts are discovered. I want a report within twenty-four hours.”
The men scurried out and he slammed the door behind them.
“Imbeciles,” he murmured and started to pace, knowing that his anxiety levels were high due to the fact that, as each day passed, the chance of finding her was getting slimmer.
He picked up the phone and dialed his pilot. “File a flight plan for Miami. I want to leave within the hour.”
“Jake—”
“I know, Matt.” He rubbed his eyes and started to pace. Sleep wasn’t something he was getting enough of lately. He was lucky to get a couple of hours a night. His work was suffering. He looked like hell but he didn’t care. Finding Melissa was top priority. “I really fucked up.” He stopped pacing, looked through the large bay window and then turned to his friend. “I’m paying for it. I’m her husband, damnit. She’s hiding from me.”
“I know,” Matthew said. “But you can’t keep flying off the handle at every disappointment. Going to Miami won’t help the situation. You hired the investigators, let them do their job.”
Emotions unknown gripped him. Never in his life did he feel the need to explain his actions to anyone and yet suddenly he was filled with a burning need to locate his wife and explain every tiny detail of his missteps.
He had hurt her and in the process hurt himself. Frustration and concern mingled when a severe attack of conscience hit him.
“For two months, I’ve sat back and let them do just that. Today’s information was like real time. Three days ago in Miami…I’ve been given a lifeline. I have friends who live on Star Island. I may be able to get some information about her.”
Surprise showed on Matthew’s face. “You’re going to expose the fact your wife left you? What happened to the ultra-private Jake Sorensen I know? Damn. You wouldn’t even give an interview to Forbes Magazine.”
Jake frowned. “I don’t give a fuck what I expose. If there is a chance in hell I can get her back, I’m taking it.”
Jake reached for the divorce papers lying on the table and tore them into pieces. “I’m not giving her a divorce. Somewhere in the last two months, she
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