Chapter 32

"Okay, obviously we've received some sketchy details on Annie's whereabouts. But what about this Jacob guy?" Frank's voice trailed off, at a loss. He gave Myles a questioning look. "Do you know his last name?"

"I think he lives on the second floor." Myles shook his head, unable to think straight. He couldn't wrap his brain around the scene unfolding. "He just came back from Michigan, but that's all I know. He was there visiting for the past few weeks."

"Jacob Nabrowski!" Ms. Pelton said suddenly. She elbowed the manager in the side. "That handsome fella who works at the bank. You know the one I'm talking about." She looked back at Frank. "He went to stay with his mom after she had surgery on her knee. I remember him saying that because I have to have knee surgery myself." She sighed and shook her head. "Don't know what I'm gonna do about all those stairs. I'm going to need lots and lots of help." She fixed the manager with a pointed stare.

"Have you seen him since he returned?" Frank asked.

Ms. Pelton's eyes shot open wide. "Oh yeah, a few times. He came back last weekend."

"Can you take us to him?" Myles asked. "It's important that we speak with him right away."

Ms. Pelton and the manager exchanged another look.

The skinny man finally nodded. "Will you take them to his apartment?" he asked, turning to his tenant. "I was in the middle of something before you pulled me away."

The woman beamed, all too happy to help. "Sure! Absolutely. I know exactly where he lives. Just follow me."

The group left the empty apartment while the manager shut and locked the door behind them. The sick feeling that had settled inside of Myles felt heavier and more insistent than before. His stomach heaved as his brain worked to untangle the mess of confusion and dead ends. Where the hell was Annie? How could she just disappear into thin air? He and Frank had seen her return from work late one night a couple of weeks ago. They'd watched her walk down the street and into the building, finally turning on a light in Hudson's apartment. Had he misunderstood where she lived? But if so, why didn't the manager recognize her name? Or for that matter, why didn't the nosy neighbor, who seemed to know everyone and everything?

Frank and Myles followed Jenni Pelton down two flights of stairs and into a hallway identical to the one before. "Jacob lives in apartment 223," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "When you live here as long as I have, you learn everyone's number."

His partner tossed him a look of amusement, but the last thing Myles felt was entertained. All he wanted was answers. Why the hell was it taking so damn long to get them? They should have been in and out of there already, not chasing circles around Hudson's so-called friends. He needed to get back to the hospital to check in on her. He hoped to be there when she woke up.

Up ahead of them a door open, and a man dressed in a suit and tie rushed into the hallway. He turned and locked the door before heading in their direction.

The woman pointed her finger. "There he is! That's Jacob!"

The young man paused in front of them, his eyes narrowing in obvious confusion. "Excuse me?" he asked, more than a little frustrated.

"Officers," Ms. Pelton announced grandly. She turned toward them with a wide smile. "This is Jacob Nabrowski, the man you're looking for."

Jacob's eyes left theirs just long enough to glance at the cell phone in his hand. "I'm sorry," he said, "What's this all about? I'm running late for work."

"We'll only take a moment of your time," Frank began before Myles could get a word in first. "I'm Officer Williams and this is my partner, Officer Young." He flashed Myles a silent look that said stay quiet. "We just need to ask you a few questions."

The man shifted impatiently. "Of course. What can I help you with?"

Frank cleared his throat. "We're looking into an incident that happened earlier this morning." He paused. "A young woman was attacked in an alley not too far from here. She was beaten unconscious."

Jacob opened his mouth and then closed it again. "I'm sorry," he said finally. "But what does this have to do with me?"

Now it was Myles' turn to shift, the abundance of nervous energy not allowing him to keep still. If his partner didn't get to the point quick, he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to remain silent.

"Well, we think she may be one of your friends."

Jacob's expression contorted into several different emotions before finally settling on horror and disbelief. "No, not Julia," he said, a deep worry seeping into his tone. "Please tell me it's not her."

Frank threw Myles a look, then stood taller and pulled back his shoulders. "No, it's not Julia. It's Hudson Caldwell."

"Oh, thank God." Jacob closed his eyes briefly and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound rude. I'm just relieved." He swiped a hand over his mouth, obviously shaken. "Who is Hudson Caldwell?"

Finally, Myles had had enough. "What do you mean, who is Hudson Caldwell?" he demanded, enraged. His fists clenched tight at his sides. "Hudson Caldwell. Your friend."

Jacob opened his mouth but no words came out. He shook his head, his eyes darting back and forth between them.

"The girl who lives in apartment 314," Ms. Pelton reminded him quietly.

A flicker of recognition swept across the man's face. "Oh, that's her name? Sorry," he said. "I don't know her very well."

"What did you just say?" Tiny hairs stood up on the back of Myles' neck. "You don't know her?"

Jacob visibly swallowed. "Not really. I mean, we run into each other from time to time. Normally at the mailbox. But we're not friends. I wasn't even sure of her name until just now." His gaze dropped to the pointy tips of his designer shoes, then he looked back up. "She's quiet, and kind of—" He shrugged uncomfortably. "Different, I guess. I saw her right before I left town. That was a few weeks ago. She seemed sort of lonely so I talked to her for a few minutes. Told her I was going to see my mom back in Michigan. Then I said she looked pretty in her dress and asked if she had a hot date. She made a joke of it ... something about her being twenty-three going on eighty-three, and we laughed. I told her to have a nice day, but that's as far as it went. I haven't seen her since I've been back."

"What about Annie Ross?" Frank questioned in a rush, his words nearly tripping over each other. "Do you know her?"

Jacob's eyes drifted to the side. "Annie Ross," he repeated slowly. "No, the name's not familiar." He pushed a hand through carefully coiffed brown hair. "I'm sorry. I don't understand what this has to do with me."

A long, uncomfortable silence stretched between them until Frank emitted a deep, audible breath. "I guess it doesn't. We appreciate you speaking with us. If we need you again, we know where to find you. Thanks again for your time."

"That's it?" Jacob asked anxiously. "I can go now?"

Frank nodded. "You can go. Hope we haven't made you too late for work."

"No worries. Good luck with your case. I hope Helen's all right," Jacob said before rushing off.

"It's Hudson," Myles called after him, annoyed. They watched in silence as he hurried down the hall.

"I saw footage from that attack on the news this morning." Jenni Pelton fluffed sausage-like fingers through her frizzy hair. "But they didn't disclose the girl's name. I had no idea she was my very own neighbor. Will she be all right?"

"Damn media," Frank grumbled, ignoring her question. "Quick to intervene at the expense of someone else. Thank you, Ms. Pelton for your help. You've made an outstanding honorary officer today. The city of Chicago is lucky to have you on their side."

The woman beamed. "Just trying to be a dutiful citizen," she said, hiking up her pants. "Do you think I could come down to the station some time for a tour? Or maybe even a ride along? I've always wanted to do that. I've seen it happen before on cop shows."

Frank sucked in a breath. "Why don't you call the station next week. Maybe they can work something out with you."

The woman's eyes shot open wide. "Hot damn!" she exclaimed. "I'll certainly do that. Is there anything else I can do for you before I head off? I was in the middle of NCIS, season 12."

His partner shook his head. "No, you've done enough for one day. You deserve a break."

"Well all-righty then. I'll see you two later!" Ms. Pelton turned and raced down the hall, waving one last time before ascending the stairs.

"Now I know how this looks," Frank said when she was out of ear-shot. "But for every dead end there's always a lead. Somewhere. We just need to find it."

Myles nodded but said nothing.

His partner eyed him warily, his forehead creasing with concern. "We're going to get this figured out, rookie. Don't you worry. There has to be some sort of explanation as to why—" His cell buzzed from the top pocket of his uniform. Frank gave him an apologetic frown before answering the call.

Myles watched his friend's expression and one-sided conversation, the questionable grunts and quiet nods nearly driving him insane. An intense feeling of dread continued to collect in his chest. His lips pressed into a thin line and he covered his mouth with his hand, praying he could hold it together. Nothing made any sense. Not one damn thing. And the more they searched for answers, the more questions they ended up with. After an excruciating few minutes, Frank ended the call.

"Well?" Myles asked impatiently, the not-knowing finally getting the best of him.

"Son of a bitch," his partner muttered under his breath. "They found him. Nick Lockhart's at the station and they've swabbed him for DNA. He says he did have sex within the past twenty-four hours but denies raping anyone. In fact—he's told quite a story." Frank shook his head and let out a sharp breath. "Shit's getting stranger and stranger around here. That's all I have to say."