Chapter 68

sixty-eight

PAUL

The doorbell rang a few minutes after I arrived home. I rushed into the entryway and threw open the door. My heart sank when I saw Jonathon.

"I'm sorry if you thought I was Amy. Do you need some company?"

All I could do was nod.

Jonathon wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "Everyone's doing what they can to find her."

"What if it's too late?"

"It's never too late. Come into the kitchen and I'll make you a drink. You're as cold as a block of ice." Jonathon held onto my arm as we walked through the house. "I thought one of your neighbors was staying with you?"

"I told Judy to go home. She has two children of her own to look after."

Jonathon pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. "Sit here. Would you like coffee or hot chocolate?"

I dropped my head into my hands and started to cry.

"It's okay." Jonathon sat beside me and gave me another hug. "Have you eaten anything since breakfast? "

I blew my nose. "I'm not hungry."

"It doesn't matter. You need to keep up your energy. I'll make you a hot chocolate and find something for you to eat."

Watching Jonathon move around the kitchen was like being in a parallel universe. Everything was slightly fuzzy around the edges and didn't make sense. All I could think about was Amy and how cold it was outside.

When Jonathon placed a drink and a plate of cookies in front of me, I stared at them. Piece by piece my heart was breaking and there was nothing I could do about it.

Jonathon squeezed my hands before wrapping them around the mug. "Drink this. It'll make you feel better."

Like a robot, I lifted the mug to my mouth and slowly sipped the sweet liquid.

"That's it. Did you manage to speak to Liam?"

"He's on his way here. The police are checking the two places he suggested."

"That's good."

My cell phone rang. Hot chocolate sloshed everywhere as I dropped my mug to the table.

With a hand that was far from steady, I answered the call.

"Hi, Paul. It's Detective O'Halloran. We've found Amy."

My heart slammed against my chest. "Is she all right?"

"She's alive but has hypothermia. Can you meet me at the Sunrise Bay Medical Clinic?"

"I'll be there as fast as I can." I ended the call and ran toward the mudroom. "The police have found Amy. I need to go to the medical clinic."

Jonathon stood beside the kitchen door. "I'll drive you there."

Quickly, I pulled on my jacket. "Thanks for the offer, but it's better if I take my own truck. We might need to go to the hospital in Boulder."

Jonathon nodded. "Good idea. I'll follow you."

On my way out of the house, I slid my cell phone into my pocket. Amy was alive and that was all that mattered.