Frank unlocked the door and led the way into the room. Just as Joe was closing the door, the phone rang.

Frank grabbed the phone first. He said. “Hello?”

“Frank, it’s Ned.”

Frank immediately picked up the note of concern in Ned’s voice. He asked, “What’s up?”

“Have you heard from Nancy?”

“No,” Frank answered leaning against the dresser. “What’s going on?”

“Nancy was supposed to meet me for dinner. She never showed. I tried her cell phone, but I didn’t get an answer. Frank, I’m worried, because this isn’t like her.”

“You know, Nancy may have her phone off.”

“I didn’t get that message.”

“She might have had car trouble,” Frank suggested.

“She would have called if that was the case,” Ned said, exasperated. “Would you guys come along and help me look for her? I know the way she went. I can’t sit still. Something’s wrong. I have to do something.”

“Hang on,” Frank said. He put his hand on the receiver and looked at Joe. He quickly told Joe what was going on.

When Frank finished, Joe said, “We need to help.”

Frank nodded as he put the phone back to his ear. “We’ll be waiting for you by the lobby doors.”

“Got it.”

* * * * *

Half an hour later, Ned was driving along the road by the river. They were searching for Nancy’s car. Frank was sitting in the passenger seat. Joe was in back.

As they rode along in the dark, Frank asked, “Have you called Mr. Drew?”

“Not yet,” Ned said looking out the windshield. “This may be nothing. I don’t want to worry him for nothing.”

They rode in silence for another 10 minutes. Joe broke the silence. “There’s flashing lights ahead.”

“I see them,” Ned said.

Frank had an uneasy feeling as they approached the flashing lights. The feeling grew worse as Ned slowed his car down. Ned stopped right beside a police cruiser. The police officer stepped over to the car once Ned stopped.

“Can I help you?” the officer asked.

Ned leaned out the window. “We’re looking for my fiance’. She was driving a blue convertible with a black top. Have you seen it?”

Frank noticed a look of alarm cross the officer’s face. The officer said, “Pull your car onto the shoulder. Make sure it’s off the road.”

Ned looked at Frank with a creased forehead, but did as the officer said. They climbed out of the car. The three of them made their way back to the officer.

When they reached the officer, he asked, “Why are you searching for this car?”

“As I said before,” Ned began, “the car belongs to my fiance’. She was long overdue to meet me for dinner. She never showed.”

Frank looked further down the road. He saw a tow truck; it’s lights flashing. He realized the town truck had just pulled a car out. He couldn’t tell what color the car was, but it looked similar to Nancy’s car.

Frank looked back at the officer. He pointed toward the tow truck as he asked, “What happened here?”

“We’re not really sure,” the officer said. “A call came in that a car went into the river. That’s what we found.”

“Where’s the driver?” Ned asked.

Frank Ned staring at the car. The officer answered, “There was no one found in the car.”

Frank watched Ned push past the officer and take off running toward the car. He hurried after Ned. When they reached the car, they saw water dripping from the front end. The entire front end was smashed. The hood was bent in half. The windshield looked like a spider web.

The two of them moved to the driver’s side of the car. They could barely make out the inside. They were able to realize the officer was right. No one was in the car.

Frank turned as Joe and the officer came over to them. The officer said, “We searched the immediate area, but we haven’t found the driver.” The officer looked at Ned. “Could this be your fiancée's car?”