ON THE LINE
Ian's POV
I'd been working for Mr Hills' for almost a year when he brought up the subject of Miss Angel’s new, different home.
I’d been seeing her from afar, a really beautiful woman that didn't have her memories. I pitied her a little bit, and not a lot more because even though she had suffered a great tragedy, it didn't continue; Mr Hills was taking care of her.
I knew just the place. It has all the features he wanted it to. I'd been saving for it since I started working, and maybe if I was more frugal I'd have moved in already but for the first time in my twenty six years I was earning some good money and I indulged, once or twice. Maybe more.
So I told Mr Hills about it and he briefly stopped by to check the place out. He liked it. Immediately he paid the rent, cleaned out the one apartment that was supposed to be for Miss Angel and told me I was going to meet three more people soon.
Mr Kiernan briefed us all on what to expect and we spent all the time we could to familiarize ourselves with each other. We were supposed to be best friends after, especially snazzy Felix and I.
Sadie made me wonder. There was something there, something I'm sure gave her nightmares for a while, if they don't already.
Jay is a nice, very straight-laced, quiet woman, on whom I’d bet my hair that she was in the police or the army or something like that before taking this job. I think she's older than us all as well.
They're good people, nonetheless. Competent too.
The jump from my old salary to my new one jarrs me every time I remembered it. I'm the man in charge of this operation, so I think I'm paid accordingly. I tied a tie around my neck, ready to go pick up Miss Angel.
She's nice enough, very reserved though.
Unlike Sadie. When she's just with us, she talks a normal amount. But with Angel, she's very animated and loud, and it works; Angel is warming up to her.
Jay likes her, looks at her like a duckling to be protected and I think Felix likes her too, just a little too much. I don't know but I get the feeling Mr Hills won't appreciate her security detail trying to get under Miss Angel's pretty dresses.
The job is simple, mostly. We sit inside the house, monitoring her with the tiny cameras we have mounted on her opposite neighbors door, and we get notified if it opens.
So far, she's had two food deliveries, Andrew's elderly help that I think has something going on with the nice old guy manning the gates, and a fridge.
Until a few minutes ago when she walked out of the apartment.
I notify the team downstairs, the ones that can actually follow her around because she doesn't recognize them. Then I notify the girls, to see if they can get her to allow none or both of them tag along, or at least get where she's going.
Sadie and Jay come up and report what they found out; that she may be going off to see a male friend but they're not completely sure, and the team below tells me she's back in the building, then update that she's getting picked up by a car.
They follow and fill me in as she stops in a hair shop, maybe to get dolled up for this man.
I relax, finally. She's safe, just doing some shopping.
My phone rings and I pick it up, it's Larry, head of the security detail following Miss Angel. Is she ready to come back home?
But we've been texting ever since why is he calling me?
“Hey, Larry. What's up?”
“We have a problem boss.”
I sit up, dreams of retiring at thirty flashing before my eyes being replaced by jail. If something were to happen to that soft butterfly Angel we're going away for a year, at least, as per the contract we signed.
This is bad.
Not to mention somehow bad could be happening to the soft butterfly Angel. I don't even want to think about it.
“Please tell me her heels broke or something.”
“No sir, he hesitates as he continues, “we can't find her.”
Immediately, a headache pulses in the middle of my skull. It's Day two! Day two and I've lost my fucking mark?
“How? How they fuck did that happen?”
“She went into this old beat-up shop and when she hadn't come out in twenty minutes, Jamie went in. Didn't see her, said he even convinced the owner to show him the back. Nothing.”
“So you're telling me she vanished? That's it? The Miss walked in there and teleported out. Mind you, and without a trace either?”
Larry is silent on the line. What the fuck do I do? How on earth am I even going to present this to Mr Hills?
“I've gone in myself too sir,” Larry murmurs, “she's not there and I don't know what to do.
Oh Angel, where are you? Please!
I sigh. “Keep looking. Check around the shop, go inside again but try not to tip off the store owner. I want him there by the time I get there.”
And more importantly I want him to be here by the time Mr Hills gets there.
“Got it. Although there's one more thing.”
Sweet merciful potatoes, what is it now?
“Her friend disappeared too, I didn't mention him because we're not guarding him but it is strange.”
“Friend?” Maybe it's the man Mr Hills gave me a file on, the doctor. He's missing too?
“Yeah. Lanky guy, blonde hair— “
“Wait, blonde hair?”
I root around for the file of one Doctor Hank Green, popping it open to the first pages. I'm right, his hair is brown. “That not him.”
“We took a picture of him for the report.”
“Send it to me.”
I don't have to wait long. I immediately load up the picture. I have the list of people Miss Angel knows here and he isn't one of them. I'd never seen this man before and neither has she?
“And you didn't think you mentioned him until now?”
“I. . . didn't think it was necessary. Sorry boss.”
I nod, even though he can't see me. That's not the matter at hand right now.
“Keep looking and keep me posted.I have a phone call to make.”
“Yes sir.”
I’d like to keep this to myself for a few minutes, see if they can find her and basically make it that nothing really happened. But it's not fair risking her safely on the off chance that I can save my job.
With a deep sight, I find and call t
he number. It doesn't ring for long before the line connects with a decisive click.
“Good afternoon, Mr Hills.”