Blind Faith Read Free Page A

."
    Syd Webber was the owner of the Chenonceau Hotel and Casino in
Atlantic City
, where Jonathan was a vice president. A controversial man with a some what shady past, Syd had been the major reason
Victoria
's aunt had been so against her niece marrying Jonathan.

"You talked to Syd ?"
    "Yes. He's as puzzled as I am. He said that Jonathan called in sick this morning and he assumed he was home."
    Calling in sick didn't sound like Jonathan at all. He practically had to be at death's door before he missed a day's work. "How do you know he went to
Miami
?"
    "He called me from his cell phone this morning. At least I assumed it was his cell phone because it kept cutting out on him. He said that Syd was sending him to
Miami
on business and he'd be back that same afternoon."

"Did he say anything about missing Phoebe's dance recital?"
    "We were disconnected before we could even discuss it. I tried to call him back to remind him, but he must have been in a dead zone because I couldn't reach him."

"Did you keep trying?"
    "Every five minutes for the last two and a half hours."
    Victoria
's voice broke and she pressed her fists against her mouth as if to keep from crying. A superb businesswoman with a reputation for remaining cool under the heat of tough bidding,
Victoria
was worthless in a family crisis.
    "What airline does he normally use?" Kelly asked, reaching for her phone.
    "American and I've already called them. They confirmed that Jonathan boarded Flight 2399 to
Miami
at 9:02 this morning. He was scheduled to return on the 2:58 p.m. flight, but never showed up."

"Did you verify the ticket purchase through his credit card?"
    "He paid cash."
    Kelly was silent for a moment, trying to understand what she had just heard. No one paid cash for an airline ticket anymore--unless they had something to hide. But that wasn't the case with Jonathan, since he had told
Victoria
about the trip. "Does he know anyone in
Miami
?" She would have known if he did, but Kelly asked the question anyway.
    "Not a soul. We've only been to
Florida
once, when we took Phoebe to Walt Disney World and that was Orlando, not
Miami
."
    "Are you sure Jonathan doesn't have a relative there, a business acquaintance, an army buddy?"
    "No one that I know of. Jonathan's only family consists of an elderly uncle who lives in
San Diego
and some distant cousins we haven't heard from since our wedding." On her lap,
Victoria
's hands clasped even tighter. "I keep thinking of the crime wave in
Miami
in recent weeks and I imagine Jonathan lying in the street, the victim of a mugging or carjacking." She closed her eyes. "Or worse."
    Kelly shook her head. "Someone would have found him and reported the incident to the police. In fact ..." She flipped her cell phone open and pulled out the short antenna.
    "Who are you calling?"
Victoria
asked.
    "The
Miami
police. They're the only ones who can put your fears to rest." She dialed the longdistance operator, asked for the number of
Miami
police headquarters and wrote down the information on a pad she had taken from her bag. "What was Jonathan wearing?" she asked as she dialed again.
    Victoria
spoke without hesitation. "A navy pinstriped suit, a white shirt, a red and navy-blue tie in a geometric design and black wingtips."
    An officer named Barry Brown took Kelly's call. After identifying herself, she gave him what little information she had, along with a description of Jonathan. She also gave him her cell phone number.
    "All right, ma'am," the officer said. "I'll check and see what we come up with."
    "Now," Kelly said, turning to face
Victoria
. "Let's try to figure out what could have happened while we wait. Is everything all right between you and Jonathan? Did you have an argument?"
    "No."

"Did he seem different in any way lately? Preoccupied, perhaps?"
    Victoria
pressed a rolled-up handkerchief to one eye. "Well ... now that you mention it, he did seem a little ... moody the last few days."

"Did you ask him what was