Gone Missing Read Online Free Page A

history.”
    â€œI have to admit I didn’t always see it,” Joslyn said. “But then again, when Fiona went with me to a concert, she didn’t go into raptures about the musical nuances the way I did.”
    â€œWhat kind of concerts?”
    Out of habit, Joslyn hesitated before answering. “Mostly classical music. Fiona was my only friend who’d go to concerts with me and not fall asleep in the middle.”
    â€œI like classic rock, myself. But I’ve been known to listen to some instrumental movie scores, too.”
    She blinked at him, then laughed. “The classic rock I would have guessed.”
    His smile was open and charming. “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
    It would be so easy to fall for that charm. But then again, Tomas had been charming, too, at first.
    They arrived at a door marked “Patron Services” and went inside. A woman sat behind a desk with horn-rimmed glasses and smiled at them. “May I help you?” Her name plaque read Ruby Padalecki.
    Joslyn gave her one of her new business cards. “I’m an investigator with the O’Neill Agency. We’re looking into the disappearance of a young woman who might have been a season pass holder with the museum, Fiona Crowley.”
    Ruby’s mouth grew pinched. “I’m afraid I can’t give any information about our museum patrons.”
    â€œWe’re just worried about her,” Clay said. “I’m her brother.”
    The woman looked at him with her brow furrowed. “Oh, my, you look exactly like...” She swallowed and lowered her voice. “I’m sorry, but I could lose my job.”
    â€œNo, we don’t want you to do anything to jeopardize that,” Joslyn said quickly.
    Clay held his hands up. “We’re just museum patrons chatting with you, okay? We’re not after any confidential information that might get you in trouble.”
    Ruby relaxed and smiled. “Okay, sure.”
    He looked harmless, approachable. She envied the easy way he could engage with Ruby. Joslyn always felt awkward socially. It was the reason she liked computers so much.
    Clay leaned a hip against the edge of the desk. “My sister likes visiting art museums. She visited all the ones in Chicago.”
    â€œShe also liked visiting museums when I knew her in Los Angeles,” Joslyn said.
    Ruby nodded. “Oh, she comes in here every week. Sometimes a few times a week.”
    â€œOnce, a museum had a new exhibit by a well-known artist and she went five times that week,” Joslyn said. “I began to wonder if she was in love with the artist until I found out he was sixty-five years old.”
    â€œThere was one artist in Chicago who was twenty-five,” Clay said dryly. “I was a little worried since she was only seventeen at the time.”
    â€œWhat did you do about that?” Ruby asked.
    Clay scratched the back of his head. “I have to admit, I was really mean. I was at some party with her, and I went to where she was talking to the artist. I told him an embarrassing story about when she was in kindergarten that involved feathers, glitter and pink panties. She didn’t speak to me for a week, but she didn’t talk to the artist again, so it was a win for me.”
    Joslyn and Ruby laughed. “She actually told me that story,” Ruby told him, “so she must have gotten over it.”
    â€œNo artists here that she’s currently in love with?” Clay said.
    Ruby winced. “Well, there is one Native American artist who’s tall, dark and swarthy—he looks like a pirate. All the girls on staff here think he’s incredibly handsome. Fiona’s friendly with him, but then again, she’s just as friendly with Rufus, one of the guards.”
    Clay cleared his throat. “How often is the, uh, artist here?”
    Ruby giggled. “Not very often. Don’t worry.”
    â€œWhen’s the