Vanishing Act Read Online Free Page A

settling into her chair behind the counter. “Gretchen?” A lilt in her tone changed Danielle’s question into pleading.
    The other woman held up her hands. “No can do. Jimmy dropped me off this morning. I can’t do any driving until my ankle heals. Doctor’s orders.” She paused for a moment, obviously assessing Nate from head to toe. “But I’ll watch the garage until you get back.”
    â€œThanks,” Danielle said, in a tone that indicated she meant anything but. With a nod toward the exit she continued, “Come on, then. I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”
    Nate quickly followed, waving his thanks at Gretchen. “I just need to grab my bag out of my car.” He hurried to retrieve the nondescript, black duffel bag from the backseat. Running his fingers over the side pocket, he confirmed that the file with his assignment information was still tucked safely inside, then he walked out through the raised garage door.
    Danielle pulled a beat-up truck with the Andy’s Auto logo on the door to a stop next to him, and he hopped in. “Thanks for dropping me off.”
    â€œNo problem. Where is it?”
    â€œThe Eagle’s Den apartments. Do you know where that is?”
    â€œSure.”
    She kept both hands—delicate, fair-skinned hands that looked like they had no business working on cars—on the wheel as she expertly maneuvered through the side streets to arrive at the apartment complex. He had selected them specifically because they offered clean, furnished apartments. Nate calculated how much attention it would draw,and the Eagle’s Den had passed his preliminary inspection. The apartment would do nicely—but not too nicely.
    After several minutes, the silence seemed a bit awkward. “So how long have you worked at the garage?” Nate said finally.
    â€œAwhile.” Then, as though she thought he was fishing for her credentials, she added, “Long enough to be good at my job.”
    â€œSo you like it.”
    She shrugged, keeping her eyes straight ahead. “Sure. Andy and Gretchen are great.”
    Suddenly she whipped around a corner and they were at the front office of the complex.
    â€œYou can drop me here,” he said.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    Truthfully he didn’t know which apartment was his yet. It was his first trip there, so he had no idea where to direct her. “Definitely. No problem.” He scooted out of the cab and handed her a slip of paper. “My phone number. So you can call me when the car is done.”
    â€œThanks.” She flapped the paper in agreement before accelerating out of the parking lot.
    Nate chuckled. She was one strange girl. Evasive with every answer. Obviously a pro under the hood. And adorable as could be.
    After checking in at the office and finding his new, temporary home, he sank down onto the dark brown couch in his living room. Flipping open his phone and the assignment folder at the same time, he speed-dialed the number 9, and a familiar voice immediately sounded on the other end of the line.
    â€œAndersen. What’s your status?” Mitch Hollingsworth, his supervisor, asked.
    â€œJust got to my apartment. My car broke down justoutside of Crescent City, but I’m here now. The car’ll be fixed in a couple days.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do until then?”
    â€œI’m going to enroll in the community college. Our guy on the inside said that the Shadow has been snooping around the campus. He’s obviously a step ahead right now, and I can’t afford not to know what he knows. It’s the biggest entity in town, so most of the grapevines will run through there. I’m bound to pick up something that either leads me to the Shadow or Nora.” He scrubbed a weary hand across his face. “I’m also going to try to find the church she attends and see what’s going on there. I’ll check into bike