REESE
Before going to the office, I was going to the police station. I had not gotten a return call and I was quickly growing frustrated. It had been almost a week since I reported him missing. How long could it take to get a flight manifest? I was worried they weren’t taking this seriously. If I needed to do it, I would throw my weight around. I would use my money and power to make something happen. I knew the people in power in this city. I would reach out.
I walked into the police station and asked to see the detective only to find out he was off for the day. “I need to talk to someone—today,” I said firmly.
It took some doing, but I was finally escorted into the office of the superintendent. “What can I do for you, Mr. Bancroft?”
I sat down and crossed my legs. “I’d like to be updated on my father’s case.”
He was staring at a computer. “What kind of case?”
I rolled my eyes. “My father is missing. I filed a missing person’s case last week.”
“What’s his name?”
I frowned at him. “Armand Bancroft.”
I kind of thought he would know that. He typed in my father’s name. Then he looked at me. “The Armand Bancroft.”
I had to remember it was illegal to throw something at a member of the police force. “Yes, the Armand Bancroft. How do you not know this? I filed this case days ago. Nothing has been done? I don’t understand.”
“There are a couple notes here,” he said as he read the screen. “The detective notes he is waiting on a flight manifest and cellphone records.”
“Waiting for what?” I asked. “Can’t he make a call? My father has been gone for weeks. I don’t understand why we are waiting around. Waiting for what? Waiting for his body to show up?”
“I understand your frustration,” he said. “This is not a quick process. We’re dealing with a man that is old enough to make his own decisions. He has the means to disappear. This isn’t as easy as TV makes it seem. We’re already behind the eight ball here.”
I stared at him and tried to calm myself down. “So, what you’re telling me is there is nothing you can do?”
“I’m not saying there is nothing we can do, but we are doing what we can,” he spoke slowly. “This moves slowly.”
“Got it,” I said and got to my feet. “Thanks.”
I walked out before he could say anything else. This was not going to work. They didn’t have the resources to handle this. I had to take matters into my own hands. There was one person I could call. He would know what to do to find Dad.
But I didn’t even know where Clark was. I wasn’t sure he still lived in Vancouver. My brothers and I were not close. We didn’t dislike each other, but we weren’t close. We all had our own busy lives. I had phone numbers, but I honestly had no idea where they all lived.
I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Clark. He hadn’t been able to make it to Christmas dinner last year. I wasn’t even sure if he was still doing the private investigating thing. I didn’t have another option. I could certainly hire an investigator, but I was certain his own son would be far more motivated to find him than some random stranger.
It was time to call in the big guns. I called Clark’s number, hoping it was still his. His voicemail picked up, and according to the message, he was still doing the PI thing.
“Clark, it’s me, Reese. I know it’s been a while. We’ve got a bit of a situation here. I thought it would resolve itself, but it hasn’t. In a nutshell, I can’t find Dad. He’s disappeared. The details are sketchy, but I would guess he’s been gone for a few weeks. He was in New York and was supposed to be here. He’s not. He missed the opening of our new project. You know Dad. That isn’t like him. Something is wrong. I don’t know where he is. I’ve reported him missing to the police, but that is going nowhere. I know if anyone can find him, you can. Call me back and I’ll try and fill you in on the details.”
I ended the call feeling a little better about things. Clark was on the job. He would find Dad, and all of this would be over. It felt good not to have to shoulder the full burden of the situation. I probably should have called earlier. I probably should call all my brothers and let them know there was a situation with Dad. Although we weren’t close, they would want to know if there was something wrong with Dad. Our love wasn’t as traditional as some families, but we loved each other in our own way.
I was almost to the office when I got a call from Josh. “What’s up?” I answered.
“We’ve got a situation,” he said.
I groaned. “What is it?”
“One of the sales reps that’s supposed to be meeting several potential buyers at the tower is apparently deathly ill,” he said dryly.
“Of course,” I said. “What time?”
“Ten minutes,” he answered.
“Shit. Whoever it is, fire them. No one gets deathly ill ten minutes before they have an appointment.”