No Place Like Home

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

“No,” was his response when Martin’s name was mentioned.

It was firm, but without the intensity I had expected.

“Alright. Have you found out anything about Leah’s disappearance we can use?”

“What’s with this ‘we’ bit?” When his question was met with silence, Ramirez released something between a huff and a sigh. “It’s only been a few hours, AJ. These things take time.”

“Tell that to Shelby. Or Leah,” I growled before disconnecting.

Yeah, I’d been snappish with the detective, but I was sick and tired of being spoon-fed details while he withheld the ones that could actually help me get a foothold onto something tangible. After all, I was her best friend and may be able to connect some of the dots that law enforcement would not.

At this point, I felt I had no choice other than to call Martin, figuring it couldn’t hurt to leave a message about needing his assistance. As our relationship was still tenuous, his interest would at least be piqued by a call from his only living family member.

He startled me when he answered on the first ring.

“Arianna, my dear. What a pleasant surprise.” There wasn’t a hint of caution in his voice, only a sense of calm mixed with a bit of curiosity. And was that…joy?

He was a hard man to read.

“Hey, Martin.” We hadn’t gotten to the place where I’d felt comfortable calling him “Dad” or “Father.” That was reserved for the man who had raised me. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. Are you still in Phoenix?”

“Do you need me to be in Phoenix?” I rolled my eyes. That was Martin for you—evasive and always answering a question with a question.

Sometimes it was eerie how similar he and Ramirez could be in some respects, even though each would adamantly deny it.

“That’s not what I asked,” I replied.

He chuckled. “I did it again, didn’t I?” When I made some verbal sounds to suggest the affirmative, the chuckling transitioned to a laugh. “Sorry. No, I’m not currently in the Phoenix area. But I can be if you need me.”

It wasn’t a question. Martin was observant enough to let me rummage through my thoughts, remaining silent as I weighed Ramirez’s warning—make that plural—against what my gut was screaming.

I went with my gut—hoping it wasn’t actually growing hunger pangs—and filled him in on what had transpired when I had returned to Phoenix.

When I finished, he was quiet for a moment before responding.

“I’m truly sorry about Leah. I know how much she means to you. I’ve also grown accustomed to her…antics and have developed a bit of fondness for her despite them.”

“But…” I prompted.

“Why do you always assume the negative, daughter?”

I flinched at the familial reference. “I just thought…” I murmured, my skin flushing though he couldn’t see me.

“Patience, my dear. You forget, I was a scientist and my analytical mind is no match for your creative spontaneity.”

“Gee, thanks. As if talking to you hadn’t already given me enough of an inferiority complex,” I muttered.

He sighed. “Arianna, do we really have to do this every time? I wasn’t judging your approach. It was merely a distinction in our viewpoints. I admire your insights differ vastly from my own. It provides balance in the universe. And makes for better solutions when challenges arise.”

I immediately regretted my reaction. Why did Martin always seem to bring out my childish, bratty side?

“You want to find Leah and this other girl, Shelby, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I replied meekly, sounding like a reprimanded child.

“Stop that.” Startled by his brisk tone, I inadvertently gasped, causing him to quickly add, “I’m so sorry to have snapped at you. I’m obviously terrible at this—communicating with an adult child. I’m sure it goes both ways—”

“I know you’re trying. And I am too,” I interjected.

“Good. Good,” he replied, his voice returning to its usual calm. “What I want you to understand, above all else, is this: if it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”

After a moment, he cleared his throat. “I’m happy you felt comfortable coming to me. I know it caused you a good amount of inner turmoil. And I know the cost may be high…” His voice trailed off, perhaps allowing me time to respond, but I wasn’t prepared to dwell on something that could be irrelevant down the road when I need to be focused on the present.

Whether he took my silence as confirmation I wasn’t sure, but he moved on. “I believe I can be of some assistance. Would you be able to pull the items together that you’ve collected on Tamryn so far?” When I said that I could, he gave me a cloud location to drop them to, which I did.

“And now what?” I asked.

“Now we work on getting Leah and her friend back.”

When I didn’t immediately respond—frankly, I was shocked—he added, “What? Is that not what you wanted?”

“No, Martin.” I was still digesting that my request had produced the desired response with such little effort. “It’s precisely what I wanted.”

“Then what?” he urged.

“It’s just not what I’d expected.”

Martin chuckled lightly. “Is it ever?”