Free The Never List by Koethi Zan

… church.” I looked over at the girl. Her head was still bent down over the mail. The boy was on the phone in the opposite corner. They didn’t appear to be listening.
    Noah Philben raised an eyebrow.
    “Interesting,” he said as he glanced at the front door, considering my words. “Shall we step into my office?”
    He aimed his thumb down the hall, toward a door in back. No way was I stepping into some back office down the hall. Not with this guy. Not with anyone. Anything could happen. I tried to smile sweetly, as I pointed over to a bench in the entry hall.
    “Oh, I don’t mean to take up much of your time. Maybe we could talk for just a moment, right over here?”
    He shrugged again and lifted his hand toward the bench, “Whatever you say. After you.”
    I eased myself slowly onto the seat, never taking my eyes off his face. He remained standing. I immediately regretted sitting, for now he was towering over me. He folded his arms and leaned against the wall, ignoring the bulletin board beside him with the words Come worship with us in stenciled, multicolored construction paper that flickered from the air he had stirred.
    “How do you know Ms. Dunham?” he asked, with that slow grin still sliding across his face.
    “I knew her growing up, and I’ve been traveling in the area. On business. I heard she was one of your parishioners.”
    “Yep,” he stared straight at me. Clearly he wasn’t planning to volunteer anything.
    “I’m trying to reach her. She doesn’t seem to be home. I thought maybe someone at her church might know where she is.” Again, my faux casual voice. I could never have been an actress. I could feel a blush running up my throat as I thought how woefully unsuited I was for this task.
    Noah leaned forward. I thought for just an instant that I detected a hint of menace in his eyes, though I told myself it was just in my head. The grin was gone now. I leaned back against the hard bench, almost overpowered by the force of his gaze. Then he stood tall and smiled again. I couldn’t tell whether he had noticed the effect he was having on me.
    “No idea. Haven’t seen her in a few weeks. It’s not like her to miss … services. Only the Lord knows where she is. But, um … if you hear from her, let me know, all right? I naturally have a great deal of concern for my parishioners, as you say. I’d love to know where she is.” Noah leaned back against the wall again, relaxed and cold as ice.
    “Sure, sure, I definitely will. Well, thanks anyway.”
    Something about the look in his eyes made my stomach clench up, and a cold sweat break out on my skin. I felt the air start to catch in my chest. Something in my body clicked into automatic gear, something all too familiar. I knew where this was headed, and for some reason I was desperate not to let this man see me panic. Almost involuntarily, I shot up from my position and backed toward the door, reaching into my pocket for my car keys.
    I had to blink back tears as I smiled timidly, nodding my thanks and waving a halfhearted good-bye as I pushed open the glass door that led out onto the parking lot. The two young people still didn’t look up. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or not, but I thought I heard Noah Philben laugh as I turned and walked away. It was a hard sound. Humorless and raw.

     CHAPTER 10     
    I tried to sleep on the plane back home to stave off a panic attack about flying, but instead I kept going over the Sylvia Dunham disappearance in my head. I wondered if I should talk to Jim, let him take over and figure out where she was. But I knew that legally there wouldn’t be any cause for them to look unless someone who was legitimately in her life reported her missing. She could just be out of town, after all.
    I had never been happier to see my building, after a six-block walk from the subway. I lugged my suitcase across the threshold and felt my whole body begin to relax. It was only at that moment that I