Free Chasing Shadows by Valerie Sherrard Page B

confused, but I’d have sworn there was a bigger list than that!
    â€œI’m getting on your nerves,” he repeated, only his voice had dropped to a really low level and I could hardly hear him. He was shaking his head too.
    â€œWell, you’re kind of overreacting,” I mumbled.
    â€œThat’s how you see this? It seems perfectly reasonable to you that you went and talked to Nadine’s ex-boyfriend,
all alone
? And
I’m
the one who’s making a big deal out of
nothing
. Is that what you’re telling me?”
    â€œMaybe it wasn’t the smartest thing in the world, but nothing happened,” I pointed out. “As you can see, I’m perfectly all right.”
    â€œGood, that’s great. You didn’t get yourself hurt or killed. Keep up the good work. Hopefully, you’ll be just as lucky the next time.”
    I sighed. It was bad enough that Greg was ticked off at me, but the worst part was that it was all for nothing. Going to see Leo had been a waste of time since I hadn’t learned anything helpful at all. So, here I was, listening to yet another lecture, and I hadn’t gotten anywhere for it.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    I worked until six o’clock in the evening the day after the big lecture from Greg. Was it ever hard to concentrate on my job. Lisa came in and caught me sitting and just staring off into space a couple of times. She frowned at me and told me to get back to work, but her heart didn’t seem to be in it, really. At least her tone wasn’t as nasty as usual.
    â€œWhere’s your head today?” Ben asked me once when I hadn’t finished a simple task he’d given me.
    â€œI’m worried about Nadine,” I told him. “I can’t help thinking something has happened to her.”
    â€œNadine is fine,” he said. “You want to know what I think? She met some guy and went off with him somewhere. Happens all the time. She’ll be back one of these days, and you’ll see you were worried for nothing.”
    â€œI wish I could believe that she’s okay,” I sighed, “but I know in my heart she’s not.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure?” He wiped his hands on the square white apron he wore all the time, came over, and leaned an elbow on my work table, looking at me with concern.
    â€œBecause I went to her apartment, that’s why. And there was nothing missing. No clothes or makeup or toiletries.”
    â€œYou have a key for her apartment?”
    â€œNo, but I went there the other day and when I knocked the door just opened up. It was shut, but not quite tight.”
    â€œHer door wasn’t closed and locked?” His voice was tinged with alarm, and I could see that he finally believed that something was wrong.
    â€œNo, so, I guess this wasn’t really right, but I went in and looked around. Just because I was worried, you know?”
    He nodded. “And what did you see in there?”
    â€œWell, nothing really. Like I said, none of her stuff was missing.”
    â€œWas there any sign of a struggle?” Ben asked.
    â€œNo, nothing like that. But don’t you think the fact that she didn’t take anything with her proves she didn’t plan to go anywhere?”
    â€œThe apartment where Nadine lives, are there other people living around?”
    â€œYes. I don’t know if all the apartments are rented,but she mentioned a couple next door, and the landlady lives downstairs, right underneath her.”
    â€œSo,” Ben smiled, relaxed again. “If something had happened to Nadine, one of the neighbours would have seen or heard something, or there’d be some signs of a struggle. But none of this is the case. No, I think everything is all right.”
    Just then, the kitchen door swung partway open. I turned, expecting to see Lisa on her way in, but no one was there. I tried to shrug it off, but it gave me an uncomfortable feeling, not knowing if