"Isn't it exquisite? That reminds me. You owe me a camping trip to the mesa."
"This weekend?"
"That's fine by me."
He put the drawing to one side and reached for Sara.
"What are you doing?"
"Come here."
"Don't distract me, Kerney. I have to call my mother."
"That can wait."
"No it can't. Once I tell my mother we're getting married, there's no backing out."
"Call her right now."
"I'm going to keep my maiden name." Sara leaned over and kissed him.
"I love you."
"And I love you."
The answering machine message light blinked at Gabe when he got home.
He hit the play button and listened to three calls from Orlando's boss at the burger joint, each more agitated than the last. Orlando had not shown up to work his shift.
It wasn't like Orlando to treat his job lightly. Unless he was sick, Gabe couldn't remember a time when Orlando had missed work. Even though Orlando's car wasn't in the driveway, Gabe went to the bottom of the stairs, called out, and got no response. To be doubly sure, he checked Orlando's room and found it empty.
The messages had come in during the first hour Orlando had been scheduled to work. Maybe something had come up at school to make him run late. Gabe called the burger joint and asked for Orlando. The night shift manager, still sounding pissed, told him Orlando had been a no-show.
Gabe's thoughts turned to Captain Garduno's briefing on the special surveillance operation Chief Kerney had ordered on Bernardo.
He got out the copy of Kerney's report Garduno had given him, read through it, and stared out the kitchen window hoping Orlando hadn't kissed off work to hang out with Bernardo.
He dialed Ben Morfin's cell phone number.
"This is Morfin."
"Ben, are you and Thorpe on station?"
"You bet," Ben said.
"Is my son with the subject?"
"Negative. The subject is home. He arrived alone and there have been no visitors."
"Thanks."
"You got a problem, Lieutenant?"
"It's probably nothing."
"You want me to keep an eye out for your son?"
"It wouldn't hurt," Gabe replied.
"What does your son drive?" Ben asked.
Gabe rattled off the information, including the license plate number.
"Got it," Ben said.
"He's probably out cruising. If I see him on the streets, I'll chase him home and give you a call."
"Thanks."
"Anytime, LT. Way to go on the promotion."
"Thanks, Ben." Gabe hung up and tried to remember when Orlando was planning to visit his mother in Albuquerque.
He thought it was next week, but he couldn't be sure. He punched in Theresa's numbers, and her boyfriend answered.
"Is Orlando there?"
"No. You want to talk to Theresa?"
"Just ask her when Orlando is due to visit."
There was a muffled exchange and Theresa came on the line.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, sounding terse.
"Not really. Orlando isn't home and I couldn't remember when he was going down to Albuquerque to see you."
"Late next week. Why are you looking for him?"
"To tell him something."
"It must be important or you wouldn't have called me. Should I know?"
Gabe hesitated.
"Should I?"