50

On the way out to Joyce’s home, Regan gave her parents a call. When her mother answered the phone, she could tell something was wrong.

“What’s the matter?” Regan asked Nora.

“Don’t you say hello? You’re always asking me what’s the matter.”

“Because I can tell there’s a matter.”

“So there’s a matter.”

“I’ll ask again then. What’s the matter?”

“Your band can’t make it to the wedding. There was a big fight last night. Their equipment is destroyed. It’s a darn shame.”

“What?”

“You heard me, Regan.”

Regan turned to Jack. “Our band canceled.”

Jack made a face and shrugged.

“The only reason I’m telling you at this moment,” Nora said, “is because if you or Jack have any ideas…”

“Jack,” Regan said. “Do you know anyone who just happens to be free next Saturday night and can play ‘Till There Was You?’ ”

Jack smiled. “I’ll sing it to you, baby.”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Regan said. “We’ll figure it out. Right now there are a few other things we’re worried about.” First she filled her in on their adventure with Shauna and Tyler.

“I told your father we shouldn’t have shut off the TV! Luke, turn it back on.”

Then Regan told her mother about Joyce.

Nora was silent for a moment. “Well, that is what really matters, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, Mom. We’re going to her house to pick up her picture. We’ll run off copies and tack them up downtown.”

“Where’s Kit?”

“I called her a few minutes ago. She’s just getting up. She slept through the show. We’re going to pick her up at the apartment.”

“Well, Regan, let me know what happens,” Nora said quietly.

“I will.”

When Regan and Jack arrived at Joyce’s, Cindy had the pictures of Joyce she’d picked out ready to go. One was of her alone. The other was one taken at the pet shop. Joyce had a big smile and was holding a dalmatian puppy in her arms. Cindy had disregarded the pictures of Joyce and Francis that were in the bedroom. By now Cindy couldn’t stand the sight of him. If he hadn’t left her alone last night, this never would have happened, she thought. And why hadn’t he called back?

She’d also rallied all the girls who had been with them the night before. “We’re going to hang pictures of Joyce downtown,” she told them. “We’ve got to find her.”

They had all agreed to meet outside the club where Joyce was last seen. They’d fan out in all directions and tack her image on every telephone pole, tuck it under the windshield wipers of every parked car.

Brianne had gone to Pauly’s apartment after the morning show. “We’ll both be there,” she said when Cindy called her.

Now, Regan and Jack rang the bell of Joyce’s house. Cindy answered and let them both inside. “Here are the photos,” she said and told them of the search party she’d organized.

“That’s wonderful,” Regan said. “What a good idea to meet down at the club.” They were standing in the entryway of Joyce’s living room. Once again Regan got a feeling for the girl she had never met, a girl who kept a cozy home. “Before we leave I’d like to call Joyce’s boyfriend,” Regan said.

“He hung up on me before.”

“What?”

“I told him what happened and the line went dead.”

Regan and Jack looked at each other.

“I looked at the caller ID and called the number back, but it was his friend Marco’s cell phone. No one picked up.”

“Joyce’s purse was found on the street,” Jack said. “That’s not likely something that her boyfriend would have anything to do with.”

“Could he have been in New York City and called her on her cell phone and said to meet him outside the club?” Cindy asked.

“Anything’s possible,” Jack said. “I’ll tell my guys to check her cell phone for received calls. They’ll be able to tell if she received a call last night at around the time she disappeared. We’d better get going.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll ride with you.”

“Of course. We’re going to stop first at Tiger News and leave a copy of Joyce’s picture. Hopefully they’ll run it.” Regan paused. “Maybe we should try to get in touch with her mother.”

“I just tried,” Cindy said. “It’s impossible to get through right now. She’s out in the middle of the ocean somewhere.”

“As upsetting as it might be if she finds out about this before you can tell her,” Jack said, “I’m sure she’d want us to do everything possible to get Joyce back.”

Cindy nodded.

“Hello!” Romeo called from the kitchen. “Hello!”

“Goodbye,” Cindy called to him.

“Lazy bums!”

“That’s his favorite expression,” Cindy told Jack. “I think it applies to Joyce’s boyfriend and his buddy who’s been making himself at home around here for too long.” She glanced around the living room. Knowing that Marco’s belongings were hidden behind the couch filled her with disgust.

“All set,” she said. They walked out of Joyce’s house and shut the door behind them. As Cindy locked the door, she could hear Romeo calling out for Joyce.

51

On the way back to the city from Joyce’s, Regan called the producer at Tiger News and told her about Joyce.

“You mean she was at Brianne’s bachelorette party last night?” Dana asked, surprise in her voice.

“Joyce’s group met up with Brianne’s group, at Club Zee, that hot new club on Fourteenth Street. Then Joyce disappeared. Now that her purse has turned up, it appears certain that she must have run into serious trouble.”

“This is unbelievable! We’d be happy to run her picture, but I’d like to show it in relation to the April Brides story. I’d like to have Brianne on to talk about their last moments together. I’d like you to be on again as well. We’ll have a camera crew cover your search downtown.”

“I’m sure Brianne would agree to being on the show again,” Regan said. “I appreciate you bringing attention to this story.”

“We have some great footage of you and your handsome fiancé tackling those two thieves in Central Park. It’s getting a great response from our viewers.”

“How did you get it?” Regan asked.

“There are always tourists in Central Park with video cameras. They caught the ‘Dynamic Duo’ in action.”

Regan smiled. “I’m just glad the Neys got their jewelry back. I’ll call Brianne, and we’ll see you in a little while.”

“Sounds good.”

As expected, Brianne was more than pleased to go back on the air. But she sounded serious. “I’m so happy right now about getting married, Regan. I hate the thought of Joyce being in danger.”

“I know.”

Regan and Jack swung by to pick up Kit. “I knew there was something about that Shauna,” she said. “I just wish I had seen you two in action.”

“You can see it on tape,” Regan muttered.

Regan’s cell phone rang again. This time it was Alfred, but he didn’t sound as happy.

“I heard from Tracy,” he moaned.

“Is she suing you?” Regan asked.

“I’m not sure. She was screaming so much I’m not very clear about it. She hung up on me. Would you call her?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know, Regan. Think of something.”

“Give me her number.” Regan jotted it down, ended the conversation with Alfred, and then called the Timber household. Tracy ’s mother answered.

“Oh, good morning, Regan!” she said, sounding as if she didn’t have a care in the world. The old stiff upper lip, Regan thought.

“Hi, Mrs. Timber, may I speak to Tracy?”

“Sure. Tracy ’s here with her friends having a lovely breakfast.”

Regan blinked. I’d have thought Tracy would be suffering from indigestion.

“Regan,” Tracy said abruptly as she grabbed the phone from her mother.

“Yes, Tracy. I know what you’re upset about. Alfred is very sorry.”

“What good does that do me?”

“I understand. But you’re just going to have to put a good face on it.”