CHAPTER NINETY–THREE–The Final Step Across the Line
Laura slumped in her chair, the weight of disappointment settling over her. “So we’re no closer to finding Ryan.”
Zaya reached across the table, squeezing Laura’s hand. “Hey, don’t give up. We know he’s in the area, at least. That’s something, right?
Laura nodded, forcing a smile. “You’re right. Thanks, Zaya. I owe you one.”
As Zaya packed up her laptop, Laura’s phone buzzed with a text from Tim. “Back in the city. Where are you?”
Laura quickly filled him in on her location and the results of Zaya’s investigation. Within half an hour, Tim joined her at the café, looking tired but determined.
“So, what’s the plan?” he asked, settling into Zaya’s vacated seat
Laura gestured towards the apartment building. “I’m not leaving until we get some answers. We can take shifts watching the entrance.
”
Tim nodded, his expression grim. “Alright. I’ll take first watch. You should get some rest.”
As Laura stood to leave, she cast one last glance at the building. “We’re close, Tim. I can feel It.”
The next day passed in a blur of coffee, takeout, and endless hours of watching. Laura and Tim took turns staking out the building, each shift blending into the next. It was during one of Laura’s afternoon watches that she spotted a familiar figure approaching the building’s entrance.
Her heart leapt into her throat as she recognized Bo Chen, her supervisor from the Long Island office. Without thinking, Laura sprung from her seat and hurried across the street.
“Bo!” she called out, just as the woman was about to enter the building.
Bo turned, her eyes widening in surprise. “Laura? What are you doing here?”
Laura caught up to her, slightly out of breath. “I could ask you the same thing. Are you here to see Ryan?”
Bo’s expression tightened, and Laura knew she’d hit the mark. “Laura, I can’t discuss this with you.”
“Please, Bo,” Laura pleaded. “We’ve been searching for him for days. ‘re worried sick. Just tell me if he’s okay.‘
Bo hesitated, conflict clear on her face. Finally, she sighed. “He made me promise not to tell anyone.”
“So he is here,” Laura pressed. “Bo, please. We just want to help him.
After a long moment, Bo nodded. “He’s… not in a good place, Laura. The wedding, the media circus – it’s all been too much. He needed to disappear for a while.”
-Laura felt a mix of relief and concern wash over her. “Will you at least pass a message to him? Let him know we’re here for him?”
Bo considered this, then nodded. “I can do that. But I can’t promise he’ll respond.”
As Bo disappeared into the building, Laura quickly texted Tim with the update. He joined her within minutes, and together they waited.
anxiously for Do to emerge.
When she did, nearly an hour later, her expression was apologetic. “I’m sorry,” she said. “He’s not ready to see anyone yet. But he appreciates your concern.”
Laura and Tim exchanged frustrated glances. They were so close, yet Ryan remained just out of reach.
“What now?” Tim asked as they watched Bo walk away.
Laura chewed her lip, thinking “We need to dig deeper. Ryan’s got to be leaving some kind of trail, even if he’s trying to stay hidden.”
They spent the next few hours combing through Ryan’s recent financial transactions, calling in favors from contacts at various banks. A pattern began to emerge a series of cash withdrawals from ATMs around the city.
“He’s trying to stay off the grid, “Tim mused, studying the list of transactions. “But this proves he’s still in New York.”
Laura nodded, a mixture of hope and frustration building Inside her. “We’re so close, Tim. But what if… what if he really doesn’t want to be found?”
Tim leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “That’s the million–dollar question, Isn’t it? Do we respect his privacy or keep pushing?”
CHAPTER NINETY–THREE – The Final Step Across the Line
“I don’t know,” Laura admitted. “On one hand, he’s clearly going through something and maybe needs space. But on the other… I can’t shake this feeling that he needs us, even if he doesn’t realize it.”
Tim nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I get it. Ryan’s always been there for us. It feels wrong to just.. give up on him.”
“Exactly,” Laura sald, leaning forward. “But where do we draw the line? At what point are we helping, and at what point are we just… I don’t know, invading his privacy?”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the decision hanging between them. Finally, Tim spoke. “Maybe we need to look at this from a different angle. What would Ryan do if the situation was reversed? If one of us was going through something and trying to hide away?”
Laura considered this, a small smile tugging at her lips. “He’d move heaven and earth to find us. Probably buy out an entire hotel just to search it room by room,
Tim chuckled. “Exactly. Ryan’s never been one to give up on his friends. Maybe that’s our answer.”
H
“So we keep looking,” Laura said, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “But we do it carefully. No media, no big scenes. Just us, trying to help our friend.”
Tim nodded, reaching across the table to squeeze Laura’s hand. “I’m with you. Whatever it takes.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Laura’s phone ringing. She glanced at the screen, surprise flickering across her face, “It’s Kira Volkov from the office.”
Laura answered, putting the phone on speaker. “Kira? What’s up?”
Kira’s voice came through, breathless with excitement. “Laura! I think I just saw Ryan!”
Laura and Tim exchanged shocked glances. “What? Where?” Laura demanded.
“There’s this little café in Brooklyn I sometimes go to,” Kira explained. “I swear I just saw him leaving. He looked… different. Beard, baseball cap. But I’m pretty sure it was him.”
Laura’s heart raced. “Kira, this is huge. Can you text me the address?”
After hanging up, Laura and Tim sprang into action, hailing a cab and racing towards Brooklyn. The sun was setting by the time they arrived at the small, unassuming caté
“We’re closing up,” the owner called out as they burst through the door.
“Please,” Laura said, slightly out of breath. “We’re looking for someone. Tall guy, probably wearing a cap and has a beard?”
The owner’s expression shifted from annoyance to curiosity. “Yeah, he was in here earlier. Kept to himself, left about an hour ago.”
Tim stepped forward. “Did he say anything about where he was going?”
The owner shook his head. “Sorry, pal. He didn’t say much of anything”
Disappointed but not defeated, Laura and Tim thanked the owner and stepped back out onto the street. They were close – so close but Ryan remained frustratingly out of reach.
“Back to the apartment building?” Tim suggested.
Laura nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. As they approached the building, she spotted a familiar figure about to step into a taxi.
“Is that… Julia?” Tim asked, disbelief coloring his voice.
Laura’s stomach dropped as she recognized Ryan’s runaway bride. Without thinking, she called out, “Julia! Wait!”
Julia Florent turned, her eyes widening as she saw Laura and Tim approaching. She looked different from the polished model Laura remembered – her hair was messy, her eyes rimmed with red as if she’d been crying.
“Laura? Tim?” Julia’s voice was hoarse. “What are you doing here?”
Laura and Tim exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed. Finally, Laura spoke, “We’re looking for Ryan. Have you seen him?”
Julia’s face crumpled, fresh tears welling in her eyes. “No, I… I’ve been trying to reach him. To apologize, to explain…”
Tim’s expression hardened. “Apologize? For leaving him at the altar?”
Julia flinched at his words. “I know what I did was terrible. But you don’t understand… there were things happening behind the scenes, pressures I couldn’t….
CHAPTER NINETY THREE–The Final Step Across the Line
She trailed off, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. I just need to talk to him, to make things right.”
Laura felt torn. On one hand, Julia had hurt Ryan deeply. On the other, she clearly knew something they didn’t. “Julia, if you know where Ryan is…”
“I don’t,” Julia interrupted. “I swear. I’ve been leaving messages, trying to find him just like you.
The taxi driver honked impatiently. Julia glanced back, then turned to Laura and Tim. “I have to go. But if you find him… tell him I’m sorry. And that I want to explain.”
As Julia slid into the taxi, Laura and Tim were left standing on the sidewalk, more confused than ever. The tension between them was palpable, both unsure how to process this new development.
