The Summit

“It’s no big deal,” she lied. Again. “I just want to talk to him. It’s about his daughter.” Not the live one. The one he thinks is dead.

“Why don’t you just go up to his office?”

“It’s kind of personal. I’d rather make it less formal. Besides, I’ve seen him here before. He’ll just think my bumping into him is a coincidence.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, Mike. Didn’t I give you a couple of free climbing lessons last month?”

“Yeah, but…you sure you aren’t stalking him or something?”

She cast him a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look. Everyone knew she hardly ever dated and mostly avoided men in general. She had even heard a rumor she was gay, which was definitely news to her.

“Okay, okay. Hang on a minute. I’ll print out his sheet for the past two months and you can take a look at it. Just don’t mention my name, okay?”

“Cross my heart.”

It didn’t take long to figure out Ben’s schedule. He came in every weekday and never on weekends, usually got there even earlier than she did. There were gaps, of course, several missing days clumped together. She figured those days he was probably away on business. In the past few weeks, he had started working out in the evenings on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Autumn tapped the page. “Thanks, Mike. This is great.” She grinned. “I’ll destroy the incriminating evidence as soon as I’m done with it.”

Mike looked relieved. He was a good guy. She didn’t blame him for not wanting to risk his job and she had no intention of betraying his trust. She studied the list, trying to decide the best approach.

She remembered how furious McKenzie had been in his office and decided not to confront him at the gym, where there would be people around. Instead she would wait outside, hoping she could speak to him alone.

At seven-forty-five Tuesday evening, Autumn parked herself on Pike Street in a little coffee shop with a clear view of the McKenzie building. According to the log, Ben was a man who adhered to a very strict schedule. He went into the gym at seven p.m., probably coming straight from his sixth-floor office, and though she had no way of knowing what time he left, she figured he probably worked out for at least an hour.

Eight o’clock came but no Ben. At eight-thirty on the nose, he walked out the door, dressed in slacks and a shirt unbuttoned at the throat, sleeves rolled up, his coat and tie draped over one arm.

Autumn set her white porcelain coffee cup down in its saucer and scrambled for the door. She caught up with Ben at the corner, stood there beside him a moment before he realized she was there.

“Mr. McKenzie?”

His head turned. His square jaw hardened. “You!”

“Please don’t be angry. I have to speak to you. I know you don’t want to talk to me. I know how painful thinking about Molly must be, but you have to listen.”

Several people walked up and stood next them, waiting for the light to change. Ben took one look at them, gripped her arm and dragged her back against the wall of a nearby building.

“What the hell do you want? Money? Do you think you’ve found some way to extort me for cash? Because it isn’t going to work.”

“I don’t want your money! I just want you to listen to me!”

He took a steadying breath, let it out slowly. The set of his jaw said he was fighting for control. “You’ve got three minutes.”

Her mind spun, frantic to think where to begin. “I’ve been having this dream,” she started. “It isn’t a regular dream, not like the kind we all have every night. This is different, so real it’s as if it’s actually happening. And it’s the same dream every night.”

“This is bullshit. Everyone dreams.”

“This isn’t just any dream. This is a dream about Molly.” Even in the faint yellow light shining down from the street lamp she could see his face go pale.

She hurried on, afraid he would walk away. “Of course, I didn’t know who she was at first. In my dream, I saw this little girl get into a car with a man she didn’t know and I was afraid for her. I thought this was something that hadn’t happened yet but was about to and maybe I could find out who the little girl was and somehow prevent it.”

He checked his watch. “You’re time is up, lady. I’m leaving and if you try to talk to me again, I’ll have you arrested for stalking.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “You don’t understand. I think Molly is still alive. Please…won’t you at least hear me out?”

But Ben was already walking away, his broad shoulders slumped forward, perhaps against the breeze but Autumn thought it was the weight of his terrible memories.

Dear God, she had to reach him. Ben McKenzie was Molly’s father and Autumn believed he was the key that had set the dreams in motion. With his help, maybe they could find her.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, hating herself for crying. Dammit, why wouldn’t he at least give her a chance?

But in her heart, she understood. She knew that every time she brought up Molly’s name, the old pain surfaced. She needed proof—something that would convince Ben McKenzie there was at least a chance his daughter was still alive.

She went to bed that night, her mind still churning. She dreamed the kitchen dream again, saw the pain in Molly’s face. By morning, she knew what she had to do.

Ben cancelled his late-night date with Delores Delgato, an exotic, Hispanic fashion model with the Allure Vreeland made any sort of statement?” Agency who had just finished a photo shoot down at the wharf. He had met Dee through a mutual friend when he was in L.A. on business and they had gone out a few times.

This week Delores was here in Seattle and tonight was the last night of her magazine shoot. She had called wanting to celebrate. At the time it had sounded like a good idea.

But after his encounter with Autumn Sommers, Ben wasn’t in the mood to be sociable. He wasn’t even in the mood to get laid.

He walked the few blocks to his penthouse apartment on the top floor of the Bay Towers in the trendy Belltown neighborhood. He had purchased the luxury condo last year. He could afford it and as he grew more and more successful the extra security the building provided had become a necessity.

He used his passcard to access his private elevator and rode to the twentieth floor. As he walked into the marble-floored entry, the lights of the city shone through the wall of windows in the living room. Down the hall to the left, there was a powder room and two bedrooms, each with a private marble bath. The master suite and bath and his home office were down the opposite hall.

Ben headed that way. As soon as he walked into the office, he picked up the phone on his desk. All the way home, he told himself the call could wait until morning, but he knew he wouldn’t sleep if he left this business unfinished.

His mind strayed to the woman who had accosted him on the sidewalk. It was her tears that had gotten to him. Either the woman was a hell of an actress, a magnificent con, or she really believed the crap she was spewing about Molly.

He dialed Pete Rossi’s cell number and heard the man’s gruff voice on the other end. “Yeah?”

“I’ve got a job for you, Pete.”

“Must be important for you to call this time of night.”

“I want you to find out everything you can about a woman named Autumn Sommers. She says she’s a fifth grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary. She also teaches a rock-climbing class at Pike’s Gym.”

“Not exactly your usual type.”

“Hardly. I have no idea if any of what she’s told me is true. I’d appreciate knowing as much as you can by tomorrow.”

“Not in a hurry, are you?” Pete said sarcastically.

“Can you handle it?”

“I’ll talk to you before the end of the day.”