Silent Run

into the house. Her cheeks were flushed from her run, her eyes bright and curious. “You found out something, but it’s not good news, is it?"
    â€œXander Cross was killed seven months ago, the day before Sarah disappeared from an apartment building about three miles away from where he worked."
    â€œAndy is dead?” Catherine murmured, her eyes turning sad. “That’s tragic. He was so young -- my age. I can’t believe it."
    â€œI’m sorry."
    â€œHow was he killed?"
    â€œHe interrupted a robbery at his home. Apparently he left behind an ex-wife by the name of Adele Kramer."
    â€œAdele Kramer?” she echoed in surprise. “I know Adele Kramer. She was married to Andy?"
    â€œDon’t tell me Adele was another foster kid."
    â€œNo, but Adele went to high school with us. She was Andy’s high school girlfriend the year we all lived together. She was a nice girl from a good family who risked her cheerleader reputation to date the oddball geek. I always liked her. Jessica did, too."
    â€œSo she knew Jessica,” Dylan said thoughtfully. “That’s good. That gives Jessica -- or Sarah -- a friend in San Francisco, a friend who could have helped her disappear. Maybe even a friend who knows where Caitlyn is.” He started up his computer again. “Time for another search."
    â€œYou don’t have to do that,” Catherine said. “I know how to find Adele."
    â€œHow? You didn’t know how to find Andy or Xander or whatever his name was."
    â€œWell, I know how to find Adele. She’s an art lover. She works in a museum in San Francisco, and she writes a column for an art magazine. I had no idea she’d married Andy. She certainly never used his last name or talked about him in her column. I thought of writing her a few times, but I didn’t.” Catherine grabbed a magazine off the bookshelf. “I think her e-mail is listed at the end of her article. Yes, here it is."
    Dylan pushed the computer in Catherine’s direction. “You write her. Tell her you need to find Jessica, and you think Andy might have spoken to her before she disappeared. Ask her if she knows anything about Jessica or Sarah or the baby, Caitlyn."
    Catherine typed slowly and deliberately. When she was finished, she hit the send key.
    Dylan hoped it wouldn’t take long for Adele to reply, but it was Saturday. She might not check her e-mail until Monday. And that could be too late. He picked up the phone and called Information, but there was no listing for her. They would have to wait. But which was more important, keeping the computer connection open or hitting the road to LA?
    He could also call his friends at the San Francisco Police Department. They might be able to tell him more about Xander’s death. He knew Sarah’s departure was connected to it. He was getting closer to finding out exactly what had happened to make her run.
    The computer beeped as an e-mail was received. He clicked the button, excited to see a quick reply from Adele Kramer. The message was short. If you’re really Catherine, then why does your e-mail say Dylan Sanders ?
    Dylan typed in, Because I’m using his computer. But it’s really me. I remember you from high school. You were Andy’s girlfriend. He paused, glancing over at Catherine. “What else can I tell her to make her believe me?"
    â€œTell her that I still remember the ugly orange corsage Andy gave her for the prom."
    Dylan did as Catherine suggested and hit send. They sat in silence, waiting for a reply. It came in less than a minute.
    Give me your phone number. I’ll call you ."
    Catherine recited her phone number for him as he typed. He let out a breath when the message was sent. He hoped Adele would call. She was being very careful, and why not? Her ex-husband had been killed. She was smart to be cautious.
    Within minutes the phone rang. Catherine drew in a breath and then picked it up. “Hello?” She held the receiver away from her ear so Dylan could hear.
    â€œCatherine -- this is Adele,” she said in a brisk, no-nonsense voice.
    â€œThanks for calling me,” Catherine said. “I just recently learned about Andy’s death. I’m so sorry."
    â€œIt was terrible. I was always afraid something like that would happen to him. I warned him that he was playing with danger, but that’s the way he liked to live, you know. I certainly couldn’t change