Read Online Eleven Hours by Paullina Simons - Free Book Online

tall are you?”
    â€œSix feet.”
    â€œNo, I don’t think so. Taller than your wife.”
    â€œDo you remember what he was wearing?”
    â€œListen, he was just a guy. There was nothing special about him. He was just another customer, you know?”
    â€œYou don’t remember what he was wearing?”
    Shrugging, Alex said, “No, not really.” He glanced over at the salesgirl, who was listening to the conversation. She shrugged, as if to give him moral support. Alex turned back to Rich. “I think jeans, a jacket. But I can’t be sure.”
    Rich was quiet. “You said he approached my wife and asked her if she needed help with the bags?”
    â€œI think that’s what he asked her.”
    â€œAnd she?”
    â€œI don’t know. They were, like, too far from me. I didn’t hear her. I assume she said no thanks, because he lagged behind and she walked on by herself.”
    â€œWhen you say lagged behind—”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œâ€˜Lagged behind’ implies he followed her. Or did he turn around and go the other way?”
    Scratching his head, Alex said, “No. I think he lagged behind. I think he went the same way she did. I’m not sure. I got another customer, and stopped watching them.”
    Rich’s hands were drumming on the counter. “Did you get a feeling about him?”
    â€œNo, I got no feeling about him,” said Alex, for some reason sounding offended.
    â€œDid you see him again?”
    â€œNo, I got busy. It was lunchtime. I didn’t see anybody.”
    â€œDidn’t see my wife either?”
    â€œUh—come to think of it, I did see him. I saw her too. She was walking back from over there.” Alex pointed. “She had more bags in her hands. She looked tired, but was walking faster than before. Like she was hurrying, you know?”
    â€œAnd when did you see him?”
    Alex thought. “I don’t know. I think after I saw her. He was kind of shuffling along.”
    â€œWas he going in the same direction she was going?”
    â€œWell, I don’t know if it was in the same direction.” Alex pointed to the mall aisle. “You see, either someone is walking to the left or they’re walking to the right. They either disappear behind the wall to the right or they disappear here to the left. Occasionally they may go into Dillard’s or sit near the fountain. But that’s it. I saw her going to the left, and I saw him going to the left too.”
    â€œYes,” said Rich in a raspy voice. “What time was that?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe a little after one. I went on my break at one-thirty.”
    â€œAlex, please take a ride with me, will you? To the police station.”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere,” said Alex, looking nervous. “I’m not getting in a car with you. I don’t know you.”
    â€œOkay, then can I use your phone? I have to call the police.”
    They let him call the police, and then they waited. Rich called home, found out that Didi had not called or returned. He asked Ingrid to call his mother and ask her to come and take care of the children for him.
    â€œIs everything all right?”
    â€œYeah, sure,” said Rich, closing his eyes as he leaned on the counter for support. “We’re just—I’m just going to be delayed—listen, don’t worry. How are the girls?”
    â€œHold on,” said Ingrid. “Irene wants to talk to you.”
    Rich tried to put on his cheeriest voice. “Hi, honey. How was playgroup?”
    Three-year-old Irene didn’t want to talk about playgroup. “Daddy,” she whined, “Manda won’t share Sing and Dance Barbie with me!”
    â€œIt’s okay, honey,” Rich said. “Where’s yours?”
    â€œMine broke and now she won’t share hers!”
    In the background, Rich heard Amanda’s voice. “She