In Desperation Read Online Free

card lock, she swiped her employee card and punched in her security code. She entered and hurried to her desk.
    No one was in at this hour.
    She closed the door to her office, hit the lights and started her computer. Tilly smiled back from her screen saver before Cora navigated to the itinerary she’d prepared for Lyle’s business trip.
    She went to the website of the airline he was using and called. She rushed through the prompts only to be put into the queue for a living, breathing agent. While holding, she checked her cell phone for any response from Lyle.
    Nothing.
    She opened another file for Quick Draw Courier’s credit card. Lyle used a company card for all business. While still on hold with the airline, Cora used her cell phone to call the credit card company’s security department and report a lost card.
    â€œCould you please give us details on the last transaction?” Cora asked.
    The card was last used to pay for a business lunch in Phoenix. The agent provided the time. It was the day before Lyle had left for the trip.
    â€œWould you like us to cancel the card now, ma’am?” asked the agent.
    â€œNo, thank you. We’re hoping it will turn up. Thanks.”
    Cora finally got through to a human being at the airline. She begged the agent to help her confirm if Lyle had boarded any of the flights she’d booked for him.
    â€œUnfortunately airline privacy policy prevents us—”
    â€œPlease! This is a family emergency! The ticket was purchased with our company credit card. I’ll give you the number to verify.”
    A tense silence passed.
    â€œPlease!” she said. “It’s extremely urgent! Please!”
    â€œGive me the number. I’ll check with my supervisor.”
    Cora recited it and the agent said: “One moment please.”
    As seconds ticked by, Cora looked at the online news pages showing sports scores; celebrity gossip; international news out of London on the Royal Navy, Hong Kong on business mergers, drug-war murders in Mexico. Then the line clicked.
    â€œSorry for the delay, ma’am. I can confirm that the departure ticket purchased by your company has not been used, nor has it been adjusted to a different date or flight.”
    Cora hung up and concentrated.
    Today was Monday. Lyle was to have left Friday morning for San Diego. Tomorrow morning, he was to fly to Los Angeles and return to Phoenix on Thursday. Cora had expected to hear from him later today but was not concerned that he hadn’t called or emailed her over the weekend. She was not clingy and it was no big deal if he didn’t call every day. And, as far as she knew, things were quiet with the business.
    But now Cora was desperate.
    She dialed the home number for Ed Kilpatrick, the operations manager. It was 5:15 a.m. Ed usually started at 6:00 a.m. Maybe she’d catch him at home. He was accustomed to early calls from the guys in shipping.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œEd, this is Cora.”
    â€œHey, Cora, what’s up?”
    â€œSorry to bother you at home.”
    â€œI was on my way in. What’s going on?”
    â€œHave you heard from Lyle since he left for California?”
    â€œNo. Is something going on?”
    â€œSome people had been asking about him over the weekend.”
    â€œDid you call him?”
    â€œYeah, but he’s not answering—maybe his phone or BlackBerry’s not working.”
    â€œCould be—I don’t know. I sent him an email Friday on the new shipment deadlines for Zone Five. I need an answer by this afternoon, so if you hear from him tell him to call me. I gotta run. I’ll see you later.”
    Cora drew her hands to her face and exhaled. Through her fingers she saw Lyle’s empty office across the hall and went to it. She scoured his calendar, his notes, anything for a clue. She searched his trash bin but the weekend cleaning staff had already recycled everything.
    Her cell phone was