Missing Like You

FOUR

We make our way through the foyer and into the living room. She offers us tea or coffee. I decline, Rylie takes a coffee.

As Jeanine Healey busies herself in the kitchen, I take this time to observe the living room. Red bricked fireplace to the left, leather couches and a plush coffee table facing it. There are picture frames hung on the wall as well as on tables in the corners of the rooms. I immediately identify Isabelle in most of them.

Jeanine makes her way into the living room holding a mug of coffee, her husband in tow. They sit on the leather sofas, the mug now safely in Rylie's hands.

"Detectives," he says as he enters the room, sticking out his hand to me first. "Richard," firm shake.
"Gabe Gibbons," I say, then watch as he repeats the same motions with Rylie, then takes a seat on the couch next to his wife. "Is it okay if we get started?" I ask as I bring out my notepad and pen.
They nod in unison.

"When was the last time you spoke with your daughter?" I ask.
"We spoke with her Tuesday evening," Jeanine says. "Just on the telephone."
"And how often do you usually speak with her?"
"It depends," she says. "Sometimes we talk a few times a week. Other times it's once a week, at best."
"Ever longer than a week?"
"Sometimes, but not often. I try to check in with her when I can."
"What did you talk about on Tuesday?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," she says. "I called to check in and see how she was doing. It was a regular conversation, just discussing the day, work, the usual."
"Did she seem stressed or upset about anything?"
"Not that I recall."
"Is there any reason Isabelle might have to leave town?" I ask. The fact that her car is still in the driveway doesn't elude me, but I still have to ask.
"I don't believe so."
"She ever take the train? The bus? An Uber?"
"No, never," Richard responds. "She hates public transit."
"Her car is in her driveway," I tell them. "Which means if she fled and left town, she used other modes of transportation."
"You think she ran away?"
"It's far too soon to come to any conclusions right now. We're just trying to start with the basics." I pause, watching their faces as this information sinks in. "Does Isabelle have any enemies? Anyone who might want to hurt her?"
They both seem to grimace at this question. "Isabelle has no enemies," Jeanine says. "She's a sweet, loving girl. No issues with anybody."
"Any issues with addiction, substance abuse?"
"Absolutely not."
"What about debt?"
Jeanine hesitates. "Not that I know of. She was struggling a bit after the separation. But I think she's managed to get back on her feet again."
"Speaking of the separation," Rylie cuts in. "What was her relationship with Scott like, during, and afterwards?"
"As perfect as can be," Jeanine says. "We were devastated when she told us about the separation. The fact that they never filed for a divorce has been the one thing we've been holding onto, hoping that they'll make it work and get back together."
"And you're fully aware of the reasons for their separation?" Rylie asks.
"Scott's philandering, yes," Richard responds with a hint of disdain.
"Did that bother you?"
"Of course," Richard says. "I treated that boy like my own son. And to betray my daughter like that, to hurt her? I was furious. But Isabelle made it clear to us not to hold any resentment towards Scott. She wanted to keep things amicable."
"That's why we've always thought they would get back together," Jeanine interjects. "Because still, to this day, she holds him in the highest regard."
"Has she vocalized this at all?" I ask. "Getting back together?"
"Well, no," Jeanine says. "We know better than to ask. But she seems almost indifferent towards the whole thing."
"Indifferent how?"
"As though it doesn't bother her. She's moved on from the incident and is just trying to live her life as normally as she can."
"And you haven't spoken with Scott at all recently?"
"No."
"Has he ever been violent with Isabelle?"
"Never."
"Physically or emotionally."
"No, they had a very healthy marriage," Jeanine says. "She only ever had good things to say about him. And she told me everything."
"Alright," I nod once, looking down at my notepad. "And what else can you tell me about Isabelle? How she is as a person, what she does in her spare time – anything."
Jeanine takes a drink from her coffee, then places it back down on the coffee table. "She works at Bee Hive, which is a non-profit organization that helps unemployed youths find jobs. She volunteers in her spare time, anything she can find. She is selfless and philanthropic and always goes out of her way to help others. She has a good heart, my daughter. Doesn't have a cruel bone in her body. And that's why it pains me so much to think that something bad has happened to her. It's a parent's worst nightmare. But Isabelle is so good that I can't imagine a reason anyone might have to hurt her."
"Abductions are definitely less frequent in women over the age of twenty, but not impossible, I'm afraid. If we are indeed dealing with an abduction, there is no rhyme or reason. But I don't want to jump the gun on anything yet. She could still turn up somewhere, completely unscathed. But just know that we are exploring all avenues and doing everything we can to find your daughter."
"I hope so," she says, holding my gaze. "Before we run out of time."