MISSING 

By Tessa Harvey

But, as he recalled all these details he had been striving so hard to subdue, to obliterate, something struck him hard. The dress was long-sleeved. The colours were the same, but the dress was not.

    Gabe ran upstairs and opened his wife's wardrobe. Right there hung the short-sleeved dress he remembered, in swirls and patterns of red, blue and yellow - but the colours were different shades!! He had not wanted to remember his wife's dead face so he had not looked properly, and the young constable had not thought to question him more fully.

    The pastor's mind went back to the last day his wife had walked out, angry because they had quarelled.

    Suddenly he remembered!! Angel had worn bright sky blue jeans and white top!!

So where was she? And who was the drowned lady? Was Angel still alive? His heart was beating so fast, he felt faint and sat down. Then his shaking fingers flitted over his iPad. 

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       The young policeman offered no excuse for not ensuring the pastor had looked properly at the deceased. It was only when he was asked what the phone call had been that the man's face lit up. "It was my young wife, sir. There were complications with the birth. The hospital called to say all is well."

    James looked up at his colleague's flushed face and felt a pang. That could have been him twenty years ago. He sighed, then smiled. He didn't smile much, he realised. "Congratulations," he offered. "Next time, be more diligent in your work."

"Yes sir. It was a beautiful baby girl." As he left, James asked for Blanche. She was amazed. "That's impossible! Two women of similar age and both missing at the same time."

"It does strain credulity," admitted the senior officer. "Now we have to find the missing wife.....and identify the other female."

"Has no-one reported her missing?" queried his coworker.

"No, which is very suspicious. We need more help with this."