Chapter 35

Jerry looked at his watch. "Babe, Mira is late", he said.
"I'm sure she will be right there."
"She's almost never late", Jerry stated.
"You worry too much."
Jerry gave him a look and snorted. "Oh honey, don't even get me started."
"It is weird that she didn't respond to our texts."
Jerry rolled his eyes and made a dramatic gesture with his hand.
"Well, I have to admit it's a bit weird."
"You are always like this. Accusing me of being too concerned, but in the meantime you give off two different vibes."
Eddie laughed, he knew his man was right, he just couldn't help himself.
"I'll try and call her again", Jerry said standing up. "Huh."
"What?"
Jerry looked at his phone. "I'll try again."
"What?", the urge in Eddies voice was noticeable and he stood up too.
Jerry took the phone from his ear and looked at it.
"Voicemail it didn't even ring once."
Eddie frowned while Jerry put his phone in his pocket.
"Okay, that ís weird."
They both started pacing back and forth. "Maybe we should drive by her house to see if she is there."
"I don't know...", Eddie said.
"Like she would mind if we came by."
"Of course not. You know, maybe she is back with Max and they are having crazy making up sex all the time", Jerry suggested.
Eddie laughed.
"It could be, but she could have at least let us know."
"Baby, please. Like that's something anyone would think about!", Jerry rolled his eyes and kept pacing.
"True.."
Eddie sat down, his elbows leaning on his knees, his index fingers placed against his lips while his thumbs supported his chin.
"Why are you sitting down again?", Jerry said, sounding very agitated.
"I don't know. I'm trying to figure out if I should be concerned or that I'm overreacting."
Jerry kept pacing back and forth while holding his phone in his hand, waiting for it to ring.
"Maybe there is something up with her mother? Or her father is being an absolute ass again? Who knows?", Eddie thought out loud.
"You know what?', Jerry said while grabbing his coat. "I can't just wait around here. I have to do something. So, are you coming or not?!"
Eddie knew his man was not playing around and got up.
"Do you have a plan?", he asked as he put his coat on.
"No, but we'll figure it out as we go", Jerry said opening the door.
They both rushed outside to get to their car.
Jerry started the engine and they drove off, not really knowing where to go.
"Should we go by her parents house and see if she is there?", Eddie said looking out the window.
Jerry stayed quiet, not knowing what to do. "Try her phone again", he said.
Eddie did as he said, but again it went straight to voicemail.
The drove around town a bit, but there was no sign of Mira.
"Okay, let's do it, let's go see if she is with her parents", Eddie eventually said. "I mean, we have to start somewhere."

"Wait, let me go here, we're near her job. Maybe she's there."
Eddie looked at him quirky.
"What? It could be. Look, we have to rule out everything."
They drove by her job, but all the lights were off. There was no one in the whole building.
In a faster pace they drove towards the house of Mira's parents.
"Now that we're here, I don't know if this was such a good idea actually", Eddie spoke softly.
"Yeah, me neither. But we have to do something."
"Her car is not here", Eddie stated as he looked out of his window.
"Should we...you know go knock on their door and.. ask?", Jerry's voice sounded hesitating.
Then it went silent for a little while.
Jerry's hands held tight to the steering wheel, as if he didn't want to let go. His face was facing forward, staring at the house. Eddie did the same, only his hands were holding on tight to his phone.
"What if we are just way to dramatic and she is perfectly fine? I mean, if we go knock on that door, with her parents not knowing what's going on, we might make them worry for nothing. I mean, they already have enough on their minds as it is...", Eddies voice faded away in the darkness.
Jerry heaved a sigh. He let his head rest on the wheel in between his hands.
"No, we can go ask if she is home, without alerting them. Let me handle this." Jerry tried to sound confident, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. Slightly, but it was there.
"Okay, let's do this."
They emerged from the warmth in the car, out into the dark cold night. As if they had led in their shoes, they walked up to the front door.
Jerry knocked on the door a few times. Not long after, the door opened and with some caution Mira's dad's face appeared.
"Yes?"
"Good evening sir, sorry to bother you this evening. But we are looking for Mira. Is she home?", Jerry softly asked.
Eddie blew his warm breath into his cold hands, he wished he had put on his leather gloves now that he was outside.
Mira's dad looked at both Jerry and Eddie with suspicion in his eyes. You could just hear him think 'who are you guys?'.
"I'm sorry but who are you?", he asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir. I forgot my manners. I am Jerry and this is Eddie, we are friends of Mira."
"Yes, I think she has talked about you. But Mira isn't here. I'm sorry", he said. Before he closed the door he wished them a nice evening.
Without saying anything they walked back to their car.
"I'm sorry", a voice said. They both turned around to see who was talking to them. "I saw you at the Prashad's."
"I'm sorry but who are you?", Eddie asked.
"I am their neighbor, miss Miller. I help out at the house sometimes with Ms. Prashad."
Eddie nor Jerry knew what to say or do. The whole situation felt a little weird.
"I overheard you ask about Mira", she said. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, it's just, she has a special place in my heart", her gentle voice spoke.
The men exchanged looks, not really knowing how to feel about this.
"We are wondering where she is", Jerry eventually said. Eddie immediately gave him a look, which Jerry answered with a lip synced 'what?'.
"I know she was just here yesterday evening, because she visited her mom and when she left I talked to her for a little bit."
The guys exchanged looks again.
"Okay, do you maybe know where she was headed?", Jerry asked.
Ms. Miller shook her head "I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay."
"Have you tried her cellphone?", she said.
"We have, but it's off", Eddie answered. "Well, thank you anyway. Have a good night Ms."
They walked up to their car opening their doors and got in. Jerry started the engine and was ready to drive off.
Ms. Miller walked up to them and tapped the window. Jerry pulled it down, but not too far because of the cold.
"She did mention she had to go because she had an appointment with someone."
"Did she say a name?", Eddie asked hopeful.
She shook her head.
"Okay, well thanks anyway Miss!"
Jerry quickly pulled up the window and as they drove off they started to talk.
"Do you think we should call Max?", Eddie wondered out loud.
"Hmmm, I don't know. What if she had a date or something with someone?"
Eddie frowned "don't you think she would have told us?"
"Yeah, maybe you're right."
"Of course she would!", Eddie exclaimed. "There is not one bit that girl wouldn't share with us and you know it."
"Right, right.."
"I think we should call him. I mean he's the only one of who I think will know where she is", Eddie said.
Jerry shrugged. "It's worth a shot I guess."
"Wait we can't just stay here, that's weird."
Jerry looked at Eddie frowning and not understanding what he meant.

"Come on, drive!"
As Jerry turned away from the parking space, Eddie stared at his phone and heaved a big sigh.
"Okay, here we go."
He looked up Max's number and let it ring.
"Hello?"
"Ehm, hi Max", Eddie said awkwardly.
"Who is this?", in his voice was a small hint of irritation.
"This is Eddie, you know..."
The other side stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Oh, yes, I know who you are."
"Ehm, I know it's kind of weird that I'm calling you, but um do you maybe um.."
The words could not come out of his mouth. Eddie felt weirded out to call Mira's ex to ask her where she was. He couldn't help it.
Jerry gave him a look, but before Eddie could pick up the conversation Max started to talk.
"Look Eddie, I'm busy, get to the point."
"Do you know where Mira is?"
"Why don't you just call her", Max asked without trying to hide that he was annoyed.
"Well, the thing is, we tried, but her phone is off. It just goes straight to voicemail."
"That's weird, Mira never turns off her phone."
Eddie could hear him cogitate through the phone.
"Our thought's exactly.."
"Hmm...Are you sure it's off?", he asked.
"We're sure. We both have tried it at least 10 times."
"Shit....", Max cursed. "What if it's my.."
He hesitated to finish his sentence.
"What?", Eddie urged.
"Well, just come over here."
"Why?"
"Just come here, no need to ask all these questions right now."
Eddie wanted to say something but before he had the chance to do so, Max had already disconnected the phone.
"Well, first off, that was weird. Second of all, that man is very demanding. Geez."
"Don't leave me hanging here! Tell me what did he say?", Jerry said anticipating.
"Just drive over to his place."
"Why?"
"Because he said we had to go over there. I don't know but, something is up. He didn't finish his sentence. But I think he thinks it's his fault her phone is off."
"Wait let's just go by her house, just to be sure. We're nearby anyway", Jerry said making a turn.
"Okay, we're really stupid, cause why didn't we go there in the first place.."
They started laughing a bit, but then soon realized it actually wasn't their smartest action.
Jerry stepped on the gas and the headed for Mira's apartment.
"There is no one there. All the lights are off", Jerry looked out of his window but quickly pulled it up again. "Damn son, it's cold as fuck out there!"
Eddie laughed; "Well duh!"
"Do you think it's worth a shot to ring her door?", Jerry wondered.
"Worth a shot, but I don't know, I have a feeling she is not there. I don't know why, but it just feels...", Eddie's voice slowly echoed away.
"I know what you mean", Jerry whispered. Then he turned the car away, heading for Max' mansion.

"Do you even kn-", Eddie got interrupted by his phone.
"It's Max", he said.
"Hi Max."
"Did you guys go by her apartment?", his deep voice asked.
"Yeah, but she's not there. All the lights ar-"
"He hung up on ya again, didn't he?", Jerry said.
"Yup and yes I know where he lives. I think everybody and they momma know honey", Jerry shook his head with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah yeah.."
It didn't take long for them to reach Max home.
They drove up his huge driveway and parked the car in front of the home.
"Damn, is it me or is it getting colder? Like cold cold", Jerry said as he stepped out of the warm car.
"Yes", Eddie said looking up "I think we're getting snow."
Quickly they walked up to the front door.
They knocked a few times and not long after the door opened.
"Hello, we're here to see Max?"
"Let them in Ria!", his voice yelled from inside the house.
They walked in and gave their eyes a good look around.
"Damn, I knew he was loaded, but.. damn!", Jerry whispered.
Max walked up to them.
"Hi guys, welcome to my home."
He had on a grey jogging suit, his hair was a bit messy and he didn't have any shoes on. A look the guys weren't used to see on him.
"Thank you."
"You ehm, you look different than usual", Jerry carefully stated. Eddie punched his arm with his elbow.
Max looked down and then back at the guys.
"Yeah, well it's my day off."

"No one is judging", Eddie smiled.
"Let's go to the kitchen." Max went into serious mode immediately.
They followed him through the hall into the kitchen era.
"Have a seat", he pointed at the stools at the bar. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
They both shook their head.
"Okay, so you haven't talked to Mira since when?", Max asked.
"I don't know, maybe last week or something", Jerry though out loud.
"We were supposed to see her tonight, but she never showed up", Eddie spoke.
"So.. ", Max hesitatingly started "you guys don't know what happened yesterday?"
Both of them looked at Max quizzically.
"What do you mean? What happened?", Eddie asked.
Max heaved a very deep, big sigh, stepped off his stool and stared out of one of the kitchen windows. His hands in his pockets.
Then he turned around, his face looked tortured and guilty at the same time.
"Max, are you okay? What happened?", Jerry asked worried. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for him, seeing him standing there like that.
"Okay, I'll give you guys the quick version", he started while pacing around.
"I had a business meeting, this client asked to bring Claire."
Eddie and Jerry gave him a look.
"Yes, yes I know. But anyway in order to get this deal, I had to keep Claire happy, if I didn't she would ruin everything, so I had to..flirt a little with her", the guilt in his words was dripping like broken faucet.
"How could you?!", Eddie exclaimed.
"Calm down, honey. Let him tell his story."
"Sorry, I got carried away."
"No, it's okay, I understand", Max said. "So, she wanted to have a drink after my client left, but of course I already knew where this was headed so I told her no and I wanted to leave."
"But she didn't let you", Jerry filled in the blank.
Max confirmed nodding.
"If I wouldn't go with her, she would call this client and tell him to blow the whole thing off. So, I said I had to go to the bathroom and I'd be right up. Once I got to her room, she tried to seduce me, but I didn't want none of it. She had whipped cream and anyway I wanted to take a shower, we didn't even really do anything but I already felt dirty."

Themore he talked, the more he got disgusted and the guilt was clearly taking theoverhand.
His whole demeanor changed into a broken man, who knew he had made a hugemistake.
Eddie and Jerry felt sorry for him, but were also curious as to where this was heading,even though they already knew the outcome of the story.
Max went to sit back on his stool and continued.
"Just as I stepped out of the shower, out of nowhere Mira was there in theroom. I will spare you all the details of how Claire, ehm, presented herself", hesaid shaking his head while looking down at his counter.
Jerry gasped.
Eddie gave him a nudge, but Jerry's mouth stayed open.
"You don't really need to tell the rest of what happened, we can guess", Eddiesweetly spoke.
"I tried to go after her, tried to explain it to her, but she just wouldn't letme", Max voice cracked.
This was probably the only time they had seen him like this. The room filleditself with an awkward silence as they were all feeling the pain that Mira must'vefelt as she saw Max and Claire like that.
Tears started to well up in Max eyes, he diverted their looks by focusing hiseyes on the window.
Jerry got up, filled a glass of water and put it in front of Max.
He gave a small nod as a thank you and took a sip.
"I never meant for any of this to happen. But I do have a business to take careof and I couldn't...", his voice echoed away into the awkward silence that slowlyebbed away.
Carefully searching for words, Eddie whispered; "Do you really think Mira turnedoff her phone because of this?"
"I don't know man."
"I mean, you and Mira have been through some stuff, but she has never turnedoff her phone right?", Jerry softly asked.
Max shook his head and took another sip of his water.
"Okay, let's get our head's straight. Maybe we are worried for nothing. Maybeshe just wants to have some alone time and went to a hotel or something", Eddiesaid.
"Dude, do you really think she would go to a hotel after all of this? Naw man,she would go to the comfort of her own home", Jerry stated.
"I don't know Jerry! At least I'm trying to figure it out!", Eddie exclaimed.
"Guys, guys, no need to yell or fight."
"Sorry."
"Yeah, sorry."
"Okay, so was there anything that you can think of that was weird or off aboutyesterday?"
"What do you mean?", Max asked frowning.
"Well, did she behave different or was there something she said? Something thatmay have seemed normal, but might be a little off if you think about it now?", Jerryasked.
"I don't know man, I can't think of anything right now. I just hope she isokay."
"I'm sure she is", Eddie said. He encouragingly pinched Max's arm.
"Was there anything else that you can think of was weird?", Eddie asked.
Max shrugged and got up.
"It's snowing", he said walking up to the window. "God, Mira I wish you werehere right now", he whispered.
Eddie and Jerry looked at each other and got up too.
"Max, we have to stay focused. Come on, think", Jerry said.
All of a sudden Max face changed and he turned towards them.
"Wait, no, that.."
"What?"
"Well, my driver", he started.
"Max?", Jerry said encouraging him to speak his mind.
"My driver, the one that drove me and Claire to the dinner, it was weird, causehe didn't say anything. Normally I have a good talk with my driver or at leasthe would say something, but he didn't."
"Did you ask for another driver?", Eddie asked.
"No, when I was at work I had my secretary make sure my driver would pick meup, but I never really paid attention to him. I was busy so."
"Yes...", Eddie said waiting for him to go on.
"Well, then I headed home to get ready for that stupid dinner, he waitedoutside and when Claire was here we left."
"But it wasn't your regular driver?", Eddie asked.
"I don't know, he seemed familiar, but I don't know for sure", Max doubted.
"Sounds to me like you're not sure at all", Jerry spoke. "I think the leadmight be there, if you ask me."
"The best thing we can do is to follow her traces", Jerry said as he started topace. "So Mira's car isn't at her parents and also not at her home. Do youthink she drove to the hotel were she saw you two?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Then we should go to the hotel and ask them when she left."
Eddie nodded. "Let's go then."

When the headed outside the snow had already covered a big part of the outsideworld and it didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon.
Max looked around and all he could think off was that Mira wasn't wanderingoutside right now.
"Let's go in separate cars. That way we can easily split up", Max exclaimed ashe hurried to get into his Bently.
"Sure!"
They drove up to the Four Seasons, Max nearly jumped out of his car when theyarrived there.
He rushed inside to talk to the receptionist, with Eddie and Jerry in his wake.
"Hello Mr. Woods, how can I help you?", the girl at the desk asked.
"They never refer to my name when I come up here", Eddie whispered to Jerry in referenceto everyone knowing Max.
"I know right?"
"Yesterday, there was a small brown girl here. This tall", he said showing theheight to her with his hand.
"I know who you mean, sir." The receptionist smiled politely, but also in a wayto let him know she saw all the drama that had been going on.
"Have you seen her leave?", he asked, hurry showing in his voice.
"I saw her talking to the valet. Maybe you could ask him?", she said.
He thanked her quickly as he rushed back to the entrance to talk to the valet.
"I'm sorry sir, can I ask you a question?", he said. He tried to be polite, butinside he was impatient. He wanted to scream, but the little sanity he had left,kept him from it.
"Yes sir."
He repeated the question he asked the receptionist.
"I'm sorry sir, no. I haven't seen her."
"Do you know if she picked up her car?", he asked.
"I don't, but I can ask a colleague if he knows", he answered.
Impatiently the three men waited for the valet to come up with an answer.
"Yes, okay, thank you."
The valet shook his head. "Her car is still here, sir", he said.
"Are you sure?", Eddie asked.
"I'm sure."

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Thank you all so much for still supporting me and this story!!
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I can't tell you enough how much it means to me that you all stick with me.
And for all the new people who came to read Mira's journey, you're amazing!!

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