A Bad Feeling
 

“Miss Peeg see if you can get Travis McGee on the phone,” Richie called from his office.

“Yes sir,” but before she could make the call another line rang in. “Robert’s Solicitors,” she answered. “Yes he is whom may I say is calling? Thank you.”

“Mr. Roberts, Miss Adams from the clinic.” She transferred the call and once again began dialing the McGee residence.

Richie took the call,” Yes? Mrs. Roberts, ah well I don’t know she was coming in she told me at breakfast, have you tried the house, I see, I’ll try her cell.”

“That’s odd,” he said aloud and dialed Toni’s cell phone. It rang until the voice mail picked up. He hung up and thought he’d give it a few minutes in case she was unable to answer. He checked his watch it was 10:25. He tried again at 10:30 and still no answer to the house phone or her cell phone. He rose from his desk as Miss Peeg was entering his office to tell him Mr. McGee was on the line.

Richie had a bad feeling in his gut, “Toni’s not at work and doesn’t answer her phones, I’m going home and check on her.”

Miss Peeg picked up the phone and told Mr. McGee that Mr. Roberts was tied up on the other line and would get back with him, so sorry. Walking back to her desk she saw him by his vehicle patting his pockets for keys and she ran to his desk and picked them up meaning to take them to him, when she returned to the front office he was gone; his vehicle door standing open. She ran to the door and called out for him. All she saw was a white van pulling out of the parking lot by Millie’s. A satellite TV van. She blinked her eyes was that Mr. Roberts in the passenger seat?

Miss Peeg looked down at the keys in her hand and ran into Richie’s office and unlocked his desk drawer. He hadn’t his gun with him. As if watching from a great distance she saw her hand go into the drawer and remove the gun. She ran to her office grabbed her purse and tossed the gun inside. With Richie’s keys she started his vehicle and swung out onto the road just catching the tail end of the white van is it disappeared over a rise.

She would wonder later at herself for taking the gun instead of calling the police.