Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his movements crisp and sharp.

"What did you just say?"

"My little sister has a pink birthmark on her chest. It's kind of private my family's never talked about it outside. But I want to use your data analysis to help find her, so I'm telling you now. It's heart-shaped."

Timothy's dark eyes grew even more inscrutable, shadows flickering in their depths.

He felt his heart pounding, more forcefully than usual.

His voice trembled ever so slightly. "Left side or right?"

"Upper left. My mother says it's about the size of a pinky finger. No idea if it'll grow

as she does. If your data turns up anyone with a heart-shaped pink birthmark in

that spot, pull their files for me. I'll send someone to check it out."

Timothy's long, elegant fingers curled into a fist.

A faint ringing sounded in his ears; he barely registered the rest of Vince's words.

Could it be Jessica?

Timothy's lips set in a tight, cold line.

He didn't speak for a long while.

"Timothy, are you listening?"

"I am."

I had no choice. I'm sorry. My mom doesn't

not holding it against you. It's

and social ties tangled up in ways outsiders could never understand. With things moving so fast,

to stop everyone else from

keep an eye

"I will."

let you go. You're still recovering-don't

call ended, Timothy reached for the pack of cigarettes on the table

and nose, curling slowly

was just overthinking

Zimmerman family's youngest hadn't disappeared,

Jessica was twenty-seven.

the birthmark-two people with identical ones wasn't that

the same faint blue circular birthmark on their

like that didn't happen in real

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

year's difference in age-he clung

his chest seemed to

and found Jessica

"Something you need?"

ring fingers together a silent demand for the money he owed

So persistent.