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."

Group's renewable energy business. I had no choice. I'm sorry. My mom doesn't have much time left, and she misses

it against you. It's just business—a little lost

ways outsiders could never understand. With things moving so fast, it was hard not to be a

stood his ground, what was to stop everyone else from trying the same thing? How could anyone do business

eye out for my sister,

"I will."

I'll let you go. You're still recovering-don't stay up late. Get some

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

his lips and nose, curling slowly

he was just overthinking

Zimmerman family's youngest hadn't disappeared, she'd be

Jessica was twenty-seven.

for the birthmark-two people with identical ones

both had the same faint blue circular birthmark

that didn't happen in

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

year's difference in age-he clung to

his chest seemed to

morning, Timothy opened his bedroom door and found Jessica

"Something you need?"

rubbing her index and ring fingers together a silent demand for the money

So persistent.