The noon sun cast its warm rays on the shore, shimmering over the calm waters.
Eleanor sat in her car, and beside her sat a man in his mid-30s, his face weathered and lined with stress.
"What do you mean Charlotte isn't at the motel anymore?" Eleanor demanded, her voice sharp.
The man adjusted his cap nervously.
"I just got the information on my way here. She checked out earlier this morning."
Eleanor exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Where did she go?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," the man shrugged. "She's still in the city as far as we know, but we don't have her exact location yet."
Eleanor leaned back in her seat, her jaw clenched. After a moment of silence, she reached into her bag and pulled out three small plastic bags, each containing strands of hair.
