{"product_id":"the-big-empty-isbn-9780525535775","title":"The Big Empty","description":"\u003cb\u003ePrivate investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike, face a cryptic case and a terrifying, unpredictable killer in this twisty, satisfying thriller from #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Robert Crais.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared in the sleepy town of Rancha, not far from Los Angeles. The evidence says Tommy Beller abandoned his family, but Traci never believed it. The police couldn't find her dad and neither could the detectives her mother hired, but now, ten years later, Traci is a super-popular influencer with millions of followers and the money to hire a new detective: Elvis Cole.\u003cbr\u003e    Taking on a ten-years-cold missing person case is almost always a loser, but Elvis heads to Rancha where he learns an ex-con named Sadie Givens and her daughter, Anya, might have a line on the missing man.  But when Elvis finds himself shadowed by a deadly gang of vicious criminals, the simple missing persons case becomes far more sinister and dangerous. Elvis calls in his ex-Marine friend, Joe Pike, to help, but even Pike might not be able to help.\u003cbr\u003e    As Elvis Cole and Joe Pike follow Tommy Beller's trail into the twisted, nightmare depths of a monstrous evil, the case flips on its head.  Victims become predators, predators become pray, and when everyone is a victim, can Elvis Cole save them all? \u003cbr\u003e    In a case that tests Elvis Cole's loyalty to his clients and himself, the truth must come out no matter the cost. Elvis must face The Big Empty and see justice done.A \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Bestseller \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are right up there with Harry Bosch and Reacher as must reads for me. I finish every novel 100% satisfied and eager for the next installment. That’s exactly what happened when I finished \u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty\u003c\/i\u003e. Robert Crais has mastered the fine art of storytelling.” —James Patterson, #1 bestselling author of the Alex Cross series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The action culminates in a tense and thrilling finale, with a surprisingly moving aftermath.” —\u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The best Elvis Cole-Joe Pike book he’s ever written.” —Mike Lupica, \u003ci\u003eNew York Daily News\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e “Cole spices the action with wryly humorous observations, Pike is an irresistible force, and Crais’ clear, precise prose makes reading as easy as breathing. Crais has helped keep the classic tradition of the hardboiled Los Angeles private detective alive with this fine series, and his new novel may well be his finest yet.” —\u003ci\u003eAssociated Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e “Robert Crais is the best crime writer alive today — period and end of sentence.” —\u003ci\u003eBookTrib \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] good, solid mystery.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Denver Post \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Crais in prime form.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Financial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The compelling tale is enriched by its true heart and humor. Cole has often been compared to Robert B. Parker’s character Spenser, who was also known to grapple with the moral ambiguities of his work.” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This twisty thriller is a full of gripping scenes embedded in a well-crafted and riveting plot that hooked me from the very beginning . . . It has just the right amount of mystery, danger, and creative twists to make this book a winner.” —\u003ci\u003eMystery \u0026amp; Suspense\u003c\/i\u003e Magazine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Crais delivers surprise after surprise before finally revealing the truth, making for quite a ride. \u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty\u003c\/i\u003e is a complex tale filled with secrets and family connections that will haunt readers long after they have turned the last page.” —\u003ci\u003eBookreporter \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty\u003c\/i\u003e is vintage Crais, with a plot that starts simple then turns dark, taking myriad twists leading to an unpredictable finale.” —\u003ci\u003eSouth Florida Sun Sentinel \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty \u003c\/i\u003emay be Crais’s most powerful novel. A potent and surprising thriller.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty\u003c\/i\u003e has some yummy twists.” —\u003ci\u003eDayton Daily News \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[U]nexpected twists and a high-voltage finale save the day. This will leave series fans eager for more.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Robert Crais [writes] thrilling, edgy, emotionally intense novels.” — Neil Nyren, \u003ci\u003eCrimeReads \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Oh, and the big finish? It was such a shock and surprise that I went back and read it again.” —Bookpage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Crais masters compelling crime fiction by blending humor, terrific main characters, and suspense into a phenomenal package. Empty might be in the title, but this story is far from it.” —\u003ci\u003eFirst Clue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With his sharp prose, well-drawn characters, and an intricate plot that never ceases to surprise, Robert Crais has crafted another masterpiece, delivering a story that is both a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of hidden evils in \u003ci\u003eThe Big Empty\u003c\/i\u003e, a must for anyone in search of an edge-of-your-seat reading experience that’ll stay with you long after turning the final page.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Real Book Spy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobert Crais\u003c\/b\u003e is the #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of twenty-four novels, twenty of them featuring private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic, ex-Marine partner, Joe Pike. Before writing novels, Crais spent several years writing for such major television series as \u003ci\u003eHill Street Blues, Cagney \u0026amp; Lacey\u003c\/i\u003e, and\u003ci\u003e Miami Vice\u003c\/i\u003e. He was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and has received numerous awards, among them an Anthony Award from the World Mystery Convention, multiple Shamus and Barry Awards, and a Falcon Award from the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan. His novels have been translated into forty-two languages. A native of Louisiana, he lives in Los Angeles.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElvis Cole\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePicture the detective alone in his office on a lovely spring day in Los Angeles. He is four floors above Santa Monica Boulevard, leaning back in his chair, feet on his desk, smiling. He is smiling because he is speaking with Lucy Chenier, an attorney who lives in Louisiana. The detective speaks with her every day. Sometimes, he speaks with her twice a day. On this day, he's certain he'll speak with her three times, and the thought makes him smile. A detective in love is insufferable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucy said, \"Are you bored?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"I'm never bored when I speak with you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I ask because it isn't even ten a.m. your time, and you've called twice. Don't you have work to do?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm between clients.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"That explains it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I had an idea.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Okay, wait. I'm due in a deposition in ten, no, nine minutes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Let's take a trip this summer. The two of us. Or, if you want, Ben can come. Someplace you've always wanted to see.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBen was Lucy's teenage son.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucy hesitated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Are you serious?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Don't I have great ideas?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucy said, \"This summer?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Check your calendar. A week, ten days, I don't care. If you can find the time, let's do it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI was listening to Lucy think when my desk phone rang. It was one of the old hardwire Mickey Mouse phones and I liked it a lot. Prospective clients found it interesting and pushy cops found it annoying. Win-win. I was speaking to Lucy on my cell, so she heard the ringing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Ignore it. It'll go to voice mail.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Get it. If we go where I'm thinking, you'll need the money.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'll get rid of them. Hang on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI lowered the cell and answered the Mickey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Elvis Cole Detective Agency. Superior detection at affordable rates.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA young female voice said, \"Is this Elvis Cole?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes. Can you hold? I'm on another line.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe voice charged ahead as if she hadn't heard me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is Dina Wade, Traci Beller's assistant. Traci would like to speak with you as soon as possible.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"I'm on another call.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina Wade blurted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But it's Traci Beller!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Okay. I give. Who's Traci Beller?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina Wade sounded uncertain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Baker Next Door?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sorry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Her website, The Baker Next Door. Her socials. Traci has eight-point-two-million followers across her socials. You haven't heard of her?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI had no idea who she was talking about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh. That Traci. Hang on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI lowered the Mickey and returned to Lucy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ever heard of Traci Beller?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Who?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Baker Next Door.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucy hesitated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh, sure! The muffin girl.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"The muffin girl.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She's a baker, but she's best known for muffins.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She bakes muffins.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She makes cute videos of herself baking. They're short and fun. I've seen some. She called you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Her assistant. She's on the other line.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ben will be impressed. A lot of kids in his class follow her. That's how I know about her. She's terrific.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBen was a junior in high school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Want to hang on?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"For the muffin girl? Two minutes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI lifted the Mickey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina Wade was saying, \"Mr. Cole? Mr. Cole, are you there?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Sorry. How can I help you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Traci specifically asked me to call. She'd like to speak with you about a private matter.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Private matters are my specialty. Put her on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She'd rather see you in person. Today, if possible. Actually, now.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'll be here the rest of the morning. She can drop by whenever.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Actually, she can't. She's filming today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whenever she's not filming.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Traci has zero free time, but my driving app says your office is only thirteen minutes away. If you're here in twenty, we'll pay you one thousand dollars whether you take the job or not.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hang on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI picked up Lucy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Traci wants to meet. She'll pay me a thousand dollars whether I take the job or not.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"My. Aren't we the big shot detective?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI smiled even wider.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Impressed?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Studly, I couldn't be more impressed, and it's not because of a lousy thousand bucks. Tell me about it later.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Love you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Love.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI hung up, copied Traci's address, and left to meet the muffin girl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe address Dina Wade provided led to a pretty Tudor Revival home on a treesy residential street between Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Bowl. The blue bay windows, bright green lawn, and redbrick drive were bright, well tended, and welcoming. Small cars and electric scooters lined the curb, so I pulled into the drive. A young woman with short black hair and dark-frame glasses hustled from the house as I parked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mr. Cole, hi, I'm Dina. Here's the money, like we agreed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina Wade pushed a check into my hand. I counted zeros and tucked it away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm three minutes early. Do I get a bonus?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina Wade steered me toward the house without laughing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We're running behind, but I carved out twenty minutes for you and Traci to talk. We should hurry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe living room felt crowded with two women by a rack of women's clothes, another huddled over her phone on a couch, and a man and a woman sorting through a bag of camera equipment. Dina towed me through the room without introducing me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Why the rush?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Traci drops a new video every day, which means seven videos a week. She shoots them back-to-back, so the grind on shoot days is horrendous.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She shoots them here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course. In her kitchen.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina led me into a room that had been repurposed into a production studio. A sleek table topped by three large monitors filled a wall and two twenty-something men wearing headsets manned the table. They were watching multiple images of a young woman adding ingredients to a large bowl. The woman wore a simple flower-print shirt and faced us across a center island in a homey kitchen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Traci?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Uh-huh. This is Miles, our director. This is Tad, our editor.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMiles glanced over his shoulder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hey.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTad adjusted a dial on an audio panel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hey.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci Beller was twenty-three years old, but she could have passed for sixteen. She had a round face, short brown hair pinned at the sides, and large brown eyes. Her eyes sparkled when she grinned and her grin was infectious.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina said, \"Between shoots, product development, meetings, marketing, and promotion, there aren't enough minutes in the day.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What's she making?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sour cream muffins with chocolate ganache centers.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA tall man with spiked, graying hair entered behind us and stood next to Dina. He squinted at the monitors and frowned at his watch. A Patek Philippe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She's behind.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina said, \"She's wrapping five now. It's five, right, Miles?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man didn't wait for Miles to answer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She should be finishing six. Why are you behind?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMiles shrugged.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She's off.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man said, \"What do you mean, off?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Distracted, maybe. Not on point. Off.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man crossed his arms and stood even taller. He looked impressive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She has to be in the Palisades by one and Woodland Hills by three. We cannot be late for this. Especially the Palisades.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina leaned close and whispered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Traci's opening two new storefront locations. We're expanding to fourteen by the end of the year.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man made a hiss.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"If I can secure the investors.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci scooped a spoon of what looked like cinnamon from a large glass jar, held it toward the camera until the scoop loomed huge on the monitors, and abruptly lowered her hands. She visibly slumped.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTad pressed a button. Traci's voice came from a speaker, but I also heard her in the next room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe said, \"I'm not feeling it. Sorry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTad glanced at the tall man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"See?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMiles keyed a mike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No worries, Trace. Just pick it up and keep going.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci Beller stared at us from the monitors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Has Mr. Cole arrived?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man said, \"Who?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci repeated her question.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Dina, is he here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina opened a door in the far corner of the room and motioned me over.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Elvis Cole, Traci Beller.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI stepped past Dina into a kitchen as Traci Beller came from behind the cook island. She wore black tights cut at the knee and open-toed sandals. She brightened when she saw me and put out her hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm so glad you came. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe pumped my hand as she thanked me and abruptly crossed the kitchen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I have a gift for you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe scooped up a pink shopping bag and opened it to reveal four fist-sized muffins.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I don't know if you're gluten free or vegan, but I baked these this morning. Sour cream zaatar, salty caramel, honey mustard pistachio, and double chocolate cherry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey looked fantastic and smelled even better.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"They're beautiful. Thank you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man appeared behind us and didn't look happy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Palisades in two hours. You need to dress. You need to finish the shoot.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina said, \"I gave her twenty, Kev. It'll work. It's important.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKevin scowled as if he'd seen me for the first time and didn't like what he saw.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Twenty for what? Who is this?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina said, \"Traci's guest. Mr. Cole.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Why is he here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci took my arm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We're fine, Kev. Twenty and done. I promise.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci grabbed a gray backpack and tugged me toward a set of French doors that led to her backyard.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"What if we need twenty-one?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDina said, \"Talk faster.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci led me across a used brick patio to the shade of a blossoming pear tree. Dina stopped at the doors, giving us space. Kevin circled behind Dina, glowering over her shoulder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci lowered the backpack and took a breath.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whew. We've been shooting since four a.m.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Do all these people work for you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe grinned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Crazy, right? I began posting content in high school and it sort of took off.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Videos of you, baking?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer grin widened and she dimpled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Me, baking. Now Kevin manages my business and Dina manages my schedule. Who knew?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci Beller wasn't beautiful like a model or an actress, but she had a fun, friendly, best friend quality I liked a lot. Her eight-point-two-million followers probably liked it, too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"We have nineteen minutes left. Do I have time to eat a muffin?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci giggled and looked even younger. Then she glanced at Kevin and led me farther away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Did Dina give you the check?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"She did. Thank you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe enormous brown eyes turned serious.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A friend at the Times says you're good at finding people.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I could pretend to be modest but why bother?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI waited for Traci Beller to smile, but she didn't. I cleared my throat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Who would you like me to find?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"My dad. My father disappeared ten years ago next month.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe took a pale blue check from the pack. It looked like the check Dina gave me only the amount was larger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'll pay you five thousand dollars now and another five when you find him or proof of his death. I'll cover any and all expenses and any additional monies needed during the search. That's the job. Say yes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe held out the check.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI glanced at the house. Kevin was speaking to Dina and didn't look happy. Dina was shrugging and glancing at Traci.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci ignored them and pushed the check toward me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is on top of the thousand.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI touched her hand to lower the check.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The thousand is enough for now. When you say disappeared, what do you mean?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe hesitated, as if deciding how to explain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"My dad owned a heating and air-conditioning company with my Uncle Phil. The day he disappeared, he was making service calls out in Rancha by Calabasas.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I know where it is.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRancha was a rural community at the western end of the San Fernando Valley. It was in L.A. County, but outside the LAPD service area.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Was your father making the calls alone or with your Uncle Phil?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Alone, which was totally normal. They split the work.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Okay.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"He called my mom after lunch, told her he was running late, and we never heard from him again. So it was like, poof, he vanished.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI tried to pretend I didn't know where this was going. When healthy adult males went missing, they almost always did so voluntarily. This happened so often the court had a term for it. Voluntary absence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI said, \"Do you have reason to believe his disappearance wasn't voluntary?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course I do. He loved us. He was a wonderful father.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Besides that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I don't need besides that. What I need is for you to find him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe shoved the five-thousand-dollar check at me again and I touched it away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I assume your mother went to the police.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci removed two folders from the backpack and offered one embossed with an LAPD seal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"For all the good it did.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI took the LAPD folder and she held out the second.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"My mother had him declared dead as soon as she could. OhmiGod, I was furious.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf a person was missing for five years, the state of California would grant a presumption of death if certain requirements were met. This usually meant hiring a private investigator to show a good-faith effort had been made to locate the missing individual. The firm's name, Byers \u0026amp; Ryan, was embossed on the cover.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I know Byers \u0026amp; Ryan. They're good.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Not good enough to find him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKevin called from the house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We need to get going here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci's voice held an edge when she answered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"In a minute.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI thumbed through the folders. The police report was thin. The Byers report was thick with contact lists, search results, and documentation. Jessica Byers was one of the finest investigators I knew.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci watched me hopefully.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"There's a lot of information here. I thought you could look at it. I thought, I don't know, maybe you'll see something they missed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike I was magic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The presumption of death was granted?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe rolled her eyes. Exasperated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I was so mad. I still can't believe it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI felt bad for her. The presumption wouldn't have been granted if Byers had found proof of life, evidence of death, or a reason to believe her father might still be found.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"If your father didn't leave voluntarily, the options aren't good. You understand this, right?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraci wet her lips and glanced away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I get it. He might've been murdered or committed suicide or something awful. But he would've come back to us if he could. He didn't abandon us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe wet her lips again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I know ten years is a long time. I know it'll be difficult to find him after so much time, but what's ten years to the World's Greatest Detective?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"That was a joke I made to a reporter.\"","brand":"G.P. Putnam's Sons","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233628893413,"sku":"NP9780525535775","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780525535775.jpg?v=1767738371","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-big-empty-isbn-9780525535775","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}