A part of Salt Lake Preserve
Joann was talking with her cousin Linda in Utah when the connection was lost. Joann dialed the number again and didn’t hear any rings or voicemail. That’s strange, she thought. She called her cousin's cell phone one more time and still didn’t hear anything. Hmm, I wonder if it’s storming there, she thought. There have been times before when the signal up where Linda lives wasn’t very good. I guess I’ll try her later, Joann thought.
As evening approached, Joann didn’t hear back from Linda as she had hoped. She was trying to focus on her studies but had a bad feeling. Joann called Linda’s cell phone again but still heard nothing. She called Linda’s mother, her aunt Cathy, and talked to her. Her aunt Cathy hadn’t heard from her since the day before. Joann asked her aunt if Linda was having any problems with her cell service, and she said that she didn’t think so.
Aunt Cathy told Joann that maybe she got busy. She said that if she doesn’t hear from her in the morning that she will drive over there. Joann was hesitant but accepted that answer and wished her aunt a good night. So, Joann went back to studying for another couple of hours before she called it a night.
The next morning Joann was running late and had to get to class. She wanted to call Linda but didn’t have time. When she got to class she text her cousin asking her to call her in a couple of hours. When Joann’s first class was over, she stopped in the hall to call her cousin Linda. This time her phone rang and rang but Linda didn’t answer. Joann called her aunt Cathy and told her that she still can’t get a hold of Linda. Her aunt told Joann that she will drive over to the house where she lives and check on her.
Joann went to her next class, while in Utah, aunt Cathy went to check on her daughter. Linda’s roommates, Sarah and Velma told aunt Cathy that the last time they saw her was yesterday morning. They didn’t notice that she hadn’t come home from her drive until now. Velma told aunt Cathy that Linda sometimes drives out to the nature preserve and takes a walk. Aunt Cathy asked about her college classes and both roommates said that she didn’t have any yesterday.
Aunt Cathy thanked the girls and went out to her car. She texted Joann that Linda is missing and that she is going to drive out to the preserve to look for her. Joann read the text while sitting in class, and a feeling of panic rushed over her. She tried to listen to what the instructor was saying, but all she could think of was her cousin Linda. She texts her aunt back to keep her informed.
When aunt Cathy arrived at the preserve, she saw Linda’s car. She parked next to it and looked inside it. The car was locked and there was no sign of Linda in the car. Aunt Cathy walked on the nearest trail and called out for Linda. She walked for about a half-hour on the trail, looking around, and calling out Linda’s name. But there was no sign of her.
It was just after noon now and Joann was done with her classes for the day. She walked outside and called her aunt Cathy.
“I can’t find her Joann,” aunt Cathy answered her phone.
“Are you still at the preserve?”
“Yes, and I can’t find her anywhere,”
“I think that you need to call the police, aunt Cathy.”
“Yes, you’re probably right. Let me call them and I’ll call you back,” aunt Cathy said.
Aunt Cathy did just that and told them where she was. She turned around and headed back towards the cars. She also called Joann back and told her that the police were on their way. Joann said that she was going to book a flight to go up there but her aunt Cathy told her to wait. Joann hesitantly agreed but said if Linda isn’t found by tomorrow morning that she is flying up. Aunt Cathy asked Joann a few questions about the last conversations that they had. And if she was seeing anyone who she didn’t know about.
“No aunt Cathy, she wasn’t seeing anyone, I swear,” Joann said.
“Okay, I believe you, dear… I’m back in the parking lot and I hear the police sirens. So, I’m going to let you go so I can talk to them,” aunt Cathy said.
“Okay, text me later and tell me what the police are going to do about it,” Joann said.
“I will.”
Joann ended the call and put her cell phone in her back pocket. How can I focus on anything when Linda is missing, she thought. She walked across the campus grounds to her dorm room hoping that her aunt Cathy will call her with good news. When Joann walked into her room, she took her phone out of her pocket and plopped down on her chair. She looked at her phone and decided to call Linda’s cell phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she hit Linda’s number. I sure hope that she answers, Joann thought. But she didn’t.
In Utah, aunt Cathy was talking with the police about her daughter. She told them that Linda walks the preserve often and has never had any problems. They asked her how their relationship was and if they had any disagreements lately. Aunt Cathy informed them that everything between Linda and her have been great. And that Linda recently shared more of her college goals with her. The police asked for a recent picture of Linda so she showed them. Deputy Rhonda Dean had aunt Cathy text the picture to her so that she could send it to the whole department.
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