Stunned
Jenna looked on in stunned silence as the staff at her father’s retirement home told her that they didn’t know where he had been.
How could something like this happen? He was supposed to be taken care of. That was the whole point of putting him in a retirement home. Jenna was beyond furious.
Where Was He?
She looked around his room. Most of his things were still there, which was what made her very nervous.
She was very close to her dad. She was so sure he would have told her if he wanted to go anywhere.
But now he was gone, and the staff was left scratching their heads at the mystery. None of them could tell her where her father was.
Searching Everywhere
She searched everywhere, asking nurses and other staff when least they had seen him, but to no avail.
It looked like her father, Dan Hardin had disappeared from the home, and no one had even noticed that he was no longer there.
Jenna felt her heart racing, and she didn’t know what to do anymore.
Nonchalant Behavior
She decided to sit down to compose herself. She was shocked at some of the nonchalant behavior of the staff. It was like no one wanted to help her.
It was up to her to find her father. Who knows how long he had been gone for?
He was 77 years old, and he needed his medication. She didn’t even know if he had taken them.
Frankie
But she knew that there was one staff member that her father always spoke fondly about. His name was Frankie, and she searched everywhere for him.
She was sure he would know where her father was and what was going on.
Something at home didn’t seem to be right, and Jenna was going to figure out what exactly was going on.
A Change
She looked around her as she saw how the staff went about their daily routines. She thought this home was sought after, but now, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
One more thing she realized was that she didn’t recognize most of the people there.
It was like there were new staff members, and no one had told her about the change.
Frustrated
By now, Jenna was becoming very frustrated. She hoped and prayed that someone would come along and help her. But by the looks of things, she felt like these new staff members were not interested in her.
She stopped one of them and asked a question.
“Excuse me, I need someone to help me, please. I’m trying to find my father, Dan Hardin,” she asked desperately.
Confused
The person looked at her in confusion before finally responding.
“Sure, Ma’am, I can go to the receptionist’s computer and have a look for you. Please give me a minute,” the staff member said.
Jenna watched with relief as she typed away. But when her face scrunched up, Jenna knew something wasn’t right. What was going on?
A Problem
The woman typed away furiously, and after a few frustrating clicks on the mouse, she finally turned to Jenna. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. There seems to be a problem with our system. I can’t get access to the resident’s files right now,” she replied.
Jenna signed. What was she going to do now? No one could help, and her father was still missing.
Very Close
Her father was all she had. After her mother died a few years ago, Jenna and her father vowed to remain close.
But when her father requested to be put into a retirement home so that he could be close to his friends, Jenna was devastated.
Although she understood that he wanted to be with his friends, she felt like she was losing him too.
Impressed
They visited the place together because her father wanted to go to a specific one where all his friends were. On the visit, Jenna was thoroughly impressed.
The facility was very well equipped with everything, and they had doctors and nurses on call.
Jenna didn’t need much convincing. And within a week, her father became a resident of Shady Oaks Retirement Village.
He Was Happy
Her father was very happy, and he sent her videos and photos of his new life.
He was having the time of his life, and Jenna smiled at the fact that he had moved on after having lost his wife.
And that’s when she remembered something crucial. She hadn’t asked his best friends where he was.
At Her Wit’s End
But when she tried to get someone to check on her father’s close friends, Glen and Arnold, the home’s system was still down. She was now at her wit’s end.
But she decided to wait it out.
She wasn’t going to leave the home until she had solid information about her father’s sudden disappearance. But how long would she have to wait?
Vague
Just when she was about to give up, she heard some staff members mentioning a name she knew, Frankie. She ran after them, determined to know where Frankie was.
She knew that Frankie was the possible link to finding her father.
However, after asking the other staff members about Frankie, she received a very vague response.
Where Were They?
As Jenna persisted in her search for Frankie, her frustration grew. It was as if the staff was intentionally trying to keep her in the dark.
Where was everybody? Frankie wasn’t there, and her father and his friends all seemed to have vanished.
Jenna didn’t want to, but she felt like she needed to involve the authorities.
Leaving
She decided to leave and come back the next day. Hopefully, things will be a little better. The systems would be up, and she could get the information she was looking for.
And maybe Frankie would also be on hand and help her find her father.
She felt a strange feeling in her gut. It was like they were keeping something from her.
Sleepless Night
That night, Jenna had a sleepless night. She tossed and turned around, wondering about where her father was and if he was safe.
All kinds of terrible thoughts swirled around in her head. She felt guilty because she hadn’t been to the home in a while to see him.
She counted down the hours until she could go back home again.
Closer To Finding Her Father?
As soon as she got to the home, she spotted a man doing his rounds. She flagged him down, and as soon as she stood in front of him, her heart swelled with relief.
The name tag said Frankie, and she knew she was that much closer to finding her father.
But when she looked at his hand, her blood ran cold.
Can You Help Me?
“Frankie? I’ve been looking all over for you since yesterday. I’m looking for Dan Hardin. Can you help me? No one can tell me where he is,” she pleaded.
She kept her eyes on him and saw him flinch back at the mention of Dan’s name.
Then Jenna continued, “And where did you get that ring?”
Who Are You?
“Um, who are you, Ma’am?” Frankie asked. He looked very uneasy and uncomfortable in Jenna’s presence.
Jenna could read his body language, and she wasn’t pleased with what she saw.
“I’m his daughter, Jenna. I’m sure he mentioned me to you. He had mentioned you to me. Do you know where he is? That’s his ring you are wearing. What did you do to him?” Jenna was in a state of panic.
Uncomfortable
Frankie shifted uncomfortably as Jenna confronted him about the ring. He glanced at the ring on his finger, a ring that had belonged to Jenna’s father.
His voice trembled as he struggled to find the right words to respond.
“I…I don’t know where Mr. Hardin is,” Frankie stammered, avoiding Jenna’s gaze. “He…he gave me this ring and asked me to keep it safe for him.”
Against The Rules
Jenna’s heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of relief and suspicion washing over her. “Why would he give you his ring? And why haven’t you told anyone at the retirement home about this?”
Frankie hesitated, seemingly torn between telling the truth and keeping something hidden.
“Mr. Hardin…he went on a holiday with some of his friends, and he didn’t want anyone to know. It’s kind of against the rules.”
A Secret
Jenna’s mind raced. Her father going on a secret vacation without telling her was out of character. It didn’t make sense. “Frankie, are you sure that’s all he said? Did he mention when he’d be back?”
Frankie shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his unease growing more apparent.
“He said he’d be back in a couple of weeks, but it’s been…it’s been more than two months now.” Something about the situation didn’t sit right with her. She didn’t trust Frankie.
Close Attention
She paid close attention to the man before her. She was trying to read him, but she found it nearly impossible. Was he telling the truth? She wasn’t sure.
Something about his shifting eyes and trembling hands made her think that there was more to the story than he was letting on.
She suddenly felt afraid for her father’s life.
Trembling Hands
Her eyes then drifted back to the man’s hands. They were trembling as he strategically placed one hand over the other, trying to hide the ring that he so proudly wore to work that day.
Jenna was very familiar with the ring. It had belonged to her grandfather, and it was worth a lot of money.
As a child, her father wouldn’t even let her touch it. It was too valuable.
The Ring
Was it possible that Frankie knew the value of the ring? It had been passed down through her father’s family.
She had always assumed that it would be passed down to her children someday. Why on earth would he give it to a stranger?
She didn’t trust Frankie. She knew that her father liked him, but could he truly be that fond of the young man?
A Kind Young Man
Jenna’s father had mentioned Frankie before. He often referred to him as a “kind young man”.
She wondered if her father mentioned the ring and how much it was worth. What lengths would Frankie go to to get it?
A shiver ran down her spine just thinking about it. He was acting strange and it only made sense to assume that he was hiding something.
Honesty
Jenna had never been good at biting her tongue. She glared at the man which made him gulp nervously.
“I’m going to be honest with you here, Frankie,” She began, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I don’t know if I believe this story. I want to speak to whoever is in charge of this place. You’ve known that my father was missing for two whole months, and you said nothing.”
Furious
Jenna felt afraid for her father. Why didn’t Frankie report it to anyone? How could her father just leave, and no one noticed for two whole months? She was furious.
How could she have trusted these people to take care of the man who raised her? She had to blink back angry tears just thinking about it. She didn’t know what else she was supposed to do.
“I want to speak to your manager right now,” She told him.
Not Necessary
Frankie wiped the sweat from his brow, strategically using his left hand to draw attention away from his right.
He knew how suspicious it all seemed. He was wearing the ring of a missing man.
“Ma’am, I don’t think that’s necessary. Your father went on vacation, he will be back soon,” He tried to defuse the situation, but it alarmed Jenna even more.
Months Had Passed
Surely he understood the gravity of the situation, right? According to him, her father said he would be back in a few weeks, but it had been months since anyone had seen him.
What was he on about?
“Not necessary?” She spat, “Of course it is necessary! No one has seen my father for months! I trusted you to take care of him and now he’s gone! I want to speak to your manager right now,” She glared.
The Consequences
He lowered his eyes, knowing that he had to do as Jenna said. Hesitantly, he led her down the halls and toward the manager’s office. He knew that he was in for a lot of trouble.
He wanted to turn around and run away. Maybe he could skip town and avoid the authorities, he thought to himself. But he had to face the consequences of what had happened.
He knew he couldn’t get out of this one too easily.
The Manager
Jenna walked behind the lanky man. She could tell how slow and hesitant his steps were. There was no doubt in her mind that the man knew more than he was letting on.
When they reached the small office, he raised a hand and gently tapped his knuckles against the door. “Come in,” someone called from inside. Frankie took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
They were met by an older woman with a stern expression on her face.
Tracy
Jenna entered the room first and shook the woman’s hand. She introduced herself as Tracy, the manager of the old age home. Jenna and Frankie stepped into the woman’s office and sat before her.
“Is there a problem?” Tracy asked.
Frankie stared at his hands, waiting for Jenna to break the awful news. “As a matter of fact, there is. I fear that I have left my father in the care of unreliable people.”
Concern
The woman seemed concerned as she removed her glasses from her face and placed them on the table.
She looked at Frankie and then back at Jenna. She could tell that this was no simple situation.
“I came to see my father, and it turns out that no one has seen him for the past two months. According to Frankie over here, he left for a trip and never came back,” She continued.
Missing
Tracy’s eyes widened at the news. Of course, it didn’t take a scientist to understand the severity of the situation.
Someone in their care had gone missing, and no one knew except for Frankie, who said nothing.
Tracy demanded an explanation. Jenna had left her father in their care, and now, he was missing.
The Story
Frankie opened up, “Two months ago, Mr. Hardin approached me and told me that he was going on a trip with two other men, Glen and Arnold. He said they would only be gone for a few weeks,” He mumbled.
“But it had been two months, and this man didn’t think to inform anyone!” Jenna added angrily.
Baffled
Tracy was baffled by the news. She understood Jenna’s anger. This was a serious situation.
One of their residences had disappeared, and the only employee who knew about it didn’t say a word.
Jenna then mentioned the ring, stating that it was her father’s prized possession, “Why would he just give it to you? I don’t trust you,” She said plainly. Tracy demanded an explanation from the suspicious man.
Something To Do With It
As he looked at the two women before him, it was obvious what they were thinking. They thought he had done something to the old man. He had to explain himself before it went too far, but he’d made a promise.
“I can’t say much, I made a promise,” He sighed, “But Mr. Hardin said he’d be back in a few weeks, when he didn’t return, I assumed he’d gone to visit you,” He told Jenna.
“He’d been talking about visiting you for a while.”
She Didn’t Believe Him
Jenna didn’t know what to believe. Why couldn’t he tell them the full story? Who had he made the promise to? For the next while, Tracy tried to get Frankie to tell the truth, but he refused.
“I promised Mr. Hardin that I wouldn’t say a thing. I’ve already said too much,” He shook his head.
Jenna was becoming furious all over again.
Tell The Truth
Jenna knew that she had to take a deep breath and calm herself down.
She knew that he wouldn’t want to open up about the situation if she was too harsh. She took a second and tried to regain control of herself.
Screaming and fighting wouldn’t solve anything. “So you didn’t say anything because you didn’t want to get him in trouble for leaving?”
Too Close
He nodded. She tried to understand where he was coming from, but she was still suspicious.
He could see the suspicion that lingered behind her eyes. He wanted to escape.
“Two months, huh?” She whispered, her stomach dropped. That was a long time for someone to be missing. She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t checked up on him in so long. She felt awful.
No Trust
She didn’t trust the lanky stranger before her one bit. He nodded slightly, swallowing at the lump in his throat. He was clearly intimidated by her harsh gaze.
She knew that she had to get the police involved. It was all too suspicious for her liking, but she pretended to go with the man’s story.
Despite not believing a word he said.
No Contact
Jenna’s concern deepened. Two months was an alarmingly long time for her father to be away without any contact. She needed Frankie to tell her what he knew.
She decided she needed to take matters into her own hands.
“Frankie, I need you to tell me everything. Where did he go, who did he go with, and why the secrecy?”
Close Friends
He raised a hand and rubbed at the back of his neck. It was like he was puzzled by her very simple question. She felt uncomfortable.
Frankie finally met Jenna’s gaze, his eyes filled with guilt and worry.
“I…I can’t say much, but he went with his close friends, Glen and Arnold. They said they were going to a remote cabin in the mountains. Mr. Hardin insisted on it being a secret, and he gave me the ring as a sign to prove his trust.”
Figuring It Out
She nodded at the man’s words and watched him with careful eyes.
“I’m going to call the police and I’m going to report him as missing. Whatever happened to him, they will figure out the truth,” She said in an icy tone.
He nodded uncertainly, clearing his throat once again. “I- I hope they do, ma’am,” He stammered.
The Authorities
At that, she got up and left the room. Leaving the retirement home, Jenna contacted the authorities and reported her father as missing. She was hoping and praying that they would know what to do.
She provided them with all the information she had, including the mention of Glen and Arnold and the remote cabin in the mountains.
She even mentioned Frankie and the ring.
Hoping And Praying
She was praying that her suspicions about Frankie would be proven wrong. Perhaps her father just liked him enough to give him the ring. She didn’t know.
She hoped that he was safe and that she would be getting something from the home the following day.
But little did Jenna know that her problems would become even bigger.
What If?
For just a moment, she thought about what Frankie had said. If he wasn’t lying, that meant her dad truly was somewhere nice with his two friends. She hoped they were out having the time of their lives.
But then she thought about something else he’d said. They had been gone for two months.
What if they had gotten lost? What if they were hurt? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
She Felt Awful
Jenna felt awful. She felt like it was all her fault. She had gotten so busy and wrapped up in her own things that she had forgotten to check up or even speak to her father.
She could have given him a call or paid him a quick visit. She felt awful as she sat in her bedroom with tears in her eyes.
She needed to find him. That’s when she began to think.
His Favorite Place?
She had an idea of where he might be after all. It was his favorite place he would go with her mother when she was alive. He loved to go fishing by the lake.
She hoped she was right and that he and his friends were there.
Jenna knew that they had to be quick. She didn’t even know if her father had his meds with him.
Calling An Officer
She reached for her purse and called the officer who was handling her father’s case. She told him about her father’s special spot and asked if they could check it out as soon as possible.
He was a professional and swore to do everything in his power to help Jenna and her father.
“Of course, ma’am, we will be right on it,” He assured her, which made her feel slightly better.
The Race to the Lake
With the authorities informed and a possible lead in mind, Jenna wasted no time.
She packed some essentials, including her father’s medication, and rushed to the lake in the remote mountains where her father used to go fishing.
It was a place filled with cherished memories for her family, and she prayed it would also hold answers.
Anxious
The drive was long and winding, through dense forests and up steep hills. Jenna’s anxiety grew with each passing mile.
She just hoped that he was safe, wherever he was.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right, and the secrecy surrounding her father’s disappearance weighed heavily on her mind.
A Cabin in the Wilderness
After what felt like an eternity, Jenna arrived at the remote cabin by the serene lake.
It was nestled deep in the wilderness, surrounded by tall trees and the tranquil waters of the lake shimmering in the afternoon sun.
She parked her car and hurried towards the cabin, her heart pounding. What would she do if her father wasn’t there? Where would she look next?
Ajar
Stepping out of her car, she took slow, hesitant steps through the area. Her hands were shaking. She felt awful.
As she approached the cabin, Jenna noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. Her anxiety intensified.
She pushed the door open slowly and cautiously stepped inside. The cabin was eerily silent, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.
Hearing Something
But then she heard laughter from afar. When she turned around, she spotted three men sitting on the banks of the lake with their fishing rods in the water and having a ball of a time.
Jenna quietly approached them.
“Hey, Dad, I’ve been so worried about you,” she said. The three men turned around, almost too stunned to speak.
Worried
“I’ve been so worried about you, I thought something had happened to you,” She said as she quickly walked up to her father.
He looked up at her, a smile tugging at his face as he looked at his beloved daughter.
“I thought Frankie had done something to you, I was so afraid,” She cried, looking down at the man she thought she had lost.
Relieved
“Jen, Honey, what are you doing here? Frankie? No, Frankie is a little weird, but he couldn’t hurt a fly” Dan chuckled as he got up. Jenna just ran to hug her father. She was relieved that he was safe.
He wiped the tears from his daughter’s face as she looked up at him, relieved and emotional.
She couldn’t believe that he had been gone for so long, and she had no idea.
It Worked Out
When they got home, he explained the entire situation to the police. He had gone out to the woods with his friends, and they agreed not to leave until it was absolutely necessary.
Jenna approached Frankie and apologized for confronting him. He was as nervous as the first time she spoke to him.
It turned out he was just extremely introverted. But in the end, it all worked out.