Nothing happened for several months. She met with Bryan a few more times, always in person with minimal information in writing and in a public place. They didn't know how much of a digital presence these people had. That was the only reason Nora had given him her phone number, to avoid having to use the internet to communicate. He seemed to understand her nervousness, as he never suggested they meet in a more private setting.
Bryan managed to track down another location, where they had been about a year ago. It was several hours away by plane, but still within the same general area they had found them before. Bryan offered to pay for her ticket so they could go there together. Nora reluctantly accepted. She had already been with him on such a trip. She made sure to tell one of her colleagues that she was going away for the weekend, so there would be someone who missed her, if Bryan did something. But she didn't really think he would. She felt a kinship with him that she had never felt with another man before. Maybe it was because they were both obsessed with finding the only other person in the world that they cared about. From how he talked, it was clear to Nora that Bryan loved his wife very much and would do anything to save her. He had even got himself a P.I license to get access to some databases. That was how he knew about the people who had been identified with DNA. Nora hadn't thought about those sorts of solutions.
They found the likely location, but there was nothing. No sign of anyone being there, and no dead bodies. Nora didn't know why she expected otherwise. It had been like this at all the other sites she had visited. Bryan looked defeated as he looked out on the endless prairie before them. Nora surprised herself when she went over and held his hand, to comfort him. She hadn't done that with anyone other than Audrey. But he had looked so sad, she felt like she had to comfort him.
They returned back home, not knowing what to do next. All they could really do was keep searching, hoping to find more clues.
Then, after several months waiting, it happened. The same sort of advertisement as she had seen before. It wasn't near her hometown, like last time, but it was close enough that she didn't have to ask for more time off to drive there. She couldn't miss this opportunity. She had to go. She was terrified, but she also knew that she would regret it forever if she didn't go now.
Nora had spoken with confidence when talking to Bryan about her intentions, but she had to admit that he had some valid points. She would put herself in an incredibly vulnerable position, if she did what she said. Especially because she was exactly the type of person these people were interested in. Unattached and knowledgeable. Bryan seemed to think she couldn't handle it, but that made her even more determined to do it. He didn't know her that well.
She sent in a new application and a new deposit when it was confirmed. There went the rest of her savings. Well, if she was actually able to find Audrey again, it would be worth it. If not, what did she have to lose? She wasn't doing anything with her money anyway.
That is, until her car broke down on her way to the pick-up location. Why did this have to happen now! She didn't have time for this! The bus would leave no matter if she was onboard or not, she was sure.
Fortunately, it didn't take long until a car stopped to help. She narrowed her eyes when she saw who was behind the wheel though.
"What are you doing here?" she asked Bryan as he stopped behind her. She had told him that he couldn't be seen with her, and he had reluctantly agreed, but apparently he had decided to follow anyway.
"Making sure you are OK."
She would be much less OK if any of them saw him! Why couldn't he see that?
"What if they see you?"
"They're not going to. Besides, there is no guarantee that the people at the pickup location know me on sight. I'll drop you off near the place and you can walk the last few blocks, does that work? Then I can take care of your car."
"I can't afford to fix the car right now." Nora said with a sigh. She didn't really need it in the city, but she liked the freedom of being able to go outside the city whenever she wanted. But maybe it was time to let that go. She probably wouldn't need to travel to remote places anymore either.
"Don't worry about that. I'll settle the car bill for you."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because we're friends? And because you're on your way to do something dangerous and need to focus on that completely. No time to worry about a car. And before you ask, yes, I can afford to fix a car. I am fairly affluent."
Nora wanted to protest further, but she also knew that they were running out of time. Did he really consider them friends? They had only met a few times, though one of them had been on a weekend trip. She had hardly shared any personal information with him. She had learned that lesson the hard way.
"Fine. Get me near the location and I'll walk the rest of the way. Try not to make them see you, and please don't try to follow the bus. They are sure to be watching for that, no matter what they suspect otherwise."
"I can see you on the GPS, I don't need to follow. Just be sure to hide the other tags in things that are most likely to go back to their base with them."
Nora rolled her eyes. They had already discussed this.
"I know. And I have the photo of Rita and will ask some of them, if I have the chance."
"I'm still not sure that's a good idea. The goal is for you to make it out alive. If they see you ask questions, they might decide you are a threat as well. Please don't risk that just for me."
"The picture is small, and I have hidden it and the GPS tags in small pockets in my bag. They won't find it unless they are specifically looking. And they don't search that well when we enter, unless that's changed since the last time I talked to someone who was there."
"Sorry, I know that you are as prepared as you can be, but I am still worried. I wish I could go instead of you."
Nora was worried as well, but she wasn't about to admit that. Not when Bryan was already trying to talk her out of this.
"They are more likely to know your name than mine. And you don't fit the kind of person they're looking for like I do."
"Which means it would be less likely for me to be kidnapped. You fit the type a little too well."
"I still have a job, and someone who would miss me. I wrote myself as the next-of-kin, with my phone, as you know. You will know, if you get any texts on that phone, it's not from me."
Bryan sighed. Nora appreciated that he was worried, but she didn't want to have to go over everything again. She knew it was dangerous, but what else could she do? She would probably never have another chance like this.
"I will be fine. From what we've seen, they don't kill their victims straight away. So, no matter what happens, you will either be able to send in the police, or I will be back."
They sat for some time in silence as Bryan got onto an old road that probably hadn't been maintained for many years. It was a good thing he didn't drive a low car.
"You trust me an awful lot, for a person that claims to not trust anyone." he said as they were entering the small village where the bus would pick her up.
"I don't have a choice. I thought I would have to do this without someone backing me up. Having you here is just a bonus."
"Still, I'm glad you decided to trust me."
"I'm not sure I would go that far."
Bryan just shook his head. Nora wondered how much he actually knew about her. He had already confessed to looking her up, after their first meeting. She couldn't judge him for that. She had done the same. She was worried she had just shared everything she knew with someone in league with them. But his story added up, from what she could see. And he hadn't tried to flirt with her once, which was unusual for a man. He remained focused on finding his wife, whom he loved, despite her flaws. She could respect that.
Finally, they were there. He dropped her off just out of sight from the bus and looked a little awkward. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind about something and gave her a hug. He didn't let it become more than a "please-be-careful" hug though, so she didn't mind. It was like a hug you gave to a friend.
"Please be careful. Don't appear to be too excited, but not hostile either."
"I know, dad, please stop worrying about me." Bryan wasn't actually old enough to be her father, but he sure sounded like one right now.
"I'll stop worrying about you when you're back here. I'll come and pick you up, OK? I doubt your car will be fixed that soon, and you won't have time to collect it anyway."
"Just don't let them see you, even then. I'll wait for you here, ok? Otherwise, I will text you on your own phone, not mine, where to go. If I send a text to my own phone, don't go there, it is most likely a trap."