Book 5: Without Iris

Maddox alighted from his car and walked up to his house. He hadn’t expected to return alone. He had been sure to find Iris at Stanford. But she hadn’t gone there either. The twins were as worried as he was. He had cross-examined them, but they, too, were clueless about Iris’s whereabouts.

He visited the San Francisco Police Department for information on Iris. They promised to update him.

There was nothing he could do other than return home.

Where had Iris gone? It seemed the earth had swallowed her up. He had lodged a missing report at both San Francisco and LA. They would get back soon. Yet almost an hour had gone by. They hadn’t called him. Why couldn’t they find her?

He locked the main door and stood staring at the emptiness surrounding him. The house was eerily quiet, and he felt claustrophobic. It didn’t feel like home without Iris.

Maddox felt physically drained. Ever since Iris had disappeared from his life, he hadn’t slept. All his mental peace and hap