Chapter 10: Disappearing Act

"What are you looking at?" I asked, walking into my home office towards the mahogany desk Karri was sitting at. Her eyes were focused on the computer screen infront of her, her face grim.

"Oh... nothing." I said, giving me a small smile before giving the mouse a few clicks with her left hand. She pushed the chair out from the desk and made her way towards me. "So, what time do you have to head into the rink for?"

"Not till after 5..." I pulled her into a hug, resting my chin on the top of her head. She nuzzled her face into my chest and took a deep breath before sighing. I chuckled, "Still addicted to the smell I see? Should I be worried you feel so strongly about David Beckham?"

She giggled back, pulling her head up to look at me. "Not him, just the scent." She tugged on my arm, leading me out of the room and into the hallway. "What do you want to do for the next few hours then?" She asked as we made our way down the stairs.

"Dunno, we could go see if Marc and Vero are home?"

"Sure, are we coming back here before the game... or should I change?"

"You could just wear what you have on..." I grinned, causing her to laugh as she did a spin showing off the bikini top and shorts she was wearing.

"As much as I love walking around all day in my bathing-suit... this was intended for the pool, not the hockey rink." I sighed and snapped my fingers in an 'aw shucks' manner. She shook her head and ran up the stairs towards our room.


"You know..." Karri began on the way the Marc's house. "I really hope your parents send down some more of my stuff soon... I'm running out of clothes."

"We have a washing machine..."

"Obviously! Or else I would have been running around naked a long time ago. I just mean that I can't keep living in like, 5 outfits forever."

"Did I mention that the washing machine's broken now? Guess you're just out of luck..." Karri reached over and playfully slapped my shoulder, muttering something that sounded like 'perv' under her breath. I laughed as we pulled up the drive-way. "You could always just go shopping you know? I know Vero wouldn't mind."

"True... Ugh, I hate shopping though."


We settled in on the couch beside Marc to watch Bon Cop Bad Cop (Flower's favorite movie); while we waited for Vero to get home from volunteering at the hospital.
he stairs towards our room.

"Hey Flower, alright if we stay here till game time?" I asked as Marc was taking the DVD out of the player.

"Oui, you can sleep in the spare room if you want." He said put the disc back in the case and turning around to face Karrington. "Vero should be home in a few minutes if you want to just watch TV or whatever." She nodded.
Marc headed up stairs for his pre-game nap as I pulled Karri into a hug, bringing her lips to mine. "Hey now... no hanky-panky on my couch!" I heared Flower jest from the stairs.

"Did he actually just say 'hanky-panky'?" Vero laughed walking in through the kitchen.

"Apparently. Oh hey Vero... Karri needs to go shopping." I pulled my wallet out from my back pocket and fired a few credit cards at Vero. "She won't spend it on herself so... you'll just have to do it for her." Karri groaned leaned her face against my chest.

"My pleasure! I'll make sure she gets some nice things for her generous boyfriend."

"I'm a generous boyfriend!" Marc called from the stairs.

"You spying now?" He grinned and shrugged, Vero sighed and grabbed Karri, pulling her away from me. "You boys go sleep... we'll take care of the shopping."

Karri gave me one last pouty look before following Vero out to the car.

Karri's POV

"So... how have things been?" Vero asked, holding up a blue shirt infront of me.

"Umm... good I guess. I mean, he seems happy but... I don't really know what he's thinking. It seems like everything just happened so fast; I'm scared he regrets it."

"Trust me, from what Marc-Andre says, and, seeing how happy Sidney's been, I would say he has no regrets. At least not that you're together again." She paused, grabbing a dress off the rack and throwing it over her arm. "What about you though, how are you?"

"Great. Good. Really good." I sighed and she laughed at my insecurities. "I'm just... freaking out a little about the whole 'tabloid' thing."

"I was going to ask you about that, you handled it pretty cooly... did you actually brush it off that well?"

"At first yah, it just seemed so silly and such bull that I thought it was kind of funny. But then... I found a website, where people were talking about me and... we'll they've dubbed me the 'East-Coast Gold-digger" and apparently I'm also ugly."

Vero let out an exasperated sigh. "Je déteste des personnes... don't let it get to you. Easier said then done I know but, people are jealous... from personal experience with Marc-Andre, people will say anything when you have something they want."

"And when you have 'Sid the Kid'..." I chuckled darkly as Vero threw an arm around my shoulder.

In total we spent more money on clothing than I had spent on my whole life combined. I was dragging my feet after Vero as I followed her in and out of store after store. Finally, with her arms bogged down in bags, she began heading towards the front doors; her black hair swaying behind her as she walked.

"Vero! Hold up!" I called, stopping in front of a neon pink window display. Vero turned and headed back to stand beside me. Once she saw what I was looking at a mischief smile spread across her face. "Didn't we promise something nice for our wonderful boyfriends?"

"Why yes, I believe we did!" She laughed back, as we both walked into the store.

Sidney's POV

I watched Max pull on his gloves before leaning forward on the bench, his elbows balanced on his thighs and his eyes glazed over in deep consetration.
I knew what Max was like; a little immature, foolish, always acting on impulse, but I also knew he was a good guy. After my confrontation with him, Karri had explained to me that Max's kiss was more of a 'mistake' then anything.
That didn't make me feel any better about it.

It seemed like when it came to Karri there was always trouble; not because of her but, it seemed like we could never catch a break. First the tabloids, then max, the girlfriends... I sighed and pulled my thoughts together. Game tonight Crosby.

We ended up loosing to Washington 4-3. It was a hard loss, especially on home ice. As much as I respected Ovie as a player; I hated loosing to him. Hell, I hated loosing to anyone.

Karri was suppose to meet me in the lounge with the rest of the girlfriends, but she wasn't there. I sought Vero out through the crowd, she was talking in quick whispers with Flower.

"Where's Karri?" Vero looked at me then looked back at Marc and shrugged. "Where's Karri?" I asked again, starting to get nervous.

"Ummm... Je ne sais pas... she went to the bathroom, she came back upset but she wouldn't talk about it. Je suis si désolé… Je ne sais pas… Je suis désolé." Her eyes started tearing up as Flower pulled her into a hug, whispering to her.

"Mon amour, mon amour ne pleurent pas. Karri sera ok, ne pleurent pas. We'll find her." He tore his eyes away from Vero's face to look me in the eye. "We'll find her..."

This wasn't happening. My heart was hammering and my mind was in overdrive. I looked around the room, everyone was so clam... how do they not know? How does no one realize that Karri isn't here.

"Max! Geno! Kris!" I shouted over the room, the boys all got up and walked over to me. "Karri's gone. We don't know where she is... go ask around, see if anyone knows where she is." I was panicking. I put my hands up over my face and continued to push them through my hair. "Shit."

I headed off down the deserted hallway towards Mario's office. I pushed open the door not bothering to knock. He was standing with his back to me, talking to Nathalie. "Karri's gone." I half-shouted before he had time to ask. "We don't know where she is. Vero said she went to the bathroom then came back upset... she left after and no one knows where she is now. We have to call the RCMP or something."

"Ok Sid... this is Pittsburgh, there is no RCMP and I'm sure she's here somewhere."

"No she's gone..." I flopped down in Mario's chair for half a second before jumping back up again. Where the hell is she? What if someone took her... what if someone took her to get to me?! "OH MY GOD... ransom, what if she's being held for ransom... we need to call someone. Why aren't you calling anyone?!"

Mario looked over at Nathalie with a concerned look and then back at me. "Ok Sidney, clam down. Vero said she went to the bathroom... did she say when?" I shook my head. "Ok, you wait here a minute... don't call anyone please... I'll be right back." He turned and headed out the door, Nathalie behind him.

"Do you think someone-?" I heard Nathalie ask.

"I don't know, I don't know but don't say anything in front of him..." Their voices trailed off as they moved down the hall.

"SHIT!" How did I let this happened... if anything happened to her... Her cellphone. Ugh! I'm an idiot why didn't I call her?

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed her number. It rang four times before she picked up; she was crying. "Baby? Karebear? Where are you, are you ok? I'm worried sick about you Vero said..."

"I'm ok Sidney I just... I can't see you right now."

"Yes, I'm fine... I mean, I'm not hurt... no one hurt me I just... I can't see you." I could hardly make her out between sobs.

"Baby, what are you saying? Why can't you see me?" I could feel tears forming in my own eyes. I had sworn I'd never lose her again, how had I let this happen?

"I just... I need some time ok?"

"What happened? Where will you go?" My voice was a whisper.

"I'll figure it out ok? I just need a couple days Sidney... please..."