I began talking with a woman through a message board, but never met in person. Her husband was stationed in Iraq, and she was stuck overseas and was very lonely. She posted a message that she was looking for someone to talk with, so I responded to the message. She and I have been chatting via instant messenger and talked many times over the phone since 2003. She lives in North Carolina, and I live in the midwest. He returned from Iraq, and they moved back to the States in 2004. A couple of months ago, I wanted to attend a tour showcasing some of my favorite artists, and since they weren't coming to my hometown, I knew I was going to have to travel to see the concert in another state. I wasn't sure to which city I would go, but since North Carolina was one of the stops of the tour, and my friend lives in North Carolina, I figured, why not ask my friend if she'd like to meet for the first time and attend the concert? I suggested this idea to her, and she wholeheartedly agreed to meet me in Charlotte and attend the concert with me. I paid for both our tickets, and I also booked what was supposed to be our hotel room using my credit card. She said she would pay me for her ticket and half the hotel room, and this was the agreement between us.

After a while, she began saying she would send the money on this payday or that payday, but nothing ever came. She finally sent an e-mail to me on July 11th claiming, again, that she would send half of the money in a money order on Tuesday and pay the other half through Paypal on the 15th. At any rate, I was like, okay, no big deal; however, nothing came, but I really didn't think too much of it. Shortly thereafter, she and I were chatting on Yahoo Messenger, and she signed off while I was in the middle of typing a sentence and never signed back on.

Last week, I e-mailed her several times, left messages on her cell phone to call me and let me know what was going on, especially if she was still going to the concert. (She lives 3 hours away from where the concert is being held, but she said she was going to drive and that that was okay with her), but she hasn't contacted me. Then, last Wednesday, her husband called me out of the blue using her cell phone and told me he will be wiring the money that is owed to me, but that she can't make the concert. When I asked him where she was, he replied, "Oh, she stepped out. I'll tell her you called." She never called. The next day, he called from her cell phone, again, and left a message stating that he sent the money and that if I had any questions, to call him on his cell phone.

The concert has come and gone, and I still have yet to hear from her. I called her cell phone last night, and he answered yet again. He claimed she was "out" again, and would let her know I called. I told him that he said this the last time and he replied, "Well, I don't know why she hasn't called you." I asked him why wouldn't she have her cell phone on her if she was out, and he said, "I don't know." He kept trying to change the subject, and I was trying to get him to tell me where my friend was, but he wouldn't budge. The final straw was when he said, "Well, if you want to get in contact with her, YOU'LL HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER". I called their land line, also, but the number has been changed or no longer in service. Though I live in another state, I am ready to call the police and see if she's okay. It's now been 2 weeks since I've heard from her. I don't want to overreact, but is there anything I should be doing or just leave her alone?

Thanks, Abby.

Worried