Missing Child Read online

  ‘No problem,’ he said. He jumped back into the cab of his truck, checked the traffic moving toward them, and then found his moment to pull away from the curb.

  Caitlin closed all the car doors and stood back, aiming her keys at the car as if to lock the doors. Of course, since she was wielding keys from her own car, Dan’s car remained unlocked. Anyone could come along and steal it. Caitlin didn’t really care. She clutched Bandit and walked down the block toward her own vehicle, her heart pounding in her ears.

  When she got to her car, she opened the doors and slipped into the driver’s seat, though she made no move to turn on the engine. She held the stuffed animal to her face and inhaled its familiar scent. Geordie.

  Now what? she thought. Her options, when she thought about them, were not great. Part of her wanted to call the police and insist that they storm Dan’s house to look for Geordie, but she knew that as a plan that was almost laughable. She had nothing to offer the cops as a reason except for a stuffed animal which she had obtained by illegally entering Dan’s car. And it was not as if Geordie had never been in his uncle’s car with Bandit. It was those miniature boxing gloves hanging from the mirror which had made her look more closely into the car in the first place. For all she knew, Geordie might have gotten into the car at some point during his birthday party. Dan wouldn’t have locked the car in their driveway. Geordie might have climbed in, Bandit under his arm, to play with the dangling gloves, then rejoined the party excitement, leaving the pup in Dan’s car. Now that she thought about it, that explanation made a lot more sense than the notion that Dan might have been the one who abducted Geordie.

  She took her phone out of her pocketbook and thought about calling Noah. Asking him if he remembered the last time he had seen Bandit in the house. But her heart sank at the thought of Noah’s reaction to her question. He would insist on an explanation, be furious at the thought that she had gone to Dan to apologize, and now was trying to implicate him somehow in Geordie’s disappearance. No, you can’t call Noah, she thought.

  She held Bandit close and stared at the well-kept house across the street. She tried to imagine the worst about Dan, but it was impossible. As an uncle he was . . . dutiful. That was the word. He never forgot a birthday or a holiday, and he was fond of Geordie, almost in spite of the fact that Geordie was a kid. She remembered Haley saying that he didn’t like kids and wasn’t interested in having any of his own. It had been a sore point between them in their marriage. Caitlin tried to picture Dan as some kind of monster with a secret, grasping side, but it was an image that would not come into focus, no matter how she tried.

  No. All that was left for her was to go home. Forget about it and go home. Geordie had left Bandit in Dan’s car during the party. That was the only possibility that made sense. Go home, she thought.

  She looked across the street again. She couldn’t go home. Whether it made sense or not, she knew she couldn’t leave. Not without going over to Dan’s house and asking him to explain. If there was even the ghost of a chance that Geordie was in there, she had to pursue it. She hesitated for a moment, wondering what Dan might think of her, and what he might say to Noah about her. Then she shook her head.

  She didn’t care what Dan thought of her. Or Noah. Or anybody else. In the long run it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered. All that mattered was Geordie.

  She got out of the car, still clutching Bandit, locked the doors and, looking out for the oncoming traffic, walked across the street to Dan’s house. Squeezing her hands into fists, she hesitated for a moment, and then she knocked on the door.

  SEVENTEEN

  Dan, wearing reading glasses and holding a bottle of beer, looked at her in disbelief. ‘Are you still here? What do you want?’ he said.

  ‘I want to come in,’ said Caitlin.

  ‘I’m busy,’ said Dan. ‘I’m working.’

  ‘I don’t care,’ she said. ‘I need to talk to you.’

  ‘Caitlin, we have nothing else to say to one another. I’ve said everything I’m going to about this. You betrayed all of us. I hear that Noah kicked you out. I wasn’t sorry to hear it.’

  ‘This is about Geordie,’ she said.

  Dan blanched. ‘What about him?’

  ‘First, let me in,’ she said.

  Dan looked away from her, as if considering her request. Finally, he opened the door a little more. ‘All right. Come in.’

  Caitlin followed him into the vestibule and then into the living room. It was a living room with a masculine look. All the furniture was chrome, glass and leather, but the sleekness of the decor was counterbalanced by the piles of magazines and newspapers, along with a clutter of unwashed plates and coffee mugs on various surfaces. A general air of disarray pervaded the place.

  Caitlin looked around for a place to sit. Dan shook his head.

  ‘Whoa. I didn’t tell you to make yourself comfortable,’ he said. ‘What about Geordie?’

  Caitlin pulled Bandit out of her satchel and held him up by the neck. ‘This was in your car,’ she said.

  Dan’s eyes widened. ‘What the . . . What are you . . .?’

  ‘This is Geordie’s favorite toy. I found it wedged between the console and the passenger seat in your car.’

  ‘Well, how did you get it? What the hell were you doing in my car? Did you . . . If you fucked with my car . . .’

  She noticed that there were beads of sweat along his hairline. It was warm in the house, but not stifling. She thought he looked pale as well. Of course, it could be from anxiety about his expensive car. ‘Never mind how I got it. I want to know what it was doing in there.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ he cried. ‘How do I know? Maybe . . . I don’t know.’

  A calm feeling had come over her at the sight of his anxiety. ‘Is Geordie with you?’ she said.

  ‘With me?’ He slammed the beer bottle down on the glass-topped computer desk. ‘You crazy bitch. What are you . . . Get out of my house.’

  ‘Just answer me,’ she said. ‘Is he here?’

  ‘What are you accusing me of?’ he demanded.

  ‘I want to know how Bandit got into your car.’

  ‘I don’t have to explain anything to you.’

  ‘Yes, you do. I’m Geordie’s . . . mother.’

  ‘Oh, that’s gall,’ he said. ‘Listen, lady. My sister was Geordie’s mother. That is, until your brother ran her over in his car.’

  Caitlin closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. ‘Dan,’ she said, ‘you can’t make me feel any worse than I already do about Emily’s death. That’s why I came here today. To try to explain to you . . . But then I saw Bandit in your car. Now, you have something to explain to me.’

  ‘Let me make sure I understand this,’ said Dan. ‘Somehow you broke into my car. And now you’re accusing me . . .’

  ‘Stop,’ Caitlin pleaded. ‘Stop with the righteous anger. Just tell the truth. Don’t you care about Geordie?’

  Dan stared at her. ‘Of course I do.’

  ‘Is he here? Is he here in your house?’ she asked.

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘Certainly not.’

  ‘Can I see for myself?’ she asked.

  ‘You know, I’m beginning to think the stress is getting to you. Are you . . . all right?’

  Caitlin brandished the raggedy pup. ‘This stuffed animal was in your car. How is that possible?’

  Dan shook his head. ‘Look, I don’t know, Caitlin. Maybe . . . on his birthday. That was the last time I saw Geordie. Maybe he was playing in my car. He loves my car. He likes those boxing gloves I have.’

  Caitlin’s shoulders slumped.

  ‘Maybe he climbed in to play around . . . and he left it there. I’m sorry. I can’t think of any other way . . .’

  ‘Why didn’t you notice it?’ she demanded.

  Dan looked around at the mess in his living room with a sigh. ‘I don’t know. I don’t sit in the passenger seat. Besides, with me, everything is not in its place,’ he admitted.

  �
�Can I look for myself?’ she asked.

  ‘What?’ he asked.

  ‘In your house. Can I look?’

  Dan shook his head. ‘No. Now I’ve had enough. You cannot roam through my house.’

  ‘Why not?’ she demanded.

  ‘Because I want you gone. This is completely nuts. Why would I take Geordie? How could you even think . . .’

  Caitlin slipped past him and started up the staircase, screaming. ‘Geordie, are you here? Answer me. It’s Mom.’

  The house was silent. She climbed a few more steps and looked up at the second-floor landing. ‘Geordie, don’t be afraid. Answer me,’ she cried. There was no response.

  ‘Geordie!’

  ‘You can scream till you’re blue in the face,’ said Dan in a steely tone, opening the front door again. ‘Nobody’s going to answer.’

  Caitlin sighed and descended the stairs. Without looking at Dan, she walked out onto the front step. She could feel his gaze on her. She looked back at Dan. He was studying her with an expression she could not define in his eyes.

  ‘What?’ she demanded.

  Dan shook his head. ‘You really do love that kid,’ he said.

  Caitlin’s chin trembled, and tears rose to her eyes. ‘Don’t sound so shocked.’

  ‘You never know,’ he said.

  ‘You’d know if you paid attention,’ she said angrily.

  Dan pointed a finger at her. ‘Watch it, Caitlin. You’re lucky I didn’t call the police on you. If there’s any damage to my car . . .’

  ‘I used to like you,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I used to think you were a good guy.’

  ‘Chill out,’ he said. Then he closed the door in her face.

  Caitlin called Haley before she left the city and Haley met her at a bistro in Hartwell. They each had a hamburger and a glass of wine, and then mounted the steps in the Jordan Bakery building to the apartment on the second floor. Haley had wisely bought the building at a favorable price when she decided to open. Noah had helped her to negotiate the deal. Now, she lived on the second and third floors of the building, and her business hummed along at the street level, not subject to arbitrary raises in rent.

  ‘Call me a bad person,’ said Haley, unlocking her apartment door and ushering Caitlin inside. ‘I . . . just don’t see it. I mean, you weren’t the one at the wheel. If that had been the case . . .’

  ‘But, it wasn’t,’ said Caitlin.

  ‘Exactly,’ said Haley. ‘So, you were in a terrible position. I mean, surely they can see that. I feel sure that Noah will come around.’

  ‘I hope you’re right,’ said Caitlin. She accepted a second glass of wine which Haley poured from the selection of bottles on her kitchen counter. Haley poured herself a glass as well, and led the way to her comfortable sitting room which looked out over Main Street. The gaslights on the street were illuminated and their glow shifted with the rustling trees. Most of the stores on Main Street were closed except for a couple of pubs and restaurants, so there was a peaceful atmosphere in the apartment.

  ‘Tell me more about your visit to Dan,’ said Haley. ‘Was the new girlfriend in her Jimmy Choos there?’

  Caitlin shook her head. She had deliberately not said very much to Haley about her visit with Dan. On reflection, she was a little a bit ashamed that she had virtually accused Dan of having a part in Geordie’s disappearance. From this distance, it seemed insane. And she knew that Haley would not take kindly to that suggestion.

  ‘No, he was . . . definitely by himself,’ said Caitlin. ‘Why? Do you think this one is a keeper for Dan?’

  Haley swirled her wine in her glass and frowned. ‘No. Not really. Dan likes to avoid . . . entangling alliances, shall we say.’

  ‘He married you, didn’t he?’

  Haley shrugged. ‘We were high school sweethearts. When you’re young like that, it’s easy to . . . make the wrong choice.’

  ‘Are you kidding?’ said Caitlin. ‘You were a prize. He was a fool to ever let you go.’

  Haley chuckled. ‘Oh, thanks, but . . . I think we both realized it was a mistake.’

  ‘Really?’ said Caitlin. She had always assumed, from Haley’s lingering fondness for Dan, that he was the one who had chosen to quit the marriage.

  ‘Well, he was adamant about not wanting kids. And, call me a cockeyed optimist, but that is still something I want to do in my life.’

  ‘You will,’ said Caitlin.

  ‘I hope so.’

  They were both quiet for a moment. Caitlin’s mind returned to Bandit, stuffed in the front seat of Dan’s car. ‘Why didn’t he want kids?’ Caitlin asked.

  ‘The usual male . . . ego,’ said Haley. ‘He wanted to do exactly what he’s doing. He lives for sports. He comes and goes as he pleases. He lives a pretty . . . idyllic life for a man. There’s really no room for kids in it. Or a wife.’

  ‘I suppose not,’ said Caitlin.

  Haley raised her face and looked out the window. The gaslight from the street illuminated her soft profile. ‘It’s not only that. Sometimes it was just . . . hard to get close to him. He’s very . . . detached. Most of the women in his life are . . . temporary. In fact, the night of Geordie’s party, when he got so sick, he sent Jimmy Choos back to Philly on the bus.’

  ‘You’re kidding,’ said Caitlin. ‘He was really sick? I thought he was faking it that night so he could leave the party.’

  ‘Oh no, he felt wretched,’ said Haley. ‘He spent the night here. In the guest room. He showed up at my door and he was in such a bad way that I couldn’t turn him away. I thought of taking him to the emergency room at one point. His head was killing him and he threw up until he had the dry heaves. The next day he was just pale and limp. I tried to get him to stay and rest for the day, but he had work so he headed back.’

  In spite of herself, Caitlin felt a surge of anxiety at this discovery. ‘So he was here in Hartwell that day. The day that Geordie was taken . . .’

  Haley frowned. ‘Well, not really. He went back to Philly as soon as he could get out of bed.’

  Caitlin hesitated. ‘Was he wearing an Eagles cap?’ she asked, thinking of the account of the teacher’s aide at Geordie’s school.

  ‘What?’ Haley asked.

  ‘Was he?’

  ‘He may have been. I don’t remember. Why would you ask me that?’

  ‘No reason,’ Caitlin said, although she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. ‘I’m just desperate. God, I hate the thought of going back to my parents’ house. Every miserable thing that ever happened there is weighing on me the moment I walk in the door. And without Noah to turn to, I just tie myself up in knots thinking about Geordie. About what has happened to him. Where he could be . . .’

  ‘You can stay here, in the guest room,’ said Haley.

  ‘You are a really good friend, you know it?’ Caitlin said. ‘Nobody else even wants to speak to me.’

  ‘Noah’s gonna get over this. You wait and see. He really loves you.’

  ‘He loved Emily,’ said Caitlin.

  Haley nodded. ‘Yes, he did.’

  Caitlin wished she hadn’t mentioned it. She knew it was true, but she felt as if now that Noah had thrown her out, he was waiting for Geordie’s return with Emily’s ghost for company. After all, Noah probably still felt closest to her. Emily was Geordie’s mother. Emily, whom Caitlin’s brother had left to die in the street. ‘Why did it have to be Emily?’ Caitlin said aloud.

  Haley met her gaze sadly. ‘I know,’ she said.

  EIGHTEEN

  Sam Mathis sat at the kitchen table while Caitlin put on the coffee pot and took out a bag of muffins which Haley had given her before she left her house last night. She offered one to Sam.

  Sam held up a hand and shook his head. ‘I’ve eaten,’ he said.

  ‘Do you mind . . .?’ she asked, pointing to her coffee mug.

  Sam shook his head again and Caitlin poured herself some coffee and sat down with a muffin in front of her on a napkin. She
began to pick at it.

  ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Judging from the look on your face, this isn’t good news. I know it’s not about Geordie. You would have told me already.’

  ‘True,’ he said. ‘We located the man that the cable TV guy saw on the street. They live in the neighborhood. His kid was sick and he came to take him home.’

  Caitlin sighed.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Sam.

  She could see the discouragement in Sam Mathis’s eyes. ‘I know you’re doing all you can,’ she said.

  ‘That’s kind of you,’ he said.

  ‘Believe me, if I thought cursing you out would bring him back,’ she said grimly, ‘I’d call you every name in the book.’

  Sam acknowledged the truth of this with a brief smile.

  Caitlin hesitated. ‘I went to see Geordie’s Uncle Dan yesterday in Philly. I went to apologize about Emily. But while I was there, I found Geordie’s favorite toy, a stuffed dog named Bandit, in his car.’

  Sam immediately straightened up. ‘You’re sure it was Geordie’s toy?’

  ‘Positive,’ she said.

  ‘Did you ask him about it?’

  Caitlin sighed. ‘I did more than that. I . . . entered his car and took it.’

  ‘How did you do that?’ Sam asked.

  ‘I’d rather not say,’ she said, avoiding his gaze. ‘The car was not damaged, I’ll say that much. Anyway, I confronted Dan with Bandit. He seemed more angry that I’d gotten into his car than anything else.’

  ‘How did he explain having the toy?’

  ‘Well, at first he just seemed baffled. In the end, he came to the same conclusion I did. Geordie was probably fooling around in his car at the birthday party and left Bandit there. I know that’s the last time I can remember seeing him – Bandit. On Geordie’s birthday.’

  ‘Is that what you think happened?’ Sam asked.

  ‘Probably,’ she admitted.

  ‘Was it possible that Geordie had the stuffed animal with him when he was taken? In his backpack maybe?’

  ‘We forbid him to bring Bandit to school with him. Bandit was like a . . . security blanket for him. And it got him that kind of negative attention. The bullies love things like that. So he knew better than to take it with him. Although I know he didn’t always obey us about that,’ Caitlin said.