Little Lost Things

by Eleanor Chance

  He rolled back onto his pillow and imagined what he’d be doing if he were home. First, he had to figure out what day it was. He was more disoriented and adrift than he’d been at Mara’s. He’d lost track of time. If he’d had his phone, he could tell not only the time and day but where he was with the GPS, too.

  He depended on his phone for so much. He wanted it back, just like he wanted his clothes, his friends, and the comfy bed that was long enough, that his feet didn’t hang off the end. He felt a rush of emotions but couldn’t decide which was more powerful, his anger or his homesickness. If he could make himself dig deep enough to forgive Grace, he would escape from Mara and go home, but he didn’t even have the strength to think about it that morning.

  He picked up the remote, turned on the TV, crossing his fingers for cable. When the channel guide popped on, he sighed in relief. He doubted the motel had any kind of decent internet, so at least with cable he wouldn’t be completely isolated from the world.

  The display on the TV read 7:15, Thursday morning. Only a week had passed since Thanksgiving. It was almost impossible to wrap his mind around after all he’d been through in the past seven days. He recalled talking with Grace in his room after Thanksgiving dinner. Part of him wished he could turn back time and return to being Blissfully Ignorant Johnny.

  He flipped to a news channel to find out if the world was still talking about him. Sure enough, there was his horrible school picture from a few months earlier. Why had his mom picked that picture and the one with the pumpkin pie to give to the FBI? His mom’s phone was full of better ones where he didn’t look like a grinning idiot.

  The image switched from his photo to the sketch of Mara. He was about to click it off when she came out of the bathroom and told him to wait. She moved inches from the screen and stared.

  “Turn it up,” she ordered. Johnny pressed the volume button a few times. “More.” He did it again until she nodded.

  “There is a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of this woman, known only as Mara, and the recovery of Johnathan James Walker,” the news anchor said.

  Mara whipped around and glared at him. “Did you tell someone what I look like?” When Johnny shook his head, she leaned closer to him. “How did they find out about me? How do they know what I look like? It had to be you.”

  “How could I have told anyone? I never left your house until last night.”

  “You called Grace. Who else did you call? The police?”

  Johnny scooted closer to the headboard. “Why would I do that? I stayed with you by choice, remember? Grace was the only person I called. You would have seen that if you’d checked your phone before smashing it to death. I only had your phone for five minutes before you came storming down the stairs like a maniac.”

  She shifted her gaze back to the TV and tapped her chin. “Then it must have been Grace. She saw me one day at your physical therapist’s office.”

  “She did? When?”

  “I didn’t think she’d remember me after so long,” Mara said, like she was in a trance. “She’d only seen me once before. In the ER the day I lost you. She must have told them.”

  “She does have a photographic memory.”

  Mara paced the small room in high gear before grabbing her purse and heading for the door. “I have to go.”

  Johnny reached for his crutches. “Where are we going?”

  She turned and stared at him like she’d forgotten he was there. “Not we. Just me.”

  “You’re not abandoning me here, are you?”

  “Don’t be stupid. I have an errand to run. There’s breakfast on the table.”

  Johnny looked where she pointed. How had she had time to make a food run and do it without him hearing?

  “Stay here, and I mean in this room. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Chain the door.”

  “You’re nuts, lady,” he said, as he locked the door behind her.

  As he ate his breakfast of powdered donuts and cold, hardboiled eggs, he wondered what life would have been like if that hurricane had never happened when he was a baby. Mara and Criminal Rick would have been his parents. He would have been a normal kid with healthy legs and no headaches or seizures. He would have been able to play sports and go hiking or rock climbing. He’d have a whole different set of friends and a different family. He wouldn’t know the Walkers or Emersons, or even Darnell and Ty. The big question he had to answer was whether he was grateful for the hurricane.

  He thought next of the other possibility. If Mara and Rick hadn’t taken him from the hospital, Craig Stuart would have been his family. He would have grown up in New Mexico without a mom. He’d never been to the southwest and couldn’t begin to imagine what that life would have been like, but anything would have been better than being on this mad adventure with Mara.

  * * *

  Mara pounded on the door an hour later. Johnny looked through the peephole to see a woman with short, spiked blond hair. She wore heavy eyeliner, thick purple eyeshadow, and a lip-ring. If Johnny hadn’t recognized Mara’s eyes, he wouldn’t have unhooked the chain.

  She came in and set groceries bags on the small table. After fishing a pair of pink-rimmed glasses from one of the bags and putting them on, she said, “What do you think? Would Grace recognize me now?”

  “No one will,” Johnny said. “What will they say at work?”

  She unwrapped a breakfast burrito and dumped hot sauce on it. “I can’t go back to the hospital. Someone might recognize me from that sketch. I have to find a different way to get money.” She pulled a phone from her back pocket. “I have to get my number changed until I can afford a new phone.”

  Johnny’s eyes widened. “Where did you get that? I saw you destroy your phone.”

  “This is the phone I brought from Portland, the one I used for work. The one I destroyed was my secret phone. I’m hoping changing my number will be enough to throw them off my tail.” Johnny watched her shove nurse’s uniforms and an ID badge into one of the grocery bags. “I have to dump this, too. Pack up while I’m gone. We need to move again. The guy at the motel desk saw me last night.”

  Johnny groaned at the idea of having to pick up and move to another place, but he got up to lock the door after her and watched through the peephole until she was out of sight. Whichever family Johnny ended up with in the end, life with Mara would definitely be the most unpredictable.

  Chapter Eleven

  Reid tapped on Michaels’ open door. “Any word from forensics yet?”

  “Just going over the preliminary reports,” Michaels said. “Johnny was at that house, but I’m not sure how knowing that helps. He already told us he was with her.” He gestured at a sealed clear bag laying on a table in the corner. “They found some of his clothes, including what I think he was wearing when Mara nabbed him.”

  “I can run those over to the family if forensics is done with them. I’d like to tell the Walkers about the raid myself,” Reid said.

  “I called an hour ago and told them Mara got away. We have enough other items of Johnny’s in evidence, so those can go to the family. I was going to send Shepherd. Don’t you have a strategy session with your team scheduled?”

  “There’s nothing to strategize about until we have the final forensics reports. My guys are still canvassing the neighborhood, not that I’m expecting to turn up much. Residents in that sort of neighborhood usually keep to themselves and aren’t too willing to share with the authorities.”

  “It was the middle of the night when Mara left with Johnny. Wouldn’t have been many people out that late in the cold, and Mara’s smart enough to check. Maybe we’ll get a lucky break. God knows we need one in this case.”

  Reid ran his hand through his hair. “I hate that we got so close and missed them.” He paused and looked at Michaels. “What’s your gut telling you about our chances?”

  Michaels shook his head. “I’m the wrong person to ask. I’ve been chasing Mara for twelve years, but I thought she w
ould have left Richmond two days ago. Grace said Mara was close. Not sure how she knew, but that might change after the close call last night. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but you and I both know our chances go down with each passing minute, and now Mara knows we’re on to her. Unless we do get lucky, we might lose this one. What’s your feeling?”

  “The same. Mara’s no inexperienced amateur. She’s had years to plan this. Wish I could predict her next move. They left that house in a hurry. She had to find a place to hide on the run. That might make her desperate enough to make a mistake.”

  “I agree, but please don’t repeat that to the Walkers. Put a positive spin on the raid as you can. I don’t want them losing heart this soon. We may have a long way to go.”

  Reid’s gut tightened, and he swallowed down a wave of nausea as he gripped the bag containing Johnny’s clothes. It happened every time they found articles belonging to the victims when he was on a case. At least this time, there were no blood stains on the clothes.

  * * *

  Mark handed Grace a plate of food and waited for her reaction. She gave him a weak smile and balanced the plate on her knees. The plate held a collection of her favorites from Mark’s restaurant; grilled salmon, parmesan gnocchi, and garlic roasted vegetables. She normally would have devoured the meal, but her gut had been in a knot since Johnny’s call fourteen hours earlier. Not wanting to hurt Mark’s feelings, she dipped her fork in the gnocchi and took a nibble.

  “It’s a start,” Mark said and sat next to her.

  Grace swallowed and felt the gnocchi come to a dead stop in her esophagus. She washed it down with a sip of water. “I’m not trying to get rid of you, but shouldn’t you be at the restaurant?”

  Mark crossed his arms. “I left my sous chef Travis in charge.”

  Grace was shocked at what she’d heard. The restaurant was Mark’s treasured baby. His wife, Valerie, usually had a hard time convincing him to leave the restaurant long enough to take Fisher and Sophi for a trip on a long weekend. “Isn’t Travis the new guy? You trust him to run the kitchen?”

  “He has solid experience. I’m impressed so far, and I was useless in the kitchen. I couldn’t focus on anything but Johnny. They’re better off without me.”

  Grace patted his shoulder. “Thanks for being here. Your dad didn’t sleep again last night, so I forced him to take a pill and try to nap. Alec had to take Rosie to the orthopedist for her broken wrist, and Steph went home for fresh clothes. It was the first time I’ve been alone since, you know.” She took a gulp of water. “I thought I’d like the alone time after all the crowds tromping through here, but I panicked as soon as everyone left. I’ve never been so happy to see you.” She took another bite. It went down smoother than the first one.

  “Being left out of what’s going on here has been torture, but I had to stay at the restaurant until I finished arrangements with Travis. Valerie wants to be here, too, but we decided the last thing you needed was the kids underfoot. We agreed to take turns.”

  “I miss the kids. Do they know what’s happening?”

  “We told them right away so they wouldn’t hear it from someone else.”

  Grace flinched and frowned at him.

  “I’m sorry, Grace. I didn’t mean…”

  “Don’t apologize. You did the right thing. It’s sad they’ve been thrust into this so young. They must be terrified.”

  “Fisher wants to punch someone. Sophi cries at the drop of a hat. We’ve talked about keeping them home from school but decided it would be a distraction for them and gives us a reprieve.”

  Grace stared at her plate as a new bout of rage tightened beneath her ribs. She’d adjusted to the constant, dull throb that knowing Mara was running free had caused. She’d even learned to forget about her for brief moments, but she couldn’t ignore the firestorm raining down chaos on their lives. She handed Mark her plate and got up to pace.

  “I feel useless, too,” she said. “This waiting and doing nothing is the worst. At least time passed quicker when we were on the search and rescue.”

  The doorbell rang, and Mark started to get up, but she waved him down. “I’ll go.” She peered through the peephole and was relieved to see Agent Reid. She let him in and introduced him to Mark. “Any news?”

  He shook his head and handed her a plastic bag. “We recovered these in the raid. Are they Johnny’s?”

  Grace glanced at the bag and recognized the logo of Johnny’s favorite band on his hoodie. He’d been wearing it Monday night, the last time she saw him. She tore the bag open and buried her face in the fabric. It still smelled like him. The room reeled, and she reached for Agent Reid, but he was beyond the reach of her arm. Mark caught her just as her legs gave out. The men helped her to the couch.

  “I’ll take that as confirmation,” Agent Reid said.

  He sat on the other side of Grace and put his hand on her arm. The tenderness of the gesture pierced her defenses. She slumped against his chest and shook with sobs. Agent Reid stiffened and awkwardly patted her back.

  When she regained control, she wiped her face with the napkin Mark had pressed into her hand and looked into Agent Reid’s eyes. “Tell me about the raid. I want every detail.”

  “Sure you’re up for that?” When she nodded, Agent Reid recounted each second of the raid. When he finished, he said, “We were an hour, maybe two, behind them. We’re nipping at Mara’s heels. She won’t escape. I’m going to get her and bring Johnny home. That’s my vow to you.”

  Grace felt the conviction and devotion to duty in his words. It was all the proof she needed that he was the right man for the job.

  “I trust you, and my trust isn’t something I easily bestow,” Grace said.

  “I can attest to that,” Mark said.

  “Given your history, I don’t blame you. I promise not to betray that trust.”

  Grace smiled and squeezed his hand.

  “We’re waiting for the report on the neighborhood canvas. I’ll let you know if anyone saw Mara or Johnny. I’d better get back to the office.”

  “Thank you, Agent Reid,” Grace said and tried to stand.

  “Don’t get up, and please, call me Wes.”

  Grace watched as Mark walked Wes to the door. When he came back, she said, “I need to check on your dad.”

  “I’ll stand watch out here,” he said.

  Grace went to their room and climbed into bed with Ryan. He shifted slightly before wrapping his arm around her.

  “Any news?” he whispered.

  “No, I just thought I’d join your nap. Go back to sleep.”

  He pulled her closer and kissed her neck. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too.”

  Seeing Johnny’s clothes had been comforting and traumatic. Grace knew she should focus on the fact that Johnny was alive, and Mara appeared to be taking care of him, but all she knew was that he was gone, and she couldn’t find him. Knowing she’d betrayed his trust compounded her grief. When Wes brought Johnny home, what would it take to win back his heart?

  * * *

  When Mara got back from the phone store, she threw their bags in the trunk and told Johnny to get in the car. He climbed in beside her, happy to watch the motel recede in the side mirror. It looked even worse in daylight.

  “Can you find a better motel this time? That place was a dump,” he said.

  “Whose fault it that? We had to ditch my house, and I can’t go back to work because of your little stunt of calling Grace. I barely had enough money to pay expenses to get us back to Portland as it was. What am I supposed to do about money now?”

  Johnny popped a potato chip in his mouth and shrugged. “Get another job.”

  Mara snapped her fingers. “Just like that? So easy? You don’t know anything.”

  “You’re a nurse. Can’t you go to another hospital or a doctor’s office?”

  “The feds might be looking for nurses, and I can’t use my Richmond ID anymore. I have to use my one from Portland.
I’ll have to find something else.”

  “There’s money at my house. My dad keeps an emergency stash. It’s like two-thousand bucks. You could sneak in and get it.”

  “He’s not your dad. Don’t call him that. Your house is crawling with cops by now. We can’t go near that place. I don’t even like being in Richmond.”

  He was glad they couldn’t leave Richmond. The thought of her taking him across the country scared him. He hoped to convince her to stay for good. Richmond was the only city he’d ever known.

  He caught her watching him out of the corner of her eye. “What?” he asked.

  “I’m sorry for being so hard on you. I keep forgetting your life has been turned upside down. Grace sheltered you from the real world. You were rich and pampered. That’s not your fault. I’ll try to be more patient, but you have to listen to me and do exactly as I say. It’ll be better in Portland. You’ll like it there.”

  Johnny nodded and looked out the window. He appreciated what she said, but thought it was funny that she called him rich and pampered. He’d never thought of them as rich. His life was pretty much the same as his friends. He knew people with expensive cars and huge houses. His life hadn’t been like that. He knew people who he considered poor, but Mara must have made enough money as a nurse to be more like the Walkers than those people. If she was a nurse, she must have made decent money. He was learning how much he should have appreciated what he had.

  Mara smiled. “I’ll look for a better place for us to stay.” She took her phone from the cup holder and handed it to Johnny. “Do a search for hotels near here.”

  He typed the search words into Google and waited for the results. He was tempted to text Darnell while Mara was focused on driving, but after what happened when he’d called Grace, he didn’t dare. A bunch of hotels came back in the search. He read them off to Mara until she nodded at one that was on the opposite side of town.