He responded Good. Still nothing from Edgar. I’m upstairs. Downstairs window in the breakfast room this time. Can see it from up here.
I typed as fast as I could. Stay upstairs. Dad has key to your house.
Mr. Hornsby chasing on ATV. Watched him drive north of studio. Can’t see lights now.
It’s okay. Dad will be there in just a few minutes.
Hanging up, moving to another window. Will call back. H was gone.
Mom walked into the office. “Are you still on with Mr. Lafferty?”
“No, ma’am. He just hung up. He was going to another window to try to see the lights from the ATV.”
“Don’t worry, Julia. Everything will be just fine. It’s only a broken window. They’ll get to the bottom of this, and meantime, Mr. Lafferty is safe.” Mom walked over to the desk. “Why don’t you come in the kitchen with me? You can help, and we’ll have the soup ready when your dad and Jackson get back. And I’m putting some brownies in the oven.”
“I can’t do that, Mom. Mr. Lafferty said he would call back. Did Dad take his cell phone?”
“I don’t know, but that’s a good question. I’ll go see.”
I waited for Mr. Lafferty. I waited for Mom. And I thought. Just like Angus had said—it had happened again. I wondered what he knew. I looked at the clock. Two more minutes had gone by.
Mom called from the hallway. “Your dad must have his phone. I can’t find it. It’s not on the charger or on the dresser. I’ll call him on my cell and see if he answers.”
“If he does, tell him Mr. Hornsby is on the ATV and went north of the studio.” I waited another few minutes that seemed like hours.
Mom returned to the office door. “Your dad answered, and I gave him the message. Jackson thought to get your dad’s phone.”
“Maybe Jackson has more than just one cupful of brains after all,” I mumbled.
“What was that, Julia?”
Jesus, forgive me. “I was just being grateful for my big brother who used his head today.”
I waited. I stared at the TTY screen. No use to call. Another six minutes passed. Then that strange ring and H’s message. HL2 again. Ben and Jackson here. Will drive around to find Mr. Hornsby.
Dad has cell. Talked to Mom. I stand by to relay messages.
Good girl. Then things went silent. Fifteen more minutes, then Mom’s cell rang.
She came to the office. “Is Mr. Lafferty on the line?”
“No, ma’am, but I can call him.”
“Call him. Tell him there’s been a minor accident. Your dad and Jackson found Mr. Hornsby. The ATV slid. He has a leg injury. They’re bringing him back to the house.”
I called H and gave him the message. Then more waiting. Finally, Dad called and told Mom what had happened.
Mom put her phone into her pocket. “Okay, Julia. Mr. Lafferty’s fine. Your dad is taking Mr. Hornsby into town to get his leg checked out and some abrasions cleaned up. Nothing serious there. Jackson’s cleaning up the downstairs area, and they’ll board it up when your dad gets back. Mr. Hornsby will stay the night with Mr. Lafferty inside the mansion.” She was counting things on her fingers so she wouldn’t forget. “Four things. That’s all, so, let’s get to the kitchen and rustle up something warm for them to eat when they get home. It’s cold, and there’s been enough excitement for the night.”
“But what if Mr. Lafferty calls?”
“Then you’ll take the call, but I’m sure you can hear it in the kitchen. No need for you sitting here staring at the screen. Jackson is with Mr. Lafferty if he needs anything.”
I followed Mom out of the office. She went through the family room, turned on some Christmas music, and lit the candles on the mantel. The fire Dad had built earlier was mostly embers, so she added some wood and stoked it. “I think we’ll have our soup and sandwiches in here tonight. It’s just too beautiful not to sit here and enjoy the fire and the lights.”
I did all the things Mom asked, trying to pass the time. I asked lots of what-if questions, but she didn’t really have any answers. Mr. Lafferty didn’t call again.
Finally, Dad and Jackson got home. I looked at the clock. 9:37. Nearly three hours of worry. And why? Because somebody’s mean—just plain mean—enough to want to cause Mr. Lafferty more problems than he already has.
We ate and then Dad gave us a full report of what he knew. “Seems Mr. Hornsby was upstairs to build a fire in Mr. Lafferty’s bedroom when he heard the crash downstairs. He looked out the window and could see two figures with flashlights running from the kitchen wing across the garden and around the studio. When he got downstairs, he found the picture window in the breakfast room broken. He ran out, got on the ATV, and started in the direction in which he saw the two running. Since they had flashlights, he could chase them. When it’s dark out there, it’s really dark. So any light’s easily spotted.”
I was curious. “Did he get a good look at them?”
“No, just shapes, but he thought they were young fellows from their clothing.”
“If he could see them and he was driving, why didn’t he catch up with them?”
Jackson answered before Dad could. “Out there in the dark, running on foot’s probably faster than driving that ATV.”
“Doesn’t it have headlights?”
Dad answered, “Yes, I had some put on.”
“So, if he could see where he was going, how did he get hurt?”
“There’s my girl with all the questions. Well, he chased the two guys down the lane, and then the fellows got smart. They left the path and started running through the rough country. Mr. Hornsby followed them into some thick woods and was going as fast as he could to keep up. He doesn’t have much experience driving the ATV yet, especially under those circumstances. He lost sight of their flashlights and heard some hollering. So he stopped and turned off the ATV to try to hear them. There was nothing—no light and no sound. He assumed they got away. When he cranked the vehicle back up, he accelerated too quickly, lost control, and sideswiped a tree. At least the vehicle didn’t flip, so he just has some bruises and scratches. His right ankle will be sore for a while, though.”
Jackson piped up. “Yeah, I got to drive the ATV back to the house. I followed Dad in the truck.”
“But they got away. Dad, I told you what Angus said. He said it was going to happen again. That stupid stink-breath knows something.”
Mom spoke up right away. “Julia Avery Russell. I do believe you need a new vocabulary list and a lesson in human kindness.”
“But Mom, Angus is a troublemaker, and Gary just follows along.”
“Those boys are not my responsibility, but you are. And we do not speak of others that way in this household. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Dad interrupted. “Well, Julia does have a point, not about the stupid stink-breath stuff, but Angus knows something.” Dad got up with his plate. “I need to make a call.”
Jackson followed him. “And I need to take a shower.”
Mom tried to stop them. “But we have brownies, and I was about to make hot chocolate for dessert.”
Dad spoke on his way out of the kitchen. “This won’t take long. I’ll be done by the time you get the hot chocolate made.”
Jackson went upstairs for a shower, and I went to the kitchen to help Mom with the dishes. I was slicing brownies and putting them on the plate when Dad returned. “Ladies, best make one more cup of hot chocolate and an extra brownie. Officer Whitson is on his way over here.”
I put the extra brownie on a plate. “Who’s Officer Whitson?”
“He’s an officer with the Sycamore Hill police department. I’ve never filed a report about the vandalism because Mr. Lafferty didn’t want me to. But I think it’s time. This must be stopped. And Julia, he’ll be asking questions about your conversation with Angus.”
“What I say could get Angus in a lot of trouble, couldn’t it?”
“Maybe, if he’s done something to ge
t in trouble about.”
“Dad, do you think Angus did this? And maybe Gary, because Gary would eat worms if Angus told him to.”
“No. Edgar said these fellows were about Jackson’s size. One was even bigger.”
“Then it wasn’t Angus. He’s stocky for his age, but Gary’s skinny like me, and probably no taller.”
“Then whatever you say shouldn’t get them in trouble. But I must tell you, Julia, after the officer hears what you have to say, he’ll probably want to ask Angus some questions.”
I didn’t like it that I’d be labeled a snitch at school, but I didn’t like it that somebody was causing trouble for Mr. Lafferty either. “I’ll tell the officer everything I know, Dad.”
Officer Whitson arrived just a few minutes later. Mom served him dessert with the family around the Christmas tree. Mom was just that way, always wanting to put a sugar coating on everything. I told the officer all I could remember that Angus had told me, even about knowing that another window was going to be broken soon. Between eating his brownie and sipping his hot chocolate, he made notes on a small pad he had taken out of his pocket just like officers did on television.
Jackson kept interrupting, telling the officer about cleaning up the glass and boarding up the window and then driving the ATV back to the house. He talked like he was a hero or something.
Finally, the officer nodded. He put his pad away, thanked me for being a brave girl, and thanked Mom for a warm dessert on such a cold night. He told Dad he would follow up in the next day or two, and Dad saw him out the front door.
Jackson had already left for his room by the time Dad came back in the family room and stood in front of the fire. “It’s been a long day, ladies, and I’m dog tired. Why, we’ve cut down the most beautiful tree at Brushy Creek Tree Farm and decorated it today! Sunday morning will come early, and we have a big day at church tomorrow. I’m headed for the shower and my bed.” Dad kissed me goodnight and left the room.
I said goodnight to Mom and went upstairs. No way I could sleep, and I wasn’t about to waste good time. I grabbed the paper bag from under my bed and pulled out the yarn and needle and crocheted while I thought about why anybody would waste time being mean. That act had frightened Mr. Lafferty, made all kinds of problems for my dad, and caused Mr. Hornsby to get hurt. And now somebody was going to be found out and be in trouble.
One and a half granny squares later, I still hadn’t figured it out, but I crammed the bag under my bed and closed my eyes.
Dad called to check on Mr. Lafferty Sunday morning. All was well. Mr. Hornsby had gone home, and Mrs. Schumacher was there for the day.
We went to Grancie’s for Sunday lunch after church—Waldorf salad, a pot of beef stew, and her famous corn bread. I let go of my vegetarian routine since beef didn’t have feathers.
After Grancie’s carrot cake for dessert, G-Pa took Dad and Jackson to his office to show them a picture of a new gun he was thinking of buying. I helped clear the table, and when the kitchen was clean, the list-making started—lists of Christmas cookies they’d make for all the upcoming things on their calendars. They planned to do the baking together at Grancie’s house. I heard her say most kitchens weren’t big enough for two women, but hers was.
“Oh, you have to make your pound-cake cookies, Grancie. We can put red and green sprinkles on them, and Mrs. Schumacher would like your recipe. She makes them too, but they’re not as good as yours.”
“I’ll be happy to share my recipe, and if you want pound-cake cookies for the party, you’ll have to help me bake them.”
We heard a phone ring twice, and it wasn’t long before Dad and Jackson came to the kitchen. “Okay, ladies, the guys need to be gone for a while.”
I could always tell when Grancie’s antennae were up. She looked Dad dead in the eyes. “What’s going on, and where’s John?”
“He’s changing clothes. Officer Whitson just called and said we have two boys missing in the community and asked if we could join a search party.”
Mom asked, “Do we know the boys, and what do you mean missing?”
“I don’t know much right now, but apparently Derrick Smithson and Wendell Brady didn’t come home last night. Their car’s missing, and they think there might have been foul play.”
Mom said, “I know those parents. They must be frightened out of their minds. Jackson, do you know those boys?”
“I know them from football, but they’re varsity players, and I’m just junior varsity. They don’t have much to do with us.”
I had antennae like Grancie’s, and right now they were waving fast and strong. “Dad, think about it. Two teenage boys missing, and it was two teenage boys that Mr. Lafferty and Mr. Hornsby saw last night. That’s a heaping can full of coincidence, don’t you think?”
G-Pa walked into the kitchen with his jacket. “Julia’s right. Could be coincidence, but not likely.”
“Twenty years?” Dad leaned over and kissed me on top of my head. “In twenty years, she’ll be the best district attorney this town’s ever seen. I’ll be certain to mention this to Officer Whitson. He may need to get over to speak with Angus sooner rather than later.” Dad put his hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Jenn, do you want to stay here, or are you going home with us? Jackson and I need to change clothes and join the search party.”
Grancie answered before Mom could. “Jennifer, you and Julia go with Ben. John and I will follow you out there, and I’ll spend the afternoon with you. I want to see the house all decorated anyway, and I’ll be there when the men come home.”
We left my grandparents’ house, and on the drive home Dad called the officer with our idea about too much coincidence. The officer agreed and said a large search party was gathering across the street from the courthouse. As soon as he made assignments, he would pay the Carters a visit to talk to Angus.
Dad reported what Officer Whitson said. Then Dad looked at me in his rearview mirror. “I know this seems like too much of a coincidence, but the more I think of it, there’s a good chance these are teenage boys just being teenage boys.”
Mom shook her head. “I do hope that’s true and they’re safe, but if they were just misbehaving, and we were their parents, they might not live to adulthood. Fair warning for you two in the back seat.”
Jackson spoke up. “Yeah, Derrick’s got this new fancy car. He could just be showing off, like how he can stay out all night. I heard before about the trouble he gets in at school.”
Dad answered, “You could be right, and I hope you are. Let this be a lesson to you, son. Part of growing up is stretching your wings, but just make sure how you stretch them doesn’t cause a ripple effect that involves so many people being worried about you.”
I had been quiet long enough. “Yeah, Jackson, no wing stretching until your frontal lobe is developed, when you’re about twenty-five, maybe older for you. Then maybe you won’t do something stupid and dangerous.”
Dad chuckled. “Yep. You must be careful of those frontal lobes. We needed a laugh, Julia, but we need to hope and pray these boys are safe.”
I asked, “Do you think Mr. Lafferty has heard about what’s going on?”
We were in the garage. Dad switched the car off and opened his door. “I doubt it. There’s no need for him to know, and nobody communicates with him except for us. I can’t imagine Mrs. Schumacher would have heard anything.”
“But what about Mr. Hornsby? He might have heard something.”
“True, but I imagine he’s in bed today after getting so banged up last night.”
We walked into the house. “Could I call Mr. Lafferty and check on him?”
Dad looked at his watch. “One forty? He could be resting. Maybe we’ll call him later this evening. Jackson, dress warmly.It’s threatening snow, and the temperature’s dropping.”
I followed Jackson up the stairs to change clothes. “And don’t forget those toasty hand and feet warmers you didn’t share with your sister yesterday when we went Christmas tree hunting.�
��
Jackson and Dad were bringing in wood and stacking it on the hearth when G-Pa and Grancie arrived. They put on their jackets. “Okay, ladies, you have wood,” Dad said. “Keep that fire going. We don’t know when we’ll be back, but chances are we’ll be cold.”
Grancie hugged G-Pa. “We’ll keep the fire burning and our prayers marching heavenward. You men stay safe. Do your parts, but stay safe.”
Mom added, “And give us a call from time to time. We’ll be anxious to hear the news, especially any good news.”
I looked at the clock. It was almost five. Mom got up from her chair next to the fire and looked out the window. “It’s getting darker out there. Wind’s picking up, and snow’s coming in tonight. I cannot even imagine what’s going through those parents’ minds, not knowing where their boys are or if they’re safe. And with every passing hour, it grows more likely that something is terribly, terribly wrong.”
When the phone rang, she jumped. She didn’t say much, but I knew it was Dad. After a few minutes she put the phone down.
“They haven’t found them, but Ben said they were the ones to find the car, just no boys. Ben decided to drive around the back roads out near Emerald Crest on a hunch, and that’s where they found the car. He said the town’s buzzing with all kinds of wild rumors, but things are not looking good.”
“Did Dad know if those boys broke Mr. Lafferty’s window?”
“Yes. They had plans to. The officer went to the Carters’ and interrogated Angus. Apparently, Angus had been getting his information from his older brother, who’s friends with Derrick and Wendell. They came clean with what they knew, but Angus’s brother has heard nothing from Derrick and Wendell since Friday night.”
Grancie moved to the edge of her chair. “This does not sound good to me. And the weather?”
Mom bowed her head and pressed her hands together. “No, it doesn’t sound good.” She paused. “All this leaves such mystery. What could have happened to those two boys?”
Silent Days, Holy Night Page 15