“Well, let me know if I can be of any more help. Your mom’s a great lady, Samantha. I enjoy working with her.”
“Yeah…” I swallow against a lump in my throat. “Thanks.”
I call Ebony back now. “I think Steven was at the park-district building yesterday,” I say quickly, relaying what Marco just told me. “I think Mom left with him.”
“In her car?”
“I don’t know. Marco didn’t see a car. Maybe it was Steven’s.”
“I’ll send someone over to check the parking lot.”
“Right…” I feel tears burning my eyes.
“It’s going to be okay, Samantha.”
“I-I hope so.”
“We’re on it.”
“Right…” I let out a small sob. “But what should I do? Should I go look for her…for them…or…”
“Just stay put. No, on second thought I don’t want you home alone right now, Samantha. It might not be safe. Can you go to Olivia’s?”
“She and her family are gone for the day.
“Then do you mind hanging with me?”
“Not at all. Do you mind?”
“Of course not!” Then she gives me directions to her condo, telling me to bring an overnight bag. “Just in case.”
“Right.”
I leave Mom another note, saying that I’m with Ebony and that I have my phone, and begging her in big, bold, uppercase letters to “PLEASE CALL ME ASAP!” Then I lock up the house and leave. As I drive across town to Ebony’s place, I pray. I pray and pray and pray. And I try to be brave, but I feel like I’m about six years old again—and like my world is about to cave in. Or maybe it already has and I just don’t know it.
Ten
Ebony meets me in the parking lot. She’s wearing a brown velour warmup suit and looks like she might’ve just gotten out of the shower. But she seems glad to see me as she points to where I should park my car. She hugs me when I get out. “We’re going to figure this out,” she says with confidence that I can’t even begin to muster just now. Then she leads me up the stairs to her second-floor condo unit, which overlooks the river.
“This is a really nice place,” I say as I gaze out the window, taking in her fantastic view of water and trees. Then I turn around and check out the spacious living area, which is done in rich, warm earth tones—russets and golds and mossy greens. “I like your decor too.”
She smiles. “Thanks. Kind of eclectic.”
“But totally cool.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder now, looking directly into my eyes. “How are you doing, Samantha?”
I suddenly feel close to tears again. “I’ve been praying a lot, and I’m trying not to freak, but the truth is, I’m so scared for Mom. I know she would’ve called me by now…if she could.”
Ebony nods. “Yes, I’m sure she would’ve too. Any chance her phone is dead?”
I shrug. “Even if it was, I’m sure she would’ve found a pay phone.”
“And you haven’t had any more visions? No new information?”
“No…” I just shake my head. “I wish it was the kind of thing I could control,” I admit. “But God doesn’t work like that.”
“I understand.” Then she shows me to her guest room, which is done in peaceful shades of aqua blue and green. “Make yourself at home,” she says. “I need to make some more calls and take care of a few things. Then I think you and I should go out and do a little looking around ourselves.”
I nod hopefully. “That sounds good.”
While Ebony makes her calls, I call Zach’s rehab place. But the man on the other end asks me to leave a message. Without going into details, I tell him that it’s urgent and that Zach needs to call as soon as he can. Then I call Olivia, filling her in on the latest details and asking her to pray.
“You can count on it, Sam. In fact, as soon as we hang up, I’ll call the church’s prayer chain and ask them to pray too.”
“Thanks.”
“Where are you anyway? Not home alone, I hope.”
“I’m staying at Ebony’s…for now.”
“And you know you can stay with me if you want,” she offers. “We’ll probably be home around dinnertime.”
“I’ll keep you posted.” After I hang up, I consider calling Conrad as well, but then I think of all he has on his mind with little Katie and how he and Alex might be on the road coming home by now, and I decide not to bother him yet.
“I haven’t had lunch,” Ebony says. “How about you?”
I shrug. “I’m not really hungry.”
“Come on,” she urges me, “every cop knows that even when you don’t feel like it, you need to eat to keep your strength up.”
“Is that why I always see patrol cars at Dunkin’ Donuts?” I ask, trying to be funny but feeling pathetic.
She chuckles. “Well, I’m not really into donuts, but I was thinking about Rosie’s Deli.”
I nod. “That actually sounds good.”
Ebony uses her unmarked car to drive us downtown. I’m guessing that means we’re on official police business now, and that makes me feel better. It also makes me feel better to walk into Rosie’s. This used to be my dad’s favorite lunch spot. And I can’t come here without thinking of him. I try to imagine him, up there in heaven. I wonder if he can see Mom right now…if he knows where she is and what’s going on.
After I order my pastrami on rye, which Ebony insists on paying for, I step back and silently pray again. And okay, it’s not like I’m praying to my dad—I know that’s not how it works — but I think about him as I pray to my heavenly Father. And I am comforted, knowing that they are both up there, both looking out for me—and I believe for my mom too.
“I was just thinking about my dad,” I tell Ebony once we’re seated.
She nods. “Interestingly…so was I.”
“Do you think he knows where Mom is?”
“I don’t know.” She frowns now. “What is your general feeling about Greg—or Steven, as you think of him? Do you have any sense of what kind of a person he really is?”
“Besides a jerk and a con man?”
“Yes, besides that. Just toss out some general impressions.”
“Well, he’s really smooth. But not in what I think of as a good way.”
“Explain…”
“I sometimes thought he was too good to be real.”
“And you were right.”
“He treated my mom really well…in a slick, almost patronizing way. I think it made me suspicious that he complimented her so much. Not that Mom isn’t smart and pretty and stuff. But he sort of took it too far.”
“Disingenuous.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever notice him, say, lose his temper? Get angry?”
“Not really. I mean, he got irritated at Zach, especially when he went missing on the ski trip. But then we were all pretty fed up with him.”
“What did he say to Zach?”
“Oh, I can’t remember exactly. And maybe it wasn’t what he said as much as how he said it. I guess he did sound pretty angry.”
“But he didn’t do anything to Zach?”
“No, he was driving at the time. But he was pretty uptight.”
We pause as the girl brings our food. Then Ebony bows her head and says a prayer. It seems to be more about my mom than the food, which is a relief. Then she changes the subject, which is also a relief, since thinking about Steven was starting to make my stomach hurt.
“Does your mom have many friends?” asks Ebony.
“Not really. My parents used to have couples who were friends. But after Dad died, Mom didn’t really do much with them. I think it was hard…like she felt weird, like something was missing.”
“I can understand.”
“Mom hung with Paula a little, before she met Steven, and then he monopolized her time.”
“Is that the woman who’s a counselor?”
“Yes. But she’s not the most sensible person in the world. I
n fact, when Mom didn’t come home last night, I figured she and Paula might be out partying.”
“Have you spoken to Paula?”
“No, but I left a message, asking her to call if she’d seen my mom.”
“And she hasn’t called?”
“Not yet.”
“Any other friends?”
“Not that I can think of. I mean, she sometimes does things with co-workers, but I don’t think that’s the case here.”
“No, I don’t either. I was just curious. Not as a cop but as a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Well, I’d been thinking recently that I haven’t really tried to befriend your mom…I wondered if maybe I should.”
“She hasn’t always been very nice to you,” I admit.
“I know she resented me,” says Ebony, “for how your dad was killed. And I suppose that made it easy for me to keep a safe distance from her.”
“And there wouldn’t have been any real reason to be around her,” I point out. “It’s not like you’d been friends before Dad died.”
“No…but then you came along, Samantha.” Ebony sort of laughs. “It’s so ironic really”
“What?”
“Well, back when your dad and I were partners, that sort of connected me to your mom, to your family, because naturally, he’d talk about you guys. I always felt like I sort of knew you.”
“And then it ended.”
“Yes. And I was sad to lose that connection.”
“And then I showed up.” She smiles. “That was a good day Samantha.”
“For me too.”
“So I suppose I thought your mother and I might become friends as a result somehow.”
“But she hasn’t been overly friendly.”
“I think we still have a ways to go.”
“But I think, for the most part, she’s moved on,” I say. “I know she respects you, Ebony”
“I respect her too.”
“And she appreciates the help you’ve given us with Zach. That really means a lot to her.”
“But there’s still a wall.”
“I think she’s been jealous of you.” Ebony frowns. “Why?”
“Probably because I admire you…because I want to be a detective like you.”
Her eyes light up. “And you’re already off to a good start. I’d think your mother would be proud of you.”
“She sort of is, but I think she struggles with it…I mean, with my gift. I think that’s mainly because she’s struggling with God too. She keeps pushing Him away.”
That doesn’t help.”
“No, and it sort of set her up to be hurt by Steven. I mean, if she’d been walking with God, I’m sure she would’ve realized that Steven was bad news.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because I believe God gives all of us intuitions. He sends us little signals, you know, clues as to whether we’re making the right choices or not.”
That still, small voice.”
“Exactly.” I nod as I pick up the other half of my sandwich. “And when you tune out God, you also tune out His guidance and direction.”
“And you become like a boat, lost out there on a rough sea, without a rudder to steer yourself home.”
I sigh sadly. That’s my mom.”
We’re just finishing our food when my cell phone rings. I eagerly answer it, hoping it’s Mom. But it’s Paula.
“I got your message, Sam. What’s going on?”
So I quickly explain that Mom’s missing, possibly with Steven.
“Are you saying that she’s run off with Steven?”
“No, of course not.”
“What then?”
“I don’t know, but someone at Mom’s work thinks Steven might’ve shown up there yesterday.” I try to keep my voice even and calm although a part of me is on the verge of tears again.
“Well, in the last conversation I had with Beth, she was angry at Steven. She wanted to hang that bottom feeder out to dry.”
“I know.”
Paula asks more questions, and like me, she grows more concerned when I give her the answers. “I can’t imagine Beth going willingly with him, Sam.”
“I can’t either.”
“I mean, she sounded a little nutty the other night, acting like we should go out and find him and punish him. But I didn’t take her seriously. I just tried to humor her.”
“That was probably good.” My voice cracks just slightly.
There’s a brief pause, and I think maybe I lost my connection, but then she speaks. “So, do you think he’s kidnapped her?”
I cringe at that word—I’ve tried not to go there—I don’t want to think it’s even possible. “I really…I don’t know…”
“Well, if I hear anything, I’ll get back to you. You do the same.”
“Sure.”
“And, Sam?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. I mean, you’ve been through a whole lot already. And in my opinion, you’re holding it together better than anyone else in your family.”
“Uh, thanks.” I feel a tear slipping down my cheek, and Ebony reaches across the table, pats my hand, and hands me a paper napkin.
“Keep it up, girl.”
“I’ll try.”
After I hang up, I wipe my tears and blow my nose on the napkin, then I fill Ebony in on the details. “So I guess I was wrong about Paula. She’s not stupid. She wouldn’t have gone out looking for Steven after all.”
“Looking for Steven?” Ebony looks confused now.
“I overheard Mom talking to Paula about them going out like vigilantes, you know, and making Steven sorry for what he’d done.”
“Do you think your mom might’ve done that on her own?”
“It seems unlikely I mean, she did go to work yesterday morning. Marco saw her there. And then he saw her leave with someone who fits Steven’s description. It sounds to me like he came looking for her.” I take a quick breath. The more we talk about this, the more pieces we put together, the scarier it feels.
Ebony nods soberly “Yes, and that reminds me, Samantha. One of the calls I made before we left was to verify whether your mom’s car is at the park-district building or not.”
“Is it?”
“No.”
“Do you think that means they could be in her car?”
“I think it’s a possibility. I asked the guys to keep a lookout for Steven’s car as well. My guess is that it’s somewhere nearby. I also found out he had put the minimum down and made only a few payments, so the car’s not even close to being paid off. I’ll bet that Steven planned on ditching it. Especially if he suspects we’re onto him. He’ll know we have the description and license number now, and he’ll want to get rid of it, like he’s done in the past.” Ebony lets out a long sigh.
“So if he’s with Mom,” I begin carefully, “in her car…what do you think he intends to do with her?” I study Ebony closely, trying to determine if she’s as worried as I am.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” She lays a tip on the table, and we both stand.
“Is that why you wanted to know my impressions of him? You wanted to determine whether or not he’s dangerous?
“Yes.”
“Does he have a history of harming anyone? I mean, besides conning people. That’s bad enough. But tell me, Ebony—has he ever been violent?”
“There’s no record of if. But I’ll be honest. We don’t know everything about him. There are some gaps. He’s used a lot of phony names…it’s impossible to track everything. But be assured, we haven’t uncovered anything to suggest he’s physically harmed anyone.”
I let out a deep sigh. I want to feel relieved. I want to believe that Mom’s okay. Even so, I can’t help but think Steven is up to no good. Especially if he’s holding Mom against her will. And isn’t that considered kidnapping? And that really seems to be the only explanation. Otherwise she would’ve called me. I know she would’v
e called. No way would she be gone for twenty-four hours without checking on me, without letting me know what’s up. Something is wrong. Very, very wrong. For Ebony’s sake, I try to appear brave. But inside I’m having a meltdown. Mom is in danger—I just know it! I feel it deep within me. But besides praying and waiting, what can I do?
Eleven
Ebony cruises around town, occasionally taking a radio call, occasionally talking on her cell. But so far no one has uncovered a thing. Not even Steven’s car, which makes me feel slightly hopeful. Is it possible they’re not together after all? But then if they’re not together, where is Mom? Why hasn’t she called? We even stop by the house just to see if it looks like she’s been home. But everything is exactly the same, and there are no messages from Mom on the landline.
“Anything here that you need?” Ebony asks as we head for the front door.
I look around at what seems a strangely empty house. I mean, all the furniture and things are still here, and it looks pretty much the same as always. But it feels like the people have all abandoned it. Or maybe they’ve simply abandoned me.
“No,” I tell Ebony “Nothing here that I need.” But what I don’t admit is that I need my mom. I need my brother. I need my family There’s a deep ache inside me now, a frightening feeling that nothing is ever going to be right again, like it’s all spinning out of control. And I can barely hold back the tears.
“It seems futile to keep driving around,” Ebony says as we get back in her car. “Maybe we should take a break…wait for someone to call.”
I nod. “Yeah…probably so.”
So she drives us back to her condo, and without speaking much, we go off to our separate spaces. She goes to her room, and I go to the guest room, where I lie down on the bed and just cry. And when I’m done crying, I pray.
Dear God, I plead, please keep Mom safe. Please get her safely home. And although I’m not trying to make a deal with You, I promise to be a much better daughter from now on. I promise that when Mom gets back, I will love her just as she is, God. I’m so sorry I tried to make her into something that she’s not ready to become yet. I know Your timing is perfect, God. I trust You to work things out with Mom. And I promise to simply love her. Help me to love her the way You do, God—unconditionally. Amen. And then I drift into a restless sleep.
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