And Then She Was GONE: A riveting new suspense novel that keeps you guessing until the end

by Christopher Greyson

  Michelle hurried over and grabbed the bags from her hands.

  A warm smile spread across Aunt Haddie’s face when she saw Jack. “Jackie.” She came over and pulled him into a big hug. Then she turned to Kelly and loudly whispered, “He always left the door open when he was little, too.” She laughed. “I’m Haddie Williams, but just about everyone calls me Aunt Haddie.”

  Kelly nodded politely. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Do you need a hand with the rest of the groc—” Jack started to say, but just then three young teenagers came pouring through the kitchen door, each lugging a couple of grocery bags.

  “Nope.” Aunt Haddie winked. “We have a full house lately. Many hands make light work.”

  “Sweet.” Chandler clapped his hands together, and everyone jumped. He laughed. “I won’t be late.” He kissed Aunt Haddie’s cheek, then led Makayla toward the door.

  “Is your cousin Lori meeting you there?” Aunt Haddie asked Makayla.

  “No. She’s decided not to come. She’s really upset. Have you guys heard about that missing woman, Stacy Shaw?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “Well, Lori’s the receptionist at H.T. Wells. She works there with Stacy.”

  “I pray she’s okay.” Aunt Haddie gave Makayla’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “All of you be extra careful tonight.” Aunt Haddie fixed her gaze on Jack. “You all need to stay away from trouble.”

  “Okay.” Jack held up his hands in mock surrender. “But is there a reason that I’m the focus of your attention here?”

  “Yes,” Aunt Haddie said. “Would you like me to provide a list?”

  Just the thought of Aunt Haddie running down a list of Jack’s past exploits in front of Kelly was enough to stop him cold. “No, ma’am.”

  She wiggled a finger at him and gave him another wink.

  “It was nice meeting you,” Kelly said as they walked outside.

  Jack was driving, and the four of them were halfway to his car when Aunt Haddie called from the doorway. “Jackie!”

  Jack cringed. He never understood why older people called him Jackie and not Jack. Either way, he felt the color rise in his cheeks.

  “Jackie!” she called again and waved him back. “Just one second. I have something for Laura. I need to speak to you a minute.”

  Kelly nodded toward the Impala. “I’ll wait in the car with Chandler and Makayla.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jack ran past the teenagers, who were heading back to Aunt Haddie’s trunk to grab another load of grocery bags, and followed Aunt Haddie into the little hallway. When she turned around, Jack saw her raised eyebrow. He groaned. He knew what was coming.

  “Don’t go giving me that look, Jack Alton Stratton.”

  Jack’s shoulders hunched up. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  She held up a finger. “And you’d better keep it that way. Chandler told me that you just got your passport.”

  Jack made a face. “That’s me being responsible. How is that cause for a talk?”

  “Because now you’re a short-timer. You’re going to be going overseas soon. People make all sorts of bad choices when they rush into things because they only have a little bit of time. Tonight you’re going out with a girl. She’ll see that special something I saw in you when you first walked through my door eleven years ago, and she may not want to let it go. When the two of you realize that you’re leaving soon…”

  “It’s just a date.”

  Aunt Haddie reached out, put her hand on his chin, and peered right into his eyes. “You have a sensitive heart.”

  Jack tried to pull away, but she held him fast. He rolled his eyes.

  Aunt Haddie gave his chin a little shake. “You need to guard your heart. You love deep. You’ll hurt deep. Go slow.”

  “It’s a date!”

  “Then don’t be late. Here.” Aunt Haddie pressed a thank-you card into his hands. “Tell Ted and Laura how much I appreciate their help.”

  Jack nodded. His parents had never come out and said so, but Jack knew they gave Aunt Haddie a little money whenever they could.

  Aunt Haddie kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Jack hurried out through the kitchen, where Michelle was directing a whirlwind of motion as the teenagers put away the groceries.

  “See you,” Jack said with a wave, then he whipped open the door and ran onto the porch—straight into a teenage girl straining to carry four bags of groceries at once.

  The girl never saw it coming. She stumbled back, miraculously dropping only one of the bags. “Doofus!” she snapped. The brown ponytail on top of her head shook back and forth.

  “Sorry, kid.” Jack bent down to get the bag at the same time she did.

  They bumped heads.

  “Dang!” Jack rubbed his forehead. “You’ve got a hard head.”

  The girl’s head snapped up. He could tell she was about to blast him, but when her blazing green eyes met Jack’s, she froze. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

  Jack checked the bag and saw that nothing was broken. He held it out to the girl, but she just stared. Jack shook the bag in front of her. The cans inside rattled.

  “Are you okay?” Jack asked.

  She blinked a couple of times. Her lips pressed together in an awkward, shy grin. She started to shake her head, but it quickly turned into a nod. The result was her head wobbling all around her shoulders.

  Michelle came out onto the porch. Jack looked to her for help, awkwardly holding his hand out in the direction of the girl.

  Michelle sized up the situation and giggled. She took the girl by the hand and the bag from Jack. “Have fun, Jack,” she called over her shoulder as she tugged the smiling girl toward the house.

  “See ya, Half-Pint!”

  He walked to his car, but paused when he saw an unmarked police cruiser driving down Aunt Haddie’s road. Two men in suits were in the car. As they passed, Jack recognized one of the men as Detective Vargas.

  “You coming?” Chandler called.

  As Jack got in the car, he remembered the old neighborhood saying: “It’s never good when the suits show up.”

  6

  When the Suits Show Up

  They drove down Aunt Haddie’s street and then onto the road that ran alongside Hamilton Park. As they pulled up at the light, a young man swaggered down the sidewalk. He wore his pants low and his baseball cap backward and at an angle.

  In the back seat, Makayla wrinkled her nose. “Why do guys do that? Wear their pants down around their ankles. Don’t they know how unattractive they look?”

  Chandler leaned forward and tapped Jack’s shoulder. “Is that J-Dog?”

  Jack stiffened. “No. It’s Two Point.” His hand gripped the steering wheel tighter.

  Kelly looked back and forth between Chandler and Jack. “Two what?”

  “Chandler thought that guy crossing the street was J-Dog,” Makayla explained. “But it’s his brother, Two Point.”

  “J-Dog and Jack don’t mix,” Chandler said.

  Two Point glowered at the Impala. He gave Chandler a curt nod but glared at Jack.

  “Looks like Two Point and Jack don’t mix either,” Kelly said.

  Jack took a right.

  “I can’t believe Nina is dating him,” Makayla said.

  “What?” Chandler turned to her. “Since when?”

  “I saw them at the movies last night,” Makayla said. “Then Nina posted all about it on Facebook.” She tossed her hand over her head dramatically. “She likes to announce every detail of her life in real time.”

  “Why do they call him Two Point?” Kelly asked.

  “It’s short for Two Point Oh,” Makayla explained. “His real name is Tommy. He’s a year younger than his brother, Jay—that’s J-Dog’s real name. They look alike and act alike, so people started to call him Jay Two Point Oh, but that nickname’s too long.”

  “Do you have a nickname, Jack?” Ke
lly asked.

  “Jackie,” Chandler called out.

  “No.” Jack held his hand out like a militant school crossing guard. “Only older people call me that.”

  Chandler smiled. “We also call him Jack-O. Jackster. Jack-a-reeno. Crazy Jack.”

  Jack shook his head. “Don’t listen to him. It’s just Jack.”

  “Oh, oh, oh.” Chandler pounded the seat. “You got a new one yesterday. Super Jack Flash!”

  “Super Jack Flash?” Kelly’s voice went high.

  “He ran like the Flash and swooped in like Superman.” Chandler stretched his long arms over the seat like a little kid pretending to fly. “And he saved this little old lady’s handbag.”

  “You were there too.”

  Jack didn’t know whether he broke into a sweat because of embarrassment or because of the way Kelly gazed at him.

  Chandler scoffed. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who chased the junkie down. Jack almost got stabbed.”

  Kelly’s eyes widened. “The guy had a knife?”

  Jack felt a surge of pride rush through him. He took his eyes off the road and looked at Kelly. “It was just a small knife.”

  She leaned so close that her breath lightly touched his neck.

  A car horn blared. Jack quickly swerved back into his lane.

  “Keep it between the buoys, Captain Jack.” Chandler sat back and broke into a wide grin. “Hey! That’s another one—Captain Jack.”

  “Great.” Jack shook his head.

  They ate at the Burger Hut and then headed over to the bowling alley. Once it became clear that Kelly had no idea how to bowl, Jack offered to get the manager to put up the bumpers for her, but she was a good sport about rolling gutter balls all night. Jack won, and Makayla came in second—a fact Jack planned to rib Chandler about later that night. They all had a great time. When the bowling alley closed and kicked them out at ten o’clock, they headed back to Aunt Haddie’s.

  Chandler leaned forward in the back seat. “You did great, Kelly.”

  Kelly blew a raspberry. “That was harder than it looks.” She crossed her arms and mock-pouted. “I stank.”

  Chandler leaned toward Jack and stage-whispered, “This is the part where you say, ‘No, you didn’t.’”

  Kelly batted her eyelids at Jack.

  “You gave it a great try,” Jack said.

  Kelly frowned even more.

  Chandler groaned and looked at the ceiling.

  “Say she did great,” Makayla said.

  “I said it was a great try.”

  “That’s not the same,” said Chandler.

  “I’m not going to lie and just say she did great.”

  “Jack!” Makayla slapped her forehead.

  Chandler rubbed his temples. “You’re a real sweet talker with the ladies, bro.”

  “Wait a minute.” Jack pulled down the rearview mirror so he could see Chandler. “People lie to each other all the time when they should be honest.” He looked at Kelly. “I’m not doing you any favors by lying to you. What if you picked out a dress that made you look fat?”

  Chandler snorted. “You’re digging the hole deeper here, Jack.”

  “Jack, you’re so wrong.” Makayla leaned up against the back of Kelly’s seat and placed a hand on her shoulder in solidarity.

  Kelly nodded.

  Chandler raised his hand. “Unanimous.”

  “It’s not a vote.” Jack stopped at a red light and put the car in park.

  “Jack, we’re at a light,” Chandler pointed out.

  “One second.” Jack turned in his seat so he faced Kelly. “I tell the truth. Straight up. Tell me how different this feels.” He cleared his throat. “You did awesome at bowling. Wow. Really good. By the way, you look great. I mean, really great tonight.”

  Kelly scowled.

  Jack lightly touched the back of her hand. “Or I could tell you the truth, like this. As far as bowling went, you gave it a great try but you can’t hit the broadside of a barn with a bowling ball. But it doesn’t matter, because I never saw the pins. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  Makayla and Kelly both said, “Aww…”

  “The light’s green,” Chandler said.

  Jack put the car back in drive. He glanced at Kelly. “I’d rather you know that I’ll tell you the truth no matter what. I want to be a guy people can trust.”

  Kelly smiled. “You’re right. I like it better when you tell me the truth. I change my vote.”

  “Me too!” Makayla raised her hand. She sat back, crossed her arms, and frowned at Chandler.

  “What?”

  “You could say something like that to me.”

  “How? You beat me.” Chandler made a face. “But I still did awesome at bowling.” He pointed at himself. “I got three strikes in a row.” Chandler flexed his arm.

  “And at least ten gutter balls,” Jack pointed out.

  “I’m the Steph Curry of bowling.” Chandler leaned against Makayla, who giggled.

  Jack prepared to turn onto Aunt Haddie’s road. “You destroy the pins when you hit them, but…” Jack’s voice trailed off when he saw the unnerving sight of red and blue police lights flashing off the houses.

  He sped up.

  Four doors down from Aunt Haddie’s, three police cruisers were parked with their lights on. A small crowd had gathered on the street, and there was a news van with a satellite pole fully extended parked on the grass of one of the vacant lots.

  Jack stopped the car at Aunt Haddie’s. “The cops are at the Martins’ house.”

  “What do you think’s going down?” Chandler asked.

  As they got out of the car, Aunt Haddie’s door flew open, and Michelle and four foster kids scrambled out. Michelle ran over to Jack and Chandler while the others rubbernecked.

  “What’s going on, kid?” Jack asked Michelle.

  Her shoulders popped up and down. “No clue.”

  Aunt Haddie appeared in the doorway and called out, “Michelle!”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Get inside. Everyone get inside.” Like a mother hen gathering her chicks, Aunt Haddie scooted her charges back into the house.

  “I’m going to go check it out,” Jack said.

  “Chandler and Jackie.” Aunt Haddie’s voice rose. “You too. Get inside. Right now.”

  Chandler and Makayla followed Michelle up the back steps. But Jack grabbed Kelly by the hand and hurried toward the police lights.

  “Jackie!” Aunt Haddie called.

  Jack gave her a quick wave and then cupped his hand to his ear like he couldn’t hear her. He caught the change in her expression but he kept going.

  I’m going to get it for this.

  Jack and Kelly waded through the circle of people until they stood beside a short, plump girl. “What’s going on, Shawna?”

  As Shawna shook her head back and forth, the beads on the ends of her braided hair clinked together. “There’re a dozen cops inside and a few suits. They’ve been in there for almost an hour.”

  “Why?”

  Shawna shrugged. “No clue.”

  “Two Point must’ve really stepped in it this time,” Jack said.

  “Then he’s toast,” Shawna said. “He’s still on probation.”

  The TV crew flooded the sidewalk with light, and a handsome news reporter walked in front of the camera. When he gestured to the small crowd, the camera panned, capturing the onlookers.

  As the crowd shifted, Jack wrapped a protective arm around Kelly.

  The front door of the Martins’ house opened. The cameraman swung the lens around as the crowd pushed forward. Two policemen emerged, each carrying a large, clear plastic evidence bag. Inside one was a white jacket with red stripes. The other held white, high-top basketball shoes. Detective Vargas exited next, followed by J-Dog in handcuffs.

  “It’s J-Dog they’re arresting?” Jack blurted out. “I thought he’d gone straight.”

  Shawna made a snapping sound with
her lower lip. “I didn’t see that coming.”

  J-Dog’s mother appeared in the doorway, crying. Jack couldn’t hear what was being said, but he could tell she was begging.

  Detective Vargas shook his head and walked down the steps.

  As he was led to the car, J-Dog’s eyes searched the crowd. Jack saw despair hidden beneath the tough guy mask on his face. He looked like a man going to the gallows. His shoulders slumped as he got in the car.

  “He’s screwed,” Shawna said. “It’s never good when the suits show up.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Jack said. He led Kelly through the crowd back toward the car. But before they reached it, Michelle popped out of the house and rushed over to them.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “They arrested J-Dog. Where’s Chandler?”

  “He’s getting an earful about how irresponsible you are.” Michelle snickered. “I’d beat feet unless you want a big talking-to, too.”

  Jack held up his hands. “You’d better get inside the house, Half-Pint. Tell him to call me.”

  She nodded, gave a little wave, and ran around to the back door.

  Jack and Kelly hopped in the Impala just as the police cars drove by. J-Dog was in the back, his head slumped forward.

  “Are you friends with the guy who got arrested?” Kelly asked.

  “Friends? With J-Dog? No. Never. I can’t stand him.”

  “Didn’t you grow up with him?”

  “Yeah.” Jack watched as the cruiser drove away. “We didn’t like each other then, either. He always rubbed me the wrong way. We’re like oil and water.”

  Kelly nodded.

  “I heard after I got adopted and moved, he got worse. Jay turned into J-Dog. He deserved the nickname: he’s as mean and crazy as a junkyard dog.” Jack rolled down his window. “His mother’s real nice, though. Seeing her crying like that…”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.”

  “Where do you want to go now?” Kelly asked.

  Jack glanced at the clock. 10:44 p.m. “What time can you stay out until?”

  “One.”

  Crud. Thanks, Dad.

  Jack racked his brain for someplace else to go. The list of places in Fairfield where a seventeen year old could go at eleven o’clock at night consisted of the convenience store, the laundromat, and the Waffle House. Or…