"Theo, I came by because your mother--" She stopped as Charlie crumpled to the floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"Oh, no!" Theo buried her face in her hands. "He was supposed to stay in bed and rest. I told Sonia I'd come over and make sure he's okay. Only...only..." She was on the verge of tears.
"Let's help him back to bed," Gabbie said calmly, though her heart was pounding. "Where is he sleeping?"
"In the den."
They placed Charlie's limp arms around their shoulders and half-dragged him into the den. For a little fellow he was surprisingly heavy. They were both panting when they set him down on the made-up sofa bed.
"Do you think we should call the doctor?" Theo said.
"Don't call anyone," Charlie said. His eyes were blinking madly. "Please."
"God, Charlie, you scared the daylights out of me," Theo said.
The color seemed to be returning to his pale face. "Do you feel okay?" Gabbie said.
He attempted a grin. "Are you kidding? My head's killing me and my ribs ache like the devil, but I'm better than I was last night."
"He took his medicine a few minutes ago," Theo said. "Sonia said the pills could make him woozy."
Gabbie straightened out the bedding. She was about to suggest that he replace his jeans and red polo shirt with pajamas and get some sleep, when he stumbled to his feet.
"Thank you, ladies. I can take it from here."
He stood up. Theo put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Where are you going?"
"To the bathroom, if you don't mind." His steps were wobbly as he walked out of the room.
"Promise me you won't do anything stupid," Theo called after him.
He turned at the door and gave her a half-smile. "Of course not. It must have been the meds speaking. Anyway, I'm dead tired. I'm going to sleep, so you both can leave."
Gabbie and Theo ignored his dismissal. They watched him close the bathroom door, and then Gabbie followed Theo back into the kitchen. Even with the lights on, the room looked dreary. The appliances were Harvest Gold, a popular color from decades past. The wallpaper, with its pattern of gold and rust-colored flowers against a white background, was peeling along the seams.
They sat at the narrow kitchen table. Theo was as pale as Charlie had been when he'd fainted. She was staring at her lap, but Gabbie saw the tears streaming down her face.
"Everything's gone wrong. Everything!" Theo moaned. She began to sob, softly at first, then in deep, gulping gasps.
The sound wrenched at Gabbie's heart. She moved to hold Theo and the girl went rigid. After a long minute, she allowed herself to be comforted, and wrapped her arms around Gabbie and held on tight.
Gabbie let her cry. When the storm subsided, she patted Theo's shoulder and gently freed herself. "I think we could both use a cup of tea."
Theo nodded. Gabbie handed her the box of tissues she'd found on the counter, and then filled the kettle and set it on the range. She grinned at the honking sound of Theo blowing her nose.
"I stopped by your house because your mother asked me to look in on you occasionally and make sure you're okay."
"It's all my fault she's gone." Theo rubbed her fists in her eyes. "I drove her away."
Her trembling voice made Gabbie fear another flood of tears. To head it off, she decided a shot of tough love was in order. "This isn't about you, Theo, so go easy on the drama. It distorts the reality of the situation. Your mother was unhappy living with your father. When she found out he was involved with another woman, she decided to leave. She'd have taken you along, but she didn't want to disrupt your life, especially since you get along well with your father."
Theo turned mournful brown eyes on Gabbie. "I did drive her away. I was obnoxious because I was angry. She was in love with Cameron Leeds, and I despised her for not loving my father."
Her eyes grew shiny as tears welled up. "And all the time he had his own re-la-tion-ship." She dragged out the word, ridiculing it. "I heard more than I wanted to know about that when they quarreled Sunday morning."
"It's not your fault," Gabbie said as she opened cupboards in search of tea bags and cups. "Parents are human. And we humans do a wonderful job of screwing up our lives."
"Well, they should have thought of me," Theo blurted. She gave Gabbie a baleful look. "Or is that being a drama queen?"
"Certainly not. You're their daughter. Their only child. They were selfish not to consider the impact all this would have on you."
Theo's hunched-up shoulders relaxed.
Gabbie put tea bags in the two mugs she'd found, and poured in boiling water. "Any chance Sonia has some cookies to munch on?"
Theo pointed to the narrow pantry. "In there."
Gabbie found an opened package of chocolate chip cookies and brought it to the table. Theo reached eagerly for one and took a huge bite.
"I hardly know your parents," Gabbie said, "but I had the definite impression they weren't getting along."
"They couldn't stand each other." Theo stuffed the rest of the cookie in her mouth. "I always blamed Mom. She used to pester Dad because he kept long hours at the lab, and then didn't talk to her when he got home. But he always talked to me, so I figured it was her fault."
Hateful memories of her own marriage rose unbidden to her mind. "It's always the woman's fault," Gabbie murmured.
"You're being sarcastic," Theo said.
"Absolutely and completely."
Theo's lips turned up. Then she was laughing, making Gabbie laugh, too. The tension their conversation had created evaporated into thin air.
"I think your mother's been unhappy for a long time," Gabbie said. "She felt guilty about her relationship with Cam. When he died, she tried to make things work with your father and got nowhere. Finding out about his affair gave her permission to leave."
Theo had a faraway look. "I hope she's happy now. She was so sad after Cam died, though she tried to hide it."
"Did you like Cam?"
Theo gave her a wry smile. "I tried not to, but he was totally irresistible when he wanted to win you over."
Don't I know it. "Handsome and charming?"
"Uh huh. And funny. Two summers ago, he took Mom and me sailing, along with a few other people--Charlie and his dad, Reese and his wife." The memory softened Theo's expression. "We sailed out into the bay and dropped anchor, so Charlie and I could swim off the side. Later we had a clam bake on the beach. We all laughed a lot and sang songs. It was one of my best days ever."
"Did you know they were involved then?"
Theo looked sheepish as she shook her head. "Naive, aren't I? I thought they were just old friends, and Cam felt sorry for Mom because Dad was always working. I found out about it that fall. Caught them in a clinch."
"And you've been mad at her ever since," Gabbie murmured.
"Not any more. Now I'm furious with my father. What a hypocrite, pretending everything was Mom's fault, when all the time he was screwing around with someone from the lab. I don't want to live in the house with him one more day."
"Theo, you have to stop being angry at your parents because they don't behave the way you want them to."
"But they're the adults. They're supposed to set an example and give me a home, instead of running off and screwing around."
"It's time to grow up, Theo."
Theo stared at her open-mouthed, too shocked to answer.
"I know you're only sixteen, and it doesn't seem fair to ask you to act maturely when your parents don't, but you've no choice. You're an intelligent girl. You've got to look after yourself, study and get good grades, so you can make the most of your life."
They both gave a start at the sound of a door closing. Theo ran to the den, with Gabbie at her heels.
"Oh, no! He's gone," Theo wailed. "He faked that fainting bit so we'd leave him alone, and I fell for it. I can't believe I fell for it."
Gabbie peered out the front door. She caught a flash of movement down the street, another as a figure disappeare
d around the corner. She pointed. "There he goes. Where's he heading?"
"To the woods. We have to stop him!" Theo raced out the door.
Gabbie caught up with her halfway down the walk and grabbed hold of her arm. "Think, Theo. You're wearing clogs, and the ground's covered with snow and ice. You can't go running into the woods like this."
Theo wriggled free. She was panting now, almost hyperventilating. "Charlie has a gun, Ms. Meyerson. We have to stop him before he kills Barrett Connelly."
"A gun?" Gabbie's heart pounded like a jackhammer as she remembered the conversation she'd overheard earlier. "Where did he get hold of a gun? From his father?"
"From Sonia. He said it's a family heirloom."
"In that case, maybe it's old and won't fire. Is it loaded?"
"I don't know. He didn't say." Theo whimpered as she tugged at Gabbie's sleeve. "Please, Ms. Meyerson, help me find him. If we drive toward the beach, we can stop him."
"You said he was heading for the woods."
"He is. And the woods slope down to the beach. Everyone knows that."
Gabbie bit back the reprimand Theo deserved. "Okay, we'll drive around and look for him. But first we're going back inside so I can call Chief Rollins."
"Then it will be too late," Theo wailed. "Let's call him from the car."
"I don't have a cell phone," Gabbie admitted.
Theo threw up her arms in despair. "Oh, God! I left mine at home." She rolled her eyes at Gabbie. "You have to be the only person on Long Island who doesn't have a cell phone."
Duly chastened, Gabbie said, "I'm buying one this weekend."
She called the police station from Theo's house. While Theo changed into sneakers, Gabbie explained the situation to the dispatcher and was connected with Darren immediately. He promised to get there as soon as possible.
Back in the car, she followed Theo's directions to the end of the street, and then made a sharp right onto a narrow road that ran through woods. On their left, beyond the woods, was the Sound.
"How do you know he came this way?" Gabbie figured they were driving northeast and were about half a mile from her cottage.
"Because this is where Barrett and Todd hang out. They fixed up an old shed. Put on a new roof to make it waterproof, strung up electricity for sound equipment. Mostly they play music and get high."
"Where'd they get the money?"
Theo threw her a withering glance. "The Rosses are loaded. Todd's father owns this land, as a matter of fact. Stop!"
She flew out of the car before Gabbie could come to a full stop. Cupping her hands into a megaphone, she shouted, "Charlie! Charlie, come back here!" and then took off like a madwoman down the path.
Gabbie started to follow, but spun around when she heard a car. The approaching police car came to to a halt. Darren and Lionel jumped out and ran toward her.
"We just got here," Gabbie said. "Theo's gone into the woods looking for Charlie. She's frantic."
"I'll catch up with her," Darren said. "Lionel, check out the shed."
"You know about it?"
"Of course," Darren called over his shoulder as he strode past.
I'm not waiting around like a dummy. She followed them.
The terrain sloped downhill toward the Sound. Although trees grew all around, she realized she was following a narrow footpath. The snow was barely an inch deep, and she could make out various sets of footprints, she had no idea how many.
About a hundred feet ahead of her, Darren and Lionel had stopped beside Theo, who was shouting and banging on the door of a shed half-hidden by overgrown bushes. When Darren laid a hand on Theo's shoulder, she shrugged it away. He appeared to have asked a question, to which she shook her head no.
Theo stood, hugging herself, while Darren and Lionel walked around to the side of the shed and peered through a small window. Obviously Charlie wasn't inside, because the three continued along the path toward the Sound.
Gabbie was about to call after them, when she noticed a second footpath veering off to the left and down to the beach. She followed it, realizing too late it must have been abandoned years ago. She soldiered on, pushing aside branches and stumbling over stones. The path ended suddenly at a rickety staircase that led down to the beach. Gabbie eyed the splintery steps half buried in snow and wondered if she should take a chance, or if she'd end up twisting her ankle or worse. While she was trying to decide, she saw a flash of red on the beach.
"Darren! Theo! Charlie's down on the beach, He's heading away from town."
She climbed back up the footpath and shouted twice again before they heard her. Minutes later, they were at her side. Darren grabbed Theo's arm to keep her from dashing after Charlie. Gabbie couldn't hear what he told her, but she saw Theo stamp her foot before following Lionel up to the parked cars.
Darren gestured to Gabbie to walk beside him as they trailed behind. "I alerted the county, and they're sending along a few men to help us search for Charlie." He whistled. "I hope we find him before it gets dark."
"I hope he doesn't catch pneumonia. He's not even wearing a jacket."
Darren gestured toward Theo. "Do me a favor and take her home. I don't want her going after Charlie on her own, especially since he's armed."
Theo's head whipped around. She snorted. "Right. He's really going to shoot me, the only friend he has in the world. For a cop, you know beans about kids."
Gabbie bit back her retort. Now wasn't the time to lecture Theo on keeping a civil tongue. Besides, Darren's instructions took precedence. "We're on our way," she said, as much to Theo as to Darren.
She strode over to her car and opened the passenger door. The girl got in, her sullen expression proclaiming her displeasure.
Once she had the motor running, she glared at Theo. She was about to give her a lecture on attitude and respecting her elders, when she saw Theo was shivering. She retrieved an old army blanket from the trunk and wrapped it around the girl, who sat stiffly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Charlie needs this more than I do," Theo said.
"Hopefully, Chief Rollins will find him and bring him home soon."
Theo took the tissue Gabbie offered and blew her nose. "I should have made him tell me where he hid that gun, instead of blubbering to you about my pathetic family." Her voice curled with self-contempt. "I let him fool me when I should have been looking out for him."
"Theo, don't be so hard on yourself. You're not responsible for Charlie."
Theo turned the full force of her fury on Gabbie, and for a moment Gabbie feared she would strike her.
"Yes, I am responsible for Charlie. I'm his friend. No one else gives a damn about him. No one stops those creepy bullies from tormenting him all the time, in and out of school."
"I'm sorry," Gabbie said. "He should have told his father what was going on."
"He did. And for once Mr. Russell put down his bottle and took action. He went up to school and told Dr. Jordan that Barrett and Ross were teasing Charlie, taking away his books and things."
Gabbie pressed her lips together, dismayed by what she knew would follow.
"'Sure,' Dr. Jordan said. 'I'll handle the situation.'" Outraged, Theo whipped her long hair from side to side. "And as usual, he did squat. Gave those creeps a talking to. And you know what?" Her eyes blazed into Gabbie's. "They were worse to Charlie than before.
"I hope they both die, only I don't want Charlie to be the one responsible."
The car filled with the sound of wracking sobs. This time, Gabbie made no attempt to comfort her. Let her get it out of her system. All the frustration and pain she's suffering because bad things are happening, things no one can control or make better. She put the car in gear and drove slowly toward Theo's house.
By the time she pulled into the driveway, Theo had herself under control. She offered Gabbie a half-smile. Even tear-stained, her face revealed a sweetness that Gabbie knew was a forecast of the beauty she was destined to become.
"Two crying jags in one day,
" Theo said ruefully. "I hope you don't get the impression I'm an hysterical wimp 'cause I'm not."
Gabbie held back the hug she wanted to offer. Instead, she said, "I think you're a caring person who's on overload."
Theo cocked her head and said shyly, "Do you think I'll make a good writer?"
"Is that what you want to be? A writer?"
"More than anything in the world."
"I don't see why not," Gabbie told her. "You're smart, articulate, and disciplined. Keep a journal of what's been going on around you. God knows, you have enough material for at least three novels."
Theo leaned over to give Gabbie a quick hug. "Thanks, Ms. Meyerson. I'm glad you stopped by and we got to talk."
Gabbie smiled. "Will you be all right on your own?"
"Sure. I'm used to taking care of myself." She got out and headed for her front door.
"I'll phone if I hear anything about Charlie," Gabbie called after her, and watched till Theo was safely inside.
Darkness was falling. Gabbie felt too heartsick to go to Logan's for company or information. She drove to the cottage and made herself a sandwich. After eating it, she sat reading on the musty living room couch because she didn't feel like talking to Cam, either. The phone rang at eleven o'clock, startling her out of a half-sleep.
"Ms. Meyerson. It's Theo. They found Charlie."
"Oh, thank God," Gabbie said. "Where was he? Is he all right?"
"I guess. Chief Rollins took him over to Sonia's about ten minutes ago. I ran over there, soon as I saw the police car. She got him into a hot bath and asked me to heat up some soup, and then she chased me home."
Gabbie's heart was pounding as she said, "Did he meet up with Barrett and Todd?"
"I don't know." Theo's voice went dead. "Charlie wouldn't say, but I could hear him crying. Sonia must have asked him about the gun, because he shouted, 'I don't have it. I don't have it anymore.'"
"Oh, God!" Gabbie murmured. After a moment, she said, "Well, thanks for telling me, Theo. I'll see you in school tomorrow."
She was hanging up when Theo said, "Ms. Meyerson, wait!"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering...My dad's staying with his girlfriend tonight, and I feel creepy here all by myself."
Giving Up the Ghost Page 17