by Imogen Rose
“Miss Stevens, do you think you could pry your eyes away from Mr. Skoog and pay attention? You’re not exactly acing this class,” Mr. Harvey said sarcastically. I could hear muffled giggling sounds all around me. Well, I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes at Mr. Harvey and got handed a detention slip, maybe I would pay attention if he could stop being such a mind-blowing bore. He had seriously killed biology and my promising career in medicine….not!
I sat up and tried to concentrate through the rest of the class, but my mind kept wandering off. I needed to know if Kellan was okay. I was hoping that David would cut the next class to try to find out. I couldn’t imagine how, though. He still hadn’t told me how he’d come over. He was very cagey and clammed up every time I asked him. It didn’t make any sense. Maybe he came through another secret portal. After all, my mom’s couldn’t be the only one in existence. Imagine that, lots of portals around! If he had come through another portal, he could take me back! Is that what I wanted? To go back? I did want to go back to Kellan and I needed to know what was happening to Ella and Harry. If there was another portal, they may have been transported over as well. I felt sick. The thought of Ella suddenly waking up, all alone, not knowing where she was, made me tremble.
“Arizona, are you all right? You look ill,” Mr. Harvey said from above me. I hadn’t even noticed that he had walked over to my desk.
“I’ll take her over to the nurse’s station, Mr. Harvey,” David said from behind him.
“Thank you, David. Here is a hall pass,” Mr. Harvey said and stood aside, so David could get to me.
I couldn’t help but feel the incredulous looks of my classmates. I was Arizona Stevens, not a flipping Barbie doll. I’d never been taken to the nurse’s office before. That’s for sissies. No, I lie. There was one time, after a spat with Benjamin when I had ended up with a split lip, but I had flattened him. So here I was, Barbie Arizona, off to the nurses’ station with–my knight in shining armor–David. Not cool. I had to get a grip on myself.
“David, I’m fine. Let’s go back to class.”
“You didn’t look fine in there, you were shaking. Probably best to have the nurse take a look,” David suggested.
“No, I’m fine. I was thinking about Ella, wondering if she’s all alone and scared somewhere. This is petrifying. I can’t believe she’s missing! And Harry. Where could they be? David, did you come through another portal?”
David stroked my hair and said, “Something like that.”
“Why are you being so vague?” I hissed angrily.
“Because I have to be,” he replied resignedly. “You have to trust me. If you are feeling up to it, I’ll take you back to class after the nurse signs the form. Promise to only think happy thoughts until I get back. There’s no point in upsetting yourself. There’s nothing you can do at the moment. I’ll be back later tonight, with my dad. Hopefully with some answers,” he said.
“Hopefully?” I whispered.
“Well, I promise to have some answers. I’ll find out what I can.”
We returned to biology class after a quick stop at the nurses’ office. There were only a few more minutes before class ended and I got ready to head to English. I noticed David speaking to Christian briefly before he waved a quick good bye at me and headed off. I hoped that he would come back and not go missing as well.
“A, David asked me to keep watch over you. Not feeling well?” Christian asked, coming up behind me as I walked out the classroom.
“Thanks, Christian. I’m feeling much better. Just felt a bit woozy for a second there. No need to worry,” I said reassuringly.
“Well, I promised him that I would stay with you until he gets back tonight. So I will, unless Monica wants to take over later.”
I sighed. I so hated being babysat! “Christian, I’m okay. I really am. Scram.”
“Charming as ever, A,” he laughed. “Look, I’ll keep an eye on you from afar. Promise me you’ll hang with Monica this evening, okay?”
“Okay,” I said gratefully. The rest of the day dragged on. I had lunch with my team and received endless cracks about my hair. And lots of questions about David. I tried to keep my answers as simple as I could. It was too confusing to remember all the details. I was relieved when the day came to an end and I got dropped off at home by Christian.
“Sure you don’t want me to stay until Monica gets here?” he asked for the zillionth time.
“Christian, I’m sure. I’m going to watch some TV and have a snack, that’s all. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Okay,” he agreed and drove off.
I felt a sense of relief when I got in. The house was empty, but I was getting used to the solitude again. I made myself a coffee and then decided to go for a run through the streets of Princeton to take my mind off stuff I really needed to think about. I ran through the Princeton University grounds, I spotted a black squirrel and took a picture of it with my cell phone. I ran over to Hoagie Haven, my favorite sub place, and I got myself a fat lady–think everything including fries in a sub–and a soda. By the time I got back to the house it was well past nine and I was hoping to see David waiting for me in the driveway. No such luck, he would probably be very late. I turned on the TV, watched True Blood again and fell asleep.
A crashing noise, followed by heavy footsteps woke me up at a little after three in the morning. It was coming from my bedroom; I had fallen asleep on the couch. It was pitch black. I stumbled around and found the light switch. I contemplated switching on the lights, but changed my mind. I was terrified, what if someone was in the house? I felt for my phone as I stood motionless, listening for more sounds. I stood there for ages, just listening. There were no more sounds. Perhaps I dreamt it. Could it have been David? No, I decided that he wouldn’t be sneaking about. He would have used the front door. I had my phone ready to press 911 as I edged slowly toward my bedroom to investigate. The noise had definitely come from in there.
Something just didn’t add up, FBI Special Agent Claire Adams thought to herself as she made her way to the Grayson residence from the hospital. She’d hoped for more information from the Fox boy, but he didn’t remember much. So, their only lead was the hockey stick, engraved with the letters JW for Justin Weeks, probably, but maybe not. She would have to investigate other possibilities as well. Justin Weeks was a start, hence the trip to the Grayson House.
Claire had served in CARD, Child Abduction Rapid Deployment, for the last three years and had just recently been assigned as team leader. She felt a grave sense of duty. This had to be handled just right and in a timely manner. Three children were missing; it was her responsibility to find them.
She was sure that the Darleys were keeping something from her. In these kind of cases, there was always a possibility that the parents were directly involved in the abduction. She doubted that this was the case here. However, they definitely knew something that they weren’t telling her. Were they protecting someone? Once again, this seemed improbable. After all, their children were missing and they were genuinely distraught. Had they been threatened? This was the most likely reason for them not to cooperate fully. They may have had a ransom call they weren’t sharing. Her team had just tapped their phones; they may have missed an earlier ransom call. The GPS directed Claire to pull off the highway onto a winding country road. She couldn’t help but admire the scenery. The sky was a clear blue and the hard-looking mountains in the distance took her breath away. This really was a pretty place. It was hard to believe that anything bad could happen here. Well, maybe for some. However, she had hardened during her time with the agency. Very bad things could happen in the most unlikely places.
She turned off into a side road at the next GPS command. It was a fairly average-looking street in a middle-class development. The lawns looked perfect, the houses much further apart than usual. She drove up to the fifth house on the left and parked. The Weeks’ residence was two houses up, but the road leading up to the house was already occupied with squad c
ars. She looked up the profiles of the inhabitants of the Weeks’ house on her new pre-release iPad, her favorite new toy–Grayson and Justin Weeks, father and son, both very attractive. Two of the local cops were waiting for her.
“Agent Adams?” Sally Mason inquired. She was intimidated by the FBI formality. Agent Adams looked pleasant enough, though. Not the least bit stuffy. That is, until she spoke. Sally hadn’t expected quite such a firm tone.
“Yes, and you are?” Claire asked the two detectives towering over her.
“I’m Sally, Sally Mason, and this is my partner Buck Pinsky.”
Claire didn’t feel that she had the time to be friendly or even polite, but she forced herself to nod and smile before she spoke. “Give me a quick update while we walk to the house. Just answer my questions briefly.”
Sally nodded, as she noticed Buck rolling his eyes at her. She was thankful that they towered over the agent, so she hadn’t caught that. Sally shot Buck the look and he quietly took a step back to walk behind Agent Adams and her.
“Have the children been found?” Claire asked, knowing well that it would have been radioed to her immediately if that had been the case.”
“No, I’m afraid not,” Sally replied, wishing that she had omitted the last few words, a simple no would have sufficed.
Claire was thinking the same as she continued. “Are any members of the Weeks’ family at the house?”
“Yes,” replied Sally. She hesitated before she added, “Dr. Weeks is at home. The only other person who lives at the address is his son, Justin. He’s not at home; we are trying to locate him. Dr. Sen is at the house as well.”
Claire spoke into her radio, making contact with her agents at the other two targets–the Sen and Moreau residences. “Anything?” she asked. The news was disappointing.
Claire then turned her attention on Sally. “Detective Mason, was there anyone else on the premises apart from Drs. Weeks and Sen?”
“No, not as far as I know. Although I, we, that’s Buck and I, have not been allowed in. Only the FBI teams are inside, we’re keeping an eye on the perimeter until we get further instructions. I was asked to wait for you.”
“Thank you, Detectives,” Claire said as she stepped up to the entrance of the house to be greeted by her team member, Tanya.
“You’re checking their phone calls, Tanya?” Claire asked her.
“Yes, we took their cell phones, so they couldn’t contact anyone while they were waiting for you,” Tanya replied.
“I’ll talk to Dr. Weeks first,” Claire said to Tanya, who nodded and led her to him. He was alone in the family room. He’d been separated from Dr. Sen.
“Dr. Weeks, I’m Agent Adams. I’m in charge of this investigation. I have some questions,” she said looking into the serene eyes of Grayson. She trusted him immediately, and then gave herself a shake. Trust no one, she said to herself sternly and pursed her lips into a severe line.
“What is going on? Does this have something to do with Olivia and Larry’s kids missing?” Grayson asked concerned.
“Yes, how did you know they were missing?”
“Rupert, Rupert Darley, called me last night to find out if I had seen them.”
“And have you?” Claire probed.
“No, of course not. I would have told Rupert immediately,” Grayson said, confused by her accusing tone.
“Where’s your son? Justin?” Claire asked, hoping that he had not gone missing as well.
“Justin left about an hour ago. He’s neither seen nor heard from them, either. I asked him before he left,” Grayson confirmed, anticipating the next question. “May I ask why you are searching my house?”
“I’m not able to say,” Claire stated “Could you stay in here for now? I need to check a few things out.” She left and followed Tanya into the kitchen where Dr. Sen was sitting sipping a cup of tea. For whatever reason, she had expected a man. Instead, this beautiful lady gazed at her, with the same serene expression she had encountered when looking at Dr. Weeks. She basically told the same story. Dr. Sen had seen her daughter, Simla, before she had left her house a few hours ago. Claire decided that she should search the premises again before heading out to the next house. She turned and thanked Dr. Sen and then followed Tanya out.
“Agent Adams, there is something else,” Erica said slowly, deliberating.
“Dr. Sen?” Claire was all ears now. “Please tell us anything you know, even if it seems unimportant,” she encouraged.
“I haven’t seen my husband, Raj, for a while.”
Claire scanned her notes. Raj Sen was a psychiatrist at the hospital. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“A few days ago,” Erica admitted ruefully.
“Could he be at the hospital? Have you tried contacting him on his cell?” Claire asked, going over the routine questions.
“He’s not answering his cell. He’s not at the hospital. We had a disagreement and I haven’t seen him since,” Erica said.
A domestic dispute? Not really a matter for the FBI. He was probably with another woman. Still, she’d look into it just in case he was involved somehow. “Does he have any issues with the Darley or Fox families?”
Erica shrunk into herself. Of course he did! If they found him, they would probably find the kids. But, she couldn’t say anything about the portal or her husband’s obsession with it. She kept it simple. A simple, but plausible lie would surely have the same effect–a hunt for Raj. Lying was so against her very core nature, but unavoidable at the moment. She had to do something, four children were missing. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what they were going through. “Raj, my husband, is obsessed with Olivia Darley.” There, she said it. It wasn’t even an untruth. He was sort of obsessed with her. “His obsession has become dark and scary.”
“Dark and scary? How?” Claire asked.
“Well, I fear he will do anything to get her attention,” Erica said falteringly.
“You think it’s possible that your husband took the kids to grab Dr. Darley’s attention?” she asked Erica. It made some sense. After all, Kellan had been returned. He had been found drugged. Dr. Raj Sen could have done that easily.
“It’s possible,” Erica replied sadly. “I feel like I don’t know him anymore.”
“I need you to come with me to your house. It’s been searched, the kids haven’t been found. But, I need access to the computers at your house and it would be helpful if you could show me around the basement and any out buildings.”
Erica nodded, though she knew that it would be a waste of time. Raj was too devious and smart to have left any clues at the house.
“Is there anywhere else he could have taken them?”
“I don’t know. He’s got keys to get into Ames, that’s where I work.”
“Send a search team out to Ames,” Claire barked into her phone. “Let’s go, Dr. Sen. I need to know what he was driving and anything else you think may help.”
Erica nodded and started scribbling on a piece of paper as they walked to Claire’s car and drove a couple of blocks to where Erica lived. The Sen residence was much the same as the one Claire had just visited. Squad cars surrounded the area. Once again, the local police greeted them. This time Claire didn’t have any questions for them. She hurried Dr. Sen into the house. It was swarming with FBI agents. Claire spotted her colleague, Special Agent Baker and rushed over to him. Claire had worked with Keith Baker for nearly a year. She had learned to trust his instincts, which were usually spot on, though he had a roundabout way of expressing them. He, like most, towered over Claire.
“So?” Claire asked, looking up at him.
“Nothing,” he shrugged. “The basement has been checked, it’s fully finished,” he said carefully, nodding at Erica. “Dr. Sen, could you give us a moment? Please wait in the kitchen.”
“Sure,” said Erica, disappointed. Why were they interested in the basement? Strange.
As soon as Erica was out of earshot, Keith continued. “The
basement is not at all like that described by the Fox kid. I assume Dr. Sen doesn’t know that Kellan has been found?”
Claire shook her head and said, “The Weeks’ basement was fully finished as well. No signs of any hidden doors, et cetera?”
“No, the search was pretty thorough. The dogs checked it out as well. No sign of the missing kids having been down there,” Agent Baker said resignedly.
“Okay. The kid, Simla, has she been back? Or the husband, Raj?” Claire asked, looking at her iPad.
“Nope. Any chance I could get one of those?” Keith asked, looking down at it admiringly.
“Can’t see why not,” Claire smiled as she turned to head back into the kitchen.
“Any idea where Simla may be?” Claire asked Erica.
“No, but then I hardly ever know. She does her own thing. I can try her cell phone,” Erica offered hoping that Raj had not got Simla involved in this.
“We’ve already tried her cell phone, there’s no reply,” Claire said.
“She doesn’t really answer calls. She seems to use text exclusively. Shall I text her?”
“Yes, please do. Something general, so she’ll call you back,” Claire added.
“Could I have my cell phone back?” Erica asked.
“I don’t have it. It’s probably still at the Weeks’ house. I’ll have one of the Agents text her,” Claire said talking into her radio again. “Okay, can you get us on the computers? Do you have all the pass codes?”
“No, but they’ll be easy enough to guess,” Erica said confidently. Both Raj and Simla were pretty predictable. She managed to guess the passwords and the agents set to work, rummaging through the files and emails. Where could Raj have taken the children? Erica wondered. Where could he keep four kids hidden? A shiver went down her spine as the unthinkable scenario unfolded in her imagination. Could he have taken them through the portal? The FBI would never be able to find them then. Had he taken Simla and Justin as well? They had both been seen this morning, so that could surely not be the case? Unless they had just left. They could have disappeared anywhere–to any time, in any dimension. She closed her eyes. Even with her abilities, how would she ever be able to track them down? Then she remembered– predictable.