by Leona Fox
Of course, when a murderer had been hiding in the woods Scott's mother had forbade him to go, but now that that danger had passed Scott was free again to wander the wilderness. The people of East Pender trusted one another and it wasn't a strange phenomenon to see a child walking along in the sun. Scott was humming to himself as he balanced across a log that ran over an empty stream, imagining he was a pirate in chase of some treasure. As yet his efforts to find anything had proven futile, and most of his friends had declined his invitation to continue searching Yet Scott was tenacious and, in his heart, he knew that somewhere out there was something else to be found.
As far as he was concerned he was alone and these woods were his own private playground. Lost in his own world he paid little heed to his surroundings, until he heard a branch crack and a prickle of fear shot down his spine. He paused, and turned around slowly. His vibrant imagination ordinarily was used to create scenarios in which he was powerful and heroic, but now it only was fueled by his fear. His small heart beat rapidly and his legs seemed to be stuck in mud as his wide eyes turned and gazed up at the towering, mysterious figure standing before him. Before Scott could scream a large gloved hand was clamped over his mouth, holding some kind of cloth, and soon enough everything went black.
Chapter 3
After she had finished her breakfast Ellen put on her sneakers, whistled to Scampy, and went for a run. The morning had a crispness about it and yet she could not shake the things that were tormenting her mind. While Andy had asked her to try forgetting about the letters they continued playing on Ellen's mind, as did Kelly's vain hope that things in East Pender would stay quiet for the wedding. Ellen had a sinking feeling in her stomach, and she only got those when things were really bad. She tried telling herself it was only because she so badly wanted her friend's wedding to go smoothly, and for Andy to be safe. Yet as she looked at the surroundings on her run, everything was cast with a mistrustful glow. Whoever had written the letters wasn't out for something as simple as money. They were out for revenge, and there was no telling the lengths they would go to to achieve their goal.
Ellen's feet pounded the pavement and stinging drops of sweat trickled down the sides of her face. She reached up an arm and wiped a sleeve across her eyes, causing her top to become damp, stained with sweat. Scampy ran alongside her, managing to keep up, making up for all those treats people in the cafe bestowed upon him. Along the way she saw various people she knew, and nodded to them, her heavy breathing not allowing her a moment's respite to say hello. Usually she ran at the crack of dawn. She preferred those times as the golden sunlight made her feel like the world was new again, and the streets were empty.
Now there were people shopping and walking about, and she had to adjust her trajectory to avoid them. She also had to keep more of a close eye on Scampy as well, for her canine companion had a tendency to get so caught up in the run that he lost awareness of his surroundings, and often bumped into things. The more she ran the more primed her body became and she was able to deal with the predicament more. It was Andy's problem, yes, but that wasn't going to stop her from looking into it. The letters had to have been sent from somewhere and there were ways to track that kind of thing. She just had to spend some time doing so.
As she ran through the town she came across Andrea Bishop, Scott's mother, looking concerned. After Scott had discovered van De Lay's body, Ellen had kind words to say to Andrea, who seemed to be a nice woman. Ever since then Andrea had made it a point to come into the cafe and try to be more of a part of the community. Ellen didn't know much about her past but from what she could gather Andrea had become something of a recluse after her husband had left, and mostly concerned herself with looking after Scott. She was around thirty with long, dark hair that came down to the small of her back. Her frame was slender and she was taller than the average woman. Ellen slowed and breathed in gulps of air as she greeted Andrea.
“Are you okay?” Ellen said, noticing the worried look on Andrea's face.
Ellen's appearance seemed to startle Andrea, who jumped back a little. A mask immediately fell over her face as she claimed she was okay. Yet the truth was in the way her trembling hand brushed locks of hair back around her ear, and how the corners of her mouth twitched, and the sadness that lay behind the smile. Ellen had been around people long enough to know when she was needed and when to back off. This was definitely a time when she was needed. She moved closer to Andrea and placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it gently.
“Are you sure?” she said in a low voice, and all of a sudden it was just the two of them.
Andrea's mask fell. Her shoulders slumped and she looked as though she had aged a decade in just a matter of moments.
“No,” Andrea said, her voice cracking.
“Come on, let's get you some coffee and you'll be alright,” Ellen suggested, trying to lead Andrea away by the arm. Yet the mother remained steadfast.
“I can't leave,” she said. Ellen gave her an inquiring glance.
“It's Scott...he's out there somewhere.”
Ellen's heart sank and she realized now why Andrea appeared so distraught. Her thoughts returned to that moment when Scott had burst into the cafe declaring he had found something, and how she and the other adults had followed him back along the trail of discovery. He had been such a fun child, so full of life. And now he was missing.
“I'm sorry,” Ellen said, and placed her hand on Andrea's back, hoping it would prove somewhat soothing. Andrea now was doubled over, with her hands on her knees.
“He went off exploring and he didn't come home. I told him to be back by ten. He's never usually late. He's out there somewhere and I know something bad has happened to him. I just know it!” She turned her face and in her eyes Ellen saw the beginnings of a flood.
“We're not going to find him poking about here. Come on, let's get back to the cafe and you can tell me all about it. We'll figure this out together.”
Andrea nodded slowly, although her head constantly was turning back, peering into the depths of the wood as Ellen led her to her cafe. She sat Andrea down and made some chamomile tea, then brought it over with some cakes and sweet treats, although Andrea barely noticed. Scott's mother was gazing out of the window, chewing fretfully on her bottom lip.
“He's out there, I just know he is,” she said, wrapping her hands around the tea and wincing at the heat.
“Are you sure he couldn't just have lost track of time?”
“I know my own son,” she said curtly, and then looked regretful about her harsh tone, but Ellen shrugged it away.
“He's always so good with things like these. It's just that...with everything that happened with that man who was hiding in the woods...I'm afraid someone like that is going to be there, too.”
“We haven't had any reports about that. I'm sure it all has a logical explanation. How long has he been missing?”
“He went out at about eight this morning,” Andrea said in between sips of tea. “He's always so eager to get out there. He thinks if he gets up early enough then he'll be guaranteed to find something. It's almost like he thinks he's in a race with other people.”
A small smile appeared on her lips but it disappeared just as quickly. Ellen knew she had to keep Andrea talking or else the mother would fall into despair.
“Does he have any favorite places to go?”
“A few.”
“We could start by looking there. I'm happy to come with you if you'd like.”
“You would? Oh Ellen, that would be wonderful,” Andrea said, the gratitude plain on her face.
They finished up the tea and then, with Andrea not wanting to waste any more time, they ventured out into the world. Scott liked to go to a few different parts of the woods and they walked to them all, talking as they did so.
“He's really a curious kid, isn't he?” Ellen said.
“Oh, yeah. I don't know where he gets it from. I can't complain too much though, it beats him staying inside all the tim
e glued to a screen. He just likes exploring. He always comes back with something he thinks is treasure but it's usually just something he picked up. Guess he has to find something to fill his mind up though, what with Tony gone most of the time.”
“It must be hard, not having him around.”
“You have no idea,” Andrea said, “but we manage. It's just one of those things that becomes normal after a while. I wish Tony was around more but that's the job. Hopefully, one day he'll retire and we'll be able to have him around more but for now this is the way it is. I knew what I was getting into when I married him so I just have to deal with it.”
“You must miss him a lot.”
“I can cope, mostly. I never minded my own company. I feel for Scott mostly. I can tell it hurts him and I don't know if he fully understands why other kids have their dads around and why his has to be so far away. I've tried explaining it's because of work and he accepts that, but I know he misses Tony. He likes creating his own worlds. Like here is where he said he had slayed a dragon.”
They came to a small opening in the bushes. It didn't go very far but Ellen could see how it resembled the mouth of the cave. She smiled as she pictured Scott standing in front of it with a wooden sword, challenging a mighty dragon like the old English knights.
“I suppose it's natural for a child to want to explore the world. I was the same at his age. I think I even came around a few of these same spots, although I never did anything as violent as slaying a dragon.”
“He really liked it when he discovered that skeleton of Mr. Van De Lay. I never knew such a thing was possible to be honest, but he couldn't stop talking about it for days. When the whole thing was happening with the mill, he kept saying he didn't want the evil woman to get it. But he knew that somehow you and Andy would sort things out. You always do. He looks up at you as heroes, I guess all of us do in a way.”
Ellen blushed a little. “We just do our best to help. Thankfully, it's worked for the most part. I am sorry, though.”
“What for?”
“If we made this seem glamorous. If we made Scott go off exploring because he wanted to find something like the skeleton again. The last thing we want is for anyone to be in harm's way.”
“Trust me, Scott would be out there no matter what. He just can't stop himself.”
The two women and Scampy continued on. Walking through the woods brought back many memories for Ellen. She remembered how her father and mother often would take her for walks through these same trees. As she passed them she spared a moment to place her hand upon the rough bark, wondering about all the stories they could have told if they could have spoken. They must have seen so many people pass before their eyes and Ellen was just one of them. Her father always had encouraged her to explore, and she used to scurry off in front. Often this resulted in her falling over and scraping her knee. Her mother would worry and scold her father, and Ellen smiled as she remembered them bickering.
What would they think of her now that she was investigating murders and kidnappings and other crimes? Was her life always destined to lead to that sort of thing? She only hoped Scott was not missing and just had lost track of time. Yet, as they ventured farther and farther into the forest it seemed as though the former was more likely, and this chilled Ellen to the bone. East Pender was supposed to be a safe haven, a place where everyone who lived there could trust and honor each other. For a child to go missing would shake the community to its core.
The forest was peaceful. The lush green trees waved their branches slightly in the breeze. Slits of sunlight broke through the opening in the canopies above, but otherwise the forest was bathed in a green glow. Leaves were crushed underfoot and occasionally a twig snapped. Small animals scurried along the ground, squirrels clambered up trees, pausing to twitch their noses, then carrying on, and birds flew overhead. Scampy remained close to the two women, sniffing intently, not making a sound.
Ellen tried not to worry Andrea and attempted to keep the conversation as light as possible, but she could tell the strain the woman was under. She couldn't help but think of what it must have been like for Scott to be out here on his own, only to be kidnapped. The fear and shock must have been overwhelming. Was he still safe? Was the person who kidnapped him keeping him fed and watered, or were they going to find a lifeless body? The latter thought was almost too grim to contemplate but Ellen had to think about all the possibilities no matter how dark. If they didn't find him soon then she would have to involve Andy. Although she was afraid of how he would react to another boy going missing, just like...
She gasped and stopped walking. Andrea turned.
“What's wrong?”
“No, sorry, it's nothing. I just thought I saw something in the distance but I think it was just a bird or something, or my eyes are playing tricks on me,” Ellen said.
But in her mind her thoughts were whirring. Could it be? Could the person who wrote the letters be behind this in some sort of re-enactment of the crime that had so plagued Andy all these years? Suddenly the missing boy took on a greater significance. If it was true then she dreaded telling Andy because she knew he would blame himself for it. With this new theory simmering in her mind, Ellen's pace quickened. Andrea took her through all of Scott's favorite places, yet there was no sign of him anywhere. The snaking stream was flowing along as always but there was no sign anyone had been there. The great gnarled tree, which stood more imposing than any other in the forest, was in its solitude. The old well had not been disturbed, its bucket still at the bottom. Andrea leaned against the stonework and plucked a coin from her pocket.
“Do you know if this is a wishing well?” she asked.
Ellen shrugged. Sighing, Andrea tossed the coin into the well, and a moment later heard a satisfying plop. She closed her eyes, then looked in all directions.
“He could be anywhere,” she said morosely. Ellen walked up to her.
“We will find him. It may take a little while but we'll get there,” she said.
Ellen's confidence seemed to fill Andrea with hope, and they began talking about where to look next. Then Scampy began barking and raced off, with the women in hot pursuit. Ellen didn't believe in the supernatural or in luck, but if indeed Andrea's wish had been granted then she was all for it. They followed Scampy through the forest, their hearts lifting with hope. At this point Ellen even would have seen it as a blessing if had Scott been injured. Anything would have been better than the idea of him being kidnapped. Yet when Scampy stopped there was no sign of a little boy.
“Why? Why has he stopped?” Andrea said.
Ellen ignored her pleas and went to kneel by Scampy's side. He seemed to be concerned with something on the ground. Ellen caught his head and pulled out the piece of red cloth he had caught in his mouth.
“Andrea,” Ellen called out, “what color top was Scott wearing this morning?”
Andrea rushed to Ellen's side. As soon as she saw the piece of cloth, her hand went to her mouth in shock, and she fell to the floor beside Ellen.
Chapter 4
Ellen rose and looked around the woods, suddenly feeling unsafe, as though eyes were watching her. Perhaps they were. If this person knew where Andy lived, then they could be in the town right now. They could have been anyone. Ellen pulled Andrea up to her feet, although the woman was too weak and shocked to stand, almost collapsing back to the ground under her own weight.
“Come on, we have to go,” Ellen said.
Andrea didn't protest. They walked back to town and made their way as quickly as possible to the police station. Ellen marched up to the front desk and declared she needed to see Andy.
“Now,” she said, and the officer on duty showed her through to Andy's office.
When he saw Ellen appear, Andy was relieved and happy. Yet those feelings soon disappeared when he saw the weary look on her face and Andrea's worried expression. He welcomed the two women into his office and caught Ellen's eyes. Something was wrong. As quickly as she could she updated
him with the occurrences of the day. As soon as he heard what had happened he sank back into his chair and exhaled sharply.
The same thought crossed their minds; that this was the same person who had written the letters, but neither Andy nor Ellen wanted to make that a point of conversation with Andrea there. She already had enough to worry about. However, it was difficult for Andy to concentrate. His face turned ashen as Andrea explained what happened and he soon lost himself in his thoughts. When Andrea stopped speaking, she and Ellen realized Andy hadn't been listening to a word she was trying to say. It was up to Ellen to pull Andy aside.
“We have a job to do here,” she said, having sent Andrea out to get some water. “I know this is tough but we need to show her we can handle it. Don't lose yourself because of this. Remember Andrea needs us to be strong, and so does her son.”
She finished speaking just as Andrea returned but her words had the desired effect. Andy smoothed down his shirt, took a deep breath, and addressed Andrea.
“Apologies for being a little distracted earlier. I had a case similar to this a long time ago. Now then, usually we would wait for twenty-four hours before we sent out a search party but I know how stressful these things can be. I don't want you worrying for all of that time, especially since you found the scrap of his clothing. Now, I would like to reassure you that that scrap of clothing doesn't necessarily mean he has been kidnapped. However, it is a possibility and we should prepare ourselves for that outcome. I will put together a search party and we'll do our best to find your boy,” Andy said.
He showed her to a waiting room where she was paired with another officer who took down a formal statement. Andy returned to his office, where he now could speak freely with Ellen.