by John Kess
I watched Molly consider this. It was as if she was searching my face for a loophole or a trick.
“Dylan, you didn’t kidnap Hannah, but I set that house on fire.”
“It may be true you set the fire, but it was your mom who chose to date Tony. It was your mom who chose to do drugs, and it was your mom who chose not to be the person you remember.”
Molly looked me in the eyes as she considered this.
“So, do we have a deal?” I asked.
Molly seemed deep in thought. “I don’t know.”
“A deal like this doesn’t come around often,” I said. “Do you think your dad would want you blaming yourself for what has happened to your mom? Do you think he’d want you to make this deal?”
Molly looked at me and slowly smiled. “Okay, but the same goes for you,” Molly said. “We’re going to have to help each other out to make sure we stick to this deal.”
“I will help you make sure you don’t blame yourself about your mom.”
“And I’ll do the same for you about Hannah being taken.”
“Good,” I said. “Do we have a deal?”
“We have a deal,” she said.
“We have to spit-shake on it,” I said.
“Spit-shake?”
“You know, spit-shake.”
I cleared my throat with a rumble and then spit into my hand. “Oh, that’s a good one, too. Hurry up, it’s sliding off.” I held out my hand.
Molly looked at me like I was crazy, but then she spit into her hand.
Our combined saliva was squishy on our palms as we shook hands. I felt like the luckiest guy in the world to have someone like Molly as a friend.
* * *
Molly and I awoke to a perfectly still morning. A light fog surrounded our camp. The fog lifted by the time we finished our dried bananas and berry granola bars. We left our packs in the tent and carried just a small pack with the GPS, satellite phone, and our lunch. Hiking was easy as it was cool under the overcast skies until midafternoon.
“Do you hear that?” Molly asked.
We stopped as we looked out over a green canopied valley spotted with rock outcroppings. It took a moment. I recognized what sounded like an engine in the distance. Whatever was making the muffled sound seemed to be moving. The whir of the engine would grow in volume, become quiet for a moment, then return.
“It sounds like an ATV,” I said. “Come on, let’s check it out.”
We hiked down toward the bottom of the valley, and the noise grew louder. We made our way down the hill and hid behind a large maple tree. A trail big enough for a vehicle crossed a small stream and continued on up another hill. A black ATV appeared pulling a small, two-wheel enclosed trailer. The driver wore a helmet, and a barrel-sized plastic tank was mounted behind him on the back of the ATV. I could see liquid in the plastic tank sloshing around as the driver navigated a corner at slow speed.
I stared at the trailer and thought about how it would be big enough to haul a person. I pulled out my GPS and marked our location.
“Let’s follow him,” I said.
We made our way to the trail and jogged as we followed the ATV. The noise of the engine continued into the distance ahead of us. Soon we couldn’t hear it anymore.
We hiked in silence. The trail wound up a hill through a few switchbacks. It had been about fifteen minutes since we’d last heard the ATV.
We reached the top of the hill and could see the trail continue with rock cliffs about two stories tall on both sides of it. Large boulders forced the trail to wind around them.
The growing whir of the engine returned. It sounded like it was on the other side of the hill. Molly and I dropped down behind the nearest boulder. I kept my head down as the ATV maneuvered around a slow turn. I looked up as it accelerated away from us. The trailer it had been towing was gone and the tank mounted on the back appeared to be empty.
“That was close,” Molly said.
“Come on. Let’s see where he came from.”
We hiked down the trail, winding our way through the trees. The trail became narrow and covered by the trees, then it abruptly opened up to a large plot of land filled with tall, stringy plants that looked way too green compared to how brown everything else was. There was a sweet odor in the still air, and then I knew. This was a large patch of tall marijuana plants.
I hid behind a large tree and motioned for Molly to join me.
“Do you see anyone?” I asked softly.
She shook her head. “Look at that.” She pointed to the cliff across the field from us. A vertical crack formed at the top and opened up near the bottom to form what looked like the entrance to a cave. The small trailer was parked next to it.
I didn’t see or hear anyone else. “Let’s go check it out.”
The trailer was padlocked, and I tapped on the side of it. “Anyone in there?” I asked. We heard no response.
I led the way as we walked through the narrow entrance into the rocky cave. I didn’t have my flashlight on me. There was enough natural light from the entrance that we could see a large room with a high ceiling that looked like it was there naturally. It smelled skunky, like rotting leaves. We could see wooden racks with hoes, rakes, and shovels. A workbench was along a wall and a large table sat in the middle of the room. A rack on one wall had several marijuana plants hanging from it. We found bags of potting soil stacked under several dusty brown tarps.
“Look,” Molly said.
In the back of the room was a door made of bars, like one on a jail cell. I ran over to it, but it was too dark to see around the corner where the cave continued. The door was locked.
“Hannah!” I shouted.
There was no response.
The roar of the engine returned. The ATV had driven up near the entrance to the cave.
“Oh, no!” Molly gasped.
I moved the empty crates away from the wall. “Hide back here,” I said. She sat down behind the crates. I pulled the dusty tarp over our heads and squished in next to her. My heart was racing. I moved some of the crates to seal off our hiding spot.
Molly wrapped her arms around me and put her head on my shoulder. The ATV sounded like it was moving slowly. We heard a hissing sound coming from the ATV as it passed the entrance of the cave.
“He’s watering the plants,” I said.
The crates in front of us were made of slats, and Molly and I could see through them well enough to watch the shadow of the ATV pass by. The driver made several more loops.
The ATV came to a stop, and the driver killed the engine. We heard a clunking sound, and I realized the driver was hooking up the trailer to the ATV. Next I heard keys jingle and then a creak as the trailer door opened.
Molly squeezed me as the man entered the cave holding something in his hands. He walked over to the workbench and flipped on a battery-powered lantern. He put on a hard hat with a light mounted to it and turned it on. The light swung around toward us for a moment and then over to the door made of bars. We heard the jingle of keys as the man unlocked the door. He put the keys back in his pocket and disappeared down the tunnel as he began to whistle.
Molly cupped her hands around my ear. “I recognize him. He buys drugs from Tony.”
We could tell from his whistling that he didn’t go far. He used his keys again, and we heard another door open. The whistling grew in volume as he came back and walked out of the cave. He immediately returned with an armload of what looked like small, plastic-wrapped packages. I figured they were bricks of marijuana. The man continued to whistle as he made several trips to unload the contents of the trailer into the cave.
Finally he switched off his light, hung his hardhat back up, and left the cave. We both heard the ATV start up and roar away.
“Oh my God,” Molly said, still holding me. “That was close.” She let go of me and I helped her up. She was clearly shaking.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Molly nodded. “Let’s go.”
W
e ran out of the cave. As soon as we got to the trees, we left the ATV trail. We stopped running once we were clear and hid behind some birch trees.
“That was too close,” Molly said. “My heart was racing so hard.”
“I could feel it when we were sitting there,” I said.
Molly flopped down on her back and stared up at the sky. “You were so calm while I was freaking out. How do you do it?”
“I don’t know. I just thought about staying alive and finding Hannah.”
Molly sat up and looked at me. “Thanks for keeping me calm.”
“You’re welcome.” I offered my hand to help her up.
She gladly accepted, then said, “Let’s go find your sister.”
* * *
On Amy’s birthday, Molly and I packed up early and made it to my parents’ house by midmorning, only to find it locked and empty. Since my dad had given us a ride, I hadn’t thought to bring a key with me.
We walked around to the sliding-glass door near my bedroom. I lifted up a loose patio block to reveal a hidden house key.
“We have one of those under the huge propane tank outside my bedroom window,” Molly said.
I unlocked the door and put the key back. Once inside, we took off our backpacks and then went to my room to stare at our map. We picked out a new area to search to the east, taking us near the White Mountain National Forest. Molly and I agreed to meet back at my house the next morning.
I followed Molly to the door.
“Here,” she said, holding out a folded piece of her notebook paper. “This is for you.”
I took it and saw my name written on it.
“Have fun at Amy’s party.” Molly waved as she walked toward the road.
“I will.” I watched her disappear around the trees and then looked at the note in my hand. I went inside, sat down on the couch, and read it.
Dylan,
I’m so glad I’ve gotten to meet you and we’ve become friends. You’re the best part about living here. I’m so sorry your sister was taken. I believe everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn’t make any sense, and I truly believe you will find Hannah.
—Molly
Chapter 8
The screams of children, the clang of arcade games, and circus music filled the small food court where I sat inside Gary’s Games Galore. Normally, I’d be in front of a game shoving in tokens or standing in line at the batting cages, but the man who kidnapped Hannah a month ago had taken that desire away from me. I sat alone, wanting to be out in the woods searching.
Next to the food court was a large castle surrounded by a sea of multicolored plastic balls. A group of young boys attacked the castle while another group defended it.
A pack of little girls, led by a giggling Amy, wearing her Gary’s Games Galore birthday crown, ran onto the drawbridge and jumped feet first into the balls, sinking down to their knees.
It was nice to see Amy smile again. Maybe the time everyone said she needed was finally helping. It was different for me. I knew I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, be happy until Hannah was found.
Mom was helping one of Amy’s friends, who’d spilled chocolate milk all over herself. It was clear she was trying very hard to make sure every one of Amy’s friends had a good time. I noticed how tired she looked. The last month had aged her several years.
Dad sat down across from me. “It’s good to have you here,” he said. “I know you’d rather be out looking for Hannah, but this means a lot to Amy.” He looked at the castle and then back at me. “I’m proud of you, proud of the way you refuse to give up.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Amy shouted, “Look at me!” She flew down a slide into the plastic balls at the bottom. Three more of Amy’s friends followed, creating a giggling pile of six- and seven-year-olds. We both waved to her as she ran to the stairs with her friends so they could do it again.
Dad leaned in close. “I need you to do something for me.” His face told me he was serious. “It’s really important you trust me when I say I have your safety and your best interest in mind when I tell you what it is. I know you’re not going to like it, but I need you to do it.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s about Molly.” He looked around to make sure no one could hear him, and then his eyes met mine. “Don’t go into her house again. Not ever. Do you understand?”
I stared back at him. I hadn’t told him I’d been to her house. “How did you know I was in her house?”
“Dylan, I can’t answer that.”
“Are the police watching the house?” I asked and waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. “This is about Tony, isn’t it? Molly told me he’s a drug dealer.”
“Son, you have no idea how serious this is. I need you to trust me on this. I could be fired for what I just told you. If you want me to continue to have a job and are at all concerned about Molly’s safety, our family’s safety, or the safety of my fellow officers, you can’t repeat what I just told you to anyone, especially to Molly. Do you understand me?”
“I do.” I paused to let an energetic group of boys run past.
“Did you speak with Tony?” Dad asked.
“Yeah.”
“What did he say?”
I couldn’t help myself and started laughing.
“What?”
“Tony told me … if I slept with Molly, he’d cut my you-know-what off. Then he showed me his knife.”
“Did he?” Dad smiled. “I was going to talk to you about that same topic, especially with you and Molly sharing a tent. I guess there’s no point if Tony’s threat means as much to you as it should.”
“It does. Your talk won’t be necessary.”
Amy ran by the edge of the netting and stopped just long enough to smile at us. She ran back into the castle, followed by four friends.
I thought about Molly and how happy she’d be to have Tony out of her life. I imagined dozens of federal agents storming the small ugly pea green house where Tony dealt his drugs.
“Dad, if I’m not safe in that house, neither is Molly.”
“Keep her out of there. Bring her with you into the forest and stay there as long as you can. Tell her nothing.”
“How long? How long until you take him down?”
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know. You never know with these things.”
“She’s been taking pictures of all the people who come to the house.”
“That’s very dangerous. Tell her to stop. You never know what these people are going to do, and if they saw her taking pictures, it could be really bad.”
“I’ll get her to stop.”
“Tell her it’s not worth the risk.”
“Do you want her pictures?”
Dad shook his head. “They already know what’s been going on at that house and who has been there. Tell her to destroy those pictures.”
I nodded, remembering how Molly had called Tony an idiot. “They don’t want Tony. It’s obvious he’s not the mastermind. They want the people above him, don’t they?”
Dad sat back in his chair, smiling. He didn’t say a word; he just beamed with pride.
“Okay,” I said, “I’ll stay out of there and I won’t say a word. Not to Molly or anyone else. Just make sure Molly isn’t there when it happens.”
Dad nodded.
I told him about discovering the marijuana plot and promised to get him the coordinates off of the GPS unit. I didn’t tell him about the ATV or hiding in the cave.
We sat in silence while the music, arcade games, and squeals of dozens of little girls continued to fill the air.
Dad shifted in his chair. “Dylan, in two months school starts. You can keep searching for Hannah until then, but after that, your mom and I need you to come home. When school starts, it’ll be time to stop. Do you understand?”
I looked at him and thought of the vow I made to never stop searching. I didn’t want to think about it now. I knew school meant colder weather, soo
n followed by a blanket of snow, and I knew school wasn’t optional.
He looked at me, still waiting for an answer.
I didn’t like it, but the fact I had a deadline to find Hannah just made me want to search harder, faster, and further than I had before. I nodded. “If I haven’t found her by then, I’m done searching the forest.”
“Find her, Dylan. Find her and bring her home.”
* * *
We arrived home after dark. I wished Amy happy birthday one more time and said good night to everyone.
I was halfway down the stairs when I saw dirty footprints on the carpet leading from the sliding-glass door to my room. I froze. The footprints were small and made by someone who was barefoot. They were about the size Hannah would make.
I climbed down the rest of the steps quietly. My door was half open. Enough light was coming from the stairwell that I could see someone curled up in a ball under my comforter. The person was quietly sobbing. The whole bed was shaking, and I could hear quick shallow breaths. I pushed the door open and propped myself against the doorway so I didn’t lose my balance.
My throat swelled. “Hannah?”
“I’m so sorry, Dylan.”
It wasn’t Hannah. “Molly?”
“I’m so sorry.”
I turned on my light.
“Don’t look at me,” she cried. The only thing I could see were her dirty bare feet sticking out of the comforter.
I walked over to the bed. “Molly, what’s wrong?”
She reached out and pulled the comforter tight around her head. Her exposed forearm had a huge bruise on it.
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God, Molly, what … what happened?”
“You told me to be careful. You told me and I wasn’t.” Molly pulled her arm back in. “Tony found the pictures on my computer. He smashed it. He smashed everything.” Molly choked as she said, “And then he ...”
“What did he do?”
“I’m so sorry, Dylan.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.”