those Jones men! The mere thought that something might be wrong with Stevie launched me into an instant state of panic.
Mom nodded. 'I think he was crying, but he only asked once if you were here and then he hung up. I tried to call back, but there was no answer.'
'I'll go check.' I fell back into my seat and shooed her away from the door. Hopefully Logan or Mrs. Jones hadn't changed the front lock. Hell, hopefully nothing was wrong at all.
Flipping my phone back open, I punched in the number for Logan's home. It was half past four. Stevie would be home from school, presumably with Mrs. Jones. Logan would be on base for at least a few more hours.
No answer.
I punched in the number for Logan's cell phone.
No answer.
Accelerating once I was away from the residential area, I tried the house number once more and prayed for someone to pick up the damn phone.
Nothing, nothing, nothing!
'Fuck!' I slammed my palm against my steering wheel. Why would Stevie call my house crying and refuse to leave a message?
Messages!
I swore again, abusing my steering wheel once more as I checked my voicemail for messages. Driving like a mad woman, I listened to the first new message.
'Lily, are you there?' Stevie's voice shook, pulling mercilessly at my chest like fishhooks in my flesh. 'I had to walk home…no one is here…'
Shit, the bus cut-off was two miles, any child living within two miles of the school had to walk. Only two crossing guards — one when the kids left school, the second half a mile out where they had to cross a major road without a light. I didn't want to think about all the buildings he'd passed after that second guard, but there was at least one bar.
A second message from Stevie followed the first.
'I can't reach my dad. My mom-'
His voice broke and he hung up. I could guess well enough why — Mrs. Jones would have been responsible for picking Stevie up. I'd already had to witness her doing so twice since her return on the only two days mom needed me to drop Rhea off at ballet.
'Bitch, bitch, bitch,' I growled as my car screeched to a stop half an inch from Logan's garage door.
I jumped from the car, heard the thunk of my door shutting as I raced to unlock the house. My skirt coiled around my knees as I ran, threatening to send me face first onto the cement walkway. Reaching the door, I jammed my key into the lock and twisted the handle. I barged inside, calling Stevie's name.
Absolute silence greeted me.
My pulse pounding through my body, I kept calling for him as I rushed through the front room, popped my head into the kitchen then headed down the hall toward his bedroom. I opened the door, saw his book bag on the floor, its contents spilled around it.
'Stevie! It's Lily. Answer me, damnit!'
A hundred horrible scenarios ran through my head. Had someone seen him enter the house alone? Had he answered the door? Already insane with worry, another possibility wrapped its cold hand around my spine and squeezed.
Logan kept a handgun in the house. He also kept it secured in a lock box, with a trigger lock for extra measure. Only two people had the key — or had once had the key. Logan was meticulous about keeping his key on him, but Mrs. Logan had proven herself irresponsible. When she had abandoned them eight months ago, she had left her key on the bedroom dresser.
What if she'd done something like that again and Stevie, scared to find himself home alone…
I couldn't finish the thought. I'd puke if I even tried to. Spinning on my heels, I took my first step toward Logan's bedroom when I heard a sniffle.
The sound came from behind me. I turned back to Stevie's bedroom, dropped to my knees and lifted his blanket up to look under the bed.
An empty space stared back at me.
Stepping to the closet, I threw the doors open to find my little bug with his face buried against his knees but appearing unharmed. Scooping him up, I wrapped Stevie in a tight hug that made the air come whooshing out of him.
'Why didn't you answer me, little man?'
He sniffled again, his slight frame shaking. I put him down on the bed, checking his exposed skin and the state of his clothing.
'Did you walk home alone?'
He shook his head. I half wanted to throttle him but sensed he was too scared to even talk.
Getting down on my knees in front of him, I gently grabbed his shoulders. 'Tell me who walked with you.'
'Tommy.'
One word, two syllables, but it relaxed me. Tommy was two grades ahead but as gentle as a lamb. Better yet, he looked another grade older than he was, so the junior high students didn't give him any shit. He also lived half a block past Logan's place on the route home, so Stevie would have had company the entire trip.
I rubbed at Stevie's arm, hoping to calm him. 'No one hurt you, did they?'
He shook his head.
'Would you tell me if they had?'
He hesitated then nodded. The hesitation hurt but I couldn't blame him. I had walked out of his life twice now, making me no different to him than his mother. I needed Logan home as soon as possible. He would get the full story from Stevie.
'I'm going to lock the front door, okay?'
Without a word, Stevie rolled over and stared at the wall.
'It'll just be a few seconds, little man.' I knew Stevie had three contact numbers for Logan — the major's cell phone, plus the main desk for both his unit and the battalion. Walking to the front of the house, I scrolled through the same contact numbers before I remembered the one from that long ago night with its misdirected text. Logan had said the building was something of a black hole for cell phone reception and I knew his battalion was military intelligence.
Dialing the number, I was almost to the front door when it exploded inward. Seeing me, Logan hesitated for a second. 'Where is he?'
'In his room,' I whispered and pressed my back against the wall as Logan brushed past in a hurry. I watched him continue down the hall then I stared at the open door.
My keys and phone were in my hand. My purse was in the car. Logan was home.
I could just walk through that open door and drive away. Considering the quiet fury I'd seen on Logan's face, I considered the option heavily.
Hand shaking, I shut the door and slowly made my way back to Stevie's room. I could hear them talking from where I waited in the hall. Logan kept his voice gentle, his words kind, even as he asked Stevie what had happened and why he had not gone inside to the school's office when no one was there to pick him up.
'Because everybody would know-' Stevie's whisper broke into a cry and then I heard muffled sobs.
Everybody would know…
Muscles knotted throughout my torso, making it impossible to breathe. Stevie had walked to an empty home in shame knowing that Mrs. Jones had abandoned him yet again. I couldn't imagine how lonely those two miles had felt, even with Tommy at his side.
I swiped at my eyes, losing the fight to contain my tears when I heard Stevie speak again.
'Is she gone?'
Logan's answer came out like jagged glass. 'I don't know where your mom is, champ.'
'I meant Lily,' Stevie whispered.
'I'm right here, little man.' I stayed in the hallway, too cowardly to even pop my head around the corner and
