A local deputy was on camera, an unfamiliar face in a beige uniform. “Brittany Tremblay was last seen at dinner on the twentieth. According to her parents, Carol and Ben Tremblay, she went to her room to work on homework, and they didn’t see her again, thinking she’d gone to bed.”
The reporter took the microphone over and paused for a second. “What about the rumors that you found her clothing in the family trash bin?”
The deputy appeared stunned that he was asking about that. Those were clearly details not intended for public consumption. “That’s private information meant for the investigation. That’ll be all.”
Clothes found. That didn’t sound like anything related to the orchard or to the shadow from Paul’s past. He breathed a little easier, until he thought about the poor girl who’d been abducted. It had been over twenty-four hours already, and Paul didn’t expect to hear a happy ending to the story. He closed the laptop and got up from his desk.
He’d been working on a new book for the first time in a year. It was nice to be able to finally take a break from the ceaseless writing, but after months of twiddling his thumbs, and an apprehensive agent’s harassment, he’d decided it was time to get back on the horse.
A soft knock pushed his office door open, and Terri poked her head in. “Are you coming to bed?”
Paul smiled at her. After all these years, she still didn’t like to go to bed at separate times. She’d stay up working on some charity project or watching TV until he was done writing so they could lift the sheets and climb under them at the same moment. He liked it.
“I was just on with Beth,” Paul said flatly.
“This late?”
“A girl was abducted in Red Creek.” He tried to keep his voice normal, but the name of his old town cracked anyway.
It was difficult to tell in the softly-lit office entrance, but he thought Terri paled. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what Beth said, and she sent me a report from a local station. Brittany Tremblay. I don’t know the family name, but the house was only a few away from mom’s place.” Paul crossed the room in a few swift steps.
Terri’s hands found his chest, and she stared into his eyes with the gentle grace his wife always seemed to have. How had he gotten so lucky? “Is it… do you think…”
Paul shook his head. “No. They found signs of abduction from her house. Some of the clothing she’d been wearing was left in the garbage can. I don’t think this is the work of the Smiths, or a shadow.”
“Good. I mean, it’s terrible, but after all these years… are you okay to come to bed now?” Terri asked.
Paul wasn’t sure what to think. His mind was racing from the news, but he couldn’t let his brain lead him into that alley again. It had taken a long time for his family to recover after the last time they’d been to Red Creek, and he hated to think it could still drag him down with it.
They walked through the hall, and Paul stopped at a second bedroom door. “I’ll be right in.”
Terri gave him a knowing expression and left him alone at his son’s door. He pushed it open, grinning at the night light casting its LED brightness over the dark room. Stevie was sleeping soundly, lying on his side, facing away from the door. His left arm swung up, touching the headboard. The kid always slept in a strange position. He took after his mother on that front.
Paul knelt beside the bed and watched his son for a minute. He was turning eleven in a week. Where had the time gone? One day Terri was across the country in LA with Taylor, the next they were at Red Creek with him while it all happened. Fast forward twelve years and his daughter was at college, and his son had almost finished fifth grade.
Paul made himself a promise as Stevie dozed. No matter what happened at Red Creek, he wouldn’t return, and he’d keep his family away from that place at all costs.
Paul leaned over, kissed his son’s head, and went to bed. Terri looked ready to say something, but she didn’t. Instead, she lifted the sheets, motioning for him to join her.
As he drifted off, he had the feeling that he should have texted Taylor about what happened. If she heard it from someone else, she’d over-worry. But the thought melted as sleep found him.
_______________
“You aren’t going home for the break? What are you talking about?” Brent asked her, his voice etched with concern.
Taylor shifted the phone in her hand and lowered the speaker volume. “I have somewhere to go. My cousin needs me.”
“Your cousin? The weird one from that crappy little town you never visit?” Brent was mad, that much she could tell, but she wasn’t going to let him railroad her.
“Brent, watch it. She’s not weird, and yes, that crappy little town.”
“I really don’t understand. I already bought the train ticket to go to Manhattan. I was going to meet your parents. Remember, dinner at Tavern and all of that?” he asked.
“Of course I remember. Something came up. You know I have that uber-heavy research paper due in three weeks, right?” This was the perfect excuse.
“Yeah. You were writing something about political funding corruption.” So he did listen when she told him things. That was good to know.
“I’ve changed my mind. I…I have another subject now.” She still hadn’t told her dad she wasn’t coming home for spring break. He was going to be heartbroken. Taylor knew he had all
