19

 

A quick glance down the street told Maven all she needed to know. There were no Victorian houses. She was in the midst of a trailer park. Oh, well. She’d checked it out.

And now, Moses was in God’s hands.

Maven drove, hoping to find a way that would lead her back to Main Street. Instead, the lane dead-ended into a park. A sign announced it as Cedar Lane Park.

Something, intuition, a whisper from God…made her pull in. She needed to stretch her legs, what better place than a park? She’d been driving for a while, and her back was stiff. A brisk walk would wake her up for the drive home. She half-walked, half-jogged on the bike path that wound around the perimeter.

Soon her breathing was ragged. She’d been so sad the past few weeks, she’d avoided her runs in the park with Lizzie because it reminded her of Moses and that awful day. She vowed to get back to her exercise routine.

The brisk walk had done her good, physically and emotionally. As she slowed down, Maven paid closer attention to her surroundings. The place looked familiar. But that was impossible, she’d never been to this park. And she was the only one here. Her watch told her the reason—time for supper.

Despite the daylight, the park was a bit spooky.

As she walked, her gaze took in the entire park. She froze, barely able to breathe.

Impossible.

It couldn’t be. But it was. This was the same park Moses had drawn. This wasn’t from a comic book, it was real. If that drawing was real, then that meant some of the other drawings could be real, including the mystery lady and the Victorian house.

The hairs on her neck tingled.

She turned towards the woods. Beyond the trees, was a house—a Victorian house. Her heart thumped. Her feet moved forward. Could that be the house Moses had drawn? Looking closer, she rejected the idea. The house was shades of purple, not gray and black.

Paul’s voice popped into her brain. There is no such thing as coincidences in an investigation. And the park and a Victorian house were too big of a coincidence—even if it was the wrong color.

The house was like a magnet, Maven couldn’t tear her gaze from it. She moved nearer but stopped at the edge of the trees. Her heart thumped wildly. Her mind said it was impossible, but the second-story balcony of the house looked the same as the one Moses had drawn. Maybe that was hope on her part. She wanted to find the house—and Moses. Maven looked away from the fancy scroll work.

Of course! The drawings of the park had all been nighttime scenes. Nighttime distorted colors. What had seemed like gray in the darkness could very well have been purple. Did that mean Moses had never seen the house in the daylight?

She shuddered.

She stared through the trees wanting to go closer. Moses could be in there right now, needing her. She took a step forward, but then stopped. Safety first. Time to go. She’d get out of here and call Paul. He would know what to do. She half-walked, half-jogged directly across the field towards her car.

Could God have led her to Moses? Was Moses in that house? Tears filled her eyes. And she’d been ready to give up the search.

“Hey.” A voice called out.