After the detective leaves, I get changed and wave at Michael across the deck as I leave. He waves back. Valerie turns and waves too. It’s weird to leave early. It feels like I’m getting fired in the middle of my shift, only everyone wouldn’t be waving.
I check my phone. It’s dead. And I don’t got time to wait and try the rice method for drying out my phone.
I ride fast to the phone store and go inside to buy another one, even though it seriously drains my bank account. I cannot afford to be out of contact with you for one extra minute. The entire time I don’t have a phone, I feel panicky that you’re calling me or texting me, that you need me.
Outside, I lean against the glass on the store. A half-drunk beer bottle stands beside me, like it’s my friend. Just down the block, I see two town drunks heading into Joe’s strip club.
Text after text slides into my new phone. Nothing from you.
A bunch of people are asking if there’s news. I guess everyone’s finding out now. I text Josh about making a game plan to try to find you.
A text pops up from an unknown number. A wave of excitement washes over me. Maybe it’s you. Then I read: Hi. It’s Raffa
This is the first time she’s texted me. So sweet. I’m becoming a big sap while you’re gone, seriously.
Me: Want to come to Josh’s? We’re making posters
Raffa: Can’t…Mum wants me here
I smile. She’s started calling her mum because of her love of Harry Potter and all things British.
Raffa: Can you ask her?
I call your mom and she says no. I try, really I do, but she’s firm. “Can I come over later?” I ask.
I can’t hear your mom because someone’s yelling at me. “There’s the lifeguard!” It’s a girl, pointing at me, like I’m a celebrity. Talia. I almost didn’t recognize her without her saggy bathing suit, but those big eyes and long eyelashes are hard to miss. She’s waving wildly. “Hi, hi, hi!!”
I wave back and smile at her. And then I look up at the guy she’s with. It’s Dave Johnson.
“This is my uncle!” She gives him a tight squeeze from the side like he’s her favorite big teddy bear. “He picked me up!”
Johnson lifts his chin up in a cold hello. Eyes of a killer.
But that little girl Talia loves him. It’s clear by the adoring way she’s blinking up at him. Did Michael tell him about secondary drowning? Why didn’t her parents pick her up?
“Jessie, are you there?” Your mom.
The phone is still on my ear. “Yeah,” I say, “I’m here.”
“You come by later, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” We hang up.
“She saved me!” Talia is yelling at Johnson. “I almost drowned!”
“Thanks,” Johnson says, and grabs her hand. “Come on.” Then, he ducks his head and disappears with Talia into the store.
Wow—so Dave Johnson takes care of his niece. I guess all kinds of monsters have people who love them.
My voicemails have loaded up. None from you. But my mailbox is getting full, so I delete all the ones from people I know. They’re just calling to find out what’s happening and I don’t have answers.
I text you: Pleeeaaase call me. I love you
Now that you’re missing, apparently I have no problem saying or writing I love you. And then, because I want to hear your voice on your voicemail, I call you. It doesn’t go to voicemail. Not right away.
It rings.
My gut tightens. It hasn’t been ringing. All day yesterday it went straight to voicemail. But now it’s ringing. Five times.
Finally, the voicemail clicks on: “Hey. This is Chris. You know what to do.”
Oh my god. Someone’s turned on your phone.