Lucinda got into her work space at six the next morning. At seven, she took a break from her review of Emily Sherman’s autopsy report to call Charley. The line barely began to ring when it was answered. ‘Did you find her?’
‘Dr Spencer?’
‘Yes. Who is this? Did you find her?’
‘This is Lucinda, Evan. Is Charley or Ruby missing?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Did you find her?’
‘Who, Evan? Charley or Ruby?’
Evan grunted with impatience. ‘Charley, of course. Is she with you?’
‘No, Evan.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘If she were here with me, I would tell you.’
‘Are you at work?’
‘Yes.’
‘Maybe she‘s sitting outside of your apartment. You remember – she did that once before.’
‘She promised she wouldn’t do that again but considering that possibility I’m just sending a text right now from my cell to the building super. He’s on his way to check. While we’re waiting to hear back from him, fill me in, Evan. When did you last see her? And when did you notice she was missing?’
‘I saw her last night about nine. She gave me a kiss goodnight and then went to her bedroom. On a weekday, I usually get up at six, and brew a pot of coffee. She wakes up a little bit after I do. By the time I’ve gulped down my first cup, she’s gotten Ruby out of bed and come downstairs ready for breakfast. But not this morning. I realized that I hadn’t even heard a single sound of movement from the girls’ bedrooms and wondered if Charley stayed up late reading and overslept because of it. I went to her room to wake her up but she wasn’t there. Her bedroom light was on but she was gone. I looked in Ruby’s room – Ruby was still sound asleep. I looked in their bathroom. I called her name. No Charley. I ran down to the lobby and no one there remembered seeing her either.’
‘Did she say anything last night that might indicate what she’s up to?’
‘I don’t know, Lucinda.’ For a moment he was silent and then he said, ‘She seemed distracted last night, but she gets like that a lot when she’s up to something. More often than not, it just means her mind is on a science project or on one of her creative flights of fancy. Nothing she said indicated that it was anything more than that. And you haven’t heard from her?’
‘She left me a message but by the time I got home, it was too late to return her call. Something about someone she knew doing something bad. That could be behind her disappearing act this morning but then again, with Charley, logic isn’t always the answer.’
‘What do you mean a bad thing?’ Evan said, the pitch of his voice raising a notch higher with each word.
Lucinda winced. Too late to take those words back. ‘I don’t know. That’s all she said.’
‘Is she mixed up with some bad kids?’
‘I don’t think—’
‘Are there drugs in her school? You’d know that, wouldn’t you?’
‘I am certain Charley is not involved in drugs.’
‘You didn’t answer my question. Are there drugs at her school?’
Lucinda sighed. ‘I’m sure there are some there, Evan.’
‘You’re sure!’ he shrieked. ‘These kids are just children! What about DARE? Don’t you still have that program in the schools? Aren’t they supposed to keep drugs away from the school children?’
‘Yes, they still do, but Charley is in middle school now and—’
‘So, you’re telling me that your DARE program is a failure. It’s just a waste of time and money? An opium for the masses of parents? Pabulum for the taxpayers?’
Lucinda was as frustrated with the ineffectiveness of the so-called war on drugs, leaving her without much of a basis to mount a defense. ‘Well, Evan, they do believe those programs keep it under control.’
‘Oh, that’s a comfort – it’s under control. And now my daughter is under the control of one of those druggies and that’s just some insignificant anomaly?’
‘Evan, stop it! You are jumping to unwarranted conclusions. Did you check with the school to see if she was there?’
‘Of course, I did, but I got a recorded message that the regular school office hours are from eight to four thirty. They have the whole damn summer off. Can’t they get in a little earlier?’
‘I understand your concern and how stressful it is when your child is—’
‘You, understand? How do you understand? You’ve never been a parent. You have no idea how I feel!’
Evan’s words left Lucinda reeling with the sting of truth. He’s right, she thought. How do I know how he feels? I think my love for Charley is as strong as any mother’s for her child. But, I’ve never been a mother. What do I know? The silence stretched long, as Lucinda struggled to find the right words to say in response.
Finally, Evan broke the awkward hiatus. ‘I’m sorry, Lucinda. I know how much you care for Charley. I shouldn’t have . . . well, what I said . . . I mean, it was unfair and even a little cruel. I am ashamed that I lashed out at you of all people.’
‘No, no it wasn’t unfair. You’re right. I am not and have never been a parent. I should not make assumptions about your feelings. I’m sorry, Evan. But, really, for Charley’s sake, you do need to calm down. You need to think clearly right now.’
‘Point taken. I’ll do my best. But where is she?’
‘I wish I knew. Sit down someplace quiet and run through everything she said last night and see if you can remember anything that might provide a clue to what she’s up to this morning. You know Charley – she’s got the spirit of a crusader. If she thinks something needs to be done and she thinks she can do it, she’ll go galloping off on her white horse without a thought about the consequences.’
‘You got that right. And lately she’s been growing more obtuse and secretive.’
‘Girls get that way when they’re growing up. It’s going to get worse as she enters her teens. Wait a minute. I’ve got a message. She’s not at my apartment, Evan. The super checked there and circled around the exterior of the building to make sure she wasn’t just arriving. I’ll alert the patrol squad to keep an eye out for her.’
‘Call me if you hear anything?’
‘Certainly, Evan. I’m sure everything will be fine,’ she said before disconnecting the call. That last statement was a lie. Lucinda was not anywhere close to sure. She just wanted Evan to think that she was. But in fact, she was very worried. Someone Charley knew had done something bad and now Charley was missing? Lucinda hoped the two facts weren’t connected but she strongly suspected – and feared – that they were.