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I HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT your mother. Call me. Jonas was in the bathroom reading the business card the Sexual Assault Forensics Nurse had placed in his hand. It was weighing down his pocket, making it difficult to leave it there a moment longer. In the bathroom, out it came. The small, neatly written words were on the back of the card taunting him. His mother was dead. What information could she have?
The unwanted rectangular card dangled between his thumb and index finger over the toilet. She was lying. He knew this to be true because his father had explained to him how his mother had died when he was two. A tragic car accident he had said. His father had loved his mother, and he still missed her each and every day. A picture of his mother sat on a table next to his bed. Admittedly his father hadn’t offered it to him until he had found it resting between the pages of a book in the library.
She was in a parking lot pushing a stroller. The shot was natural, as if she hadn’t posed for it. Maybe she wasn’t aware it was being taken, but the camera captured her face seemingly in deep thought. It displayed her alluring grace. Blonde hair swept around her cheeks as if it was a breezy day. Her intense blue eyes looked skyward. He could swear each time he looked at the picture, he remembered staring into the ocean of blue, but he was only two. It had to be a wishful memory.
The piece of cardstock dangled above the toilet bowl as if glued to his finger and thumb. He couldn’t seem to let it go. Suppose she does know something? He was thinking he needed to know what she would tell him. He dialed the number.
His call was answered after one ring.
“Hello, this is Linsey.”
“Miss Logan, this is Jonas.”
“Jonas, I’m so happy you call—”
He interrupted her, anxious to have his say. “Yeah, well, your card says you have information about my mom. Well, she’s dead, lady.” He wanted to get to the chase. No games.
A sharp intake of breath traveled over the phone. Jonas heard it. He knew he wasn’t mistaken. Perhaps this Logan lady did not know his mom was dead. She had to be lying, he thought.
“Jonas, I really have important information you should know.”
“Just tell me.” His fuse was burning quickly. His voice was brusque. “Tell me or I’m hanging up.”
“I will, but not on the phone. Will you meet me?”
“Meet you? Are you for real, lady? I don’t know you.”
“It can be a place of your choosing, Jonas.” Her voice was sugary. “Any place where you will feel safe and comfortable. You won’t regret it.”
He thought about it. Just as he could not drop the card in the john, he couldn’t pass on what she had to say because of the nagging voice in his head and the tightness in his gut. He needed to know what she knew. His voice leveled out, friendlier. “Okay, the library at Liberty Square. I can meet you after school.”
“Alright, Jonas, will five do? I just have to wrap up a few things.”
“Sure.” He swiped the red end icon and headed for his class. His head filled with Linsey’s words, “I have information about your mother.”