Ben Draper was a tall, skinny kid with curly brown hair and a shy smile. I liked him right off but I knew that everyone had secrets and Ben would be no different.
He invited me into the kitchen and we sat at the table in front of the patio doors. The Drapers had a big back yard with lots of oak trees. Nobody had bothered to rake up the brown leaves that covered the ground like a thick blanket.
“Thanks for seeing me,” I said.
“I have half an hour before I have to leave for class.”
“We should be done in lots of time. You were best friends with Ryan. What can you tell me about him?”
“He’s a great guy. We met in grade nine, the same year that the Greens moved into Ottawa South.”
“I see they live three blocks over from you.”
“I met Ryan playing soccer and then we started hanging out. He said they moved around a lot before his dad took a desk job here.”
“His mom works from home, according to the police file.”
“Yeah, she’s an artist and kind of emotional. She’s over the top crazy when it comes to Ryan and Travis.”
“How so?”
“Like, she’s really involved in their lives. I mean to the extreme. Poor Travis can’t make a move now. She’s always phoning him and checking up. I don’t know how he stands it.”
His comment opened up a new line of thought for me. “Do you think Ryan would take off to get away from his mother?”
“I would have.” Ben laughed. “Ryan seemed used to it, though. He was always calling her when we were out and leaving early to make curfew. He said keeping her happy was easier than dealing with her hundred and one questions later.”
“How about his dad? Did they get along?”
Ben shrugged. “From what Ryan told me, his dad wasn’t around a lot when he was a kid. The last few years, his dad came out to our soccer games but he never said very much to us before or after the game.”
“Before Ryan went missing, was there any sign that he was planning to leave town?”
“No. He was happy to have a few hours open up when soccer practice was cancelled. He didn’t tell his mom it was cancelled, though. I know that.”
“Why not? Where was he going?”
“He never said.”
“You must have had an idea.” I stared at him until he couldn’t stand it any longer and started talking.
“If I had to guess back then, I’d have said he was meeting a girlfriend. Nobody came forward, though, so who knows?” Ben checked the clock on the wall. “I should get moving. Do you have any more questions?” A red flush had spread from his neck up his cheeks.
“Yeah. Did you go straight home after you left Ryan?”
Ben blinked as if he hadn’t expected the question. He took his time answering. “I met some friends in a study group in the library.”
“Names?”
“I can’t remember now. Is it important?”
“Maybe not.” And maybe yes.
I stood when he did. I was curious why he was suddenly so eager for me to leave. But I couldn’t make him late for school. I said, “That ought to do it for now. Here’s my card if you think of anything that might help.”
Ben took the card and put it into the back pocket of his jeans. “I have no idea what that would be, but I’ll call if anything comes up.”
He followed me to the front door and shut it after me with a solid bang.
. . .
My next stop was Brookfield High School. I’d booked some time with the principal and was sent straight into her office when I arrived. It wasn’t the first time that I’d been sent to the principal’s office, but happily, the other times were well in my past. Even so, I felt sweat forming on my forehead and around the collar of my jacket.
Mrs. Gibbons stood and shook my hand. We took seats at a table loaded down with files and textbooks. She was tall with intelligent brown eyes and red hair pulled back into a bun. She poured us each a cup of hot coffee from a thermos.
“Ryan Green has caused me many a sleepless night,” she said. “When he first went missing, I kept wondering if we’d done something different . . . well, maybe he’d still be here.”
“What do you think happened to him?”
“I’m not lying when I say that I have no idea.” She took a sip of coffee. “I carried on my own investigation soon after he disappeared. Nobody saw him after he left school property. He might have gotten into a car with somebody. We just don’t know.”
“What kind of student was Ryan?”
“Not too engaged, except when it came to sports, shop class, or girls. He was polite, well liked, and respectful. A good kid, I’d say.”
“Did he have any problems? Was something or someone bothering him?”
Mrs. Gibbons shook her head. “Nobody noticed anything, if that was the case. And none of my teachers could think of any reason he’d run away. I’m completely at a loss as to where he could be . . . I pray every day that he’s still alive.”
There was a knock at the door and Ryan’s brother, Travis, stepped into the office. Mrs. Gibbons stood and patted him on the shoulder. Her voice became loud and jolly. “There you are, Travis. Good of you to take this little break from class.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I’ll bet you don’t. I imagine your teacher was about to check homework. We’ll have you back in no time.” She laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “Take my seat. I have to go speak to a grade nine class before letting them loose on a field trip. Nice meeting you, Ms. Sweet. If I can be of further help, don’t hesitate to be in touch.”
“Thank you.” I waited until Travis was seated and took the time to look him over. He had the same good looks as his brother, although he was slimmer with darker hair and eyes.
“Thanks for meeting me,” I began. “I’m sorry to hear about Ryan and know how hard this must be for you.”
“Yeah, it’s been tough.” Travis slumped back in the chair. “I have no idea where he could be,” he shrugged, “or why he left.”
I took a second to watch him. Something felt off. The sad frown on his lips didn’t reach his eyes. “Did you get along with Ryan?” I asked. I studied him while I waited.
“Sure, we got along. He didn’t tell me he was planning to leave, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“So, you had no idea that something might be wrong?”
“Nope.”
“Were you close enough that he would have told you?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Travis ran a hand across his jaw. “But he didn’t.”
Man, this kid was going out of his way to tell me that he didn’t know anything. His denials were making me curious. Time to shake him up a bit. “Have you heard from Ryan since he left?” I asked quietly. “Because you don’t seem as upset as I would have thought you’d be.”
Travis shook his head and glared at me. “You’ve got it wrong. I’m as worried as my parents about Ryan.” He jumped out of the seat. He was halfway to the door when he turned and said, “I’ve got to get back to class. You can talk to my parents if you want to know anything else about my brother.”
I let him go. It was clear that he wasn’t going to tell me anything more, even if he had something to share. When I left the office, Mrs. Gibbons was nowhere in sight. I exited the school by the front door and decided to grab some lunch and review my notes before making it to my next meeting.