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Bob sent his cohorts Sandra and Ethel in first, to make sure the coast was clear and to open the back door so that he could smuggle in a frozen ten-year-old. Then, under the cover of darkness, the three of them hustled Peter into the stinky props room.
“Agh!” Peter exclaimed. “What is that smell?”
“Old people church clothes,” Ethel said, and Sandra laughed so loudly that Bob shushed her.
Peter looked at Ethel. “You don’t smell like that!”
Ethel laughed. “Thank you! That’s good news.”
“Why don’t you stay here with Peter,” Bob said to Ethel.
“Yes!” Ethel held her giant flashlight up in the air. “If anyone comes this way, I will clobber him!”
“I’m going to lock you in,” Bob said. “No one will come. But if you need to leave, you’ll be able to open the door.”
Ethel nodded stoically. Then she pulled a tote marked “Feathers” over and sat down. Sandra wondered what past production needed enough prop feathers to justify them getting their own tote.
“While you’re here, would you guys mind looking around for Treasure’s cell phone?” Sandra asked. “It’s missing.”
Peter looked around the room, wearing the same expression he always wore when she asked him to clean the litter box at home. “Mom, we’re never going to find anything in here.”
“Well, what else do you have to do but look?” She pointed at the bedding box. “And Ethel, there are blankets over there, if you get cold. They don’t smell as bad as you might think, either.” She looked at Bob. “So what’s the plan for us?”
“Not sure.” He opened the door for her and they both stepped out into the hallway. He softly shut the door behind them, and she stared at him, waiting for him to say something that would miraculously seal the door shut—probably something in Hebrew or Latin—but he didn’t say anything at all. She was disappointed.
“Is it locked?”
“Yes.” He seemed unaware of, or at least unconcerned with, her disappointment. “What do you think the plan should be?”
She shrugged. “First, I need to relight my candle.” She thought for a second. “Then I think we should go ask people if they’ve seen Peter, and in the process, ask them other questions as well, like you said, sort of interrogating them without letting them know they’re being interrogated.”
“Hold out your candle.”
She did, and instantly, the wick glowed with a yellow flame. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Can you make my candle grow too? It’s getting a bit stubby.”
“It won’t come to that.”
What did that mean? That he couldn’t do that particular miracle? Or that they would catch the killer before her candle burned out?
“Yes,” he said. “I think that’s a great plan. And don’t be afraid to really provoke them. Maybe we can incite someone to try to grab you and stuff you in the shed.”
She gasped. “You want to use me as bait?” She wasn’t as horrified by that idea as she should have been.
He gave her an exasperated look. “I’ll be right there. I won’t let anything happen.”
She wasn’t as confident in his abilities as he was, but she didn’t tell him that. “Okay, then, let’s go.” She took a step and then stopped. Go where? She had no idea where people were. She closed her eyes and strained to hear. At first, there was nothing, but then she thought she heard a bang from the green room, and she headed that way.
Bob followed closely behind, and soon they were both standing inside the green room, looking down at Gloria and her children, who were all huddled together under something that looked like a superhero cape.
“Wow, it really is warmer in here,” Sandra said.
“Yes, I don’t know why more people aren’t in here,” Gloria said.
“Because they’re all out looking for Peter,” Corina snapped, and Sandra felt guilty. Corina was scared for her friend, and Sandra was letting her worry for nothing, when he was safe and sound.
“Don’t worry, Corina. I am confident that Peter is fine. I’m sure he just wandered off somewhere.”
Corina looked skeptical. Maybe she knew Peter better than Sandra thought.
“When was the last time any of you saw him?” Sandra tried to get a conversation flowing, even though she knew none of these people were guilty of anything. As she talked, she wandered around the room, looking for the missing cell.
“We were all in the auditorium together when the lights went out,” Gloria said. “I told the kids to stay put while I came down here to get Corina’s phone for its flashlight. When I got here, I realized this was the warmest place to be, and I went back upstairs to get my kids. We’ve been here ever since. But I think he was still sitting in the auditorium when we left.”
Corina nodded. “He was. And if we’d just stayed there, maybe he wouldn’t be missing right now.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake. Sandra couldn’t live like this. She crossed the room and dropped to one knee in front of Gloria. “I need to tell you a secret,” she whispered.
“Don’t!” Bob said firmly. “Didn’t you say she threatened Treasure? She’s our lead suspect!”
Sandra didn’t think Gloria could wrestle Peter into a shed, and ignored Bob’s protest. “You can’t tell anyone else, but I’ve already found Peter.”
“You did?” Corina cried.
At the same time, Sandra and Gloria shushed her, and Corina clamped a hand over her mouth. Her shocked expression gave way to relief and then to a glare directed at Sandra.
“Someone grabbed him, dragged him outside, and shoved him into the shed.”
“There’s a shed outside?” Gloria said, incredulous.
“Yes. It’s a creepy little gardening shed. I’d never noticed it before either. Anyway, he’s fine. He was a little scared and a little cold, but he’s inside now, hiding. I don’t know who took him, and I’m trying to figure it out, because, obviously, whoever took him also killed Treasure, and I don’t want that person to know that I’m onto him. So please don’t say anything to anyone. But!” She looked at Corina. “I know none of you guys pushed Treasure, and I didn’t want to let Corina worry for nothing.”
Corina’s glare softened as her cheeks grew pink.
Sandra stood up. “So, I’ll be going to continue my fake search. You guys can stay here—”
“No!” Gloria’s eyes grew wide. “I don’t think we’re safe here if someone is snatching kids.”
Sandra stopped. She really didn’t think Gloria’s kids were in danger, especially if Bob’s theory was correct that the killer targeted Peter because of her. But how to convince them of that? “Um ... well, you can come with me, but I’m going to be traveling around actively looking for the killer, so I don’t think you’d be much safer with me.”
Gloria looked terrified, and Sandra’s heart went out to her. She looked at the green room’s door. “Does that lock?” No one answered her, so she walked back to the door to check. “It doesn’t.” She looked around the room. “Why don’t you guys push some furniture in front of the door? That way no one can get in.”
Gloria jumped up. “Great idea! Corban, help me push that table over to the door!”
“Wait, let us get out first!” Sandra said.
Gloria turned and stared at her. “Us? Are you planning to take one of us with you?”
“Um ... I mean me. Sorry, it’s been a long day. Let me get out first. And kids, would you do me a favor while you wait for the police?”
They backed away from her, looking petrified.
“Would you look for a cell phone in here? Treasure’s is missing.”
They nodded eagerly. Not such a scary favor after all.
“If we find it, can I play with it?” Corban asked.
“Of course not,” Gloria snapped.
“Sorry, Corban,” Sandra said. “It will be evidence.”
“Just like on NCIS?” His eyes grew bigger. She couldn’t tell if he was scared or excited.
“Yes, just like on NCIS.” She smiled at Gloria and then stepped out into the hallway, where she stayed until she heard Corban shoving the dresser in front of the door.