I tried Elena again as soon as I got upstairs, and again there was no answer. Which was really starting to worry me now.
It was after six P.M. Brandon’s doctor’s appointment was for four o’clock and they should have been out by now. Unless Goodwin was running late. Which sometimes happened, of course. But never this late.
This time I left her a message: “Elena, it’s Mrs. Cantor. I just wanted to make sure Brandon got to Dr. Goodwin’s on time and everything’s okay; I still can’t make it back for another day. Please give me a call as soon as you can. Thanks . . .”
I hung up and went on Patrick’s computer. I typed in a search in Google: “Connecticut government officials.” I scanned through the list. Sixty of them. Thirty-six representatives. Twenty-four senators. I didn’t recognize any of the names. Nor could I imagine how any of them connected to Patrick’s father.
I realized another hour had passed and I hadn’t heard from Elena.
I tried her one more time. Still no answer. I left another message, ending it: “Please call me back, Elena, whenever you get this message. I’m starting to get worried.”
This wasn’t like her. She never didn’t call me back right away. The only thing that made me feel okay was that no one knew where Brandon was, so he had to be safe. Maybe the doctor had been running late. Maybe she had her phone off for some reason or had left it somewhere.
It happened.
I located Dr. Goodwin’s number in my phone. It was late. Who knew if anyone was still there at this hour. I felt relieved when the receptionist answered, “Dr. Goodwin’s office.” I was lucky to even find someone there.
“This is Hilary Cantor,” I said. “Brandon’s mom.”
“Hi, Mrs. Cantor,” the receptionist said. “It’s Claudia.”
“Hi, Claudia. I was just checking up on Brandon. I haven’t been able to reach my housekeeper and I know he had a four o’clock there. I know it’s unlikely, but by any chance he’s not still around there, is he?”
“No, Mrs. Cantor, I’m afraid he’s not. But I was actually about to contact you.”
“Contact me? Why?”
“To make another appointment. Dr. Goodwin said he needed to see Brandon. About the fine-motor issue. You remember, that’s—”
“Of course I remember,” I interrupted her.
“I thought that’s why you were calling.”
“What do you mean, why I was calling?” Now I could hear the worry in my voice.
“To make another appointment. Dr. Goodwin needs to see him and Brandon never showed up today.”
Didn’t show up.
I sat there and the phone almost fell out of my hand, all my worst fears let loose inside me.
“Is there anything I can do, Mrs. Cantor?” Claudia asked, sensing my dismay.
“No.” My entire body became numb. Where was my son? “No, there’s nothing you can do.”