Chapter Sixteen

I was washing the supper dishes, rinsing and setting them meticulously in the plastic rack to dry, when I first felt the familiar tingling. I kept my hands busy, but my eyes were on the twilight scene outside the window. It was growing dark. Jim had ceased strumming the guitar and his untouched plate waited in front of him.

I kept glancing from the phone to the door to the window. Back and forth. Listening, watching and waiting. I wasn’t going to panic—not yet. Jeremy had only been gone an hour. His plate, covered to keep it warm, sat on the counter. Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. I’d made homemade biscuits for him. He loved my homemade biscuits, and there was chocolate pudding for dessert.

The last rays of sunlight seeped away into eternity. No matter how we tried to deceive ourselves, Jeremy’s absence wasn’t normal.

I tossed the dish towel down on the counter and spun around to Jim.

He spoke before I did. “He should be home by now. How could we have been so foolish as to let him go out unsupervised, after what happened to you last night? I blame myself,” he whispered vehemently. “I know better than that.”

“It isn’t your fault. It’s hard to believe this is happening to us again.” But we’d been incredibly naive to let the boy out of our sight. Of course, when he’d left we hadn’t known about the murder. Ben hadn’t told us yet.

The dim yard was empty. When would we ever get wise? We were cursed. Time wouldn’t make any difference. “I’m going out to look for him. I don’t care how late it’s getting or how dangerous. I’m going.”

“Sarah!” Jim was behind me as I stepped out onto the porch and peered down the winding street. It looked like it had when I was a child and I smiled for a moment, remembering the games we used to play when we were unsuspecting kids.

“Sis,” Jim repeated at my shoulder. “You can’t go out there looking for Jeremy alone. We’ll go together.” It took courage for him to say that. “Does he have any friends here?”

“Not that I know. Too soon. He hasn’t started school yet, and we’ve been busy working on the house.”

Jim picked up the phone. “I’m going to call Ben.”

“We don’t know if anything’s wrong. He’s only a little late.” I hated the thought of dragging the police into this. Jeremy might waltz in any moment.

“Not the police. Ben.” Jim dialed the number that was on the piece of paper by the phone.

I almost protested and stopped him, but thought better of it. Ben had offered to help and he’d be called in sooner or later. Shades of the past and Jonathan. I gave in. It didn’t really matter. All that mattered was the safety of my child.

Jim mumbled words into the receiver and handed the phone to me. “I’m afraid I got him out of bed. He wants to talk to you.”

I felt bad waking him.

“Hello, Ben?” I tried to keep my voice steady.

“Sarah, didn’t I just see you?” It took a second to understand he was teasing. His voice was distantly groggy but somehow reassuring. I liked his voice.

“Yes.”

“What’s the problem?” His voice was frayed around the edges.

“Jeremy went out two hours ago and hasn’t come back. Usually I don’t worry, but after what’s happened…” I broke off. Outside it was almost totally dark. Inside I was screaming.

“Any friends?”

“No. We’re so new here. Ben, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be an alarmist, but he knows the rules and this isn’t like him to stay out past dark. I’m worried.”

“I’m coming over. We can talk about what to do when I get there if he isn’t home by then. Okay?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“No problem, Sarah. Try not to worry too much. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

I hope that’s fast enough, I thought. The phone went dead in my hands.