Hannah watches the fleet of Coast Guard boats pull away from the dock. Please, God, let them find Gus.
Chief Summers comes up from the Marina’s floating dock. “Woo-wee, it’s a scorcher,” he says, mopping sweat off his forehead with a blue bandana. “It appears we’re gonna be here a while. Can we go maybe inside where it’s cool?”
“Of course,” Birdie says. “I’ll get some coffee on.”
When the others enter the cafe, Hannah makes no move to leave the railing. Birdie calls to her, “Hannah, honey, are you coming?”
Hannah shakes her head, her eyes on the muddy water of low tide. “Y’all go ahead. I’m gonna wait out here for Ethan.”
Hannah feels closer to Gus outside. Her irrational inner voice warns her she’ll break that bond if she goes inside. She doesn’t consider herself superstitious. But she’s not taking any chances with Gus’s life. As of this minute, she’s certain he’s still alive. Her mother’s intuition would sense if something had bad happened to him. If he had . . . She raises her gaze. She can’t stand to think of her son lying at the bottom of the creek.
Hannah observes the Sunday afternoon activity on the inlet. Fishing boats return from a day of deep sea fishing. A group of teenagers pass by, their boat loaded with inner tubes, wakeboards, and waterskis. A pair of kayakers glide by and down the creek a ways, a kid squeals before jumping off a dock. When Stan drives by on his wave runner, Hannah waves at him. She’s tempted to yell at him. To tell him not to waste his time, that Gus isn’t in the water. If her son did drown, Hannah doesn’t want to know about it. She’d rather live with the hope that he’s still alive than face finality of death. What if see never sees her son’s beautiful blue eyes again? Never feels his sticky peanut butter lips against her cheek?
She hears Max’s voice behind her, thanking her guests for conducting the search and asking them to keep an eye out for the little boy with white blonde curls as they go about their day.
One of the guests, an attractive woman about thirty, pats Hannah’s back. “Keep the faith, hon. They’ll find your son.”
Alive, I hope, Hannah thinks and forces a smile. “Thank you for helping to look for him.”
Max comes to stand beside her at the railing. “She’s right, you know. We have to keep the faith. I believe in my heart that Gus is alive and well, that there’s a logical explanation for his whereabouts.”
Hannah swallows past the lump in her throat. “I pray to God you’re right, Max.”
Max gives her a half hug. “Do you wanna come inside?”
Hannah shakes her head, unable to speak.
“All right. I’m gonna see what I can do to help your mama.”
Time drags on. Minutes turn into an hour, yet Hannah remains glued to the railing. When she hears a voice calling her name, she turns and runs into Ethan’s outstretched arms.
“We’re gonna find him, Hannah,” Ethan says, stroking her hair.
Hannah buries her face in his chest. She belongs in these arms. She feels safe and secure here. She trusts Ethan. She’s always trusted him. Even when when his father had a heart attack, she knew deep down he had a legitimate for going dark.
Birdie calls Hannah from the doorway. “Chief Summers is on the phone with Ryan’s father.”
Birdie holds the door open for them as they enter the cafe. “Thanks for coming, Ethan,” she says with a warm smile.
The room is abuzz with ringing phones and the hushed conversations of police officers in uniform and plain clothes. Chief Summers is seated with her father and two other police officers at the largest table in the center of the room. Ending his call with the attorney general, he sets his phone down and stands to face them. “Stevenson hasn’t seen his son since this morning. Ryan left Pawley’s Island around eleven. He was in his own car, headed back to Columbia. Stevenson tried to call Ryan, but he didn’t pick up. He’s going over to his apartment now. He’s going to call back as soon as he knows more.”
“We can’t wait any longer, Chief,” Hannah says, her voice raised and panicked. “What if Ryan is on his way to Texas with my son? We have to issue the Amber alert now.”
“I know the waiting is torture, Hannah, but give Stevenson a few more minutes.” He squeezes her arm before sitting back down.
Although there are empty seats at the table, Hannah doesn’t want to be near her father. She saw him with that Patty woman earlier. Only a week ago, he was begging her mother to for another chance and now he’s already moved on to someone new? The man has no scruples.
She leads Ethan to a table for two by the window. “Chief Summers is all worked up, because Ryan’s father is the attorney general.”
Ethan gawks. “Seriously? Patrick Stevenson? I don’t think you ever mention that.”
“Don’t bet too impressed. He’s not a very nice man. And his wife’s even worse.”
Ethan falls back in his chair. “This is definitely a game changer. And it could work in your favor. If Stevenson thinks Ryan may have kidnapped Gus, he’ll bring out the big guns to find them. The last thing he wants is a scandal.”
“That’s true. I hadn’t thought of that.”
Sadie and Max bring over trays of warm ham biscuits and cheese straws, which Ethan and Hannah both decline.
“Would either of you like coffee?” Sadie asks, staring down at the table as though afraid to look Hannah in the eyes.
“Coffee would be great,” Ethan says.
“Can I have some water, please?” Hannah says to Sadie with a smile. The woman made a mistake by leaving the back door unlocked. They’d had a busy day, and she was preoccupied. Could’ve happened to anyone.
“What am I missing here?” Hannah says more to herself than to Ethan. “I don’t understand why Ryan would do something like this. He’s not a bad guy. He’s spoiled and immature, but he’d never intentionally hurt Gus.” She’s thumbing through the stream of texts from Ryan, looking for a clue she might have earlier missed, when an email from Heidi Butler pops up on her screen. She reads the email and drops the phone on the table with a clatter.
“What is it?”
“I just got an email from Heidi Butler, the woman who’s renting that apartment I told you about. Her prospective tenants decided not to take it. She says the apartment is all mine if I want it, but I need to let her know as soon as possible.” Tears fill her eyes. “How can I think about moving to Charleston with my son missing? I can’t think about the next minute, let alone the next hour. What if we don’t find him? How am I supposed to go on with my life without Gus?”
Ethan reaches for her hand. “Don’t think about that now, Hannah. You’ll drive yourself crazy in worrying about something that might never happen.” His gaze shifts to something over Hannah’s right shoulder. “Summers is heading this way. He doesn’t look very happy.”
Hannah jumps to her feet. “What is it? Did you hear back from Ryan’s father?”
“Ryan is not at his apartment, but Stevenson has a spare key, and let himself in. The suitcase Ryan used for the trip to Pawley’s was parked beside the door. He found Gus’s stuffed alligator on the kitchen counter. Question is, did Gus bring the alligator home from Pawley’s?”
Hannah can’t remember specifically. Atticus is Gus’s security blanket, an extension of his body. “I’m sure he did. He never goes anywhere without the alligator.” She looks at Ethan for confirmation.
Ethan nods. “I’m certain. He was holding tight to Atticus when we were in the elevator at my apartment last night.”
“All right, then.” Summers runs his hand across the top of his balding head.“I will authorize my team to issue an Amber Alert.”
She drops back down to her chair. “I can’t believe this is happening. See! I told you! They could be on an airplane to California. I may never see my child again.”
“Calm down, Hannah. Considering the alternative, I view this as good news. Stevenson offered his full support. He’s as anxious to find his son as you are to find yours.”
Elbows on the table, Hannah plants her face in her hands to hide her tears. She hears Birdie voice suggesting they give Hannah some space followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. She can’t see Ethan with her face in her hands, but she senses his presence. She cries softly into her palms, tears of relief that Gus is still alive and fear that Ryan will somehow hurt him.
A loud alert notification sounds on her phone startles her. She snatches up the phone as Gus’s face appears on the screen, alongside descriptions of his physical appearance, what he was last wearing, and the make and model of Ryan’s car.
Texts from concerned friends flood her phone. Liza. Miss Daisy. Robbie’s mother. She doesn’t respond. What can she say when she knows so little?
The day turns to evening. When the cafe dims, Birdie turns on overhead pendants, and the light casts the room in a soft glow. More coffee is distributed. More ham biscuits consumed. When Hannah grows restless, she pushes back from the table and begins pacing the floors. She’s been at it about ten minutes when the door swings open and Ryan rushes in, carrying a screaming Gus.
When he sees her, with hands reaching out for her, Gus shouts, “Mommy!”
“Gus! My baby! Oh thank, God.” She hurries over to him, and he springs into her arms, pressing his hot little body against hers. “What the heck, Ryan? He’s burning up with fever.”
Ryan hangs his head. “I figured there’s something wrong. He wouldn’t stop crying.”
Ethan is on his feet and at her side. “Let’s get him to the emergency room.”
“Mom, will you grab my bag from upstairs?” Hannah says to Birdie who is hovering nearby with Chief Summers and the others.
“I’m on it.” Birdie goes around behind the sales counter and disappears through the swinging door.
“What were you thinking, Ryan? Why did you kidnap him?”
The color drains from Ryan’s face. “How could I kidnap my own son?”
“It’s called parental abduction,” Chief Summers says. “Another term for kidnapping. And that’s exactly what you did, son.”
Ryan glances over at the police chief before setting his gaze on Hannah. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. You wouldn’t answer your phone. And I was worried sick. I came here to talk to you, to apologize for playing golf and for the things my mom said. The back door was open. I saw you behind the counter, waiting on customers. I went upstairs and found Gus asleep. I got so pissed off. You left the door unlocked, for crying out loud. Anyone could’ve kidnapped him. You’re damn lucky it was me.”
Sadie steps forward. “That was my fault. Not Hannah’s. I accidentally left the door unlocked when I took out the trash.”
“Bottom line is, my child should not be living in an apartment over a bakery.”
“We were doing just fine until you came along,” Hannah says.
Birdie returns with her bag. “Do you want me to go to the hospital with you?”
Hannah leans into Ethan. “We’ll be fine. I think you’d better stay here and hold down the fort.”
Hannah and Ethan exit the building with Ryan on their heels and Chief Summers on his.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hannah hears Summers say.
“To the hospital with them.”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Summer says. “You’re staying right here. I have some questions for you.”
When they reach the parking lot, Hannah aims her key at the Jeep, clicking the doors unlocked. She opens the rear passenger door. When she sees Gus’s carseat, she says, “Wait a minute. Did you buy a carseat, Ryan? Or have you been driving my child around without one?”
Ryan shrugs. “I didn’t know it was such a big deal.”
Hannah shakes her head. “You’re pathetic.” She buckles Gus into the carseat and climbs in beside him. Ethan gets behind the wheel, and as they’re driving off, Summers is folding Ryan’s arms behind his back, handcuffing him.
“If he hadn’t put me through hell the past six hours, I’d feel sorry for him. He didn’t mean any harm. He’s just clueless.”
“He’s a self-absorbed jack ass,” Ethan says to her through the rearview mirror. “His cluelessness cost a lot of people a lot of trouble and heartache this afternoon.”
Hannah brings her son’s hot little hand to her lips, kissing his tiny fingers. “I can’t worry about Ryan right now. All that matters is getting my son well.”
Ryan says he didn’t come to Palmetto island to steal Gus. It just happened. Hannah wouldn’t answer her phone. And he was worried. The back door was open. He wandered up to the apartment hoping to find Hannah to talk to her. But when he saw Gus sleeping, he got furious. Anyone could’ve kidnapped him.