“Gumdrops were the surprise! So that was what the words meant on the back of the photograph!” said Tim. “I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to Carolyn. I’m going to look in the store just to be sure.”
Matt and Emily glanced at each other. They were both thinking the same thing. What if Carolyn wasn’t there? What if Carolyn was hurt—or worse?
“You two stay outside with Poppy,” said Tim. “Make sure Mrs. Winter is all right.”
“Maybe Poppy can help you find Carolyn,” Emily suggested.
“I don’t want anyone else going in with me. The store doesn’t look safe. A wall could fall down any minute. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
With that, Tim stepped over the broken front door and the shattered glass.
“Be careful,” Emily and Matt called out.
The two friends and Poppy waited outside. They listened for voices from inside the building but they heard nothing. Mrs. Winter sat quietly in the chair, moaning and sighing.
“Are you okay?” asked Matt.
“My head still hurts but I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’m just worried about that sweet girl. Her brother survived the war to come home to this terrible business. It’s all horrible.”
“I can hear Tim calling Carolyn now,” said Emily.
“Listen!” said Matt.
They heard a clunk, as if something hard had been dropped.
“Oh no. No. No,” Tim groaned.
Emily and Matt looked at each other. Was Tim hurt? Had he found Carolyn?
“Here comes Tim!” cried Emily.
Tim climbed over the broken front door. His hair was streaked black and white with soot and dust. There was a large hole in the sleeve of his uniform. His scratched face was bleeding.
“What happened?” Matt asked.
“I didn’t find Carolyn,” said Tim. “I walked all the way to the back of the store and looked around. I called out for her over and over. I looked everywhere. I looked under everything—broken glass, broken beams, bashed-up counters, piles of boxes. But she wasn’t there.”
Mrs. Winter walked over to Tim. “You’re bleeding, my boy,” she said. She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it against Tim’s face. “Hold it steady there for a bit,” she said.
“I’ll be fine. I cut myself on some glass,” said Tim. “I have to keep looking.”
“Maybe Carolyn went down the street behind the store,” suggested Emily.
“You could be right,” said Mrs. Winter. “There’s a little park down that block. You can reach it from the lane that runs beside the store. Dogs love that park. Maybe Carolyn took Poppy there.”
“I’m going to look right now!” said Tim.
“Can we come with you this time?” asked Matt. “Carolyn might be stuck under something. It would be easier if you didn’t have to move or lift things alone.”
“Poppy can help, too,” said Emily. “I bet he’ll know when we’re near Carolyn.”
Tim nodded. “It’s hard to do this alone. But please be careful. There’s sharp debris everywhere. Let’s go.”
As they stepped over a pile of bricks in front of the lane, Poppy began to bark. With each step Poppy barked louder and louder.
“Poppy knows something,” said Emily. “I’m sure of it.”
“There’s a large mound of broken glass coming up,” Tim said. “Watch your step.”
“I’m picking Poppy up and carrying him,” said Emily. “I don’t want him to get cut.”
The three friends stepped over the glass. They stepped over bricks, beams, and broken crates. They walked on and on down the dark narrow lane. They were close to the end of the lane.
“Ouch!” screamed Emily.