Lost and Found

by Colleen Coble

  “Your dad’s already said no.”

  “But he’s not here right now.” If she could get Charley on Naomi’s scent, she just knew he’d find Naomi. Samson was the best search dog, sure, but Charley loved Naomi. That gave him an edge.

  “Your grandma’s not going to let you go.”

  Emily reached for her jacket lying over the chair. “I don’t plan on asking her.”

  “Em, you can’t.”

  She swallowed. “I have to, Liv.”

  “It’s dark out. You can’t go out alone.” Olivia’s voice was softer . . . lower.

  “I don’t have a choice. And I won’t be alone. I’ll have Charley with me.” She slipped on her sneakers.

  Olivia sighed loudly over the connection. “Well, I’m not letting you go alone. Where do you want me to meet you?”

  Light spilled from the windows of Bree’s lighthouse. The wind was stiff here, fresh with the scent of water. “Liv?” Emily called softly. She kept a tight hold on Charley’s leash with one hand and the mini flashlight in her other.

  Olivia stepped from the shadows. Her hood was up, protecting her from the stiff wind blowing in off Lake Superior. “You sure Charley is up to this?”

  “The vet said he was fine. Besides, he’s missing Naomi. He’ll heal better with her safe and sound at home. We’re going to find her.” God, please let us find her.

  Olivia put her hands in her pockets. “Any word from Bree?”

  Emily shook her head. “I texted her a minute ago. Samson has the trail and is heading down the beach.”

  “If Charley gets the trail, won’t we run into Bree? Then we’re both in big trouble.” Olivia’s eyes went wide.

  Emily pressed her lips together. “All I care about is finding Naomi.” Her eyes burned again. She would not cry.

  “So what’s the plan?”

  Emily gestured with the flashlight to the north, toward the lake. “Bree is heading along the water toward her lighthouse. I thought we’d start here and see if Charley gets a scent.”

  “But we’re likely to run right into Bree!”

  “She’s not this far yet. And she may never be. There’s no sense in starting where Samson did. He’s the best search dog out there. It’s worth a try to start in the forest. There’s a shack out there where Marika used to go when I was a kid.” It made Emily sick to think about Marika meeting her man friends there.

  “You really think your mom has something to do with this?”

  Emily glared at her best friend. “Don’t call her that! Naomi is the only mom I want. She’s been the only real mom I’ve ever had.” She was dangerously near tears again, and crying wouldn’t find Naomi.

  “Sorry.” Olivia put her hand on Emily’s arm. “I understand how you feel. Now more than ever.”

  At least she knew her birth mother, which was more than she could say for Olivia. “I’m sorry too.” Emily scrubbed her eyes with the back of her gloved hand. “Let’s just get to work and find Naomi.”

  She found the path to the trees behind the lighthouse and her grandmother’s bed-and-breakfast. So far, no one seemed to have noticed they were gone. Grandma hadn’t called for her or anything. She probably hadn’t moved from staring at the phone.

  The flagstone path quickly turned to rocks and dirt. “It’s a ways in.”

  Olivia stayed close. “When were you there last? Do you remember the way?”

  “It’s about fifteen minutes from Grandma’s house. The last time I was there, the raccoons had taken it over, and the roof was falling in.”

  Olivia stopped suddenly. “Then why do you think she might have taken Naomi there? It doesn’t sound safe.”

  “She might not know that. I don’t know where else she could be heading if the scent led this way.”

  “Maybe she was meeting a boat.”

  Emily bit her lip. “I hadn’t thought about that.” She looked back toward Lake Superior. Through the trees, she saw the moon glittering on the water. “At least we can try this. It’s doing something.”

  Olivia got out her own flashlight and flipped it on. “Yeah, but after we check here, let’s go home if there’s no scent, okay?”

  Liv was a good friend to come along on a mission she clearly thought was useless. If Emily had to sit one more minute and wait for the phone to ring, she would have gone crazy. “Thanks, Liv.”

  Emily shone her flashlight on the path ahead. “It’s just through this clearing, I think. Here is as good a place as any to get Charley to search. Maybe he’ll smell something.”

  She knelt beside the dog and unclipped his leash, then held the bag containing one of Naomi’s socks under his nose. He took a deep sniff and wagged his tail. When he whined, she patted his head. “I know, boy. Search, Charley! Find Naomi.”

  He woofed, then crisscrossed the clearing with his nose in the air. He circled the space three times, then came back to press his head dejectedly against Emily’s leg.

  “That’s okay, boy.”

  Something stirred in the shrubs. She tensed. “Anyone there?”

  The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and the trees seemed dark and ghostly. Who knew what was in there? Mountain lions had returned to the Upper Peninsula, and they prowled at night. For the first time, she realized it might not have been a good idea to come out here at night without an adult.

  Olivia clutched her arm. “Did you hear that?”

  “I—I heard leaves or something.” Emily listened harder. “It was probably just a raccoon or a squirrel. Let’s try the shack.” Eager to get away from whatever had sent her alarms flaring, she set off across the clearing. At least they had flashlights. And Charley. “Maybe they didn’t come this far.”

  “Or maybe they didn’t come here at all,” Olivia said.

  “We have to find her.” Emily kicked leaves out of the way as she marched toward the old shack. It was still a few feet away when Charley’s ears perked up. He barked and ran to the door of the wooden structure.

  Emily caught her breath and raced after him. Please, please let Naomi be there, God. Charley nosed the door open and disappeared inside.

  “Naomi!” Emily reached the opening and aimed her flashlight into the dark cavern of the building. The beam revealed only debris: empty pop cans, candy wrappers, a crumpled blanket, and shingles from the decaying roof.

  Emily leaned against the door frame. “She’s not here.”

  Olivia caught up with her. “But Charley smelled something. She’s been here. Maybe he can track her from this point.”

  “Of course!” Emily called Charley to her and had him smell the scent article again. “Search, Charley! Find Naomi.”

  The dog whined, then turned to look around the empty space as if to say he’d been sure his owner was inside. Then he darted out the door with his nose in the air. Her heart in her throat, Emily ran after him. His tail began to wag, and he barked joyously before racing farther into the woods.

  Emily’s chest burned as she ran to keep up with him. She slowed a bit to yank at Olivia’s hand. After the scare in the clearing, she didn’t want to run the risk of anything happening to her best friend.

  Her foot struck a root, and she tumbled to the ground. Olivia fell on top of her, and the last of Emily’s air exhaled out in a painful whoosh. Olivia didn’t move for a minute, then she groaned and rolled off.

  Emily sat up and brushed leaves off her. She grabbed one of their flashlights from the ground. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” Olivia got up and reached down to hoist Emily to her feet.

  A scream sounded to their left, and Emily felt like her heart stopped. She tightened her grip on Olivia’s hand. “W-what was that?”

  “I think it might have been a mountain lion,” Olivia whispered in a trembling voice. She reached down and grabbed the other fallen flashlight.

  The unearthly screech came again, and both girls took off toward the path where Charley had disappeared. Terror seized Emily by the throat, and she imagined a huge cat with big yellow
teeth and deadly claws. And what if it got Charley? If anything happened to Olivia or Charley, it would be all her fault.

  Just like it was her fault Drake and Naomi were missing.

  Her breath came hard and fast, and her lungs burned. The scream came again, but it sounded farther away. Her steps slowed. “I—I think it’s going away.” She shined the light from her flashlight at Olivia. “That was a close one.”

  Tears glimmered on Olivia’s face, and she shuddered. “I never want to hear that sound again.”

  “Me neither.” Emily cupped her hands to her mouth. “Charley!”

  An answering bark sounded to her left, then the bushes parted and a dog raced toward her. Samson. And Bree, her face set and steely, came right behind him.

  “We’re in so much trouble,” Emily whispered to Olivia.

  FOURTEEN

  “I can’t believe you snuck out of the house alone.” Bree dug her cell phone from her pocket as she glared at Emily. “And dragged poor Olivia and Charley out too.” She punched on the phone, then stuck it to her ear. “What were you thinking?”

  Words wouldn’t form in Emily’s mouth. The one person she looked up to as much as her parents, Bree, was very upset with her. And rightly so. Olivia still held tightly to her hand.

  Charley and Samson rubbed noses, both tails wagging in the wind.

  “Donovan? No, I haven’t found Naomi, but guess who I did find out here in the woods by my house?” Bree continued to scowl at her. “Well, she’s not at home with Martha. She’s standing in front of me. With Olivia. And Charley.”

  She was so dead.

  Bree pulled the phone about an inch away from her ear and stared at Emily with one brow arched.

  Dad’s ranting was easily heard. He was beyond furious. She’d be lucky if he didn’t lock her in her room until she graduated from college.

  Olivia squeezed Emily’s hand, but it offered little comfort. She hadn’t thought about what would happen if they didn’t find Naomi and got caught. She’d been so sure Charley would find Naomi.

  “I know, I know. What do you want me to do?” Bree snapped her fingers, and Samson moved to her side. Charley joined as well.

  “I think both dogs had her scent but lost it. I’m sorry, Donovan, but she’s not out here. She was, I’m sure, but is gone now. I’ll bring Emily home.” She slipped the phone back into her pocket, then pressed both fists onto her hips.

  Emily wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She was an epic failure.

  “Your dad has enough to worry about right now, and you pull this stunt? Seriously, Emily, what were you thinking?”

  Tears burned Emily’s eyes. “I couldn’t just sit at home and stare at the phone like Grandma. I needed to be out here. Doing something.” A sob caught in her throat. “It’s my fault she was taken anyway. If I’d told them earlier about seeing Marika, they would’ve been more careful and Naomi wouldn’t be missing.”

  She couldn’t fight the tears anymore. “I’m sorry I disobeyed and snuck out, and I’m sorry I’ve worried Dad more, but I love Naomi. She’s my mom. I have to do something.”

  Bree crossed the space between them and pulled her into a hug. “Shh. It’s not your fault Naomi’s missing. Not in the least.” She squeezed Emily to her.

  Emily welcomed the affection but stepped out of the embrace. “I didn’t tell them I’d seen Marika. I should have.”

  “Yes, you should have. If you had to do it again, you probably would. But it’s okay, Emily. We don’t know Marika is involved in Naomi’s disappearance. No matter, you are not responsible for Naomi being missing—whatever or whoever is preventing her from being here is what’s responsible. Not you.”

  “I don’t want her back in my life,” Emily whispered. “Is she going to follow me forever?”

  “She’ll always be your mother.” Bree’s words were gentle.

  “Naomi is my real mother. She’s the only one who cares about me.” Emily rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “And now Marika’s asking me to forgive her. It’s crazy.”

  Bree touched her arm. “Well, honey, you do need to forgive her.”

  Emily stared at her. “I don’t want her around. Not ever. I don’t trust her.”

  “It doesn’t matter. The Bible says you have to forgive her. It doesn’t mean you have to let her into your life, but you need to let go of the anger you feel.” Bree held up her hand when Emily opened her mouth. “Hear me out, Emily. Bitterness will hurt you more than it will her. God is the judge, not you.”

  Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to forgive her. And we both know Marika’s most likely the reason Naomi’s missing. Marika has always hated Naomi. She’s so jealous of her. Not just because of Dad and how beautiful Naomi is, but because Timmy and I love her so much.”

  Bree sighed and her eyes softened. “You heard Mason. There are several suspects. Geoff’s definitely as much of a suspect as Marika since he was at the center and clearly, as you heard, blames Naomi for losing his job. And he’s certainly more physically able than Marika. Then again, we could all be wrong and there could be a perfectly logical explanation for what’s happened and where Naomi is.”

  Bree had a point. Back at the celebration, Geoff sure had been quick to leave before Naomi saw him.

  “Until something is proven, don’t just jump to conclusions. In my experience, it’s best to wait for the facts.”

  “But we know for a fact Drake ran away because I told the principal about the jacket being his. He’s still missing, and that is my fault.”

  “No, it isn’t. Drake lied to the sheriff and then ran away. His choice, not yours.” Bree sighed. “You did the right thing. He didn’t. Stop taking responsibility for something you have no control over. You might not have done things exactly the best way, but trust me on this: you have no responsibility or control over someone else’s actions. Okay?”

  Emily nodded. Maybe she wasn’t totally to blame.

  “And think about what I said about forgiveness.”

  Emily swallowed. “Okay.” God, I can’t do the forgiveness thing by myself. I’m going to have to have your help to forgive Marika for everything she’s done.

  Bree started moving down the path. “Having said that, however, you know you shouldn’t have snuck out. You or Olivia could have gotten hurt. Or Charley. That wouldn’t have helped Naomi or your dad.”

  “I know.” She kept the flashlight’s beam pointed at the path in front of them, matching Bree’s and Olivia’s. They had to be careful not to stumble over the loose rocks half-buried in the volcanic dirt. “I was just really sure Charley could find Naomi. I didn’t think it through very well.”

  Charley and Samson barked, tails in the air, and the fur on both of their necks raised. Both dogs focused at something in the density of the woods to the right of the path, right in the direction of the shack.

  Bree moved in front of Emily and Olivia. “What is it, Samson?” she whispered.

  The famous SAR dog growled low in his throat. Guttural. Deep.

  Charley joined in, flanking Samson.

  The hairs on Emily’s arms inside her jacket stood at attention. Olivia reached for Emily’s hand again and held tight.

  Underbrush cracked.

  Samson and Charley both growled and barked.

  A teenager burst through the trees, his hands in the air. “Please, I’m not gonna try anything. Don’t let the dogs bite me.” He was scruffy and dirty and shivering in a thin coat.

  “Sit.” Bree snapped her finger. Both dogs sat and stopped growling. “Who are you and what are you doing out here?”

  Emily gasped. “That’s Drake Wilson.”

  Bree never took the flashlight’s beam off him. “Emily, text your dad and tell him where we are and ask him to have Mason send someone to my house to get Drake. Put Charley’s leash on.” She kept her hand on Samson’s head as she studied Drake.

  “I’m not going to try anything. I promise,” Drake said.

&nbs
p; Emily quickly sent the text before snapping the leash onto Charley.

  “If you do, I’ll let Samson loose.”

  “No, ma’am. I won’t.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” Bree shined the light down the path.

  Emily followed Bree and the dogs. Olivia fell into step beside her. “Wonder what he’s doing out here,” she whispered.

  Bree stayed at least three feet behind Drake but must have heard Olivia. “So, what are you doing out here, Drake?”

  “I’ve been hiding in the shack. Some guys bring dates out here sometimes.” He glanced over his shoulder at Emily as he jerked his head toward Bree. “She’s right, you know. You aren’t responsible for me running away. I am.”

  “Keep going.” Bree pointed her flashlight’s beam on the path.

  Drake turned back down the trail.

  “Why did you? Run away, I mean?” Olivia asked.

  “Because the jacket was mine, and I did break into the science lab at school, but I didn’t set the fire. I ran away because I didn’t think the police would believe me.” He stopped and faced them. “You have to believe me that I didn’t set it.”

  “It doesn’t matter what we believe. Why’d you break into the lab in the first place?” Bree pointed to the path with her flashlight.

  He turned and continued walking toward Bree’s lighthouse, but spoke louder. “A woman paid me fifty bucks to break in and leave the lab door open for her.”

  “Whatever for?” Bree kept the light shining on the path.

  “She said she was a friend of Mr. Potts, our science teacher, and she wanted to leave him a surprise.”

  Bree snorted. “And you believed her?”

  Even Emily had trouble with that. “What kind of a surprise?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. She just said they’d met at a party, and she wanted to leave him a nice surprise.” He stumbled on a loose rock, then recovered. “I know it sounds stupid, but fifty bucks is fifty bucks, you know? I figured they were dating.”

  “Who was she?” Bree asked.

  “Dunno. She never gave me her name. I should have asked.”