Lost and Found

by Colleen Coble

  Emily shrugged. “Kinda.”

  “It means that we must have confidence in what we’re hoping for. Confidence that God will answer our prayers.”

  But what if God’s answer was no? What if Naomi was never found, like Grace Carter? She’d never been found.

  “I see you have doubts on that.” Grandma patted the bed beside her.

  Emily sat. “I just know that bad things happen, even to good people, Christians who love God. Like with Marika. She hurt me and Timmy.” Her throat tightened again, but she pushed on. “We were good kids. We loved God even then. But Timmy still got sick. He could have died.”

  “But he didn’t. And the good that came out of it was that Marika was punished for what she did, and your father met and fell in love with Naomi. Wasn’t that a good thing out of something bad?”

  “Yes, but . . .”

  “But what?”

  She couldn’t explain. “I don’t know. There are just bad things that happen. Even if something good comes out of it, why does the bad have to happen?”

  Grandma kissed her temple and put her arm around Emily’s shoulders. “I don’t have the answer to everything, honey, but here’s what I believe.” She paused for a second. “I believe that because we all have free will, we can step out of God’s plan for us.”

  Emily wrinkled her nose. Every time someone talked about free will, she got lost.

  Grandma grinned. “Let me use an example. Think of God like your dad. You know your dad loves you more than you can imagine, right?”

  Emily nodded. Even when Dad was mad at her, he always let her know how much he loved her.

  “So, your dad makes rules to keep you out of harm’s way, trying to protect you.”

  Again, Emily nodded. She might not always agree with Dad’s rules, but she knew he didn’t just make them to be mean.

  “But you have free will, so sometimes you don’t exactly follow his rules, do you?”

  Heat burned up the back of her neck.

  Grandma hugged her again. “It’s okay, honey. We’ve all broken our parents’ rules and got in trouble. And that’s the example. What if last night when you snuck out, Olivia had fallen and hurt her ankle . . . would you blame your dad for her injury?”

  “No.” That was a stupid question.

  “So when we break God’s plans for us, acting on our own free will, and we cause someone else to get hurt, we can’t very well blame God, can we?”

  Emily slowly shook her head. She’d never thought about it that way.

  “Something to think about, huh?” Grandma gave her another hug, then stood. “That’s just what I believe, but it makes sense to me.”

  It did, actually.

  “I’m going to put on a pot of coffee. I have a feeling your dad will be home soon and will welcome a fresh pot.” She stepped toward the door.

  “Grandma?” Emily stood.

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you.”

  Grandma smiled. “Anytime, honey.” She shut the door on her way out.

  Emily turned to the window again. This time she let hope fill her. Hope that Naomi would return to them safe and sound. Hope that Marika, or whoever was responsible for Naomi’s disappearance, would be caught. Hope that the truth about Olivia’s adoption would be uncovered and there would be a logical explanation for everything.

  Hope that life would get back to normal.

  SIXTEEN

  “I can’t believe Dad’s making me go straight home today. It’s bad enough he made me come to school with Naomi still missing.” Emily slung her arms through her backpack and slammed her locker door.

  Olivia smiled. “Well, at least you could take Inetta’s call and ask her to meet us at dismissal and fill us in on what she found out. I don’t even know where Mom and Dad put my phone.”

  “That’s the worst.”

  “I know.” Olivia walked alongside Emily. They stepped out into the school’s courtyard. It was still cold, but the sun filled the afternoon sky. “I got a lot finished on our Twinkie costumes, though, with no electronic distractions. They’re really looking cute.”

  While Emily wasn’t very crafty, Olivia could sew like a professional.

  “Hey, you two.” Inetta hopped out of her car as the girls stepped onto the asphalt of the parking lot.

  “Thanks for meeting us here and walking us home. I can’t break my grounding, or I’d really be in hot water.” Emily’s face burned at the mere thought of Dad’s reaction.

  “No problem.” Inetta fell into step with the girls. “I have a bunch to tell you both, so I’ll talk fast. And don’t interrupt, okay?”

  They nodded.

  “First, Emily. I heard from my source in the sheriff’s office that they had a lead on Marika. Sheriff Kaleva has sent the deputy to follow up, and if the lead pans out, to bring Marika in for questioning.”

  “Where—”

  “Eh, I said not to interrupt. That’s all the information I was given and that was a few hours ago. I haven’t heard anything else yet. As soon as I hear something one way or another, I’ll let you know.”

  Marika . . . could she have already been picked up and Naomi already found? No, Dad would have come and gotten her. Since the elementary school got out thirty minutes before the junior high, Grandma would have already picked up Timmy.

  “About the school. Sheriff Kaleva has gotten the phone records from Drake’s cell phone. His story of a woman calling and hiring him to break into the school is plausible, based upon the records. There is an unregistered number on the record with the same dates and estimated times as what Drake claimed. The calls originated from a prepaid phone, so they can’t find out who had the phone to make the calls.”

  They reached the intersection of Summit and Houghton and turned left. The church’s steeple atop the hill seemed to point into the heavens.

  “Right now, the investigation team is looking over the inventory of the science lab’s chemicals, checking to see if there’s any combination or something that grabs their attention. While everyone wants to believe Drake’s story, they’re having a hard time figuring out why a woman would set fire to the school. They can’t find any motive.”

  “I know you said not to interrupt, but having been there when Drake was found, I have to say, I believe him,” Emily said. He’d looked so sincere and earnest.

  “And he doesn’t have any motive to set fire to the science lab either. Not that we’ve heard,” Olivia added.

  The strong aroma of coffee seemed to seep out of the Coffee Place and cross Houghton. Inetta stared at the little shop like Sherlock eyed the steaks when Dad grilled. Emily laughed. “So they basically have nothing on the fire?”

  Inetta shook her head. “Nope. They’re hoping to see something on the inventory list that will give them a new direction. Until then, there’s nothing else for them to do.”

  Emily chewed her bottom lip as they walked, letting the information sink in. Dead ends every which way.

  “Now you, Olivia.” Inetta returned Anu Nicholls’s wave from across the street. “All the research I’ve pulled and everything an investigator friend of mine uncovered all point to the same conclusion that there’s something off about Charlotte Tarver’s adoptions. While there are several couples who sing the firm’s praises on their adoptions, there are a lot more who refuse to talk to anyone about their experience.”

  “What does that mean?” Olivia asked as they stopped at the intersection of Houghton and Kitchigami.

  Emily’s street, Cottage Avenue, was next.

  Inetta stopped and stared at the girls. “That means I’m going to be digging deeper for answers. You two don’t do a thing.” She wagged her finger at Emily. “I mean it. Don’t so much as breathe the name Charlotte Tarver. I think there’s not only something off about some of her adoptions, but I think there might be a dangerous element as well.”

  Emily swallowed.

  “I had pretty much made up my mind to at least tell your folks”—she nodded at E
mily—“then your stepmom went missing. It’s not the time. But you have to promise me you’ll let me do the investigating.”

  “Well . . . someone overheard her name and told me Charlotte had creeped her out.”

  “What?”

  Emily quickly told Inetta about their conversation with Lauri. “So it’s not just you.”

  Inetta nodded. “Again, I can’t stress how important it is to be careful. Especially for you kids.” She stared at Olivia. “Are you positive telling them you know you’re adopted would ruin their anniversary party surprise?”

  “You promised you wouldn’t say anything.” Olivia’s eyes were wider than wide.

  “I won’t. As long as you two promise not to look into Charlotte Tarver at all. Deal?” Inetta put her hands on her hips.

  “Promise,” both girls said in unison.

  “Okay.” Inetta nodded as a young woman stepped out of the Rock Harbor Inn and headed across the street to the Suomi Café. “Last thing, I have a lead on your birth mother.”

  Emily grabbed Olivia’s hand. “Mackenzie Barnes?”

  Inetta tucked a hair behind her ear. “According to my sources, she moved from Trowbridge Park about ten years ago. Her trail went dark right after that—no jobs, no bank records, no credit cards . . . absolutely nothing on her name, then three years ago, she pops up on the radar again. Employment records have her as a waitress at a diner just outside Marquette.”

  Olivia’s hand trembled against Emily’s. Could this be real? Olivia’s real mother . . . living so close?

  Emily stepped closer to her best friend and squeezed her hand. “Is that what you were doing in Marquette?”

  Inetta nodded. “I tried to find an address for her but couldn’t. I went to the diner to see if I could see her, but she wasn’t working.”

  “When will she work again? Are you going back?” Olivia’s words came out all in one long breath.

  “I didn’t ask.” Inetta patted Olivia’s shoulder. “If I’d asked for her, someone might have thought I would be trouble for her and would warn her. We could lose her entirely if she thought someone was searching for her.”

  “Why? Do you think she has something to hide?” Emily couldn’t help but wonder if Olivia’s birth mother might be a criminal, like Marika.

  Inetta smiled. “Well, obviously she does have something to hide. The adoption was closed, so she apparently didn’t announce she was having a baby and giving it up for adoption, right?”

  “We shouldn’t tell her. She didn’t want me then. She won’t want to meet me now.” Olivia’s eyes were filled with tears.

  “You don’t know that.” Emily put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her.

  “She gave me up.” Olivia sniffed and wiped her face with her jacket sleeve.

  Inetta handed Olivia a tissue from her purse. “Hey, we don’t know anything. Because it’s a closed adoption, there are no facts. For all you know, she might have regretted her decision and has been looking for you.”

  Olivia’s face brightened. “Do you think so?”

  “I don’t know, sweetie, but I’m going to try to find out. Okay?”

  Olivia nodded. “Thanks, Inetta.”

  Emily caught the time on her watch. Rats! “I’ve got to run. I’m late.”

  “I’ll text you with what I find out.” Inetta gave them both a hug. “Run, but don’t forget your promise.”

  “We won’t. Thanks.” Emily jogged toward Cottage Avenue. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She waved to Olivia.

  She opened the front door to her house and was immediately met by Charley and Sherlock, tails wagging.

  “Hi, honey. The boys and I are having a little snack of cheese and apples before dinner. Would you like to join us?” Grandma stood in the doorway, relief lining her face.

  “No, thank you. I have some homework I need to get to.” She paused, then crossed the room to plant a kiss on Grandma’s cheek. “Any news?” she whispered.

  “Not yet. Your dad called. His men’s group from church is almost finished with their search grid. I made some soup for all of them.”

  Emily nodded, her hopes dashed. “I’ll be in my room.”

  Sherlock followed her. She tossed her backpack on the floor beside her desk and flung herself across the bed. Tears wet her eyes. Sherlock jumped onto the bed and licked her face.

  God, please, please, please bring Naomi home safely. Our family is falling apart without her. Please, God. Amen.

  “Hey, can I come in?” Timmy asked through the crack in her bedroom door.

  Charley pushed through before Emily could reply, his tail wagging as he touched noses with Sherlock.

  Emily chuckled. “Guess so.”

  He shut the door behind him and sat on the bed across from her. He absentmindedly ran his fingers over the stitching on the bedding. Must be something serious he wanted to talk about. She waited for him to work out what he wanted to say.

  “I want to know what’s going on. The truth.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “The truth about what?” Had he been eavesdropping again? He had a really bad habit of it, and he was super curious—just like his big sister. If he’d heard her talking about Olivia being adopted, the secret would be out soon.

  “Not you too. I’m tired of everyone keeping secrets. What’s going on? What do you know about Naomi?” A frown filled his face. “Everybody stops talking when I’m around, so I know it’s something nobody wants me to know.”

  Sherlock and Charley rolled on the floor, pawing at each other.

  Emily chewed her bottom lip. She knew exactly what Timmy hadn’t been told . . . Marika’s involvement. Well, even if she wasn’t involved, just her being back in Rock Harbor had been kept from Timmy.

  Thinking about it now, that probably hadn’t been the best idea. If he’d seen Marika without warning, he’d have really been shocked.

  “Come on, Em, I know there’s something.” He used his puppy-dog-eyes look on her.

  “It’s not about Naomi, exactly.” She let out a sigh.

  “Just tell me.”

  “Marika.”

  His eyes widened against his quickly paling face, and it wasn’t because of any pleading look of his. “M-M-Marika?”

  Charley stopped playing with Sherlock and nudged his muzzle against Timmy’s leg. Even the dog recognized the fear in her brother’s voice.

  She reached across the bed and took hold of his hand. “No one wanted you to know because of this reaction, Timmy. The nightmares you have, the fear . . . nobody wanted you to have to go through all this.”

  He didn’t reply. Great, she’d messed up again. His nightmares would start again, and it’d be all her fault.

  “It’s okay. I’m a little shocked, yeah, but it’s okay.” He blinked several times, then his eyebrows shot up into his forehead. “Did she take Naomi?”

  Emily lifted a shoulder. “We don’t know yet. The sheriff is looking into it, but it’s very possible.” More like, very likely.

  “Okay.” He slowly began to nod. “Okay.” His voice grew stronger as he pulled his hand free from hers and petted Charley’s head until the dog was reassured enough to return to playing with Sherlock. “So what do we do about it?”

  She pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t laugh. Timmy wasn’t exactly the action-taking type. He got sick a lot and wasn’t very sturdy or active thanks to his diabetes. Then again, like her, he loved Naomi and would do anything to get her back.

  “There’s not much we can do right now.”

  His expression fell.

  “I’m not keeping anything from you. It’s not like that. I just heard that the sheriff got a lead on where Marika might be. He’s sending someone to check it out right now. So there isn’t anything for us to do.” Her conversation with Grandma flashed through her mind. “Except we can pray.”

  “I have been.” He nodded. “Do you think Marika took Naomi?”

  What could she say? The truth. “I think she’s involved somehow.”
In everything—Naomi’s disappearance and the fire. Maybe even Olivia’s adoption.

  Okay, that was really reaching. Her feelings clouded her judgment, but that’s how she felt. Who could blame her?

  “I think she did.” Timmy wore such a stern look, it reminded her of Dad.

  “Well, hopefully the sheriff will find her and question her, and then we’ll know for sure.” And hopefully Naomi would return home safe and sound.

  Timmy nodded as he stood. “Thanks for telling me.”

  “No problem.”

  He gave her a quick hug. “Let me know if you hear anything about the sheriff.”

  “I will.”

  The door creaked as he opened it, and he called Charley out with him. Sherlock whined. She dropped to the floor to scratch under the puppy’s chin.

  God, please, for all of our sakes, bring Naomi home to us.

  Her cell phone buzzed. She grabbed it from the desk and glanced at the caller ID. “Hey, Inetta.”

  “Listen, I only have a second but wanted to let you know that they found Marika.”

  Emily’s mouth went totally dry, and the butterflies went crazy in her stomach. “They have her?”

  “She’s in the back of a deputy’s car right now, being brought into the sheriff’s office for questioning.”

  “D—” She cleared her throat. “Did they find her alone?”

  “Naomi wasn’t with her. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Did she say she knew where Naomi was?”

  “All I know is that they picked her up just outside the city limits, she was alone, and they’re taking her to the sheriff’s office.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  “I’ll call when I hear something more. Bye.”

  “Be careful.” Emily set the phone back on the desk.

  Sherlock, obviously tired of being ignored, had curled up in his bed and his eyes were shut. She couldn’t call Olivia and talk the news over with her because of her best friend being grounded.

  Man, she really missed Naomi. Emily hadn’t realized just how much she needed her until Naomi wasn’t around.