Lost and Found

by Colleen Coble

  “Will the snow slow down the search?”

  “I would think so, but Dad said Bree and Samson were going with Kade. That should speed things up.”

  “At least we didn’t get a lot of snow. Just a good dusting.” Emily didn’t want to talk about the weather . . . not knowing if Naomi was indoors or out. It was better to avoid thinking about it entirely. “Do you think the ad will draw her interest?”

  “I don’t know because I don’t know her.” Olivia let out a growl-groan. “It’s so frustrating. On one hand, I hope Mackenzie sees it and applies. On the other, I hope she doesn’t. Does that make sense?”

  Emily nodded. “I get it.”

  The bell rang, and they headed into the classroom.

  The day dragged by.

  Homeroom.

  Second period.

  Third period.

  Even the clock hanging in the cafeteria moved as if peanut butter had been stuffed behind the face.

  Fourth period.

  Fifth period.

  Sixth period.

  Finally, what felt like years later, the last bell rang.

  Emily rushed to the lockers, beating Olivia by a good three minutes.

  “A bit anxious, are you?” Olivia asked as she opened her locker. Her hair shined under the hall lights.

  “You went to the girls’ room and brushed your hair, didn’t you?”

  The blush dotted Olivia’s cheeks. “It got messy after gym.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure it did.”

  Before Emily could tease her anymore, Charles rounded the corner and headed straight for them. He didn’t smile like before, and he had the most intense expression. Was whatever happened to her laptop fatal?

  “Hi,” Emily offered hesitantly as he joined her and Olivia at the locker.

  “I figured out what was wrong with your computer.” No hello, how are you, nothing but business.

  “Is it bad?” She closed her locker and leaned against the row. Maybe she could save up the money their extended family always gave her for Christmas and buy a new laptop.

  “Let’s talk in here.” He opened the door to the library and let Emily and Olivia go in first. They stopped at the table closest and set down their backpacks.

  Charles handed Emily her laptop. “You’ve picked up a track-back program.”

  She didn’t understand. “Is that a virus or something?”

  Charles smiled and shook his head, much like she did with Matthew when he asked something obvious. “No. You did a search, which loaded a specific page. The track-back program is triggered when you use the exact combination of search words and page selection. When you do, and the program is triggered, it installs itself on your system.”

  “How does it do that?” Olivia’s brow was scrunched like when she studied history. “Did she click on something and approve it?”

  He shook his head. “No, when you click on the page after using the exact right combination of search terms, it opens like a connection between your system and that page’s. That system sends this program to your system without you even being aware.”

  Sounded complicated. And wrong. “Is that even legal?”

  “Not really. Most of them are some form of spyware in that they pull certain information from your system, like your programs and stuff, to market products to you later. But this one’s a bit different. It’s really good. I had to get Mr. Jones to help me go through all the code.”

  “How’s that?” How could something illegal be really good?

  “Well, when you open the connection between the systems, it’s not pulling information from your system exactly. It’s opening a program that pulls your registered information and activates a type of global positioning satellite.”

  Olivia let out a little gasp, and Charles smiled at her, nodding like an algebra teacher when a kid finally gets how to work an equation.

  “What? I don’t understand.”

  Olivia grabbed Emily’s hand. “That means someone got your personal information, like your name, your stuff, and even your location.” She looked at Charles. “Right?”

  “Exactly right.”

  Emily’s stomach started to churn. “You mean someone got my personal details and they know where I live?”

  Charles nodded. “It’s a complicated program, one I couldn’t trace back. Neither could Mr. Jones. He suggested you take it to the police and report it as an Internet crime. While they aren’t stealing anything, the fact that the program is there and sent back such confidential information is highly suspect. That’s what Mr. Jones said.”

  “Why would anybody want my information?” She felt sick to her stomach.

  “I don’t know. But the best we could figure out is that someone is protecting some information, and you put in all the right search parameters that triggered this form of protection.” Charles lifted his backpack from the table. “That’s the best we could do for you. Mr. Jones really wanted to stress how important he thought it was for you to report this to somebody.”

  “Thanks.” Emily stared at her laptop, and Olivia and Charles said good-bye. She’d have to figure it out. What had she searched for that would trigger such a response?

  Her hands froze as chills rippled over her. Her only searches were about Charlotte Tarver and Mackenzie Barnes.

  NINETEEN

  “Hi, honey.” Grandma paused from chopping onions, tears in her eyes. Timmy and Matthew ran around the backyard, Charley and Sherlock nipping behind them. A happy scene, one that shouldn’t be disrupted when they came in and now saw Naomi still wasn’t here.

  But that was the reality they were forced to face.

  “How was school?”

  “Okay.” Emily reached for the milk and poured herself a glass.

  “Guess what?” Grandma smiled.

  “There’s word?” A bit of excitement jumped in her chest, then dimmed immediately. If there’d been anything urgent, somebody would’ve told her before now. Grandma would’ve said something as soon as she walked in.

  “Your dad called about an hour ago. One of the rangers found a makeshift campsite that hasn’t been claimed. He said Kade was hopeful it was Geoff’s. They’re waiting to see if the camper returns around dark.”

  That little surge of excitement filled her chest as she took another sip of milk. “Well, that’s promising.” God, please let this be the break in the case Sheriff Kaleva keeps talking about. Naomi’s been gone too long, and we all need her home.

  “I think so.” Grandma scraped the diced onions from the cutting board into the skillet with the hamburger meat. She turned the stove on and stirred. “But, more importantly, your dad said Anu would be by to pick you up in about fifteen minutes to take you to Bree’s, so you’d better get you and both dogs ready.”

  The excitement returned. “We’re going on a search?”

  Grandma frowned. “No. Oh, honey, did I make you think that? I’m sorry. I should have been more clear.”

  “Then why is Anu coming by to pick up me and the dogs?”

  “Something about training, and your dad will pick you up on his way home.” She wiped her hands. “So you’d better hurry and get ready. Anu should be here soon, and you don’t want to keep her waiting.”

  Emily gulped down her milk and ran to her room. She threw down her backpack and grabbed her dental floss. She grabbed her cell, dialed Inetta’s number, then put the phone on speaker.

  “Hey, Emily. I haven’t heard anything back yet.” Inetta sounded rushed. “I’ll call you as soon as I learn anything.”

  “I’m not calling about that.” Emily quickly told her about the track-back program. “I haven’t even done any historical research for Smackdown in the past few weeks.” Emily tore off dental floss from the little box sitting on her desk. “The only searches I’ve done are on Charlotte Tarver and Mackenzie.”

  “This is crazy.” Inetta’s voice was filled with worry. “Did your friend say when the program was installed on your computer?”

  Emi
ly tossed the used floss into the trash can by her desk. “No, but my computer only started going so slowly last week. That’s when I did the first searches.” That had to be the connection.

  “Have you told your dad?”

  “He’s not home from searching with Kade and the rangers yet. And I’m not about to discuss this with Grandma.”

  “I don’t blame you. Listen, would it be okay with you if I came by and picked up your laptop? I’ll have a techie friend of mine do some checking and see what he can find out. It might be that we can trace the program back to the other system.”

  “Sure, that’s fine with me.” She hoped they could, because it freaked her out that someone had lifted her personal information. “I’m about to head over to the SAR school, but I can let my grandmother know you’ll be by to pick it up.”

  “A search?”

  “No.” How she wished. “Apparently I’m going for training.”

  “Thought you were grounded?”

  “I don’t know anymore.”

  Inetta chuckled. “Hey, at least you get out of the house. Maybe this is a sign your dad’s letting you off restriction.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve got to finish this article I’m working on, then I’ll run by and pick up the laptop, if that’s okay?”

  “Sounds good. I’ll let her know. Bye.” Emily disconnected the call and stared at her closed laptop. She was afraid to even open it now. What other information did the program steal that Charles and Mr. Jones hadn’t found?

  Creepy.

  Emily grabbed the dogs’ vests and her laptop. She met Grandma at the foyer. “Oh, my friend Inetta is going to drop by later and pick up my laptop. It’s running slow, and she’s going to have one of her friends look at it.”

  All true, although there was more she wasn’t telling. And wouldn’t. “I’m going to leave it right here for her.” She set it on the table just inside the doorway, then called the dogs and attached their leashes.

  “Have fun, honey.”

  Emily headed out the front door, both dogs pulling against their leads.

  Fun? She wasn’t sure she’d have fun again until Naomi came home. As she waited for Anu, Emily walked the dogs to the side yard—and came face-to-face with Marika. Sherlock must have sensed her dismay because he pressed his nose against her leg. Charley whined and looked up at her.

  Marika looked a little pale and drawn. Her eyes were sad. “I’ve been hoping to run into you. I wanted to tell you personally that I would never hurt Naomi.”

  Emily said nothing at first. Forgive. It was harder than it sounded. “I hope not,” she said finally. “Naomi is a good person.”

  Marika nodded. “She is.” Her lips puckered a bit as if she’d bitten down on tinfoil.

  Emily took a deep breath. “I just want to tell you that I forgive you.”

  Marika straightened. “You do? Really?” Her smile widened. “That’s great! Let’s go get a mocha to celebrate.”

  “I have SAR training.” She felt lighter, happier somehow. Even if she never saw Marika again, it felt good to release the anger she’d felt.

  “Tomorrow maybe?”

  “I’m not so sure about that. Not just yet. I really need to know I can trust you first.” Her shoulders back, Emily headed for the SAR training ground.

  Bree was right. Thank you, God, for helping me do that. And thank you for being there for me even when I mess up.

  Emily so didn’t want to be here. Especially not now that she had forgiven her mother. She wanted to get a chance to tell Olivia how she felt. And besides, how could life just go on with Naomi still missing? It felt wrong. They should all be searching for her, not milling around the training ground of the Kitchigami Search-and-Rescue Training Center. And it was cold. The October wind whistled through the trees and snaked down the neck of her coat.

  She called Sherlock to her, but he was more interested in following his daddy Samson around than listening to her. “Sherlock!”

  He looked up at her stern voice, then went back to touching noses with the big dog.

  Emily sighed, and Bree laughed. “Let’s get started with some training exercises.”

  All her pent-up frustration threatened to spill out. “Why are you even here, Bree? Why aren’t you out looking for Naomi?” she burst out.

  Bree held her gaze. “There’s no scent for Samson to find, Emily. It’s futile to be rambling around in the woods when we don’t know where to look. I know it’s frustrating to have to wait for the sheriff to uncover something, but our hands are tied right now.” Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, then looked away.

  Emily felt awful. She touched Bree’s arm. “I’m sorry. I know she’s your best friend and you love her too.” Her own feelings had blinded her to how this whole thing was affecting others. All Emily could think about was how much her family missed her.

  Bree looked up again, her expression serious. “Believe me, if there was anywhere I could think to search, I would.”

  “I know. It’s just so hard to hear Matthew and Timmy cry for her.” Emily’s throat closed. “I can’t stand it.”

  Bree hugged her, and Emily buried her face in the woman’s wool coat. She wouldn’t cry. She had to be strong for Timmy and Matthew. And Dad.

  Bree released her. “Let’s think about something else for a little while. That was my whole point in asking your dad to let you come over. Even though you’ve been grounded—for good reason, I might add—I thought we could use the exercise.” She smiled and gave Emily a little push. “Take Sherlock onto the balance beam. It will be good for his muscles.”

  “He hates it.”

  “I know.” Bree smiled. “Samson did too once.”

  Reluctantly, Emily seized her puppy by the collar and dragged him toward the incline leading to the balance beam. He dug his paws into the ground and whined. “I know. But you can do it, boy.” She urged him up the board, and he wavered on the beam, then put his head down and walked across it. “Good job!”

  He gobbled up the treat she passed him. When she looked around to see Bree’s thumbs-up, she saw only Lauri standing by Charley. “Hey, where did Bree go?”

  “She got a call.”

  Emily’s pulse raced. “From the sheriff?”

  “I don’t know. She didn’t say.” Lauri pulled the collar of her navy down jacket tighter against her neck. “I’m ready for hot chocolate before the search training.”

  “Me too. I’m just not in the mood for training right now.”

  They turned to walk toward the school’s main building, Charley and Sherlock on their heels. “I’m sorry about your mom,” Lauri said.

  “Thanks. We’re going to find her.” Emily infused more confidence into her voice than she felt. What would they do if they never found Naomi? How could any of them endure it?

  She couldn’t even think about it.

  “Sure you are.” Lauri paused and patted her dog Zorro’s head. “He’s getting rusty. I haven’t trained him in forever.”

  “Is there a SAR group in Houghton?”

  Lauri nodded. “But with my new job, there just hasn’t been time.”

  “You got a new job? I hadn’t heard.”

  “I’m a junior accountant in a new start-up firm. There’s a lot to learn. The money’s good though. I just bought Zoe a little computer tablet for games for Christmas. Not that she needs anything, really. But it feels good to finally be able to buy her something fun like that.” Lauri smiled more to herself than at Emily.

  “Zoe? You mean the mayor and sheriff’s daughter?” Emily tried to recall something on the edge of her memory. She was just a kid back then, and the adults had shut up around her whenever Zoe’s name was mentioned, but there was something . . .

  Lauri nodded. “Your mom has probably mentioned I’m her birth mother.”

  Emily couldn’t hold back a gasp. “You are?”

  She eyed Lauri, who was all of maybe twenty-one or twenty-two. That would have made her sixteen when she got pregnant
with Zoe. Only two years older than Emily was now. She couldn’t even imagine that.

  Lauri sighed. “I know. I was super stupid. My parents had died, and I didn’t like my big brother Kade telling me what to do. I’ve always had a rebellious streak, and it really came out then. I can’t say it’s totally gone even now. I’m trying to be responsible, but it’s hard.”

  Emily couldn’t picture how hard that must have been for her.

  “Don’t do what I did, Emily. Listen to your dad and to God. Don’t be taken in by a guy who says he loves you. If he loves you, he’ll wait for marriage.”

  Emily’s face burned at discussing such a subject, and she focused on the ground in front of her. Her dad would kill her if she even looked at a boy right now, and maybe that was a good thing.

  “So what’s it like to have to give up a baby?” She instantly clapped her hand over her mouth and then lowered it slowly. “I’m sorry, that came out all wrong.”

  Lauri grimaced and started for the building again. “Horrible. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

  “Then why didn’t you keep Zoe? I’m sure Bree and Kade would have helped you raise her.” Bree and Kade loved kids. Surely they would’ve pitched in for their little niece.

  “I wanted to.” Lauri’s chin jutted out. “In fact, I planned to. Then I thought it through. Zoe deserved a real mommy and daddy. I was still in high school. What did I know about raising a baby? And I might have been dumb, but I was smart enough to know I couldn’t raise a baby. I was too selfish.”

  “Wow.” Not many girls would admit their faults like that. Emily looked at her with new admiration. “So how did the sheriff and Hilary end up with her?”

  “Hilary had lost babies during pregnancy several times. The chances of her having a baby were slim to none. She and Mason had a lot of love to give a child, as well as material things.”

  Lauri looked pensive. “The material things didn’t matter as much as the love though. I knew Zoe would have an amazing life with them. And she has. She’s good mannered, well-adjusted, and totally lovable.”