Nervousness tightened her stomach as she looked around but still saw no trace of either her aunt or the blue lady. The knapsack kept bouncing against her lower back, making her realize how bad she had to go pee.
Once she got down to the sidewalk and was standing under the sparse shade of a spindly maple tree, she shaded her eyes with both hands, all the while looking around.
Come on… come ON!… She’s GOT to be here somewhere! she thought, but another voice whispering in the back of her mind told her—No, your aunt isn’t here… She’s left you stranded!
Krissy’s lower lip began to tremble, and a sharp stinging filled her eyes, making the sunlit world go all blurry. The sounds of the kids seemed to fade away almost to nothing. Her chest hurt with every breath she took as she stood there, wondering what to do next.
If she could only find Billy, he might let her walk home with him, she thought, but she was sure that by now, Billy was long gone with his friends. They usually burst out of school as soon as the bell rang and ran to Art’s Variety to buy soda and candy before heading home. She wished she could catch up with him, but he probably wouldn’t even allow his “little sister” to tag along with him and his friends anyway. Sometimes he could be so nice to her, but lately, ever since he’d made friends with those boys from the neighborhood, he’d been ignoring her a lot.
Of course, she could go back into the school and wait until Aunt Cindy showed up. She knew that would be the smart thing to do because she was sure her aunt didn’t really mean to leave her abandoned like this. No, Krissy thought, trying to hold back uglier, scarier thoughts, she must be out shopping or something and just lost track of the time, or else she’s stuck in traffic somewhere.
Her other choice was to start walking. Her aunt had been driving her back and forth to school for two weeks now, so she was pretty sure she knew the way home. Anyway, there were groups of kids heading that way now, so as long as she kept up with them she should be all right. And even if she didn’t recognize where she was, she could always ask a policeman for help.
Sucking in a deep breath, she squared the knapsack between her shoulders and headed out, running until she was only a few paces behind a group of five other kids, all older. The crossing guard smiled at her as she held up traffic and signaled her across the street.
There, see? Krissy told herself. Everyone around here’s nice and friendly. There’s nothing at all to worry about.
4
“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe it worked! It fuckin’-A! worked!”
After tooting his horn and waving at Cindy, Alex drummed his hands joyfully on the steering wheel as he slowed for the turn onto State Street. He told himself to be satisfied if all that resulted from Cindy’s flat tire was a mild case of aggravation for her today. If anything more happened as a result of it, well then, fine; but he cautioned himself not to get too excited. He had to hold himself back from speeding as he drove through Portland, heading toward Pine Knoll Elementary. There was no sense getting stopped by a cop now. If what he had in mind next worked out, that would be great; but if it didn’t… well, there was always another day.
Yesterday, after spending the previous day sobering up, he had gone over to Cindy’s apartment building to have a look around. He had parked on Lincoln Street, which runs parallel behind Coyne Street. Wearing a work suit and holding a clipboard so he would look like the electric company’s meter reader, he had gone to each house on the block, all the while checking out the area. Most of the houses were packed close together, with nothing more than postage stamp-sized yards. Less than half of the houses had garages. Some of the larger buildings which, at one time must have been private residences, had obviously been turned into apartment buildings, judging by the number of cars parked in most of the driveways. It was dangerous, he knew, to be sneaking around like this. He could see Cindy’s car parked in her driveway, so he knew she was home; but even if she didn’t notice him, someone else might and call the police. But he just wanted to get a quick lay of the land.
Behind Cindy’s apartment building was a garage that looked too decrepit to use. One wall sagged inward and was supported with rotten, unpainted wood. He didn’t see much inside the building from the quick glance he got through the spider web-encrusted window. A footpath went around behind the garage to Lincoln Street. Alex studied it for a moment, just in case he had to come this way to get away from the building fast some time.
After pretending to check the electric meters on Cindy’s building, he went over beside her parked car. On the ground by the garage, as if it had been placed there just for him to see, was a bent, rusty nail. Thinking quickly, he picked it up and then, bending down while pretending to be tying his shoelace, tried to wedge the point in between the treads of her tire. It kept falling out, so he finally gave up on it, but he had the idea now. He would stake her out and follow her around town. When and if the chance occurred, say when she was parked at the mall or whatever, he would drive a nail or screw into her tire so she’d get a blowout. Satisfied now that he had a plan, he straightened up and dusted off his clothes, then continued his leisurely stroll down the block back to where he had parked his van around the corner.
Then this morning, he had followed her out to Fort Williams. Once he was sure she was out of sight down by the water, he had driven a nail into her right rear tire and placed another one at an angle under it so it would go into the tire as soon as she backed out of her parking space.
And by Jesus, it had worked! He had been surprised and angry as hell to see her drive away without a problem, but one of the nails must have worked its way into the tire. Why else would she be pulled over off the road and looking so fucking pissed?
Yes-sir-ee, Alex thought joyfully, things just might be turning his way.
He drove down Forest Avenue, jiggling with impatience at each red light, and then turned left onto
Coyne Street. He drove up to Beacon and turned right onto Prospect Street. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was two o’clock. School must have let out now, and Krissy—poor, little Krissy!—would be left standing there, wondering when her aunt was going to show up. A wide smile tightened Alex’s face as he approached the twenty-five mile an hour school zone.
His foot touched the brakes, and he almost pulled over when, up ahead, he saw three boys racing down the sidewalk. Even at a distance, one of them looked like Billy, and as they drew closer, Alex saw his son for the first time since he’d been kidnapped from him. Again, though, just like when he had first seen Krissy, he was filled with anger instead of longing and love. This was the little son-of-a-bitch who could have called him or tried to get away from his aunt if he had really wanted to! But no, apparently he wanted to be with his Aunt Cindy more than he wanted to be with his real father. Well then, by Jesus, the little brat was going to suffer for it once he got ahold of him.
But right now wasn’t the time. Billy was with friends, and there was no way Alex was going to risk being seen by any witnesses. He took a good look at both of the boys with Billy, just in case he needed to find them again, and drove on.
“I’ll be back for you, you little shit,” he whispered as he watched the boys fade in the rearview mirror. “Maybe after I get your little sister, huh?”
He laughed and squeezed the steering wheel tightly when he saw the crossing guard up ahead, her hand raised as she signaled for him to stop. For a few seconds he was so focused, directing all of his hatred at the crossing guard, that he almost didn’t see Krissy as she scooted across the intersection a few steps behind a group of kids. Alex swore under his breath, knowing that he would have to turn around, but he told himself not to worry. He knew where she lived, and he knew that her aunt wasn’t going to be home… at least not for a while.
Hopefully, he would have enough time.
He whistled a tune between his teeth as he waited for the crossing guard to allow him to move. He drove straight across the intersection, turned around in the school driveway, and came back to where the
crossing guard was again holding up traffic, this time so the fleet of loaded school buses could move out.
“Hey, no Sweat… no sweat at all,” Alex whispered.
He took a shallow gulp of air and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
“There’s nothing to worry about… I’ve got plenty of time to catch up with her.”
5
Krissy stopped in her tracks the instant she spotted the blue lady, standing motionlessly underneath a large maple tree on the corner of Prospect and High Streets. Her feet appeared to be suspended several inches above the ground, and her body was shimmering in the flickering interplay of shadow and light like heat waves rippling up from a sun-baked road. She was staring straight at Krissy, her face radiating blue light as she raised one arm and, with a wide, sweeping gesture, pointed down the street in the opposite direction from which Krissy had been heading.
“No… no, tha—that’s not the way to go,” Krissy said in a high-pitched voice that almost broke with fright.
She glanced nervously over her shoulder and watched as the group of kids she had been following turned a corner and disappeared from sight, not even noticing that she had lagged behind.
“I… I know you probably won’t even talk to me,” Krissy said, her voice still barely above a whisper, “but if you’re trying to get me to go that way, I know it’s not the way my aunt goes when she drives me home.”
Sawing her teeth back and forth over her lower lip, Krissy mentally debated what to do next. She watched the luminous figure as it continued to point down the street, and once or twice, she thought she heard her name being whispered as softly as a passing breeze.
“No, I can’t do that,” Krissy said, shaking her head firmly. She was positive she was supposed to go straight down this street until she came to a stop sign; then she had to turn left and walk until she came to the street their apartment building was on. She knew she shouldn’t start wandering around Streets she didn’t know—she might get lost.
As she stared blankly back at the blue lady, the air around Krissy seemed to change. A sharp, stinging smell filled her nostrils, and a faint electrical current stirred the wispy hairs on her forearms. The back of her neck felt like someone was touching her with cold, clammy hands. She shivered even as she told herself that she didn’t have to be afraid of the blue lady. In fact, although she hardly ever mentioned her to her aunt anymore, she had actually come to accept the blue lady as part of her life now. Still, a trembling chill raced through her when she saw the translucent figure raise her other hand and slowly beckon for Krissy to follow.
“No, I—I can’t,” Krissy said, and then her throat closed off. She had to lick her lips and swallow before she could speak again. “I know that’s not the right way, and I’m not gonna come with you!”
She stamped her foot down hard as if she really meant what she said and clenched her hands into fists, but the hazy figure grew more insistent in its motions, waving its transparent arm almost angrily. The blue glow surrounding her seemed to throb with crackling energy.
Krissy had no choice but to obey. Almost against her will Krissy started moving forward, the toes of her shoes dragging on the asphalt sidewalk with a chattering scuff.
This is a big mistake! That’s not the right way, she thought, but she continued to move slowly forward as if she were drifting in a dream. Her eyes remained wide open and staring at the blue lady so much they hurt, but by the time she got to the street corner, the blue lady had faded from sight, thinning out like a passing shadow until she was simply no longer there.
Krissy paused beneath the maple tree for a moment. Her legs felt all rubbery, and she had to lock her knees to keep from falling down. She looked longingly back the way she had come, but then, for some reason, she felt a sudden jolt of panic and ducked quickly behind the maple tree, flattening herself against the rough bark. Her breath caught in her throat when she looked and saw a battered white van making its way slowly down the Street.
“Oh, my God!” Krissy whispered.
A wave of dizziness swept over her and almost dragged her under.
She couldn’t be sure, but it sure as heck looked like the same van that had been outside on the street in front of their apartment building a few nights ago.
Her throat constricted when Krissy remembered the face she had seen—Had she really seen it?—squashed flat against the window as the man in the van stared up at her. She remembered—or imagined—how his face had glowed as white as bone in the harsh glare of the streetlight. Panting rapidly, and close to crying, she hugged the tree trunk and cautiously peeked around the edge with only one eye open, tracking the van as it moved slowly down the street, heading toward the stop sign.
Oh, my God! Was he following me? she thought.
Her panic was as sharp and stinging as the cold edge of a razor blade.
Well, at least he didn’t see me… not so far, anyway!
She had no idea what to do next as she looked frantically around her. The bright sunlight made the street and the houses lining it vibrate with a scary intensity. Colors were so bright they hurt her eyes as they blended together like smeared paint. She didn’t know any of the neighbors, and no matter how scared she was, she certainly had enough street sense to know that she couldn’t trust just anyone who might happen by. She certainly couldn’t trust the man in that van!
So what was she going to do? Fear and indecision paralyzed her for several seconds.
Finally, realizing that she had no other options, she pushed herself away from the tree and started running down the street in the direction the blue lady indicated.
Who cares if I get lost? she thought as the wind tore into her face and burned her lungs. She wasn’t even aware that she was whimpering out loud with fear, but she didn’t stop running, and she didn’t care about the tears that were streaming down her face. All she knew was she had to get away from that man and make sure he didn’t see her.
Realizing that she had to get off the street in case he circled around the block looking for her, Krissy cut across somebody’s lawn to their backyard. Slowing her pace, she started wending her way between buildings, always keeping houses and hedges and gardens between her and the street. She was pretty sure she was still heading in the right direction to take her home, but time and again she found herself wishing that the blue lady would show up again and show her which way to go.
6
Cindy was close to tears as she drove away from the school after checking at the principal’s office and not finding Krissy there. She had tried not to pull a scene in there, but she had wanted to scream at Mrs. Castine for allowing a little girl to leave without someone making sure she had a ride. Now she was afraid that the principal was going to notify the police in spite of her reassurances that Krissy must be home by now. She left with a promise to call to let her know whether or not Krissy had made it home safely. Cindy doubled the speed limit as she drove down Prospect Street, all the while scanning both sides of the road looking for Krissy.
It would have been nice to think that as soon as Krissy had seen no one was there to pick her up, she had started walking home, maybe with Billy and his friends; but as she drove, Cindy couldn’t keep herself from thinking the absolute worst—that the police had finally found them, had picked up Krissy and Billy after school and had them in custody, and now were just waiting for her to show up at the apartment so they could slap the handcuffs on her.
She groaned aloud when she glanced at her watch and saw that it was a quarter of three.
“Jesus, please be there! … Please be there!” she chanted over and over.
Her hands were hurting from the tight grip she maintained on the steering wheel. As she turned onto Coyne Street and floored the accelerator, her heart was pounding painfully in her chest. Halfway down the street she could see the apartment building, but her view of the front steps was blocked by the spray of uncut hedge. She was focused so intently on the apartment building, hoping—praying—to see
a hint of motion in the upstairs windows that she didn’t notice the battered white van that had appeared at the other end of the street, hesitated for a moment in the middle of the road, and then backed around into a driveway and driven away.
Her tires squealed loudly on the pavement as she pulled into her driveway. She slammed on the brakes so hard she was thrown forward and bumped her chest against the steering wheel, but she didn’t notice the pain as she yanked the keys from the ignition, opened the car door, and jumped out, hitting the ground running.
She stopped short in the middle of the lawn and, looking up at the living room windows, shouted, “Krissy! Billy! Are you guys home?” She didn’t care who heard her or if they recognized the panic in her voice.
But there was no reply.
A muffled silence seemed to have settled over the neighborhood. The only sounds Cindy could hear were her heavy breathing and the feathery pulse, whooshing in her ears.
No, they couldn’t be up there because I locked the door and neither one of them has a key!
Taking a quick sip of air, she darted around to the front of the building and raced up the steps, taking them two at a time. She was fumbling to get out the key to the front door when she sensed more than saw someone behind her. She couldn’t stop herself from screaming when she turned and saw Krissy, crouched at the far corner of the porch behind one of the rusty lounge chairs. For a blinding instant, Cindy actually doubted that the little girl was even there.
“Krissy…?” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
The little girl was hunched over with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her face looked ghastly white and Cindy could see that her hair was hanging in sweaty dumps down around her neck. There was a wide smudge of dirt over one eye and a scratch on her left cheek where blood had beaded up like tiny rubies.
“Krissy… honey.”
Cindy took a few steps forward with her arms outstretched but was surprised when Krissy sat there perfectly still, staring up at her as if she had no idea who she was.
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