by Willow Rose
"I have no idea. Honestly, sweetie. I put Victor to bed around eight, then came down here and fell asleep watching Shooting Star. There was this kid who could sing exactly like Adele. It was really awesome, but then it got boring and I dozed off."
I looked at the bloodstains and realized they continued through the house towards the stairs. I even saw blood smeared on the railing of the stairs. I was about to walk up, when I heard a voice coming from outside the door. In came Maya and my mother, looking cheerful and happy.
"Wow, it's a party in here?" my mother asked. She was a little tipsy.
Maya laughed. "We met downtown and shared a cab," she said. "What's going on here?"
"There’s blood on the floor," my dad said.
My mom blew raspberries, then laughed. "Blood. That sounds like something from one of your books, Emma. It's probably just mud or ketchup. Maybe Victor spilled ketchup on the floor? You have to relax, sweetheart. You're way too tense. Loosen up a little will you?"
"As soon as I make sure Victor is alright, I will," I said and stormed up the stairs.
54
February 2014
I HAD A BAD feeling about this whole situation as I approached Victor's room. Something had happened to Victor. I just knew it. I sensed it.
I grabbed the handle and opened the door to his room. My heart stopped. Everything inside of me froze.
He wasn't there. Victor wasn't in his bed.
"Victor?"
I rushed in and checked everywhere in the room, calling out his name.
"Victor?"
His bed was messed up. It wasn't right. He always made his bed very neatly when he wasn't in it. So, he had been sleeping in it. But the covers were on the floor. The sheet was messed up. Something was really wrong here. Frantically, I searched his room, under the bed, his closet, everything, but found no trace of him. My heart was racing heavily as I tried to think of where he could be.
"The bathroom."
I ran into the hall and opened the door. "Victor?" I asked, my voice shaking heavily with angst.
"Victor? Are you in here?"
But there was no answer. He wasn't on the toilet. I looked at the shower curtain. It was pulled aside. Could he be hiding behind it? Maybe he had a bad dream? Maybe something had scared him?
"Victor?"
I was about to grab the curtain when a voice coming from the door stopped me. It was Maya.
"Mom?"
I looked at her. She could see the fear written on my face. It scared her. "What's going on, Mom?"
"I…I can't find Victor."
"What?"
"He’s…he’s not in his room and he's not in here either. Do you have any idea where he can be?" I asked. "Does he maybe have a secret hide-out I don't know about?"
"Only the yard. He loves to play there, but you know all about that. You think he might have gone into the yard at night?"
"I don't know. Right now, I'm willing to believe anything. I'm so scared, Maya. I'm so afraid that something might have happened to him. I mean there was blood on the floor in the living room for Christ sake. Was that his blood? What the heck is going on here?"
Maya grabbed my hand and pulled me closer, then she hugged me. "Mom you have to relax. It won't help anyone if you panic."
"You're right, sweetie. I'm so sorry. I just feel so…"
"Helpless?"
I nodded. That was exactly how I felt. It was the most awful feeling in the world. As a mother, I was used to always knowing what to do. But this time, I didn't. I was so struck by fear over what might have happened to him that I could hardly move.
"He's so fragile, Maya. The world will tear him apart if he’s left alone out there. I have to find him."
"Let's go downstairs and talk to the others. Then, we'll send out a search team," Maya said with great authority. It would have made me very proud if I hadn't been so paralyzed by fear.
She grabbed me around the shoulder and, together, we left the bathroom and went down the stairs. My mom and dad were arguing downstairs when we got down.
"Can't you ever just take anything seriously, Ulla," my dad said. I could hear a deep anger in his voice. It came from years of frustration that finally was allowed to come to the surface.
"Oh come on," my mother said. "Emma is always so tense. She gets it from you, you know. You both need to learn how to relax. She’s always fussing about the boy. She's always so tense about him. No wonder he’s weird and can't do anything on his own. Boys don't need you to fuss about them. They need to be independent and stand on their own two feet. He’s fine, I tell you."
As my mom spoke the last words, she turned and looked into my eyes. Then she blushed.
"Emma…I…"
"He's not fine, Mom. Victor is not fine at all. He's gone."
55
September 2007
ALEXANDRA COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW fast the three days went by. It had been the best three days of her life, she thought, when she drove up in front of Hummelgaarden on the last day to pick up Samuel.
She looked at Olivia in the back seat. She was staring at the car door with great anticipation. Her legs and arms were kicking wildly with expectation.
"He'll be here in a minute, sweetie. I know you're looking forward to seeing him. So am I."
It was the truth. For the first time in many years, Alexandra had actually enjoyed her son's company. He had been so sweet and gentle to be around on all three days of his counseling and Alexandra was so sad it was all over now. She was worried that everything was going to go back to what it was before. No…worried was too mild a word. She was petrified.
She studied Olivia's smiling eyes while they both waited for Samuel to step inside the car. In the three days, the two of them had managed to build up something, a relationship of some sort that Alexandra had never even dared to hope for between the two of them. Samuel had played with his baby sister, laughed, and even kissed her. It had been quite extraordinary.
But now what? Now that it was all over, what was going to happen next? She wanted to ask the counselor, but knew she had to go through the social worker first. Alexandra wanted to schedule an appointment for her to go see him and talk to him and know what it was he had done to change Samuel so drastically. She wanted tricks if he had any. Or just plain good advice. He was the first person ever to have reached Samuel and managed to change his ways.
But Alexandra wasn't even sure they would ever let her have an appointment with the counselor. It turned out to be a lot harder than she expected when she had called earlier in the day to talk to Marianne Moeller about it. She wanted to ask her if it was okay if she walked inside Hummelgaarden today to pick up Samuel and maybe chat a little with the counselor that Samuel had been with. She never thought it would cause a problem, but apparently it did. Marianne Moeller had told her in many harsh words that Hummelgaarden was a very busy place and they couldn't have all kinds of parents running around up there wanting to chat with the counselors. She would only be disturbing and upsetting all the patients. They weren't comfortable with strangers. So, no. She wasn't allowed to go inside.
Alexandra had her doubts as to whether they would make her an appointment, but how else would she get to talk to the man? He apparently knew something Alexandra could use.
"We have very strict regulations that we have to follow," Marianne Moeller had said.
Alexandra didn't care much for all their regulations and rules. All she wanted was a little help. Was that too much to ask? But the social worker had suddenly started talking about her not being cooperative enough and telling her she didn't care for her attitude and that was when Alexandra knew she had to hang up before she said anything she would later regret.
Now, she spotted Samuel as he came out of the front door. The tall male counselor was with him. Now they were shaking hands. The counselor pulled him closer and gave him a warm hug. Alexandra almost cried when she saw it. Samuel was smiling and hugging the man back.
What was it that man could do
?
Alexandra couldn't just sit here and watch. Here was this man, so close to her car and all she wanted was to talk to him. He was, after all, outside the building, so she wasn't overstepping any rules and regulations was she?
Alexandra didn't care. While Samuel and the counselor talked, she jumped out of the car, grabbed Olivia from the backseat and walked up towards them with a smile, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world. She walked straight up to them and reached out her hand towards the counselor.
"Hi. I'm Alexandra, Samuel's mom. We spoke on the phone a couple of days ago. You must be Ole Knudsen. I just want to thank you for all you've done for my son. Whatever it is you've been doing, it has changed his life and ours completely in only three days."
Ole nodded. "Well it has been my pleasure. Samuel is a good boy. He just needs to believe in himself more, believe that he can control that anger and that he is loved. He has a great family. He has told me so many wonderful things about you."
Alexandra almost burst into tears. She could hardly believe it. "Really? He said nice things about us?"
"Yes. Samuel is a very sensitive boy. He has a lot of love for the people around him. He just needs to reach into that place deep inside of here," he said and pointed at Samuel's heart. "With the right tools, he will one day be able to control that temper."
"And what tools are they?" Alexandra asked hopefully.
"Well that'll probably take a lot of counseling to help him figure out exactly what will help him. I will recommend in his report that he'll need to start a weekly session here."
Alexandra's face lit up. "That would be so great. He would love that, wouldn't you, Samuel?"
"The only problem is the waiting list," Ole said. "It might be six months to a year before we can start."
Alexandra's heart dropped. "Six months to a year? That's a really long time. He might forget everything you've taught him by then. What if he gets himself into trouble while we wait?"
"Well, I certainly hope he won’t. But I have thought of a solution, one that might help ease the wait."
"What is that?"
"I don't know if Samuel told you, but I used to be a professional swimmer."
"Yes, he told me that."
"Great. Samuel has told me he would like to start swimming on a regular basis. I have talked to him about the importance of exercise and he thinks swimming is the perfect choice for him. I think so too. So, I was wondering if you'd mind me teaching him, let's say once a week? I could take him to the local indoor pool and train him. Then maybe we could talk for a little while afterwards. I can't call it counseling, since I'm not allowed to counsel outside of work, but I'm guessing he might enjoy talking a little to an old friend or a swim teacher. What do you say? Would that be something you would allow him to do?"
Alexandra stared at the tall man. She couldn't believe what he was saying. Could this be true? Was he really being understanding and offering her and Samuel help?
"As I said, I really believe he is a good boy," Ole said. "I really think I will be able to help him. And you."
"Mom?" Samuel said. "Can we do it?"
For the first time in years, Alexandra smiled from ear to ear. Tears were rushing down her cheeks as she spoke.
"Well, of course, sweetie. Of course you can do it."
56
February 2014
I CALLED MORTEN AS soon as we’d searched the house and the yard and still couldn't find Victor. I didn't care that our evening ended badly or that he might still be mad at me.
"I need your help," I said. "Victor is missing. I don't know what to do."
"Take it easy, Emma. Stay where you are. I'll be right there."
Three minutes later, he stormed through my front door. "Emma. Are you alright? How are you?"
"I'm scared," I said. "I found blood on the living room floor. I'm afraid something bad happened to him. Something really bad."
"Let's not jump to conclusions here," Morten said and hugged me. "Now let's go through everything. Could he have wandered off on his own?"
I shook my head in despair. "I don't know. Who knows what goes on in his head? But no, he has never done anything like that before."
"Did he seem upset tonight in any way?" Morten asked my dad.
My dad shrugged. "I…no, not really. He was very quiet and didn't say much, but that's not that unusual. I don't know."
"You told me he’s been having trouble in school lately. Maybe that could have affected him in some way?" Morten asked.
"Maybe," I said, frantically searching my brains for answers. "But what about the blood? How do you explain the blood?"
"I think I better make some calls," Morten said and grabbed his phone. "We'll have to form a search team. You better call anyone you know as well."
Half an hour later, the street was packed with people, some in uniform others just friends and neighbors who wanted to help. Morten directed them and they divided the city and the forest and beach-area up between them. In groups, they started walking hand in hand, calling Victor's name.
I was moved by the turnout. Most of these people hardly even knew us. Maya had joined one of the groups. Jack was coordinating the team going towards town, while Sophia couldn't leave her children, but hugged me tightly and asked if there was anything else she could do for me.
"It's okay, Sophia. I have plenty of people to help me out. But thanks."
"Okay. But let me know, alright?"
"You stay at the house, Emma," Morten said and kissed me on the forehead. "In case he finds his way back home on his own."
I nodded and bit my lip. Morten looked into my eyes. "We will find him. Don't you worry, okay? Everything will be fine."
I cleared my throat. "Okay."
I watched as Morten and a group of policemen with dogs walked towards the beach. My dad put a hand on my shoulder. "Come on inside, sweetie. Your mom will make some coffee."
I put my head on my dad's shoulder and let him hold me tight while we walked back to the kitchen where my mother had started filling the pot with water. "I'll make the real stuff this time," she said with a smile.
"Is there anything else we can get you?" my dad asked.
I shook my head. "No. But thanks. Coffee will be great."
It was strange sitting in the kitchen with both my mom and dad quietly sipping coffee. I couldn't remember when they had last been in the same room. I couldn't remember when I had last been together with the both of them. And they weren't even arguing anymore. If it hadn't been under these circumstances, I think I would have enjoyed it. Apparently, they couldn't agree on much, but when it came to taking care of their daughter, they managed to hold aside their differences. It felt good to have them with me. It was comforting.
Three hours later and still no news. Morten had called a couple of times to make sure I was alright and to hear if anyone else had called back with news, but there was none. Another hour went by and slowly most of the search teams came back. Tired and long faces appeared in our driveway and we served them coffee and sandwiches as a thank you. They were sad and some even tried to apologize for not having found my son.
"Well, you did all you could," I told them with a heavy voice before they went home to get some sleep.
Morten and his group came back half an hour later and, by then, all the other search teams had come back and left again with no results. I was sitting in the hallway with my back against the wall hiding my face in my hands when he entered.
"Emma?"
I looked at him with the last ray of hope in my eyes, but as I looked into his eyes, I knew he hadn't found Victor either.
"I'm sorry," he said. "We searched all the beaches and the dunes and the plantation behind it, but still nothing. We'll continue in the morning, but I have to let my team get some rest."
"Of course," I said with a thick voice.
"You should get some sleep too. I'll stay here with you, if you like."
I looked up at him. "I would very much like t
hat, thank you."
57
February 2014
NATURALLY, WE DIDN'T SLEEP at all. Morten and I lay close together in the bed, holding each other in the darkness, while I kept wondering where Victor could be. There was no way he had left the house on his own. I was almost certain of that. At six in the morning, I turned the light on and looked at Morten.
"I think I know who took him," I said.
Morten rubbed his eyes. "Who?"
"The Caring Killer, of course. Why didn't I think of that before? I thought he was too hurt to have anything to do with this, since Sophia shot him, but what if he wasn't badly hurt? What if he managed to get himself into the house and grab Victor? That would explain the blood."
Morten shook his head. "What? Could you go back a little? The Caring Killer was here? And you didn't tell me? And Sophia did what? Was that her emergency?"
"Yes. I promised to not tell you. He tried to attack her tonight in his ninja costume and she shot him. He ran off and that's when she called me. Oh my God. He must have run across the street to my house. He must have come into my yard and into the house through the porch and snuck upstairs to take Victor!"
"So Sophia has an illegal gun at her house…that was why you couldn't tell me, huh? It was a really stupid choice to keep it a secret. I mean, the killer was here on your street. I could have caught him, for crying out loud." Morten calmed himself down by taking a deep breath. "Where did she hit him?"
"In the shoulder."
"Well, I guess he could have continued even if he was shot in the shoulder. Being shot in the shoulder isn't fatal. So you think he took Victor to get back at her or something? What was he even doing in Sophia's house?"
"I have no idea. I have completely lost track of why he does anything. In the beginning, it was all calculated and he seemed so intelligent, now it seems more coincidental. Maybe you’re right, after all. Maybe he is just another maniac. Maybe he went in the wrong house when he attacked Sophia? I mean, he’s been using me all this time, so maybe it was his plan to attack me instead?"
