Held (Gone #2)

by Claflin, Stacy

  Chad looked at them. "What's going on? Is it the phone?"

  Fleshman shook his head. "We don't know what to make of that, but that's now why we asked you to come down here."

  Chad's face clouded over. "Why are we here then?"

  Alyssa noticed that the three policemen's faces were solemn. "Is something wrong?"

  Anderson nodded and then sat down next to Alyssa. "We needed to see you right away because it's going to be everywhere soon."

  "What?" Alyssa demanded. "What is it?"

  Looking back and forth at them, Anderson cleared his throat. "A body has been found."

  Alyssa gasped. Tears filled her eyes and spilled out. She shook. He had to be lying or wrong, or both.

  Reynolds knelt next to her. "No one knows if it's her. The body—we can't identify the face."

  Chad stood up, letting go of Alyssa's hand. "What does that mean?" He was practically shouting.

  Fleshman walked in front of him and spoke in a soothing tone. "The body was found in Clearview. We haven't seen it, but it's coming directly here to rule out it being Macy. Our team will check it against dental records and we'll move on from there."

  "But what does that mean?" Chad repeated.

  Alyssa felt cold, and she couldn't stop shaking. "Wh…when will we know?"

  "That's our top priority, but at the same time, we're going to quadruple-check every step of the process. Another thing: just because the body can't be identified by the face that doesn't mean that we can't use other markers. Does she have any identifying marks that would help? Birth marks? Tattoos or piercings?"

  Unable to deal with the thought of Macy's body, Alyssa put her face into her hands, sobbing. Someone put a hand on her shoulder and she was vaguely aware of Chad speaking.

  They had to be wrong—they just had to be. It couldn't be Macy. No. She was safe somewhere, even though they didn't know where.

  The air felt like it was crushing Alyssa from all sides. She struggled to breathe. What if it was Macy? Was that why they had found next to no clues up until now? She gulped for air, still shaking.

  Something touched her back. It was probably Chad's hand, but instead of being a comfort, it felt like he was pushing her further into the suffocating nothingness around her.

  Alyssa jumped up, looking around the room. She couldn't focus on anything, barely even aware that she was at the police station. Oxygen was lacking, and she felt light-headed.

  The others surrounded her. They appeared to be talking, but she couldn't hear anything over the sounds of her fear. She threw her hands out in front of her.

  Was someone screaming?

  It was her.

  Tears ran down her face, pouring like never before. They ran down her neck, drenching her shirt's collar. Chad's arms wrapped around her, and she fought him.

  Alyssa may have still been screaming, but she couldn't tell. She had to get out of there and find Macy. Why hadn't they looked harder?

  She wouldn't be able to go on if Macy was…she couldn't even think the word.

  Officer Reynolds was inches from her. His mouth was moving, but she still couldn't hear anything. They were wrong—whatever body they found, it wasn't her child. It belonged to someone else.

  Her stomach and chest felt like they were going to simultaneously explode and implode. She gave into the weakness overtaking her, and she went limp in Chad's arms.

  She was vaguely aware of him readjusting himself, trying to keep hold of her. Soft, rich oxygen filled her lungs and the sounds of talking around her filled her ears. Chad held her tightly, running his hands over her hair.

  The sounds of speaking slowly formed into words she could comprehend. Alyssa couldn't make enough sense of them to understand what they were saying.

  She continued to suck in the air around her, filling her lungs, and starting to feel more normal. She still wasn't getting enough air.

  Random thoughts ran through her mind. Everything from memories of Macy as a toddler to her last status update, saying that she'd run away. Images from news broadcasts, pondering every possibility—many of them had given her plenty of nightmares.

  Someone said her name. Alyssa looked up, unsure of who was speaking to her. The room had stopped spinning and the sounds around her were natural. She still couldn't process what anyone was saying. Facts and images from Macy's disappearance ran through her mind, taking up most of her awareness.

  Her mind felt like a computer, trying to make sense of what she knew. She was trying to find any clue that could prove her daughter was alive and well, even if they couldn't get to her.

  Alyssa looked up, finally able to find her voice. "Wait. Our dentist's office burned down. It was on the news."

  Fleshman raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "That was your dentist?"

  "I'll look into it," Anderson said. "I'll see if they stored their files online. You never know around here."

  "You mean we might never know if it's Macy?" Chad asked, sounding agitated.

  "There are other ways. DNA testing would be possible. But we always go for the simplest solution. Usually facial recognition is where we start, but since we can't do that…."

  Alyssa put her hands back over her face, tuning them out. Was it possible the girl found in Clearview was Macy? That was pretty far away and she couldn't imagine her daughter going there—there was nothing there. Unless that was where the boy was from, if he even existed.

  She heard something about Alex and looked up again. "What about Alex?"

  Reynolds looked at her. "We can pick him up from school for you if you'd like."

  "Why?"

  "So you can tell him before he hears it from school. All the kids have the Internet on their phones. All it takes is one kid hearing the news and it'll spread to everyone."

  "No." Alyssa stood. "He doesn't need to be picked up by the police. As much as we appreciate everything you've done, he doesn't need it. Kids are cruel. They'll jump to the worst conclusion and run with it. He's been through enough. We'll get him."

  "Are you okay to drive?" Anderson asked. "You just found out startling news."

  "I have to be there for Alex. We can't let him hear about this at school, by some little jerk who just wants to see him react." Alyssa stood tall, trying to prove that she was able to get her son from school.

  Chad took her hand in his, still holding her close. "She's right. We'd better call Valerie too, so she can decide whether or not to pick up Zoey."

  Still shaking, Alyssa squirmed out of Chad's hold and took out her cell phone. She tried to dial Valerie's number, but wasn't able to keep her finger steady.

  Detective Fleshman gave her a concerned look. "If you can't even make a call, I don't want to send you anywhere in a car."

  "I'll do it." Chad snatched the phone out of Alyssa's hands. He swiped around the screen. "Valerie? This is Chad." He explained the situation to her and then handed it back to Alyssa when he was done. "See? We're fine to pick up the kids. I'm fine to drive."

  "How soon until the news finds out?" asked Alyssa.

  Reynolds gave her an apologetic look. "Not long. They're vultures."

  In the car, Alyssa asked if they were picking up Zoey too. "In there, you said we were picking up the kids."

  He turned right. "Yeah. Valerie can't get away from work, so she said she would call the school and give permission for us to get her."

  "I'm surprised she trusts us."

  Chad put his hand on her knee. "You know she didn't mean the things she said the other day. We were all freaked out, and especially after everything we've gone through lately with Macy."

  Alyssa's eyes filled with tears again. "And now this. Do you think it's her?"

  "Honestly, I think it's a long shot. Clearview? Do you know how many kids go missing every day? A lot."

  "But if she was taken against her will, she could have gone anywhere. By now she could be on the other side of the world." Alyssa's voice wavered so much she couldn't continue.

  "That's just
it. She could be anywhere—why Clearview?"

  "Do they know what happened to the girl? I was too upset to listen to everything they said."

  "Not until they do the autopsy. Some jogger found her." He pulled into the school and parked in the lot that adjoined the high school and middle school. "Do you want me to get both of them? Or should we split up?"

  "I'll get Alex. I need to see my baby. I need to know at least one of my children is safe and sound."

  "All right. I'll get Zoey." He gave her a kiss. "Don't worry. That body isn't Macy. She's safe—I can feel it. We'll get her back, alive and well."

  Alyssa gave him a doubtful look. He didn't know any more than anyone else. She pulled down the sun visor to check the mirror. She hadn't put on any makeup so there was nothing smeared across her face from crying. Her hair was messed up, so she attempted to fix it before getting out of the car.

  As she walked to the middle school campus, she went over what to say to Alex. He would know something was wrong since he was being picked up so early. He was probably only in his first or second class of the day.

  How would they ever tell their son the news about the body? He was as upset as she was about Macy just being gone. She knew how he was feeling without him saying a word. It had been that way since he was a baby.

  For some reason, Macy had always been harder to read. If Alex had been the one planning to run away, she would have figured it out. Why had it always been so difficult with Macy? It wasn't like they had a bad relationship, but it didn't come as naturally as with Alex.

  Why hadn't she tried harder? If she would have put out more effort to figure Macy out, even though it was challenging at times, would Macy have disappeared? Could she have done something to prevent all of this heartache?

  When she got to the office, the secretary told her that Alex was already on his way.

  "Why? Is he okay?"

  She nodded. "The detective called and said that you would be on your way. You know, my heart aches for everything you guys are going through. Our family prays for you guys every night. I don't know how you guys do it."

  Tears stung at Alyssa's eyes. "Me neither."

  Lunch

  A bell sounded from somewhere outside. It reminded Macy of a church bell tower. The sounds of pencils being set on desks surrounded her, followed by the scuffle of chairs pushed under desks. A light murmur of conversation filled the room, surprising her. It was the first time she had heard most of them speak.

  She put her pencil down and got up. She followed the kids outside and looked around for Rebekah. Where was she? Was she supposed to come back? Macy wasn't sure she remembered how to get back to their house. They had taken several turns and everything looked the same to her.

  "Are you all right?" asked Luke. "You look lost."

  "I don't see Re—Teacher. I thought she would walk home with me."

  "You don't remember the way back?"

  Macy shook her head.

  "Do you want me to wait with you or show you the way?"

  "You know where I live?"

  "When you live within the confines of a fence, you learn where everything is. I could take you to any house or place of business."

  "Do you think she's coming back here or going straight home after speaking with the farmers?"

  "She didn't say."

  Macy knew that. That's why she asked him. She bit back an irritated comment. If she made the wrong choice, she could piss off Chester and find herself locked up somewhere. "Do you think I should wait for her?"

  "I'd hate for you to miss lunch. Why don't I take you to your house? We know she'll go there to eat if she comes back here to find it empty."

  "Okay."

  "How does your hand feel? I saw you were writing again."

  "It's pretty sore, but I'll live."

  Luke made friendly conversation as they walked along the streets. A lot of people walked around.

  "Does everyone stop what they're doing to have lunch?" Macy asked.

  "Yes. Everything stops while people eat and do light household chores. Some even take naps or relax. It depends on the family. We take a couple hours to rest in the middle of the day. It helps everyone to be more productive in the afternoon. Here's your street."

  Macy looked around. "How can you tell the difference between the houses?"

  He laughed. "Yours has that little patch of flowers by the porch. See?"

  She squinted, looking at each of the porches until she found a small patch of flowers. "I see it."

  "Have a nice lunch. I'd better hurry home. My mother will wonder where I've gone."

  "Thanks for everything."

  Luke smiled. "No problem, Heather. See you in a couple hours." He walked off with a little wave.

  Macy went to the house with flowers, nervous that it was the wrong one. What if there was more than one house with purple flowers near the porch? When she opened the door, she recognized everything inside.

  She heard some noise coming from the kitchen.

  "Rebekah, is that you?" called Chester.

  "It's Heather."

  Chester came out of the kitchen, looking confused. "Where's your mom?"

  "She had to do an, uh, errand for school."

  His eyebrows furrowed. "So you had to walk home yourself?"

  "No. Another student came with me."

  "That wasn't very considerate of her. It's your first day and you don't know your way around here. She should have—"

  "She was looking into something for me. My hand—"

  "Don't interrupt, Heather." Chester's lips curved downward. "I'll need to talk with her. This is unacceptable."

  Macy's heart sank. "She didn't do anything wrong. She was trying to help me."

  "There's no reason for you to protect her. She's an adult, and she should have been watching out for you."

  "But she was. She—"

  "Stop. Not another word. Get lunch ready." He walked past her and opened the wood stove, poking at the embers.

  "She was talking with—"

  "I said not another word. Or did you not hear me?" He turned around, giving her a scary look.

  Macy turned around and went into the kitchen, her heart pounding. She should have waited for Rebekah at the school. Why hadn't she thought it through? She should have known that Chester would get angry over not coming home with Rebekah.

  He wouldn't turn his anger on Rebekah, would he? She was his new wife of only a couple days. Surely, he wouldn't. Except that she couldn't trust him in the slightest. Tears filled her eyes. Rebekah had been nothing but nice to Macy, and now Macy felt like she had betrayed Rebekah. She was so sweet. There was no way she would see his rage coming.

  Macy pulled leftovers out of the icebox, almost without thinking. She had to find a way to protect Rebekah. It was all Macy's fault that Chester was angry. She should have just waited at school. It was so obvious now; why hadn't it been earlier?

  She pulled out a pot and poured the contents into it. Then she wiped her eyes, removing the tears. When Chester saw weakness, he took advantage of it. She had to show him that she wasn't upset.

  He turned around when she approached. His eyebrows came together. "I would have chosen the food from two nights ago so it won't go bad as fast, but I suppose this will do since it's already out." He stared into her eyes for a moment before snatching the pot from her. "I didn't hear the water run. I suppose you didn't wash your hands first, did you?"

  Heart pounding in her ears, she shook her head.

  "Figures." He slammed the pot onto the top of the wood stove. "Germs! They still exist out here. People still get sick from stupidity like that. Yes, everyone is a lot healthier here, but it's not because bacteria ceases to exist. You have to wash your hands when you prepare food. Always!"

  Macy stepped back. "I forgot. I'll go wash them now."

  "What's the point?"

  She stared at him, knowing that whatever she said would be wrong.

  "Just go to your room and wait for y
our mom to return."

  "I have to go to the bathroom."

  "I don't care. Just wash your hands after that. Do I need to spell everything out for you? Do I need to do your thinking for you?"

  Macy shook her head.

  "I should hope not. There are basic things in life that I shouldn't have to worry about. Things you should just do because they're common sense. If I have to think for you I will, but I have more important things to do."

  A lump formed in her throat. She nodded, afraid that if she anything she would burst into tears.

  "Just go!"

  She ran out of the room, through the kitchen, and to the outhouse. The tears finally spilled out when she got outside. By the time she sat down, she was sobbing. She hadn't meant to upset him. If she would have known he would react like that, she would have just waited for Rebekah to return. Why was she so stupid?

  Macy thought she heard the front door of the house. Or was it the door from another house? The wood walls of the outhouse were so thin, she could hear everything outside. That made her self-conscious, knowing people could probably hear her when she was in there.

  When she got in the house, Chester was standing in front of the wood stove, his arms crossed. He didn't look her way, much to her relief. She also didn't see Rebekah. Was that good or bad? Surely that wouldn't have been enough time for him to hurt her.

  She closed the door behind her as quiet as possible and then washed her hands in the ice-cold water in the sink. She wasn't going to go near him to warm it on the stove.

  Just as she was walking through the living room, the front door opened. Was there any way for Macy to warn Rebekah about Chester's mood?

  Rebekah smiled, looking back and forth between the two of them. Obviously, she wasn't yet aware of the tension filling the room. Rebekah held up a small box. "I brought fresh berries."

  "Where were you?" Chester demanded.

  She looked startled at his tone, but didn't react. "I needed to speak with the farmers because our class is taking a field trip this afternoon. It will help Heather to get acquainted with how the community is run. Farmer Daniel let me pick a box berries for us. Wasn't that nice?"

  Chester knocked the box from her hands. It hit the wall and blueberries rolled in all directions.