by Laura Dragon
“Yes, ma’am,” Calaya said.
As the children spread out to search the playground, Miss Violet hurried into the shelter with Hollis and the two girls.
“Let’s check the bathrooms,” Leta said. “I’ll bet they’re there.”
But Lolo and Algie weren’t in either of them.
“I don’t see them in the main room anywhere,” Miss Violet said, worry in her voice.
“What about the kitchen?” Hollis suggested. “Maybe they wanted a drink.”
Kiki ran ahead to the kitchen door and checked inside. “Here they are,” she yelled to the others. “They’re with Mr. Red Beans.”
Miss Violet frowned until she walked through the door and saw Red washing Lolo’s tear-stained face at the sink. When Red saw Miss Violet and the children entering the kitchen, he looked up and grinned.
“Red,” Miss Violet began in a warning tone.
“I know, I know, Violet,” he said, nodding his head. “I should have brought them straight to you. But the little girl had somethin’ in her eye, and she was cryin’ so hard that all I thought about was helpin’ her.”
“She said she had something in her eye?” Kiki asked him.
Mr. Red shook his head. “She never said a word. The little boy told me, right Algie?”
Algie nodded. “L-Lolo got sand in her eye and r-ran away. I ran t-too so she wouldn’t be by herself. Mr. Red Beans saw us and helped.”
Hollis could see that Lolo’s eye was bloodshot, and Leta asked Lolo if it still hurt. Lolo shook her head and smiled at Red, who pinched her cheek.
Nodding to Miss Violet, he said, “It’ll never happen again, Violet. I’m not tryin’ to cause no trouble.”
She patted his shoulder and went out to collect the rest of the children.
The kids, including Maleeki, trailed into the shelter and gathered in the children’s section. Lolo’s disappearance had distracted them from Eden’s triumph over Maleeki. No one seemed to feel like teasing him anymore. Miss Violet noticed the group’s downcast mood and asked them what was wrong.
“Well,” said Calaya. “Feels like all we have is each other, and then these two disappear.”
Everyone nodded.
“When I couldn’t find them,” Kiki said, “it felt like the whole world was fallin’ apart—again.”
Eden nodded. “We’ve lost our families, our things, our neighbors.”
“All the schools,” Leta said.
“The basketball courts and playgrounds,” said Dray.
“We don’t know if our friends are okay,” said Kiki.
“The whole city is gone,” Eden finished, “And we can’t find our families.”
“You have me,” Miss Violet reminded them.
Eden tried to smile, but her lips wobbled. “Thanks, Miss Violet,” she said finally. “We know we can count on you. Thanks for helping us find them.”
“I think we need to limit the time you all watch the news,” Miss Violet said.
“But we want to know what’s happening!” said Kiki.
While everyone else started arguing with Miss Violet about watching the news, Hollis sighed and wandered over to his bed. He didn’t care if they could watch the news or not. Leta kept thinking they’d see Jonas, but Hollis didn’t believe it would happen. He was afraid he’d never see either Gee or Jonas again.
Glancing down, he saw someone’s shirt lying across his bed. When he picked it up, he saw a tiny, brown bottle underneath. A crack vial. He held it up and peered inside. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miss Violet’s head turn. She stopped talking and walked over to him.
“Where did you get that, Hollis?” she asked, taking the bottle from him.
“It was here on my bed,” he told her. “I swear, I’ve never seen it before.”
“Are you sure it isn’t yours?” she said.
Hollis nodded and backed away.
Miss Violet held the bottle up to the light. “There’s something inside.”
Hollis reached out to touch her arm. “I swear. It’s not mine, Miss Violet.”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I believe you, Hollis, but this is the kind of bottle that people keep drugs in. There are rules I have to follow for this sort of thing. I’m afraid we’re going to have to call the police.”
Chapter 21
Lolo and the Po-Po
“Appears to be cocaine. Have to test it, though,” said Officer Bradford, peering with one eye into the bottle. He rocked back and forth on his heels, his belly hanging over his belt. Officer O’Neil, a thin and short blond, nodded and squinted at the bottle from over his partner’s shoulder. One of them reeked of Old Spice, and Hollis gagged.
“You sure you’ve never seen this before?” Officer Bradford asked Hollis.
Hollis shook his head.
“They’re starting younger and younger these days,” the officer said to Miss Violet.
“But I’ve never used a drug in my life!” Hollis said. “Test me.”
Officer Bradford eyed Hollis with suspicion. “Might just do that,” he said. He tossed the bottle up and caught it. “We’re going out to the unit to test this.” He glared at Hollis. “Then we’ll decide if we’re going to test you.”
“Back soon,” Officer O’Neil said as they left. “And don’t try to go anywhere.”
Dropping down on his cot, Hollis put his chin in his hands. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Miss Violet patted his shoulder but stopped and turned to see Lolo tugging at her skirt.
“What is it, Lolo?” Miss Violet asked her. Lolo pointed at Hollis. “Yes, that’s Hollis,” she said.
Lolo tugged on her skirt again and pointed at Hollis. Miss Violet sighed, her face sagging more than usual. “Does anyone know what she’s trying to say?”
Algie stood up and pointed to Hollis. “Hollis, Lolo? Hollis?”
Lolo shook her head and walked over, still pointing.
Algie joined her. “B-Bed?” he asked, patting the cot.
Lolo nodded, her eyes sparkling.
Miss Violet took over the questioning. “Did you see something, Lolo? Did you see someone put the bottle on Hollis’s bed?”
Lolo nodded again and clapped her hands.
Hope soared in Hollis’s chest. By this time, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Lolo.
“Who, Lolo? Who did you see?” Miss Violet asked.
Lolo spun around and darted out of the children’s corner. Miss Violet tried to catch her, but Lolo slipped out of reach and ran toward the adult section of the shelter. The entire group scrambled to catch the little girl, but she eluded everyone. She led them straight to Oscar, lying on his cot and filling out some paperwork for financial aid. When Miss Violet and the other children caught up to the little girl, Lolo pointed at Oscar, who looked up and returned Miss Violet’s stare.
With a sigh, Miss Violet asked, “Oscar, did you put something on Hollis’s cot?”
Hollis put the pieces together. Of course he did! I should have known when I saw the shirt. Bet Maleeki told him I put the stolen stuff on his cot. His revenge wasn’t too smart though, using drugs. Now the police are here. When they search him, it’ll be game over!
Oscar rose, keeping his eyes on Miss Violet. He looks kind of sick. Desperate. Knowing what happened at the parking lot, Hollis reached for Lolo’s shoulder to pull her away, but Oscar grabbed her first.
Miss Violet threw up her hands, as if to tell Oscar to stop. He didn’t pay notice. An open penknife appeared in his hand, and he clutched Lolo closer, the knife pressed against her neck.
“Gonna get my stuff and leave,” he snarled at Miss Violet. “Before them cops come back.”
Hollis scanned the room. No one had been looking when Oscar grabbed Lolo, and no one realized the danger he posed. Everyone was either outside watching the police or inside watching the police through the windows.
Miss Violet nodded, her face pale and her hands clenched. “Give Lolo to me, and you can leave.”
Hollis nodded.
“I kep’ my word then, and I’ll keep it now. I’ll give her to you outside, but I’m not goin’ out that front door. The po-po are there. There’s other doors outta here, but they’re all locked. You got keys, I know.”
Miss Violet took a breath, but Hollis never found out what she was going to say. Lolo, a furious expression on her face, opened her mouth and howled, “Mr. Red Beans! Help! Help!”
“Huh? Lolo?” Mr. Red’s voice came from the far left side of the room.
Hollis spotted the big man as he turned from the window, his head twisting right and left. When Red locked eyes with him, Hollis jerked his head. Red bounded toward them.
“I’m comin’, baby girl!” he yelled.
People in his path jumped aside as his heavy footsteps headed their way. Oscar whirled around to confront him. Red stopped an arm’s length away, and the two men eyed one another. Everyone in the shelter knew what was happening now. Hollis wished someone would signal the police, but everyone was too intent on watching the scene to think of calling for help. The murmur of whispered questions faded into silence.
“Whatcha doin’, Oscar?” Mr. Red Beans asked in a pleasant voice, as though he were asking him how his day was going.
“I’m leavin’,” Oscar snapped. “You stay outta this, Red!” He blinked.
For a big man, Mr. Red Beans sure was fast. He struck the moment Oscar’s eyes were closed. His hand lashed out and grabbed Oscar’s arm, and he yanked the knife away from Lolo’s neck. With his other hand, he swept the child away from Oscar and tucked her safely under his own arm. Oscar staggered for a moment in surprise, still holding the tiny knife. Seconds later, that was in Red’s hands, too.
“Get those police fellas, Violet,” Mr. Red said.
Miss Violet scurried toward the front doors. When she returned with the police, Officer Bradford snapped the cuffs on Oscar, and several of the evacuees patted Red on his back and shoulder. “You a hero, Beans,” Mrs. Wiley said and kissed his cheek.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, Hollis,” Miss Violet told him. “You were right—he was dangerous. We should have kicked him out before.”
Hollis smiled.
Mr. Red Beans knelt in front of Lolo. “That you who called me?”
She nodded.
“Thought so. Now, anyone that can yell that loud can say ‘thank you’ to me in her own voice. You not goin’ back to not talkin’.”
Lolo threw her arms around the big man’s neck. “Thank you very much,” she said. Mr. Red hugged her and then turned her over to Kiki, who hugged her too.
“Lolo, Lolo,” Kiki said. “You’re a hero, too! I can’t believe you were so brave. You saved Hollis!”
Hollis stepped up for his hug. “Thank you, Lolo,” he said solemnly.
Lolo stuck her finger in her mouth and grinned at him.
Chapter 22
The Right Thing
Several days passed. Nothing new came to light about the location of any of the families.
“I’m sorry, children,” Miss Violet kept saying. “These things take time.”
“A week. We’ve been here a whole week,” Hollis grumbled to Leta. “Where’s Algie?”
“Watching Cartoon Network with Gnomie. What else? He never eats breakfast anymore.”
“The only thing he likes here is donuts. I don’t think missing those is gonna kill him. He still wetting the bed?”
Leta nodded. “Wakes up sweating and crying every night. Every morning, he’s wet. And every night, you sleep right through it.”
Hollis gnawed on his upper lip. “Sorry. Guess I have my own bad dreams. Hopefully, this’ll all stop when we find Gee.”
“If we find her,” Leta muttered.
“Don’t say that, Leta—we agreed. Gee is alive, and we’re not gonna talk like she ain’t.”
“Sorry,” Leta said. “I get scared.” She looked toward the TV. “I think I’ll tell Algie Gnomie wants him to eat breakfast.”
Hollis sighed. It felt weird depending on a polyresin lawn ornament.
After breakfast, Hollis wandered back to his cot. He had slept okay the night before, but he still felt tired. Dropping onto his cot, he decided a nap would help him get through this miserable anniversary.
“Hollis, I need your help.” Eden’s voice interrupted him as he nodded off. He opened one eye. “Somethin’s wrong with Maleeki.”
Hollis closed the eye. “You’re not tellin’ me anything I don’t already know.”
“I’m serious. He’s not himself. He won’t talk to anyone, not even Kiki or Lolo. He won’t eat or go outside with us. He doesn’t even sleep on his cot.”
Hollis opened his eye again. “Where’s he sleepin’?”
Eden shook her head. “I have no idea.”
He rolled over. “What do you want, Eden?”
“I want you to talk to him.”
“He’s not gonna talk to me. He hates me. Get Kiki. She’s family.”
“She tried. We’ve all tried. You think I’d ask you first? You’re the last one I came to.”
Hollis sat up. “Who cares if he’s not around? All that means is that we get to hang onto our stuff a little longer. I can’t believe we still have the Game Boys those Episcopalians gave us.”
Eden scowled. “I know he’s a pain. But if we don’t take care of each other, who will?”
“You’re not my mama, Eden, and you’re not his. It’d be better if you stopped gettin’ in everybody’s business and just relaxed. That’s what I’m gonna do.” He lay back once more.
“Well, gee, Hollis. Seems all you think about is yourself! We all lived through that hurricane, you know.”
Hollis rolled onto his stomach and made a big show of snuggling his face into his pillow. He heard Eden’s foot scrape the floor as she turned again to go, and he waited with bated breath. No footsteps. He sighed.
Sure enough, her voice came again. “Hollis. You talk a lot about finding your father. What if he’s like Maleeki? Or Oscar? Or in jail like Maleeki’s mama? How you gonna feel then? Might need someone to talk to. What if there isn’t anyone ’cause everyone left you?”
Hollis stayed quiet. Eden stomped her foot and gave a frustrated growl. At last, Hollis heard footsteps walking away.
He sat up and rubbed his face. Who could sleep after that? Eden’s comment about everyone leaving him cut awfully close to the bone. Maleeki acts like a jerk, and I’m the bad guy. He got out of bed. She’s got a point, though. I want to find my dad, not be him.
Maleeki was outside. Hollis saw him from a window. Cutting through the kitchen, he slipped out of a back door while one of the cooks was taking out the trash.
A scowl greeted Hollis as he approached. Maleeki pulled up a handful of grass and flicked it at him.
Glad there aren’t any rocks out here. Hollis sat down.
“Go away,” Maleeki snarled.
“Glad to,” Hollis said. “Once I get what I want. I don’t want Eden sweatin’ me anymore, Maleeki, so I’ve gotta find out what’s going on with you. Then she’ll leave me alone.”
“Well, you outta luck. I’m not tellin’ you nothin’. You can leave me alone.”
“Then talk to Kiki.”
“Get lost.”
Hollis frowned. “I’m not leaving until you talk to me or Kiki. Wherever you go, I’ll go. I’ve followed you before. You know it. I’ll drive you crazy ’til you tell someone what’s wrong.”
Maleeki’s head sagged. A big tear slid down his nose and fell into the grass.
“You can go tell them I’m cryin’,” Maleeki said. “Then y’all can all laugh at me.”
Hollis recoiled. “Are you nuts? Those are girls in there. I go tell them you’re cryin’, and they’ll be out here in two seconds, crawlin’ all over us. It’ll be a nightmare. They’ll never let me alone.”
“Why won’t they leave you alone?”
“Because they’ll want to know what I did to make you cry, and I can’t tell them, because I don’t know.”
Maleeki sniffled.
“My life won’t be worth living. They’ll follow me everywhere. There’ll be nowhere to hide.”
“Like you were gonna do to me,” Maleeki said, glaring.
“Exactly. So I’m not gonna call them out here.”
“Why not? I like the idea of the girls drivin’ you crazy.”
“Yeah, but they won’t just do it to me. They’ll do it to you, too. They’ll drive both of us insane. C’mon, Maleeki! We’re in this together now.” Hollis changed tactics. “Eden said she tried everything. If I can’t get it out of you, they’ll think they’re out of options. You’ll be just as doomed as me. I mean, are you missing your aunt and uncle or something? Just tell me!”
Maleeki shook his head. “Nah, they’re too strict. I’m always in trouble with them. I miss my real mom, but I’m kinda used to that.”
“How long has she been in jail—I mean, away?”
“Couple of years.”
Hollis felt his patience sliding away again. “So what is it then?”
Maleeki glared at him.
He’s never gonna talk. I’m wasting my time. Hollis started to fidget as he stared back at Maleeki.
“It’s Lolo,” Maleeki said.
Hollis was confused. “What about her?”
“It was my fault that guy took her.”
“Your fault? How?”
“I told him you put that stuff on his bed. I didn’t know he’d hurt Lolo, though.”
“Just me,” Hollis said.
“You deserved it. I had to get you back for stealin’ my stuff.”
“I didn’t steal your stuff. It was stuff you stole.”
“Yeah, but once I stole it, it was mine. You took it. That’s stealin’.”
Hollis rolled his eyes. Maleeki was hopeless. “How’d you find out it was me? Algie?”
“Yeah. How’d you guess?”
“I saw you talking. I’d warned Leta. Never thought about Algie.” Hollis leaned back. “That was pretty good, Maleeki. You’re like a real detective.”
