“Any luck?” Stacey asked Amanda, who was walking up and down the rows of trees.
She shook her head. “I'm going to check the treehouse again.”
The two women approached the structure in silence. An eerie feeling settled over Stacey as the short ladder came into view. Maybe it was just the unusual stillness, but Stacey felt a prickle of fear nonetheless.
Amanda went up first. Almost immediately Stacey heard her let out a gasp. Climbing up the rungs to get a look at what Amanda had found, Stacey felt her heart race but was relieved when she saw what Amanda had discovered.
It was sitting in the corner. Amanda picked it up and held it out for Stacey to see.
“What's that doing here?” Stacey asked as she took Robby's jacket from Amanda's hand.
“Maybe Robby was here today, which could mean Kyle might have been, too.”
Stacey examined the jacket. “He has a couple of jackets, so it's doubtful this is the one he was wearing today. I mean, he is grounded. As far as I know, he's been in his room ever since he got home from school. In fact, after you left I specifically asked him if he had seen Kyle and he said no.”
Amanda's gaze rested on Stacey. “Kyle wouldn't come here without Robby.”
“Are you sure?” Stacey asked. “What about that time we were out of town? I thought you'd told me he had come here by himself.”
Amanda bit her lip. “That's right. I'd forgotten about that.”
“Is it possible he met a new friend and went to his house?”
Seeming less certain, Amanda shook her head as she moved toward the ladder. “He knows to check in with me first. Of course, you never know. . .”
The women stood at the base of the short ladder and glanced around.
“What do you want to do now?” Stacey asked.
Amanda stared off into the distance. “I guess we head back.”
As the two women entered Amanda's house she called out, “Kyle! Kyle, are you home?”
The silence was palpable.
“I'm going to see if there are any messages on the machine,” Amanda said.
Following her to the kitchen, Stacey saw a red light flashing on the answering machine. Amanda punched the button and an unfamiliar voice said, “This is Dr. Peterson's office calling to remind Mr. Stone of his appointment tomorrow afternoon.”
Amanda's shoulders sagged in disappointment as Stacey led her into the breakfast nook and had her sit down.
“Please don't worry, Amanda. I'm sure he's fine. In fact, maybe Mark picked him up and took him somewhere,” Stacey said, referring to Amanda's husband.
Amanda seemed to consider the idea. “I hadn't thought of that. But I'm sure he would've told me so I wouldn't worry.”
Stacey glanced at her watch. “I hate to do this to you, but I need to pick up Robby and Nikki. Michael's mom said she had to go somewhere and couldn't watch them for long. You're welcome to come back over to my place if you want.”
Amanda hesitated.
“Unless you wanted to wait for Mark?” When Amanda remained silent Stacey asked, “You have spoken to him, haven't you?” Stacey's gaze was drawn to the hem of Amanda's blouse where Amanda's fingers plucked and pulled in an unsuccessful search for lint.
“No. I . . . I tried calling him at work, but they said he wasn't there.”
“He's probably on campus somewhere. Can't they page him on the p.a. system or something?”
“They tried but he didn't respond. And he's not answering his cell phone either.” Her fingers stopped moving and she sat up straight. “Why can't I find him when I need him?”
“He'll probably be home soon. But in the meantime do you want to come to my place?”
“What if Kyle comes home? He won't know where I am,” Amanda said, her voice cracking with anxiety.
“Do you mind if I bring Robby and Nikki over here then?”
“No, that would be fine.”
“Okay, I'll be back in a minute.” Stacey dashed across the street to her own house to leave a note for her husband, then went to get Robby and Nikki.
Once the children had gone outside to play in the Stone's backyard, Stacey returned to the kitchen. Amanda was pacing back and forth, wringing her hands. Stacey watched her, the agitation becoming contagious.
Amanda stopped in front of the phone, staring at it for a few seconds. “That's it. I'm calling the police.”
The seriousness of the situation settled over Stacey as she looked at Amanda's face and listened to her words. Yet her mind refused to believe things were so grim that the police were needed. “Do you want to try to call Mark again first?”
Amanda hesitated. “I guess I could try once more.”
Stacey watched Amanda dial the high school, wondering what she would do if Robby was this late coming home from school. She knew she would want Jason with her, whatever she did.
Amanda was put on hold as they tried to page Mark again.
There was a knock at the front door. “Do you want me to get that?” Stacey asked.
“Please,” Amanda said.
Stacey opened the door to find her husband standing on the porch. At six feet he was a head taller than Stacey and she had to stand on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. He looked down at her with blue eyes that always reminded her of a clear day. Reaching her arms around his neck, her fingers brushed against his light brown hair.
“Hi, honey,” Stacey said, forcing cheerfulness into her voice. “How was work? Sell any cars?”
Grinning, he pulled her close. “Just one today.”
His strong grip comforted her and she was able to forget Amanda for a few precious seconds. She pulled back, one eyebrow lifted in mock disappointment. “Just one?”
He frowned faintly. “It might have been two, but I had to run an errand this afternoon.”
“What kind of errand?”
His grin was back. “Nothing you need to worry about.” Looking over her shoulder he asked, “What’s going on around here?”
She glanced behind her, reality crashing in. “I need to be here for Amanda.”
“What for? Does she need your help making one of those gourmet dinners?”
She grimaced. “Jason, she's really upset.”
“Why?” he asked, his face serious. “What’s going on?”
“Kyle hasn't come home from school yet,” Stacey said. “I'm starting to get really worried. I can only imagine how Amanda's feeling.”
“Yeah,” Jason said, his eyes concerned. “Hey, where are Robby and Nikki?”
“They're here. That's why I left that note. Can you take them home?”
“Sure. Is Mark here?” Jason looked over Stacey's shoulder again.
“No, and Amanda's having trouble finding him.”
He glanced at his watch. It read four forty-five. “Shouldn't he be home by now? I thought teachers got home in the afternoon.”
Stacey's shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Wait here. I'll get Robby and Nikki.”
A few minutes later Jason, Stacey, and the children stepped onto the Stone's front porch. A late model red car was just pulling into Jason and Stacey's driveway.
“I wonder what she's doing here,” Stacey said, stepping off the porch.
Jason followed her gaze as a tall, slender woman stepped out of the car. She was in her mid thirties although she looked much younger. Wearing a dark blue tailored business suit and spiked heels, her blond hair was perfectly coifed and her make-up was flawless.
Jason and the children followed Stacey as she crossed the street to their house.
“Hi, Patricia,” Stacey said, trying to sound happy to see her Beautiful You director. “What can I do for you?”
Patricia glanced at Stacey then looked over at Jason. “Hi, how are you?”
“Fine,” he said, a tight smile on his lips. He turned to Stacey. “I'll just take the kids inside. Let me know if you hear anything.”
“Hear anything about what?” Patricia asked, watching Jason go into the house.
>
“My neighbor's son hasn't come home from school.”
“Oh. Well, I'm sure he'll turn up. Kids are always running off, aren't they?”
“Yeah, I guess they are.” Stacey wondered how Patricia would have a clue about children since she didn't have any of her own. She glanced toward Amanda's house then over to Patricia. “I really have to get back there. What was it you needed?”
“I was in the neighborhood and I wanted to stop by and talk to you about your sales. How are they going?”
“Sales have been great. In fact I have a party tonight,” Stacey said, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible. Besides wanting to get back to Amanda's house, Stacey's director made her feel uncomfortable. Next to Patricia's fabulous wardrobe and polished appearance, Stacey felt plain in her jeans and t-shirt.
“I'm glad to hear it,” Patricia said. “We also need to have one of our lunches soon, okay?”
“Sure, just give me a call,” Stacey said, heading across the street.
Stacey paused on Amanda's porch, watching Patricia climb into her bright red car. Stacey waited for her to start the engine. She could see her applying lipstick and touching up her hair. Finally, she turned on the car and backed out of the Hunters' driveway. She waved to Stacey as she drove off.
Chapter Three
The unnatural silence of Amanda's house struck Stacey as she re-entered. Usually when she and Robby came over the boys took over the place. They would throw a ball around, running up and down the stairs until Amanda made them go play outside. She pushed the thought away and went into the kitchen where she found Amanda staring at the phone in her hand.
“Did they find Mark?”
Amanda shook her head. “They said he must have left already. I think it's time to call the police.
Stacey nodded, her mind beginning to confront the unthinkable. She looked around at the bright, sunny room as Amanda told someone on the other end of the phone her child was missing.
Still not wanting to believe what was happening, Stacey tried to block out the conversation by concentrating on Amanda's decor.
Two walls were painted a soft shade of yellow, the other two were papered in a small floral print and a lace valance hung over the large window above the sink. The bay window in the breakfast nook looked out onto a dark green lawn trimmed by camellia bushes.
It was hard to imagine anything bad happening to a family who lived in such a beautiful home.
As she continued to focus on the decor, Stacey thought about her own home. This lovely room was a sharp contrast to the controlled chaos of her kitchen. Her counters were usually cluttered with school papers and leftover breakfast dishes, old newspapers and library books. Her walls were plain white, accented with sticky fingerprints. And her backyard had several brown spots with plenty of weeds to go with them.
At the thought of her home, relief washed over her that her own children were safe.
Amanda turned to her. “The police are on their way over.” Sadness and worry were etched in her eyes as she hung up the phone. “I'm going upstairs to freshen up before they get here. I must look terrible.”
“You just look like someone who's worried about her son.” Stacey's earlier relief was replaced by guilt. Why are my children safe while Amanda's child is missing? Pushing that thought aside, Stacey walked into the living room and glanced around. The scent of lemon oil lingered in the air.
Amanda's cleaning lady must have been here today, Stacey thought. That gives her one less thing to worry about.
Vacuum tracks crisscrossed the carpet and the furniture sparkled. Soft white fabric covered the sofa and plump pillows were tucked into each end. The last rays of the afternoon sun streamed in through the large windows.
Gazing at the beautiful front yard, Stacey thought about the sizable inheritance Amanda had received when her parents died. Being an only child, Amanda had received her parents' entire estate.
Her thoughts were sharply cut off when a police car pulled up in front of the house and two men stepped out. The driver appeared to be in his forties and had thinning gray hair. He had to hike up his pants to keep his stomach from spilling over the front of his uniform. The other man looked younger, and Stacey couldn't help but admire his athletic build.
Amanda came down the stairs as the doorbell rang. Though her eyes were still red, she had washed her face and tucked a few loose hairs back into her braid. Giving her a reassuring hug, Stacey stepped back as Amanda opened the door.
“Hello, ma'am. I'm Officer Williams,” the older one said, addressing Amanda. “This is my partner, Officer Jurgen.”
Amanda held out her hand, automatically introducing Stacey to the officers.
“We understand your son didn't come home from school today,” Williams said.
Amanda nodded. “I'm very worried. I checked with all of his friends and no one has seen him.”
“Is your husband home?” Jurgen asked.
“No, I haven't been able to find him,” she said, clearly frustrated. Then she put on her hostess face. “Won't you please come in?”
Following her into the living room, Officer Jurgen walked over to a group of photos arranged on a side table.
“Is this your son, ma'am?” He held a picture of an eight-year-old boy with blond hair, blue eyes, a sprinkling of freckles, and missing front teeth.
“Yes, that’s Kyle. That’s his school picture from this year,” Amanda said, obviously trying to control her emotions.
Officer Williams spoke to Amanda as he pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil. “When did you see him last?”
“I dropped him off at school at eight o'clock this morning. Then I worked in the school library for a while like I usually do.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I didn't stop by his classroom to look in on him on my way out like I normally do because I was in a hurry.”
Everyone waited until Amanda got herself under control. “His teacher told me she sent him home at three forty-five this afternoon. You see, he stayed after to help with some things in the classroom. But I didn't realize he would be walking home by himself.”
“What do you mean?” Williams asked, looking up from the notes he was taking.
“He usually walks home with Stacey's son, Robby.” She pointed to Stacey sitting on the couch.
“But he didn't walk home with him today?” Williams asked.
“Apparently not,” Amanda said.
“Why is that?” Williams asked, turning to Stacey.
“Robby was grounded today,” Stacey began, feeling worse by the minute for the part she had unwittingly played in the situation. “He wasn't allowed to stay after and help. He came straight home from school.”
“Have you asked your son when he last saw Kyle?” Williams asked.
“Yes, of course. He didn't know anything.”
“We'd like to ask him ourselves,” Williams said, making a note on his pad.
Stacey nodded, although she was certain if Robby knew anything he would have told her already.
He turned back to Amanda. “Mrs. Stone, who else knew he was staying after school today?”
“As far as I know, just his father,” she answered, a quiver in her voice.
“How long does it usually take Kyle to walk home from school?”
She furrowed her brow as she made some quick calculations. “It depends. When he's with his friends it might take him ten minutes or so. But when he walks home by himself, he sometimes takes longer.” Tears pooled in her blue eyes. “He once told me he likes to explore when he's by himself.”
“Has he stayed to help his teacher before?”
Amanda nodded with certainty. “Yes. Twice before.”
“And what time did he get home on those occasions?”
“Never past four fifteen.”
The front door opened and everyone turned to see Mark Stone standing in the entry, one hand resting on the doorknob as he looked at the group gathered in the room. “What's going on? Why are the police here?”
“Kyle hasn't come home from school yet, Mark.” Her tone became reproving. “I've been trying to get a hold of you. Where have you been?”
He stepped closer to the living room without actually entering. “Kyle didn’t come home? How is that possible?” Looking directly at Amanda he asked, “How could you allow this to happen?”
Williams spoke calmly. “Mr. Stone, if you would sit down, we need to have some questions answered.”
Clearly upset, Mark said, “I don’t have time to answer questions right now. I need to find my son.”
“Please, Mr. Stone,” Williams said. “Can you tell us what time you left your employer today?”
Mark look at them with incredulity. “My son is missing and you want to know what time I got off work?”
“And where you went after that,” Williams replied.
“This is ridiculous!” Mark nearly yelled and focused his attention back on Amanda. “Where have you looked for him so far?”
All eyes swiveled back in Amanda’s direction. Amanda appeared mortified by Mark’s outburst.
“Stacey and I looked in the orchard,” she said evenly. “And I’ve called all his friends.”
“He could be wandering the streets right now,” Mark said, grabbing a jacket from the hall closet. “I’m going to look for him.”
No one spoke as Mark walked out the front door.
“Mrs. Stone, can we take this picture of Kyle with us?” Jurgen asked, breaking the silence.
“What? Oh, of course,” she said, looking away from where Mark had run out. Her face had gone pale and she was twisting her wedding ring on her finger.
The officers stood up. “We'll do what we can, Mrs. Stone. And I'd like you put together a list of everyone Kyle knows.”
“Yes. I'll do that right away,” Amanda said. “And then I'd like to go out and look for Kyle, too.”
“It would be best if you stayed here in case he comes home.”
“I don't understand,” Amanda said, panic edging her voice. “You'll allow my husband to go out looking but you want me to stay here?”
“One of you needs to stay here, ma’am,” Williams said, as he and Jurgen stood and walked to the front door.
Suspicions: a novel of suspense Page 2
