Lost and Found

  She could vaguely make out bursts of laughter from the television in the living room where Grandma waited for Dad to come home. Was he at the sheriff’s office, waiting to confront Marika? Would the answers come tonight? Maybe? Possibly?

  Emily could only pray.

  SEVENTEEN

  “I still can’t believe Dad left before I got up this morning.” Emily slammed her locker and stared at Olivia. “I was so tired, I could only stay awake until ten, but I never heard him come home. And then for him to be gone before seven . . . and Grandma didn’t offer anything close to information.” Timmy hadn’t even been able to eavesdrop because Dad left so early.

  “Where’d your dad go?”

  “On another search.” At least, that’s what she’d assumed.

  “If he’s still searching, then there probably wasn’t much information to share.” Olivia grabbed her lunch from her locker. “You didn’t ask your grandma?”

  The girls joined the crowd heading to the cafeteria along with all the other eighth graders.

  “I don’t think she knew anything. After all, if there’d been something important, she would have been excited or something.”

  “True.”

  “I tried to look online last night for any headlines, since Grandma refuses to turn on the news, but my laptop’s so slow, it’s not even funny.”

  “You ought to bring your laptop to school and let Charles look at it. He’s a computer genius, remember?”

  “Okay.” Olivia had a good point. Charles was a whiz on the computer. Maybe she had a virus or something he could find and delete off her system. “I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

  “I’ll tell him.” Olivia stopped at the tables nearest the door. Kids plopped down at various tables. “Grab your tray and I’ll hold us a place.”

  Emily headed to the end of the lunch line, her stomach growling. At least the line always moved fast.

  “Hey, Emily.”

  She turned to find Drake rushing toward her. “Hi, Drake.” Maybe since he stood here talking to her, the other kids would see and stop treating her like she’d hung him out to dry. A lot of them still whispered when she walked past.

  So far, the sheriff hadn’t charged him with anything, so that was a good sign. At least, that’s what she thought.

  “I’ve been looking for you.” He flashed her a lopsided smile.

  “What’s up?”

  “The sheriff asked me to work with a sketch artist to draw the boat I saw the night your stepmom went missing.”

  Her stomach tightened. “Yeah?”

  He motioned her to step out of the line. “I thought it was kinda stupid at first. A real shot in the dark, but I wanted to help, so I did.”

  Just hurry up already. She nodded. The line was moving, and she was hungry. She’d been so upset about Dad leaving that she hadn’t really eaten much for breakfast, even though Grandma made them oatmeal.

  Drake stuck his thumbs into the front pocket of his jeans and leaned back against the painted concrete wall. “Well, last night they called me back in to verify something I’d described. An ornamental thing on the top of the back ladder.”

  “And?” Could he get to the point? It might lead to Naomi.

  “I verified it, then was waiting to leave and overheard them talking. They got a hit on the boat because of the special ornamental thing. They were sending someone to go talk to the owner.”

  Hunger forgotten, Emily straightened. Maybe this is what Dad rushed out for this morning. “What time was this last night?”

  “Almost ten, because my dad kept rushing the dude I talked with, saying it was a school night and all.”

  The timing would fit, considering Dad hadn’t been home then. “Did you hear who the boat belongs to?”

  He shook his head.

  “Well, that’s okay. At least it’s a lead, right?”

  He pushed off the wall. “There’s more.”

  “What?”

  “So, I was standing at the counter, waiting on my dad to finish talking to the sheriff so we could leave, when a deputy brought in a woman for something.”

  Emily kept her mouth shut. Marika? Surely Drake would get to the point in a minute.

  “She was really hot, so naturally I checked her out.” His chest puffed out a little.

  Guys. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Someone asked her a question, and she answered, and that’s when it went crazy.” His face was shiny with excitement.

  “What went crazy?”

  “Her voice. I recognized it.”

  Ooooo-kay. Her stomach clenched.

  His grin went so wide, it was no longer lopsided. “It was her. The woman who hired me to break into the school.”

  “You’re sure?” Her voice shook a little, but maybe he wouldn’t notice.

  “Well, I told the deputy I recognized her voice. He got the sheriff, who made me tell him again that I was sure it was her voice. I’m 100 percent. It’s a throaty, sexy voice. Hard to miss.”

  Emily felt a hardening in the pit of her gut. “So what did she say?”

  “I don’t know. They took her back to question her, then me and my dad left.”

  “So you don’t know anything more?”

  Drake grinned again. “Just her name. It’s as sexy as her voice.”

  Heat spread inside Emily’s chest, and she had to force herself to breathe. Don’t say her name. Don’t let it be her.

  “Marika.”

  “Sorry for just showing up here like this.” Inetta met Emily and Olivia in the school’s parking lot. “I needed to talk with you two, and since one of you is grounded from going anywhere and the other is grounded from the phone . . .”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. I’m sick of being grounded, and I’m only on day two.” Olivia slouched against Inetta’s Bug.

  The breeze kicked loose leaves across the school’s courtyard. Even though the sun shone brightly, the temperature had dropped quite drastically since that morning. With the wind chill factor, it was downright cold.

  “Come on, let’s start walking so Emily doesn’t get in trouble.” The flap of Inetta’s coat bent against the wind.

  Emily grinned and led the way.

  Inetta walked between Emily and Olivia, her steps matching theirs. “I went back to the diner this morning for the breakfast shift, hoping to talk with Mackenzie. She wasn’t there. I chatted up the lady working, and during the course of our casual conversation, learned Mackenzie had been fired last night.”

  “Fired?” Olivia straightened.

  “Apparently, she’d had a habit of coming in late or forgetting to call in. Several times she just didn’t show up for her shift.” Inetta nodded as they passed the bank. “So I got to thinking . . . if she’s a waitress and out of work, she’d probably start looking for another waitressing job in the area, right?”

  Emily nodded, as did Olivia.

  “So I pulled in some favors.” Inetta nodded at the café across the street. “The Suomi Café now has an ad running in our paper, the paper in Marquette, and in the county newspaper. Hopefully, if she’s looking, she’ll see the ad and come to Rock Harbor to apply.”

  “Smart.” Emily grinned at Olivia, who stopped suddenly. “What?”

  “You didn’t tell them why, did you?” Olivia’s face whitened as she stared at Inetta. “I mean, everyone at the Suomi Café doesn’t know why you wanted that job opening, do they? They don’t know you’re looking for my birth mother?”

  Inetta reached out and squeezed Olivia’s arm. “Of course not, sweetie. I told them I was working on a piece and needed this favor, and asked to be told the names of everyone who applies. They know nothing beyond that.” She let go of Olivia’s arm and smiled. “The funny thing is, they actually are in need of someone temporary for the holiday season.”

  Olivia let out a breath in a rush.

  “Can’t you just look at the applications and get her address?” Emily asked.

  Inetta shook her head.
“There are privacy laws, you know.”

  Oh. Right.

  “They can, however, give me the names of those who apply. If she does, we’ll know.”

  “Thanks, Inetta.” Olivia gave her a quick hug. “I mean it.”

  Inetta blushed. “It’s not a big deal.” She turned to Emily. “Now, Marika is still in custody. She was brought in last night for questioning regarding Naomi’s disappearance, but there’s an interesting twist.”

  “Drake recognized her voice as the woman who hired him to break into the school.”

  Inetta’s mouth dropped open. “How—”

  Emily chuckled. “Drake told me. But he didn’t know anything more than that.”

  “Well, at least I get to tell you some news.” Inetta grinned. “Marika kept to her story of denying she had anything to do with Naomi’s disappearance. She claims she has no idea where Naomi is.”

  Emily sighed. She could just hear Marika now.

  “Once they brought up her phone call and payment to Drake, at first she played dumb. But when they told her he’d just positively identified her voice, she clammed up and demanded her lawyer.”

  “She actually has a lawyer?” Emily’s hands shook. Marika had threatened to take legal action to get custody of Emily and Timmy and take them away from Dad and Naomi for good.

  Inetta shrugged. “I’m thinking it’s probably the criminal attorney who handled her previous case.”

  “What does that mean, exactly? To demand her lawyer, whoever it is?” Emily needed to know why her mother would want to set fire to the school. It made no sense. Then again, a lot about Marika didn’t make sense. Still, Emily needed to know—for her peace of mind, and Timmy’s. Not to mention their safety.

  “The sheriff can’t ask her any more questions until her lawyer is present.”

  “So we don’t know why she hired Drake?”

  “No. Not yet.” Inetta stopped them at the corner of Cottage Avenue. “I know it’s frustrating, girls, for both of you. But we’ll keep digging until we know the truth, okay? I’m not going to give up.”

  Emily hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Inetta. So much. For everything you’ve done and are doing for us.”

  Again, Inetta blushed. “Now get on home before you get in more trouble. I heard on the weather we have a chance of snow tonight.”

  Emily broke into a slow jog toward home. Maybe Dad would have more answers. No matter how late he was tonight, she was determined to wait up for him.

  A blast of cold air snuck under her jacket’s collar, confirming the weather forecast. Emily shivered as she slipped in the front door. Heat welcomed her almost as much as Sherlock’s joyous barking and tail-wagging greeting. But one thought stuck at her as she headed toward the kitchen to see Grandma and her brothers: wherever Naomi was, Emily could only pray she had shelter from the snow.

  EIGHTEEN

  “I have some news to share with both of you.” Dad sat at the head of the table for dinner. It seemed odd, Dad being the only adult in the house.

  Emily had gotten so used to Naomi greeting her after school each day and making conversation as she cooked dinner that the house felt . . . not just empty, but cold and lonely without Naomi’s cheerfulness.

  Grandma had gone to check on things at the Blue Bonnet Bed and Breakfast, after having cooked a big pot of soup. The house smelled amazing, with the enticing aroma of onions and peppers. Yet the rooms still had the depressing feeling, like the lights had been cut off in the middle of a party.

  Grandma had taken Matthew with her, and now Emily understood why: Dad wanted to talk to her and Timmy alone.

  The house seemed colder than normal, and it had nothing to do with the wind raging outside. She let Charley and Sherlock outside for their last run of the night and then sat down at the table. If the forecast held true, they may have a snow day tomorrow.

  “What?” Timmy stared across the table. He hadn’t let on to Dad that he knew about Marika being back in town, which was good for Emily. Dad would be mad at her, and she was already grounded.

  Dad quickly told Timmy that Marika was in town and had been brought in for questioning. To Timmy’s credit, he never ratted out Emily.

  “Sheriff Kaleva spoke with Marika in great detail.” Dad tented his fingers over his bowl. “It’s his opinion that Marika had nothing to do with Naomi’s disappearance.”

  “Then who did?” Timmy’s voice sounded stronger than he appeared.

  “We don’t know yet, son.” Dad moved his spoon around in his soup but didn’t take a bite. “We do know that Marika hired Drake Wilson to break into the school the day of the fire.”

  Timmy’s eyes rounded. “She set the school on fire? Why?”

  “She claims she didn’t set the fire.” Dad took a sip of his water.

  Emily didn’t miss the way he avoided looking them in the eye. “You don’t believe her, do you?” Everyone knew Marika was a liar. And a cheat. And a thief. At least she used to be. Had she really changed?

  “Sheriff Kaleva will continue questioning her tonight once her attorney arrives in Rock Harbor. He got a warrant to search the place she’s been staying at the last few days, so they might find something there.”

  “What about Naomi?” Timmy changed the subject smoothly. Either he thought there was information about their stepmom, or it bothered him more than he let on to talk about Marika. Emily figured it was the latter.

  The pain and exhaustion in Dad’s eyes was clear. “They’re looking.”

  “What about Geoff Makinen?” Emily asked. “What did the sheriff find out about him?”

  “He hasn’t been located yet. According to his roommate, Geoff had plans to go camping in the Ottawa National Forest this week since he’d gotten fired.”

  “He’s missing? He’s a suspect in Naomi’s disappearance and he’s missing? Why isn’t the sheriff out searching the Ottawa?” Emily couldn’t believe this. Why hadn’t Inetta heard? She would have definitely told Emily if she’d known.

  “They’ve called in the park services to help. Kade and the other rangers are searching for Geoff. The problem is, his friend didn’t exactly know where he planned to camp.” Dad took a sip of his coffee. “It’ll just take some time to find him, but Kade will.”

  “What about Odetta Sayers, that waitress who was so mean to Naomi the day of the fire?”

  “She’s got an alibi. Sheriff Kaleva verified it.”

  Frustration squeezed Emily’s heart. “So basically, they have no leads and no idea where Naomi is?”

  Dad reached across the table and took one of her hands and one of Timmy’s. “Look, I know we’re all upset. We’re all a little scared. And that’s okay.”

  Emily couldn’t get over how clammy Dad’s hand felt against hers. She ran her thumb over his rough knuckles.

  “But we’re going to find Naomi and bring her home.” His voice caught on the last word.

  For the first time, Emily noticed the sadness in the creases around his eyes. She wanted to say something—anything to bring him some comfort—but she had no words.

  Tears slipped out of Timmy’s eyes. He sniffed and wiped at his face, but he couldn’t stop crying.

  Dad let go of Emily’s hand to pull Timmy into his lap and hold him. Many nights, Emily had stood in the hallway and watched Dad hold her brother just like this, when he’d woke up screaming from nightmares about Marika. And now the only mother he loved, the only one who’d ever been a mother to him, was missing.

  It isn’t fair!

  “Guys, I know it feels hopeless right now, but it’s not.” Dad’s smile looked forced. “Do you think Naomi’s disappearance caught God by surprise? It didn’t.”

  “Then why doesn’t he let her come home?” Timmy buried his face against Dad’s shirt and sobbed.

  “I don’t have all the answers, son.” Dad reached out a hand to Emily.

  She took his hand. It was even clammier than before, if that was possible.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he
said again.

  If only she could believe that.

  “I told you I wouldn’t forget to tell him you were bringing your laptop.” Olivia nudged Emily as Charles approached their locker, wearing his glasses and a big smile.

  For several weeks, Emily had suspected Charles and Olivia liked liked each other. By the way Olivia blushed at Charles’s smile, it sure looked like she was right.

  “Hi, Emily. Olivia said you were having problems with your laptop?”

  She handed it to him. “It’s going really, really slow.”

  “Is it just when you’re on the Internet? You might have a slow connection at your house or need to upgrade your wireless router.”

  “Well, it’s slow then, but the last few days it’s been slow even when I’m not on the Internet.”

  He slipped her laptop into his backpack. “I’ll look at it during computer lab today. I might ask Mr. Jones to help. Is that okay?”

  “Sure.” The keyboarding teacher was pretty cool, for an old guy. “Thanks, Charles. I appreciate it.”

  “Me too,” Olivia added, then her face turned red. Charles blushed as well.

  Emily pressed her lips together against the smile.

  “I’ll meet you back here at your locker after school to give you your computer back and let you know what we find out.” Charles turned and headed toward the math classrooms.

  Olivia stared after him.

  This time, Emily didn’t stop the smile. “You like him.”

  Her best friend’s face turned redder. “Of course I like him. He’s a nice guy. And he’s doing you a favor.”

  “Uh-huh.” Emily shut her locker and grinned at Olivia’s ever-reddening face.

  “Shut up.” Olivia nudged Emily toward homeroom. “He’s just a friend doing a favor for us. That’s all.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I say so.” Olivia paused for a moment. “I looked at the Suomi Café help-wanted ad in the paper this morning. I wonder if Mackenzie will apply.”

  “Smooth change of subject.” But Emily was willing to let it go. She didn’t want to embarrass Liv any more than she already was. “I didn’t even have time to look through the paper this morning because I was busy helping Grandma get Timmy and Matthew ready. Dad left to go search with Kade and the other rangers early.”