Cheryl Tardif - Children of the Fog

She secretly clipped every newspaper article about The Fog. She even went to the Sun and Journal and bought old papers. She kept everything in a plastic container in her closet, taking them out every few hours to sort through them and make notes. However, she refused to look at the other children in the photos.

Except Sam. She cried each time she saw his face.

Her brother and sister-in-law called from Halifax. Brad, a Master Seaman in the Canadian Armed Forces, was preparing to be deployed to Afghanistan. They apologized for not being able to drop everything, find a sitter for their two young kids and fly to Edmonton. Sadie told them not to worry, that by the time they got here, the police would have found Sam and brought him home.

She wanted so desperately to believe this.

Then her parents called. They wanted to fly up from Arizona where they’d been enjoying the snowbird life, but Sadie persuaded them not to. Their questions were already driving her half-crazy.

“There’s nothing you can do anyway,” she told them.

“But we want to be there for you,” her mother said tearfully.

“I know.”

And she did. Her mother always meant well, but Sadie just couldn’t deal with listening to her mother’s sobs each night.

“Call us if you hear anything,” her mother pleaded.

“I will. Thanks, Mom.”

“And honey, if you need anything—”

“I’ll call. Love you.”

When Philip returned home that night, he reeked of Jack Daniels and culpability. He sprawled on the sofa beside her.

“I think the investors did take Sam,” he slurred. “If I’d only known what they’d do, I’d never have taken their money. Not if I knew they’d take my boy.” He slumped to the floor in front of her and clung to her legs like a baby. “I screwed up, Sadie.”

“Yeah, you did,” she said stiffly.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m locked away,” he moaned. “I’m not made for prison.”

She was disgusted. “ That’s what you’re worried about?”

In that instant, her husband went from Godlike legal legend to a sniveling coward. She pushed him away, then stormed across the room. Pausing in the doorway, she was tempted to leave him drowning in his guilt.

“The Fog took Sam,” she said bitterly. “You had nothing to do with it. Neither did any of your clients.”

Philip’s head rose, a half-crazed expression in his eyes. “You think so?” He wiped his nose and staggered to his feet. “Yeah. You’re right, Sadie. It’s not my fault. It can’t be.”

She left him in the living room, talking to himself, and when she reached their bedroom, she closed the door and locked it.

Philip would get the message. If he made it up the stairs.

After Philip left for work the next morning, she turned on the television, hoping to catch news about Sam. But Philip’s face was plastered on the screen instead. Underneath, two words in bold print flashed in alarm. FRAUD INVESTIGATION!

A reporter brushed something off her tailored suit jacket, then gave a brief announcement stating that two employees at Fleming Warner Law Offices were being questioned about allegations of fraud. The woman named Philip and Morris Saunders as co-conspirators.

The next segment was on hockey, so Sadie turned off the TV. With nothing else to do, she drew up the courage to call Matthew Bornyk. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hello?” His voice was husky, whether naturally or from lack of sleep, she didn’t know.

She sucked in a breath. “Mr. Bornyk, this is Sadie O’Connell. You don’t know me but—”

“I know who you are.” His voice sounded wide awake all of a sudden. “Is there any news about your son?”

“No, nothing.” She paused, embarrassed. “I-I’m not sure why I called.”

“I’m glad you did. I was going to call you.”

“Really? It seems a bit… odd. Talking to someone I’ve never met, I mean.”

“I have an idea. Why don’t you meet me for coffee? You and your husband.”

The offer surprised her. She wasn’t sure what she had thought the call would accomplish, but she hadn’t expected to meet the man face-to-face.

“Name the place and the time,” she said.

“Borealis Café, downtown on Jasper Ave,” he said. “I can be there in an hour. Do you need directions?”

“No. I know exactly where it is.” She hung up.

Borealis Cafe was right across from Fleming Warner Law Offices. In addition, it showed up often on their VISA bill. Philip took Brigitte there quite often. For business lunches, he said.

Yeah, right!

Matthew Bornyk had aged ten years since the photo she had seen in the newspaper. Although there wasn’t a trace of gray in his sandy-blond hair, the lines under his gray-blue eyes and the pallor of his face spoke of sleepless nights and unbearable pain.

“Have a seat,” he said, indicating the chair across from him. “Do you want some coffee? They make a wicked house blend. Or if you’re hungry, the caramel apple pie here is excell—” He looked away, frowning. “Sorry, I’m rambling.”

After a young waiter filled their mugs with the Borealis house blend, Matthew leaned forward. “Your husband couldn’t make it?”

“He’s tied up with… business meetings.”

There was an awkward silence before the man said, “I heard.”

“Hard not to. It’s all over the news.”

Matthew took a sip of coffee. “I’m sorry.”

“Philip always wanted to live like a king.” The words were out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying.

“What about you?” Matthew asked.

“I’m no queen. I only need one thing. My son.”

Her hand trembled as she lifted the mug, and Matthew did something unexpected. He reached across the table and grasped her hand. His warm touch drew a soft gasp from her. Not knowing what else to do, she stared at the hand that covered hers. It was strong and tanned, except for the pale circle of skin on his left ring finger.

“We’ll find them,” he said. “Both of them. As soon as we get a break, a witness—”

She snatched her hand back.

How could she look this man in the eye? He wanted a witness and had no idea he was having coffee with one. The humiliation and uncertainty was eating her alive.

What if I told him?

The answer hit her immediately.

Then Sam will die.

Matthew cocked his head, watching her. “I hope we hear something soon.”

“Me too,” she said tiredly. “Did you see anything? When Cortnie was taken?”

“I was asleep. Didn’t even know she was gone until the next morning.” He stared into his coffee mug. “She always had coffee with me before school.” He smiled. “Hot chocolate for her.”

For the next half hour, they swapped stories. She told him about Sam’s obsession with bats. How he’d quit little league because he believed the wooden bats were related to his furry ‘friends’.

“The next day, he drew faces on a bat that Philip bought on eBay.” At Matthew’s puzzled look, she grinned. “A baseball bat. It was autographed by the Toronto Blue Jays.”

“Yikes. That probably didn’t go over well.”

“No. Not at all.”

Needing a moment to clear her head, she waved to the server and pushed her mug toward him. Matthew did the same. The kid filled both mugs, then left them a handful of creamers.

“Cortnie’s obsession is books,” Mathew said, stirring his coffee. “She’s read every Harry Potter. Sometimes I’d find her reading under her blankets. With a flashlight. She also reads those Cup of Soup books.”

Sadie snickered.

“What?” he asked.

“Chicken Soup books.”