David Bell - The Hiding Place

“That’s right.”

“Why aren’t you going to see him?”

Janet came farther into the room, stopping at the foot of Ashleigh’s bed. “Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Janet said. “Not after today. I just don’t think it would be right.”

“Does he know anything about what happened to Justin?” Ashleigh asked.

Janet wasn’t sure how to answer that. “He certainly has some questions about what happened that day.”

“Then you should go.”

“Why are you so certain about this?”

“What if he knows something? What if it helps?”

What if he does? But everything Michael said ran counter to what they’d found out earlier. Michael thought his father was involved in the crime, not that Justin was still alive. But Janet also knew that a part of her-a bigger part than she cared to admit-wasn’t just going out to discuss Justin’s disappearance with Michael. She wanted to see him and would have whether there had been a break in the case or not. The news about the case just gave her a bit of cover when she showed up at his house asking to see him.

“I don’t know,” Janet said.

“Mom, I’m not a kid. Look at what I did today.”

That’s what worries me, Janet thought. Ashleigh didn’t quite know the location of the line between stupid and brave.

“Grandpa’s home,” Janet said. “I told him I was going out and to keep an eye on you.”

“I’ll bet he’s thrilled.”

“He’ll keep an ear out. He likes you.”

“I’ll probably be asleep in an hour,” Ashleigh said. “It’s been a long day.”

Before Janet left, she said, “It was nice of Kevin to come home with you today.”

Ashleigh nodded.

“Maybe we should have him over for dinner some night. You two used to spend a lot of time together at our house, but now I hardly ever see him.”

“This isn’t our house,” Ashleigh said.

“It is our house. Now. And I grew up here. What do you say? Should we have Kevin over for dinner some night? Maybe play a game or something? I feel like I should see more of him since you two are so close.”

“I can tell you’re fishing,” Ashleigh said. “We’re just friends.”

At the door, Janet stopped and looked back. “Hey,” she said. “Are you worried about me? The police said I should stay home.”

Ashleigh gave Janet a long look. She really seemed to be considering her mother, weighing her pros and cons and making a balanced judgment.

“I think you’ll be okay.”

“Because I’m tough like you?”

Ashleigh tried to hide the little smile that grew across her face. “No, because there are cops outside and if the bogeyman tries to get you, they’ll save the day. You’ll be fine.”

Janet smiled. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am. Are you?”

“Yes, I think I’m getting there.”

It was high summer, and even after nine o’clock in western Ohio a faint tint of pink remained at the horizon. They were just past the longest day of the year, and as Janet stepped outside into the warm night, she was aware of the slow unwinding of the days, the sense that summer could go on forever.

But she was old enough to know that it wouldn’t. Even then, the days were starting to reverse, the daylight growing incrementally shorter until it was time for Ashleigh to go back to school and time for the students to return to Cronin.

Would they know something by then? Would it all be resolved?

And if it was, what would life be like then in the absence of mystery?

Janet fumbled for her keys and approached her car. She wondered whether it was even worth it to see Michael, to tell him about the events of the day. She knew she would, of course. She wouldn’t be able to shut him out. But she also understood that he might not be ready to give her the kind of response she was hoping for. She wanted someone-Michael, in particular-to share her joy, her confusion, her fear, but he seemed too absorbed in his own feelings about his father to be there for anyone else.

Before Janet slipped into the car, headlights approached the house. The vehicle moved slowly, like someone searching for something. Janet felt her heart jump a little. As the car slowed even more at their house, she considered going back inside. But then in the disappearing light she saw the outline of the top of the car-a rack of lights and sirens.

Janet felt relief wash over her. The police.

They turned the interior light on in the car as Janet walked down the driveway. She leaned in, getting closer to eye level with the officer in the passenger seat. He was young, probably just out of college. His hair was cut short, making his head appear sleek and bullet-shaped.

“Evening, ma’am,” he said. “Are you Mrs. Manning?”

“Ms. Manning.”

“Is everything okay here?” the officer asked.

“Yes,” Janet said. “Why?”

She took a quick look at the cop in the driver’s seat. A female officer, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She nodded at Janet.

“No worries, ma’am,” the first officer said. “Detective Stynes asked us to keep an eye on this house, so we saw you out here and wanted to check in.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “We’re all fine. My father and daughter are still in the house.”

“Just call us if you need anything.”

“Have you seen anything?” Janet asked. “There’s a man…”

“Detective Stynes told us. But we haven’t seen anybody. We’ll be patrolling all night.”

Janet felt relief as they drove away. Someone would be watching the house and the neighborhood once she was gone. She could put her mother’s guilt and fears aside-to some extent.

Janet walked back up the driveway, heading for her car. The crickets in the grass started chirping in greater numbers, and a few stars, low and bright, emerged in the growing darkness. Janet looked up at the house one more time, saw the TV glow in her father’s room, the soft light through the curtains in Ashleigh’s. It looked so normal, so peaceful. But had it ever felt that way to her? Had it ever felt like a safe, normal home?

Her hand hovered above the door handle, but before she gripped it the voice came from the darkness next to the house.

“Janet?”

Her body spun halfway toward the sound, releasing the handle. For a moment, she thought she imagined the call, but then she saw the shape of a man emerging from the darkness, moving toward the car. Janet looked to the front door. The angle of the man’s approach meant that if she ran, she might not make it past him.

Was it him? Was it the man from the porch?

“Who’s there?” she asked.

“It’s me,” the voice said.

Then she saw it-the familiar thin frame.

“Michael?”

He came closer and smiled a little. “It’s me,” he said again.

“Jesus. I was on my way to your house.”

“My mom’s house,” he said.

“Did you call here and find out where I was going?” she asked.

“No, I guess we’re just on the same wavelength tonight.” He smiled, the wattage turned up high. “There’s something I want to do. It’s easier this way.”

Janet’s heart calmed down, the rhythm easing from the bass drum pounding when she heard that voice in the dark.

“The police were just here,” she said. “They’re watching the house. If they’d seen you creeping around…”

“I saw them,” he said. “Why are they watching the house? Did something happen?”

“Oh, Jesus, Michael. So much. That’s what I wanted to come and tell you.”

He placed his hand on her arm. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s walk and talk at the same time.”

“Are you sure?” Janet stopped. Michael seemed distant, distracted. Despite the strength of the smile, something looked off. “Is something wrong?”