Little Lost Things Read online

  Grace recognized his voice without him identifying himself. “It’s Grace Walker. Do you remember me? You might know me as Grace Ward.”

  “Of course, Grace. How are you? Scratch that. I’m guessing this isn’t a social call to catch up.”

  “Johnny’s missing. We haven’t seen him since about six-thirty last night. We thought he spent a night with a friend. When the school called to say he didn’t show up today, Ryan and I started calling everyone we could think of. No one has seen him.”

  “Hang on,” Agent Michaels said and put her on hold.

  Grace was irritated that he cut her off so abruptly. What could be more important than a missing, disabled teenager? She took a breath and told herself to trust that he had a good reason. He’d come through for them when Johnny was a baby when they were desperate to find out where he’d come from. Agent Michaels would know what to do.

  He kept Grace waiting for almost five minutes before he came back on the line. “Sorry for keeping you waiting so long,” he said. “It took a minute to pull Johnny’s file. While I scroll through it, give me the details of why you think Johnny’s missing? Has there been any family trouble?”

  Grace dreaded having to divulge what she’d done to one more person. She felt guiltier and angrier with herself after each retelling, but Johnny’s disappearance wasn’t about her. She’d suffer whatever it took to find him. Grace gave Agent Michaels all the details and held her breath while she waited for him to respond.

  He whistled and said, “That’s rough. Why didn’t you tell him about his past? You hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, you saved his life.”

  “Long story. I had my reasons. Does that matter now?”

  “No, you’re right. You can sort that out once he’s home. You’ve done the right thing to contact me. Most likely he’s holed up at a friend’s house licking his wounds, but given his health issues and history, we need to treat this as a missing person’s case. I just gave instructions for one of my agents to enter him into the missing person database,” he said. “I’ll need some updated information. We’ll need recent photos too. Give them to Agent Shepherd when she gets there.”

  “You don’t want us to come to your office?” Grace asked. That’s what they’d done when they worked with him in the past.

  “No, stay where you are. It’s better to set up a base of operations in your home. Agent Shepherd will take the lead on the case and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies. We won’t stop working until Johnny is safe at home.”

  “You’re not coming?” Grace asked, disappointed that they’d have to work with a stranger.

  “No, I’m the Special Agent in Charge of this field office now. I’ll be involved in the case, but Agent Shepherd will head operations. Hopefully, Johnny will be home before she has time to set up. Now, how tall is Johnny? What color is his hair? Oh, and he’s not in a wheelchair?”

  “No, he walks with crutches. He’s six foot, has broad shoulders, but he’s kind of gawky. His hair is still blond.”

  Agent Michaels whistled again. “Six foot? Big boy. And on crutches. Shouldn’t be hard to locate. How’s his health? Does he have his meds?”

  Grace broke down at the question. He’d taken his backpack but hadn’t gone to his room before he stormed. She was sickened that she had no idea if he had his meds. Grace wiped her cheeks with her sleeve and cleared her throat. “I don’t know.”

  “That’s fine,” he said and continued to ask her a series of questions. Grace was grateful that she could answer them. “The majority of runaways in a similar situation show up after a day or two. I’m sure Johnny’s a smart kid with you as his mother. He knows where his bread is buttered. Agent Shepherd knows her stuff, and she’s a mom, too. Trust her as you would me. I’ll stick my head in when I can. Don’t hesitate to call at this number any time.”

  The doorbell rang as she was about to thank him. “Someone’s at the door. Maybe it’s Johnny,” she said and disconnected the call.

  * * *

  Johnny’s eyelids felt like lead weights. It took three tries and fierce concentration to force them open. He looked around the unfamiliar room and snapped them shut again. His heart started to pound, and his breath quickened. He had no memory of how he’d gotten into this room. The last thing he remembered was calling Ty to come rescue him, but he’d ended up on a narrow, creaky bed in a small shabby bedroom he’d never seen.

  He swung his feet to the floor and raised himself into a sitting position. The room spun for a few seconds, but he focused on a paper tacked to the wall across from him to make it stop. When the dizziness faded, he was relieved to see his crutches leaning against a table next to the bed. He wasn’t steady enough to stand yet, but he was glad he’d have his crutches when he was ready to make his getaway.

  He was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt that didn’t belong to him and wondered who’d changed his clothes. He pulled the waistband of the sweatpants down to check his underwear. At least those were his, so whoever changed him hadn’t seen him naked.

  There was a terrible taste in his mouth, and his head pounded as hard as his heart. Did I have a seizure? he wondered. He didn’t feel like he usually did after a seizure. This feeling was something new.

  When his head cleared, he realized he needed to pee. As nervous as he was about standing, he was more afraid of wetting his pants. He reached for his crutches and pushed himself onto his legs. He took a few seconds to make sure he was stable before moving when it occurred to him that he didn’t know where the bathroom was.

  He decided to risk finding out who had brought him to that strange place. “Hello,” he said. The word came out like a croak. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Is anyone there?”

  Seconds later, footsteps thumped on what sounded like wooden stairs. His heart raced faster, but he didn’t back down. He had to know what was happening to him. He braced the backs of his legs against the bed in case he had to use his crutches as a weapon.

  The woman who entered the room looked familiar, but Johnny couldn’t remember why. She wore a nurses’ uniform, and her black hair was pulled up with a clip. He wondered if she worked with Grace or in one of his doctors’ offices. She was a little taller than Grace, but not by much, and she had a slight build. Johnny was sure he could take her if she attacked him.

  He shifted his weight to his left leg and pointed his right crutch at her. “Stay there. Who are you? Why’d you bring me here?”

  “I guess you figured out that I’m not Ty’s aunt,” she said, with a smile.

  Memories from the night before flooded his brain. That was how he knew her. “How did you know about Ty? Where are we?”

  “Calm down, Johnny. You have nothing to fear from me. I’d never hurt you. Sit down. Let me explain.”

  She took a step toward him, and Johnny leaned away with his crutch still pointed at her. “I said, stay there.”

  She stopped and held up her hands in surrender. “I’ll stay here but sit down before you fall. I can see your legs shaking.”

  Johnny stared at her for a few seconds before slowly lowering himself onto the bed. She was right. His legs were about to give out. He wouldn’t be able to defend himself very well if he was flat on his back.

  “That’s better.” She gestured to a chair in the corner. “Do you mind if I sit, too? I can’t reach you from there.”

  She continued grinning at him, probably trying to put him at ease, but Johnny thought it was creepy. He nodded anyway. He’d rather have her sitting.

  Making himself look as threatening as he could, he said, “What’s your name? Where are we? Did you kidnap me? Why does everyone keep kidnapping me?”

  “My name is Mara Brennen. We’re at my home in Richmond. You’ll see The James if you look out the window. And I didn’t kidnap you, Johnny. I brought you home. You see, I’m your mother.”

  Johnny would have jumped up if he could. Instead, he stared at her in shock. “No, you can’t be my mother,” he stammered. “My
mother’s dead. She died having me.” He lowered his voice and looked at the floor. “That’s the first time I’ve said that. I just found out yesterday.”

  “What you found out are more lies. Whatever you read in Alec’s book, whatever Grace and Ryan told you, all lies. If you’re willing to listen, I’ll tell you the story of who you truly are.”

  * * *

  Grace ran for the door expecting to see her Johnny. Instead, she swung the door wide to find an attractive thirty-something woman of about five-five with her brown hair tied neatly into a ponytail. She wore a tailored black pant-suit with a fitted white blouse. Grace was surprised she wasn’t wearing dark sunglasses. She peeked around her, looking for the black SUV, but it was only a late-model silver sedan.

  The woman showed Grace her credentials. “I’m Special Agent Nichol Shepherd. Are you Grace Walker?”

  Grace nodded and moved aside to let the agent inside. “How’d you get here so fast?”

  “Didn’t have far to go, and we’re always prepared to move quickly when a missing minor is involved.”

  Before Grace could close the door, two more sedans pulled up to the house. Four people got out and retrieved various cases from the backseats and trunks. They came to the door and stared at Grace. She stepped aside to let them in as well.

  While Agent Shepherd made introductions, Steph burst in through the kitchen and wrapped Grace in a suffocating hug.

  “She’s not one of mine,” Agent Shepherd said.

  Grace unwrapped herself. “My stepdaughter, Stephanie Walker,” Grace told Agent Shepherd and turned to Steph. “What are you doing here? There’s nothing you can do.”

  Steph took Grace’s hand and pulled her along as they followed Agent Shepherd into the living room. “You’re kidding, right? My baby brother is missing. Did you think I wouldn’t come?”

  The rest of the FBI entourage followed them into the living room. They formed a half-circle behind Agent Shepherd and stared at Grace.

  “Where should we set up, boss?” a young man in a t-shirt, hoodie and ball cap asked. He looked young enough to be the older brother to one of Johnny’s friends. Grace suddenly felt old and tired. She dropped onto the couch and rubbed her temples. Agent Shepherd eyed Grace in question.

  “I don’t care,” Grace said. “Set up wherever you want.”

  Steph sat next to Grace and took her hand. “In here is fine,” she told Agent Shepherd.

  Agent Shepherd cocked her head at the rest of them and they jumped into motion. Within minutes, they had their equipment spread over the top of the dining room table. Agent Shepherd carried one of the dining room chairs over to the living room and sat facing Grace.

  “I’ll collect the photos Special Agent Michaels asked for before I interview you. We need to get the fliers made. Do you have those ready?”

  Grace shook her head. “I didn’t have time, but it will only take a minute.”

  As Grace got up to gather the photos of Johnny, Ryan rushed into the living room from the kitchen as Steph had done. He threw his arms around Grace and whispered into her ear. “I’m here, and Johnny’s going to be fine. He’s just furious with us and hiding at a friend’s house. That’s all this is.”

  Grace fought her tears and nodded without a word. Ryan stepped back and hugged Steph before acknowledging the other people in the room. With his arm around Grace’s shoulder, he extended his right hand to Agent Shepherd. “Ryan Walker, Johnny’s dad.”

  Agent Shepherd introduced herself. “Your wife was about to get some photos of your son for me. Would you mind answering questions while she does?”

  “I’d be happy to,” Ryan said and sat on the couch where Grace had been.

  Grace was halfway to the kitchen to grab the pictures of Johnny when the doorbell rang. What now? she thought and went to answer it. Before she could turn the knob, two agents flanked her at the door.

  “From now on, use the peephole before opening the door,” the agent Shepherd had introduced as Crawford said. “Just in case.”

  Just in case what? Grace wondered. She stood on her tiptoes and saw two police officers on the stoop. She stepped back and gestured for Agent Crawford to open the door. “Be my guest. He probably wants to talk to you,” she said.

  Agent Crawford introduced himself and Grace to the officers and ushered them to Agent Shepherd. Grace didn’t go after them. She peeked at the cars lining the curb just as a car marked Sheriff pulled in behind the police car. She waited for the sheriff and what must have been a deputy at the door. After more introductions, she pointed them to the rest of the group and escaped to the kitchen.

  She leaned on the table and tried to ignore her pounding heart. Scott Michaels hadn’t been kidding when he’d said they’d pull out all the stops to find Johnny. Grace was more than grateful and would do anything to help find her son, but the mushrooming crowd in her living room was suffocating her.

  Less than twenty-four hours earlier, she’d been going about an ordinary day. Now, her world had been thrown off its axis. Alec had once told her that she’d had enough trauma in her life for ten people. That number had bumped up to fifteen.

  She didn’t have time to stand there pitying herself, so she shook her head to clear it and grabbed a stack of random photos from the drawer where she kept them. She didn’t dare look at them as she turned to rejoin the others. Before she made it to the living room, the kitchen door swung open and Alec burst through it. She pulled Grace into a hug and held her for a long minute before moving away. She laid her hand on Grace’s shoulders and studied her face

  “How can this be happening? Where is our boy? What do you need from me?”

  Grace shrugged free of Alec’s hands and turned her back. “I told you not to come. The living room is full to bursting as it is. There’s nothing you can do, and having you here only adds to my stress.”

  “Stop it, Grace. I’m not leaving your side until Johnny is under this roof. I’m not just here for you. Johnny is family. I’ve known him as long as you have, and I love him almost as much as you do. Now, sit down and tell me what they’re saying. What’s the plan?”

  Grace sank onto a chair and reached for Alec’s hand as she took the chair facing her. “I’m still mad at you. I’m trying not to blame you even though it’s your fault.”

  “Don’t act like you’re squeaky clean in this, but there will be time to assign blame later.”

  “Don’t interrupt,” Grace snapped. “Having said that, I’m glad you ignored me and came. I hate to admit that I can’t function without my Alec.”

  Alec covered Grace’s hand with hers. Images of times they’d huddled together during their multitude of traumas flooded Grace’s mind. Instead of weakening her already fragile mental state, they gave her strength. They’d conquered those obstacles. They’d survive this together.

  “Thank you, friend, for understanding me better than anyone in the world.”

  “That’s better. Now, let’s get to work.”

  Grace stood and scooped the pictures from the table. She grasped Alec’s hand and led her to the base of operations, which only minutes before had been an ordinary room and an ordinary house. The chaos reminded Grace that being ordinary had been an illusion, but with Alec and Ryan at her side, she could face what the world threw at her.

  * * *

  “I’ve recorded Ryan’s account of what happened. Now I’d like yours,” Agent Shepherd said.

  Every eye turned on Grace. She hadn’t expected to perform for an audience, and her courage wavered, but Ryan and Alec each squeezed a hand, and she felt their strength flow into her.

  “Things have been rocky between Johnny and me lately, but we had called a truce on Sunday. Everything was fine. Then, he came home from school yesterday and found Alec’s book.”

  Agent Shepherd held up their copy and Grace cringed.

  “Your husband told me Johnny’s history. I’ve read his original file.”

  “You understand why he was so upset?”

 
; Agent Shepherd nodded.

  “He learned the devastating secrets we kept from him with no one there to explain. We had a terrible argument and he stormed out. I wanted to go after him, but Ryan said to let him go blow off steam. I should have gone with my gut and stopped him. How could I let my baby go?”

  “Stop blaming yourself,” Agent Shepherd said. “That’s just a useless waste of the energy you’ll need to get you through this. Tell me what happened next.”

  “We went to bed and watched a movie. I thought Johnny would come home after a few hours, or at least by morning to get ready for school, but he didn’t. Ryan let me sleep late. I got up around nine-thirty, which is rare for me, especially after what happened the night before. If I hadn’t slept so long, I would have figured out that Johnny was missing much sooner.

  "The school called shortly after I woke up to find out why he was absent. We’re supposed to call if he’s going to be absent. After that, we started calling his friends and family.” She mentioned Johnny calling Ty and not being there when Ty’s brother showed up to get him.

  “This gives us a solid timeframe. I’ve asked Ryan to make a list of anyone he’s contacted. I’d like you to do the same. We also need a list of anyone you can think of that Johnny has frequent contact with. While you’re doing that, I’m going to interview Mrs. Emerson and Ms. Walker. When I’m finished, we’re going to get the word out on all social media platforms, get posters made and posted, and start canvassing your neighborhood. If you think of anything else that will aid in the search, please tell one of us immediately.”

  When Grace gave Ryan a worried glance, Agent Shepherd said, “I feel confident that Johnny is hiding out somewhere you wouldn’t think to look. We’ll do our best to have him home for dinner.”

  Grace wasn’t so sure. She was afraid that Johnny got impatient waiting for Ty to come, decided to walk instead, and had a seizure. He could be lying passed out in some freezing-cold ditch.

  When Grace told Agent Shepherd that, Sheriff Granderson said, “My deputy is searching the streets in the immediate area,” the sheriff said. “If he were on the street, he would have been spotted by now.”