Chapter 72

Alan
I had agreed to the interview.
Dad, mom, all four of my sisters and I, would be on a stage, while a woman, Margarette Knowles, would ask us questions, mostly regarding who my father was as a father, husband, and all around good guy. I agreed, and thanks to Anna, only thanks to Anna, was I flying back home to Minneapolis this weekend.
When I told Anna about my predicament, I thought she would have just offered me some words of advice and sent me on my way. But when she told me that she would go with me this weekend, my entire demeaner shifted.
"Short day today huh?" Delilah asks as we pass each other at the mailboxes. I had just come home from speaking to Mr. Moley and requesting this Friday off.
"Um, yeah, kids had a minimum day. Shorter classes so the teachers could play catch up." I don't know how I should act around Delilah. To say it was a surprise seeing her at Creations when I went in to see Anna is an understatement.
"Relax. You don't have to be afraid of me. I had no idea you were dating my boss. I feel bad for you, really I do." I laugh at her a little and she genuinely looks confused, so I explain myself.
"You don't have to feel sorry for me Delilah. Yeah, okay Anna can be a little aggressive, but it's one of the reasons I love her so much. She is the most loyal, kindest, most compassionate person I know, and only the people she allows close to heart, know that about her. I'm honored she's in my life, and I think if you gave her the chance, you would see it." I head into my apartment after that and right as I set my briefcase down, my phone rings. It's my dad and I let out a loud sigh before answering the phone.
"Hey dad." I answer reluctantly.
"Son. Your mother and I spoke and decided that if you don't want to be a part of the interview Saturday, then you don't have to be. I just don't want you to not be a part of it because you're afraid we would be embarrassed or something." I close my eyes at my father's words. As kind as they are, I just can't believe them. He can't predict the future, he has no idea if he will be upset or not.
Mom and dad only know the outside layer of what happened that night. They know I got drunk and got behind the wheel, but they have no idea, it wasn't the first time. They have no idea that I was down a spiral and no one could help me.
"Dad, I spoke with Anna, and I've decided I will come down this weekend and do the interview with you all. I only have one condition." I wait for my dad's go ahead and tell him about Anna coming as well.
"Oh Bean, what a great idea. Anna hasn't been home in so long and I miss my sweet girl. She can stay in Amari's old room while you two are here. Oh, and I can make her favorite dishes and…."
Mom goes on like this for a while in the background and I can hear dad chuckle at her. I laugh along with him and tell him I will book the tickets tomorrow.
"Nonsense Alan. I'm the one who invited you guys. I'll get the tickets for you guys, just want your email for the details."
Dad and I talk a while longer, I can still hear mom in the background letting me know she is going to run down to the corner bakery and pick up those Swedish cookies Anna loves so much. My smile grows larger when I hear dad yell out why she never makes his favorite cookies. When we get off the phone, I text Anna letting her know that we will be leaving Friday afternoon.
Everything has me on edge lately and has me reaching for something I shouldn't be more and more. Anna is by my side. Laynie and Jared are good and happy, and my job is something I love. Life couldn't be better, and yet, I don't feel complete. I use my phone and search for the only thing that can possibly help me when I get this low. I find one that is just outside the city and starts in half an hour. I grab my keys, wallet, and phone and head out to my car.

"Hi, my name is Chloe, and I'm an alcoholic."
"Hello Chloe." The room erupts.
Chloe looks to be no older than fifty. Her hands are in her sweater pockets and her too baggy jeans are faded and worn. She's homeless, of that much I'm sure. She begins telling us of how she had three beautiful children but lost them when she started drinking heavily. Turns out she worked at a hotel for the last twenty-two years, had an amazing husband and thee gorgeous girls.
Life was perfect.
Until it wasn't.
Her mother was murdered by her stepfather, he had gone crazy and thought that she was cheating on him. He shot her in the head and fled the country. They never found him. Chloe went down a spiral after that. She started drinking when she thought she heard her mother screaming her name at night, became violent with her husband and eventually got the kids taken away from her when she was arrested for a DUI having no idea she had her youngest daughter, age eight at the time, in the car with her.
She had hit four parked cars.
I listen to each of their stories and when it's my turn, I decline my story. I've gone to AA meetings before. My first one was court issued but only lasted ten weeks. When I was released and deemed fit for society again, I didn't feel like myself, so I continued going. I stopped when I started running into my old high school friends and people that knew my family. Being in the meeting made me feel low, especially when I would tell my story, but it got worse when people whom had known me my whole life, would watch me walk into the building.
"We won't judge you man, you'd be surprised what we have done while intoxicated." A man named Ralph tells me.
Ralph's story was a bit of a sad one for me. He is in his late sixties. Has four children and eight grandchildren and has been drinking since he was twenty. His whole family is used to it but that means they aren't close to him because of it. He has always been the outsider, the one they invite only because of their mother, his wife of forty-three years. Last year, his wife got cancer and was given four months to live. Everyone in his family was devastated when she passed and since then, he hasn't been welcomed to anything they have for birthday parties, holidays, or any family function.
"Yes, please share. It helps, trust me." Chloe says wiping at her tears with an extended tissue from the AA meeting manager Charles.
I nod my head once and explain. The horrible night, the cloud of euphoria I felt after drinking myself into an oblivion and what happened six months later. I explain everything, I tell them about Edith, and even about moving out here from Minneapolis. I don't mention my father's campaign, or how I'm worried I might embarrass him when the story gets out. I don't mention the reporters from yesterday, but I do tell them about me being a teacher. I look for the signs of disgust, the faces of worry and pity, but they don't come. Just understanding and support.
I end my story and realize that Chloe was right. I feel much better. I Feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I still have the fear of this weekend, and the fear of Anna one day waking up and leaving me because she didn't agree to be the son of the senator with a drinking problem, but a small part of me is healed. It seems I have met a group of people I can finally talk to without feeling inadequate.

"Alright guys, clean up your glitter, paint, glue and grab the wipes I have on the front of each row of desks to wipe them down." I wait while chaos breaks out.
I had the class create an art project. The subject was for them to see and understand the concept of art being in the eye of the beholder. I showed them the Mona Lisa and as much as some of the guys giggled and shoved each other, they understood that back in 1504, women weren't necessarily taking selfies with their iPhones.
A knock at my door alerts the entire class and everyone stops what they are doing and stares at it. I don't know what the fascination must be, but when I open it and principal Mobley walks in, the class gives me the 'what did you do?' stare. I wave my hands at them and they continue to clean up.
"Sorry to interrupt Alan, but I need to speak with you. It's pretty urgent, if you could come down to my office I would appreciate it." I nod my head at Mr. Mobley and look to my class. There are still ten minutes remaining of school, but Mobley has that taken care of when Mrs. Oblease comes in and takes over.
Mobley and I walk side by side to his office and when I step in right behind him, I stop short and have the door hit me from behind. There are cops, three of them, and a man in a suit sitting at Mobley's desk. Mr. Mobley gaits over to the corner of the room and crosses his arms. Shit, does this have to do with Saturday? Could I lose my job? I was upfront with Mobley, and my DUI is on record, but could they decide they don't want me here?
"Mr. King, my name is Mr. Welch, I am a child protective service agent. Come and sit, I would like to speak to you about one of your students." The man in the suit announces. I remain standing but start moving when he clears his throat.
"Something wrong with one of my students?" I ask once sitting in the uncomfortable wooden chair.
"We think so Mr. King. Young Peter Skinsky has been missing for a few days now and we noticed, you haven't alarmed your principal." I look down in shame. I have been so worried about my past and Anna and everything going on in my life, I've been slipping on my priorities.
"Uh, yes, he has, but it's almost Christmas and we just had that storm. I figured he was sick. Plus, his mother came in once and grabbed his homework for him"
Welch nods his head and writes something down on a small spiraled notebook he has. Once he closes it, he leans closer into me and asks another question.
"Have you met his parents before Mr. King?"
I nod my head and think back on the first time I did meet Peter's parents. I'm not the type to judge a book by its cover, if I were the type of person that believed in stereotypes, I would be playing pro football, or would have been a lawyer. Peter's parents may have been a little rough around the edges, but they seemed to genuinely care for him.
They knew his perks and he even ran to them when he saw them. But there is a small part of me curious as to why they haven't called to tell me he was going to be gone. In fact, Peter stayed after school almost every day until they came and got him. He never caught his own bus. It's almost like he never wanted to go home.
I tell Mr. Welch all of his and he again, begins scribbling in his small notebook. I sneak a glance over to Mobley, but his head is down. I look at the cops and they seem bored. Their sunglasses are on and each one is standing at an angle that screams boredom.
"Who filed him missing?" I ask but already have a feeling of what the answer is.
"His mother, Eliza. She phoned us yesterday and told me Peter hadn't been home. Supposedly little Peter was known to stay behind at school at times, so we thought we would come to you first." He says lifting an eyebrow around the office.
"You can't think that's a liable excuse why she would say her kid has been missing days. I mean yes, he would stay after school at times, but they would always come and pick him up. Both of them."
"I am not an idiot Mr. King. I know this lady doesn't sound credible, but given that she was the one that called, I need to let her believe we don't suspect her. I'm here because I want to know if you can think of anywhere he would be, or if the parents seemed off to you."
I shake my head as he is speaking. I didn't know Peter that well, but there was one thing that seemed off to me. He stuck to Laynie quite a bit when the girls came and helped me decorate my office. Anna has always been a little off with children, especially children Peter's age, but he still seemed to be glued to Laynie's hip. I remember he kept whispering things to her.
I don't say anything though. I don't tell the cops or Mr. Welch about the girls being over or Peter sticking to Laynie. He genuinely seemed happy to see his parents that day, but I make a mental note to ask Laynie if she remembers anything. Women pick up on children before men do.
"No, they were both there to pick him up. He stayed a few times that week, but nothing was off. He wasn't afraid of them, in fact, he seemed like he couldn't wait to be in their arms. They looked happy to see him, I can't believe this." My mind is reeling. One of my students is missing. How do I trust who they all go home with?
Mr. Welch nods his head and stands extending his hand out to mine. I stand as well and extend mine right back. I have to have faith in these people to find him but given their bored appeal, I don't know if they even want to.
"Everything alright Mr. King?" Welch asks.
I shouldn't say anything. I just started here, and I don't want to make my position seem threatening to anyone, but something is rubbing me the wrong with how these cops are in here right now. I know they haven't spoken but they can at least look a little worried, instead of the bored expression they are showing.
"Nothing, it's just." I look over to the cops and welsh follows my gaze. "Is he not the only child to go missing? You all don't seem to be worried that a child is missing. I mean, no offense, but I'm not a father and this news is killing me. Maybe it's because he's my student, but if you're looking into his school to see where a missing child might be, you're going about it all wrong."
The cops grunt and look away shaking their heads. Maybe I upset them, but I know they know I'm right. This is a seven-year-old little boy and obviously he has been taken. Would it kill them to look a little more apprehensive right now?
"Mr. King, rest assured we are doing everything we can to find Peter. His parents told us he was obsessed with school, so we are trying here first. As for the other missing children, yes, there are more. They all have one thing in common and that is what's worrying us."
"They all have what in common?"
"Shouldn't be telling you this, but because you teach the age group that is going missing I don't feel guilty and maybe you can educate your students a little bit more. They are all exceptionally gifted when it comes to school. Each child that has gone missing in the last few months, is a straight A student, that has shown higher levels of education than that of other students in their classes. To put it simply, they are smart as hell."

"Hey Alan, come on in." Laynie greets me at her front door.
Right after work, all I could think about was who has little Peter and why. According to Welch nineteen missing children over the last year and they all have the exact same predicament, exceptionally gifted and all from foster care backgrounds. Peter was the second from New York to go missing, the other little boy has been missing for nine months now. Gabriel Stills is his name, and he would have just had his ninth birthday.
"Thanks Lanes. Where is Jared?" I walk in to the living room and immediately sit. My anxiety has been through the roof since finding out the news and as horrible as it sounds, it just makes me want to get the hell away from everyone right now, so I am really hoping Jared isn't home.
"He's in Ohio. Had an important business matter to attend to. One of his workers got injured badly and is now threatening to sue.He didn't want to leave me, but he had to go, and I couldn't leave the restaurant. One of the Warriors is watching the house and restaurant." I nod my head half listening to the story.
"So, what brings you by? When you called to see if I was home, I figured something must have happened. To be honest I thought it was something between you and Anna.
"No, no, Anna and I are good. We had lunch yesterday, and we are going to see my family this weekend. Everything is fine there. I wanted to talk to you about the day you and Anna came by my class and helped me decorate."
"Oh yes, that was so much fun. Anna had been talking about that for days. And we were able to meet one of your students. That little Peter was so cute."
"He's actually what I wanted to ask you about. I had a detective come and speak with me today after school. Peter has been missing the last few days and his parents put a missing person's report out. They came by today to see if I knew anything,"
"Oh no. That's so scary. Do they know what could have happened?" I shake my head and look down at my hands laying on my lap. "So, what are they going to do?"
"I don't know. Just keep checking areas around where he likes to hang out and stuff like that. What I wanted to ask you, is was there anything Peter might have said to you? He was so obsessed with you that day and I never got a chance to ask you why or if he said anything to you." Because I was being selfish and fixated on the fact that Anna was in my damn chair.
"All he said to me was that I reminded me of his mom. My hair and my eye color. He also told me that he and his mom loved doing things like decorating. When his parents came to pick him up that day and I saw them, I knew he couldn't have been talking about her, so I figured maybe they have him and his biological mom visits."
I think back and can't come up with any of the times Eliza and Edgar came and picked him up, if he ever called her mom. Eliza always spoke, never Edgar and she always had this independent woman persona about herself. Laynie, as much as I love her, has always been more reserved and sweet. I can't even think of the last time I heard her curse. They seem to be complete opposites, so Peter must have been talking about his real mother.
"Alan? Do you think the real mother may know more?"
"I don't know. I didn't even know he spoke to her or saw her. Did he say anything else?"
Laynie shakes her head but stops suddenly and stands up to retrieve her phone form the kitchen where she was no doubt making an amazing meal. When she comes back she shows me the picture of Anna and Peter. I shrug at her and she rolls her eyes. I have no idea what she is trying to show me.
"Alan, look at Peter closely." I look closely and that's when I see it. Peter is looking right at the camera, but his face is titled just a little. I zoom in as far as the phone will allow and see what Laynie originally saw. Right on his neck in what appears to bed red permanent marker is a circle with two lines going down inside it.
"Laynie, how the hell did you see that?"
"When we got home that night, Jared and I were in bed and I was showing him pictures of how we decorated your room. When I came across that one I thought the red was a mark on my screen but when I zoomed in, I was able to see the symbol. I didn't think much of it at first, not until you told me he was missing, but it's it, isn't it Alan. It's the symbol of 'the old stable' book from back home."
"Looks just like it. Think it's a coincidence?" Laynie shrugs this time and we both take a moment to think about all of this.
Back home when we were younger, there was this old book about children going missing in the middle of the night. The moral of the story was for you to always be aware of your surroundings but on Halloween nights, or certain nights when teens just felt like being pricks, people would spray paint that symbol on cars and walls.
She asks me if I am going to tell Welch or Eliza about this, but I tell her no. We don't know if it actually has to do with anything and even if it does, it's just a coincidence. It's not the most popular book but it's a children's' book through and through. Anyone could have easily read that to Peter, or he could have picked it up at a library. Either way, I'm more than ready to have him back home, safe and sound.