Under the Willows by Pamela McCord

Author:Pamela McCord [McCord, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947392946
Publisher: Acorn Publishing LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

O

I

stopped at home to change before picking up TJ. After a quick shower, I blew dry my hair and put on clean jeans and a T-shirt. I balled up my still-damp clothes to drop in the laundry room but, before I moved two feet, I heard a door slam. A chill ran up my spine. No one was in the house but me. I did a quick search for something to use as a weapon. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have an arsenal in my bedroom. A wooden coat hanger was the most deadly thing I could find. Sticking my head out of the room, holding the coat hanger protectively in front of me, I straightened when I saw TJ’s bedroom door was closed. It hadn’t been when I passed it half an hour ago.

I held my breath and turned the knob. As I expected, the room was empty. I had a feeling Emma wanted to talk. Considering whether I should text Rob, I decided against it. He would probably be on a boat continuing the search for Marilee.

“Emma?” I called, sitting on the end of TJ’s bed. “Are you here? Do you want to talk?”

I’m here. Please hurry.

“We’re trying, Emma. We looked along the banks of the lake this morning, but didn’t find anything. Rob is taking out a boat to scour the shoreline this afternoon. Can’t you tell us anything that could help us find you?”

The room grew colder and I wrapped my arms around myself to take the chill off. Emma didn’t respond but after a moment I heard sobbing.

“Emma, don’t give up. We’re trying as hard as we can. Please, can’t you look around, go outside, see if there’s anything that might tell us where you are?”

There were so many letters. I see water out the window and a blue boat. I just see trees everywhere. Hurry.

The room warmed up and I knew she was gone.

I felt helpless. Water and a blue boat. How would that help? And what did she mean by letters? I texted Rob Emma’s clues, then headed off to pick up TJ while I waited for Rob’s answer.

When I got to Kevin’s house, Melissa invited me in for coffee but I begged off, offering a brief recap of my grueling day, the lake part, that is, and pleaded a headache. My head really did hurt, but only because it was pulled in so many different directions.

I attempted to concentrate while TJ chattered about his adventures with Kevin. I smiled and tried to be an enthusiastic listener, but I kept going over in my head what Emma had told me, and worry over Marilee was ever-present.

Rob texted back asking if I wanted to stop by and fill him in on what Emma had said, saying it was okay to bring TJ with me. Not wanting to text and drive, I called him back.

“Uh oh.” I could hear him cringe through the phone. “I can’t remember what shape my condo’s in.”

“You’re embarrassed for me to see where you live?”

“I’m not sure.

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