What Janie Found by Caroline B. Cooney

Author:Caroline B. Cooney
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9780375892080
Publisher: RH Childrens Books
Published: 2008-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

When she was surprised, Reeve’s grandmother would say, “I’m floored!’”

Now Reeve knew what it meant. He felt as if Janie had used a martial arts hold and thrown him flat on the floor of Mr. Johnson’s office.

What was this insanity? Meeting her own kidnapper? By herself? In a strange town?

“Just looking’” was not worth a trip to Colorado. Anyway, if she “just looked’” at middle-aged women who had post office boxes, how could she be sure she had the right one? She wasn’t just looking. Of course she meant to talk to Hannah.

“Janie,’” he said, incredulous, “you can’t do that. Hannah’s off-limits. Finding her is a really crummy idea.’”

Actually, it was a really exciting idea. Hunting Hannah down would be like racing: Janie was pressing her foot to the floor, and nobody loved speed and danger more than Reeve. But this was out of the question.

“I can handle it,’” said Janie.

“But what if something goes wrong?’”

“What could go wrong? I’m just going to look at her. She won’t know who I am.’”

“That’s not a good enough reason to fly to Colorado,’” said Reeve. How could Janie be this stupid? “If you want her to have money, mail it to her. What’s looking going to accomplish?’”

“Okay, fine. I am going to talk to Hannah. When she picks up her check, I’ll be waiting.’”

Reeve was appalled. “But what would you say to her?’”

“She’s the one who’s going to say things. I’ll be the one listening. I want to know what happened.’”

“We know what happened,’” said Reeve irritably. “Forget your dumb questions. What if Hannah wants to come home with you or something? What if she wants to be at her father’s hospital bed? What’s your mother supposed to do when her criminal daughter shows up? Janie, don’t be selfish.’”

“I’ll do what I want!’” she snapped.

He stared at her. This is Janie? he thought. Sweet good Janie?

She read his thoughts. “I am sick sick sick of being the good guy! I want to know what happened. I want to look into her eyes. I want answers.’”

“Janie, there aren’t any questions left,’” said Brian.

“You don’t have any questions?’” said Janie to her brother. “You don’t want to know why? Why me? Why us? Why that afternoon? Where was she going? Why didn’t she take me the rest of the way? What did she think would happen to you guys? To your mother and father? What was worth the risk? What was the plan? You don’t want to ask any of that?’”

Oh, Janie, thought Reeve. None of the answers could be good.

So, Frank, he thought dully, what was your point—keeping that file? You had to know that one day somebody else would read it. What was your plan, Frank?

But this was a nightmare without a plan. It was a Slinky on a staircase, curling down to the bottom, nobody stopping it.

Brian was correct, of course. Any one phone call to any one adult would stop it.

But Brian was also correct that the four parents couldn’t and shouldn’t have to endure anything more.

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