Before He Vanished by Margie Benedict
Author:Margie Benedict
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781954584280
Publisher: Marjory Kaptanoglu
Chapter Twenty-Nine
2019 - MINDCAST
Rebeccaâs next mindcast brings her back to Ethanâs school following his disappearance. Speaking to the principal first, she gives her story about being a journalist and asks who might know Ethan the best. Without hesitation, the principal refers her to Mr. Flannery, Ethanâs English teacher.
She finds him alone in his classroom working on a crossword puzzle. When she asks to speak with him, he looks disconcerted to have been caught doing something for his own amusement during school hours. âNeed to keep the brain sharp,â he mumbles, sliding the paper to one side. âRemind me. Whose parent are you?â
At twenty-six, she doesnât expect to be mistaken for a parent of a thirteen-year-old. She guesses she could be a stepparent, though. The sudden thought of being someoneâs trophy wife amuses her. âNo. Iâm an investigative journalist.â As soon as the lie emerges, she wishes she had come up with a different story. Mr. Flannery, being an English teacher, might be curious to find out more about her supposed career as a writer.
Fortunately, he displays a complete lack of interest. âI donât understand,â he says.
âIâd like to speak to you about Ethan Pitt. The boy who went missing last week.â
He straightens his black-rimmed glasses and scrutinizes her. âIâm sorry. Are you from the police?â
âNo, Iâm a journalist.â
âI see. From the Chronicle?â
âIâm freelance. I took an interest in Ethanâs story. I plan to write an article.â
He still looks baffled. âEthanâs a gifted child. But an article? What would you put in it?â
âThatâs what Iâm trying to figure out. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on where he might have gone, or what might have happened to him.â
âI have no idea. Heâs an exceptional student. A fine writer. Smart. But there are negative influences in this community that sometimes affect our children.â
âIs there anything specific you know about?â
âOf course not. Heâs not going to confide in his English teacher. But if I were to take a guess, Iâd say, he may have gotten himself into trouble and doesnât know how to deal with it.â
âSo you think he ran away? Is that what youâre saying?â
âItâs certainly a possibility.â
âIs there something he said that would make you come to this conclusion?â
âNo. I told you. I try my best to get the kids to open up with me, but you know⦠middle school. An age where every child begins to reject authority. A time when kids are only focused on what other kids think of them. Itâs a tough time for them. Some canât deal with it.â
âYou donât think he might have taken his own life, do you?â
He spreads his hands wide on the desk, looking down at them. âI sincerely hope not. Thereâs nothing more tragic than a child committing suicide. But Iâm not a psychologist. Have you spoken to his family? Maybe he was seeing a therapist? Iâm sure they would have much more insight on the issue than I would.â
âLet me ask you this,â Rebecca says. âLast week, when
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