Hide and Seek by Lynette Eason

Author:Lynette Eason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2013-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Red wasn’t happy to see them, but Max hoped she’d come around. He and Erica sat across from her on a love seat—the family room had several for visitors. Max had chosen this room for its less-threatening atmosphere.

Staring at Red, he had a feeling not much threatened her. She stared back, measuring, watching.

Erica said, “Thanks for meeting with us.”

The girl shrugged. “Got nothing better to do. So what’s this about anyway?”

“Lydia Powell,” Max said.

Red froze, leaned forward and took another look at Max. Recognition burned across her gaze. She stood. “I got nothing to say to you.”

“Wait! Please!” Erica jumped up and raced after Red. She touched her arm and Red spun, but her eyes landed on Max.

“Lydia told me how you called DSS on her and got her taken away from your mother. She told me she never wanted to see you again. So if she’s off your radar then good for her.” She turned back toward the hall.

Erica blurted, “She’s in trouble and you may be the only one who can help.”

Red stopped. She turned and this time looked at Erica. “What kind of trouble?”

“You haven’t seen the news?”

“No.” A frown puckered the skin between her brows. “The news is boring and depressing.” Her eyes flicked back and forth between them.

“Lydia’s wanted for questioning in a kidnapping,” Erica told her.

“Kidnapping!” Red’s eyes widened. “She’d never do anything like that.”

Satisfaction and relief filled Max at Red’s spontaneous outburst. “I know. But the cops don’t. That’s why I need to find her.”

Erica’s lips went tight and he could see she didn’t agree with him. Or Red. Renewed sadness hit him that Erica truly believed Lydia had something to do with Molly’s disappearance. He’d just have to keep working to prove her wrong.

“She doesn’t want you to find her,” Red snapped.

“Look, Red,” Erica intervened. “Lydia may have some answers we desperately need to find this missing child. But it appears that someone doesn’t want Lydia found.”

Just like with Bea, they told the story of Lydia being attacked at the crack house. And like Bea, concern filled Red’s eyes. As painful as it was for Max to think about his sister’s difficult journey, it was good for him to know that she’d met people who cared for her, and worried about her. Just like he did.

“I don’t know where she is. I saw her about a week ago and she was acting a little weird. I just thought she was back on the dope.”

“But she wasn’t?”

“I don’t know. It would have surprised me because she was so determined to stay clean. She talked about getting a job and proving to you that she isn’t the loser you think she is.”

Max winced. “I don’t think she’s a loser.”

Red ignored him. “Now that I know all this, she could have been jittery ’cuz she was scared.”

Max’s phone rang and he grabbed it to shut it off. Then he saw the number. “Excuse me a second.” He stepped from the room, leaving Erica and Red staring after him.

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