Protecting Her(66)

“He knows better than to do that without telling me.” I get in the car.

“He’s only six. He doesn’t always think before doing things. Maybe one of his friends asked him to come over to his house and Garret just forgot to call and tell you.”

“Maybe.” I take some breaths and calm down a little, considering that could be a possibility. But if that were the case, he wouldn’t have left early. “No. Pearce, that’s not it. His teacher said he left an hour ago and that he was called to the office. Someone was waiting for him. They purposely went there to get him.”

“Rachel, I need to hang up and make some calls. I’ll find him. Just give me some time.”

“Who are you calling? The police?”

“No. I can’t talk right now. The longer we wait, the more—never mind. I have to go.”

“I’m calling the police.”

“No!” Pearce almost yells it. “Don’t call the police. It’s too soon. He hasn’t been gone that long.”

“Pearce, he’s a child! And he’s missing! We have to tell the police!”

“Not yet. Just give me a minute to make some calls. Are you okay to drive?”

“Yes. But where should I go? What should I do?”

“Just go home. I’ll meet you there.”

He hangs up and I start the car and pull out of the school parking lot. I manage to make it home but I’m not sure how. I don’t even remember driving here.

I race inside. “Garret!” I yell it as I search the house. “Garret, are you here?” I go upstairs but he’s not in any of the rooms. I check out the back yard and then the front. He’s not there either. He’s gone.

I collapse on the couch in the family room, sobbing into my hands.

He’s not here. My son is missing. Someone has him. Someone took my son.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN


15


PEARCE

“Where is he?” I ask my father’s secretary. He’s not in his office and he’s the only person I can think of who might have Garret.

“He’s in a meeting,” she says.

“Here in the building?”

“No. It was somewhere else. I don’t know where. He didn’t tell me.”

“Did he say what the meeting was for or who it was with?”

“No, he didn’t say.”

“When did he leave?”

“Around noon. Mr. Kensington, is something wrong?”

I don’t answer her. I turn and go back down the hall toward the parking garage. I call my father’s cell phone. He doesn’t pick up.

Is he really in a meeting, or does he have Garret? But why would he have Garret? Why would he pick him up at school in the middle of the afternoon? It’s not like he’d take him out for ice cream or to the movies. My father doesn’t do things like that. He doesn’t do anything with his grandson, other than lecture him on the importance of a good education and discourage him from playing sports. My father thinks sports are a waste of time so he hates that Garret is involved in them. I believe in letting Garret do the things he likes to do, so if he has an interest in sports, I encourage it, as long as he gets his school work done.

I’m on the phone again, calling one of our freelancers. He’s not a criminal. He’s a private investigator. He’s the one who makes the folders we get containing the information about the targets of our assignments. He’s very good at what he does. He can get information about most anyone and he does so quickly.

“Mr. Kensington?” he answers.

“Yes. It’s Pearce. My son, Garret, is missing. Someone picked him up at school and we don’t know who.”

“What time did he go missing?”

“Around two-thirty. I’ll pay you triple your normal fee if you drop whatever you’re doing and see what you can find out. I need a lead. Anything.”

“Are you sure a family member didn’t pick him up? Or maybe he went home with a friend.”

“Those are both possibilities, but until I know for sure, I need you to start looking for him. I don’t want to waste any time.”

“I understand. I’ll get right on it. I’ll call you back if I find out anything.”

He hangs up and I speed down the road, heading home. I’m sure Rachel’s a nervous wreck. She could barely talk when we spoke on the phone. She was crying and sounded completely panicked. I’m panicking too, but I can’t let her know that. I need to be strong for her.