Found

CHAPTER 28

For a few moments, none of us moved. We just sat and stared at the TV screen.

“I have more information to use now,” Spoon said. “Luther disappeared with three other boys approximately, what, twenty years ago. There has to be something about it on the web.”

I nodded numbly. I did everything numbly. I could barely talk or think since we had watched the tape.

“Mickey?”

“Yeah, Spoon.”

“We will find out what happened to your father, okay? I promise.”

Look who was suddenly making the promises. I nodded. Numbly.

Ema took my hand. “Are you okay?”

Another numb nod. Then I said, “It’s just…” I stopped myself, but there I sat, Ema holding my hand, Spoon looking at me from his bed with such concern. “After my dad was killed, I didn’t look at any pictures of him. You know? It just hurt too much. I don’t know. I couldn’t handle it.”

“We understand,” Ema said.

“Now I not only see him,” I said, pointing toward the screen, “but I see him on a video made before I was even born. So it’s just…”

No more words would come out.

“Totally get it,” Spoon said.

“Absolutely,” Ema added.

Ema and I were still holding hands. It felt good.

“Perhaps,” Spoon said, “a distraction would be nice.” He opened his laptop and started typing. “As you may remember, Jared Lowell lives on Adiona Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. It requires two buses and a ferry to get to. Since the only day in the next week where you don’t have either school or basketball practice is tomorrow, I took the liberty of booking two tickets. You’ll have to leave early again in the morning.”

“Wait, I can’t go tomorrow,” Ema said. “I promised my mom I’d go to her show in New York.”

“Maybe that’s better,” I said.

“What?”

“I can find Jared and talk to him without you there. Maybe he’ll be more forthcoming.”

Ema frowned. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, he’s right,” Spoon said. “Perhaps it is best you don’t go.”

“So Mickey goes alone?” Ema asked.

Then I remembered my texts with Rachel. “Not alone,” I said. “I’ll have backup.”