The Stolen

24

The minivan pulled into the parking lot at a quarter to four in the afternoon. Caroline watched as Bob Reed pushed open the driver's-side door, then paused a moment to let the muscles in his arm and shoulder stretch. He gingerly stepped out one foot at a time, then threw his arms back in an exaggerated stretch, yawning at the top of his lungs.

The were outside of some sort of hotel or motel.

Caroline could see other people entering and exiting. She didn't know where they were or why they were here, only that Elaine and Bob had spent nearly the whole car ride in a chilly silence.

When Bob regained his composure, Elaine was out and opening the minivan's door. Caroline watched as Elaine unbuckled Patrick's seat belt, then picked her child up and held him fast in her arms. Caroline felt a longing as she watched this intimate act, and even though both Elaine and

Bob smothered her with kisses and presents, they always felt somewhat odd, forced. Last night, when Elaine entered her room with the curt instructions to get ready for a long car trip, Caroline didn't know what to think. She was too confused to be scared, and she hadn't been in that house long enough to really miss it. After placing Patrick on the ground, Elaine came around to her side. She stroked

Caroline's hair, her fingers gentle, and Caroline smiled at the warmth of her fingertips. She gently kissed Caroline's forehead, then turned her attention back outside.

"Mommy?" Patrick said.

"Hey, sweetie," Elaine said. "Did you have a good nap?"

Patrick nodded, then buried his face back in her shoulder as she leaned down. Elaine stroked his hair, that strawberry-blond lock that confused Caroline. Neither

Bob nor Elaine had red hair. She'd asked Elaine how they could have a boy with different color hair, and she just said,

God makes us all unique.

Elaine turned to Bob, who was digging a pack of gum from his pocket, and said, "You want to get her?" Caroline assumed she was the "her" being referred to.

Bob looked at Elaine, then turned toward the van, in no real rush to say yes. Caroline had noticed that Bob had become more and more reluctant to spend time with her over the past few days. In the beginning he came into her room often, even helped her set up that beautiful new dollhouse. But he'd withdrawn recently, and sometimes even seemed afraid to touch her.

Thankfully, the coughing fits had passed. Bob and

Elaine seemed relieved at this. Bob had said something strange that Caroline remembered.

We're supposed to take care of this girl, not kill her.

Elaine had marched out of the room, slammed the door and didn't speak to him until dinner. And now they were parked at some strange building, after having left that house in a matter of minutes.

With a great sigh, Bob went around to the passenger side, climbed in and unhooked Caroline from her harness.

His fingers weren't nearly as gentle, as if he were unpacking a box rather than handling a human being.

"Ow," Caroline said as one of Bob's fingers accidentally jabbed her ribs.

"Christ, Bob, she's not a piece of meat," Elaine reprimanded. "Be careful."

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Honey, make sure to bring Boo Boo. You don't want to lose him."

Caroline picked the small brown teddy bear off the seat and held it fast to her chest. That bear was the only thing she'd come with. Elaine had thrown together a bag of clothes, but the bear was the only thing she wanted.

It had a goofy smile and button eyes, fur that was soft to the touch. Out of all the presents the Reeds had bought her over the past few weeks, this was by far her favorite.

"Boo Boo," Caroline said. "He's scared. He wants to know where we are."

"Tell Boo Boo he's safe and not to worry," Elaine said.

"And make sure he tells you the same thing."

Caroline wanted to believe Elaine, but there was something in her eyes that belied the truth.

Bob reached in and picked up both the girl and Boo

Boo, carried them gently out of the van. Caroline blinked sleep from her eyes, looked around.

"Where are we?" she asked.

Bob didn't say a word. Instead he looked at Elaine and shrugged. You can answer this one.

Elaine walked over, put her hand against the young girl's cheek.

"We're staying at another house for a little while," she said. "Our home needs a little renovation, so we'll just be staying here until it's ready."

"What about my room?" Caroline asked. Even though she was happy with Boo Boo, she'd be sad if she didn't get to play with her toys again. She couldn't believe all those brand-new toys and dolls Elaine and Bob had bought for her. She'd never had a dollhouse. It would be so sad if she never got to play with it again.

"Hopefully you'll be back in it soon," Elaine said. Then she smiled, gave Boo Boo a peck on the nose and made a funny grr noise. Caroline laughed.

"Come on, hon," Bob said. "We should check in."

"I never thought we'd see him again," Elaine said. "At least not until much later down the road. When it was time to, you know."

"I know," Bob said. "But he told us something might come up. Makes me wonder whether we should have ever listened to that scarred-up asshole. Sorry, kids, pardon my

French."

"You know why we did," Elaine said. They both looked at Patrick, and for a moment Caroline thought

Elaine might cry.

"Who are you talking about?" Caroline asked.

"Nobody," Elaine said. "Just a scary man that hopefully you'll never have to meet. Now, come on, let's get you to your new new room."