The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

on a platter near the head of the table. There were mashed potatoesin one bowl, and pork gravy in a boat. There were warm rolls rolled up insidealuminum foil. Two smaller bowls contained vegetables—corn in one, green beansin the other.

“Looks and smells fantastic,” Allen said. “I didn't eat thiswell for Thanksgiving last year.”

“Sit down and dig in,” said Rose. He sat down at the head ofthe table and picked up the carving knife that lay next to the roast.

Just as Rose was about to cut into the meat, he said, “Sonof a bitch,” stood, and reached into his front pocket for his cell phone.

Allen and Harriet focused their attention on Rose.

“Sergeant Rose,” he answered. “When?” His eyes went fromHarriet to Allen as he spoke. “Both parents? Okay. Ten minutes.”

Rose hung up his cell and put it back in his pocket.

“Everything okay?” Harriet asked.

Rose stepped out from in front of his chair. “Got a couplemissing kids. Been missing since yesterday evening.”

“How old?” Harriet asked. “Boys or girls?”

Rose shot Allen a look. “Two boys, age twelve.”

Allen got a sick feeling in his gut.

“One of the boys is staying at the Sunrise Motel,” saidRose.

“Shit,” said Allen.

“Isn't that where you're staying?” Harriet asked.

“Yes,” Allen replied. “Is it Jacob Palmer?”

Rose nodded. “It is. Oliver Dutcher—a local boy—is missingtoo. I gotta go.”

“I'm sorry, Harriet,” Allen said, standing, “but I better gotoo.”

“Of course,” Harriet said.

Allen and Rose hurried toward the door.

“If they've been missing since yesterday,” Allen asked, “whyare we just now hearing about it?”

“Each boy told their parents they were spending the night atthe other boy's place.”

“Stupid kids,” Allen muttered with much concern.

“Stay calm,” Rose said, opening the front door. “We usuallyfind missing kids within a few hours. Probably just stayed at another friend'shouse. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't already located by the time weget to the motel.”

“Let's hope so.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Allen and Rose arrived at the Sunrise Motel in separatevehicles, there were already two units from the York Police Department, as wellas a state police cruiser and two cars from the York County Sheriff'sDepartment, on scene.

Allen jumped out of his Jeep and hurried toward room numberfour. He glanced toward Donnie's room. Donnie was standing outside his doorwatching. As Allen approached the building, an officer stepped in front of him.

“Are you the father?” the officer asked.

“No, just a friend,” Allen replied. “Still no sign of theboys?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Jay's not here?”

“Jay?”

“Jacob Palmer's father.”

“No.”

Allen walked past the officer and up to the Palmer's opendoor. Tess was seated in a chair next to the table holding her baby on her lap.A female officer stood near her making faces at the baby.

“Tess,” said Allen.

“Allen.”

“Nothing?”

Tess shook her head. “I should have bought him a cell phone.Why didn't I buy him a cell phone? His father wanted him to have one, but I—”

“Tess, stop. Take a deep breath. Everything is going to befine. They'll find them. It's probably all a misunderstanding. They're playingin the woods somewhere, or at another friend’s house.”

Tess wiped a tear away from her red, swollen eyes. “Where ishe?”

Allen sat down on the end of the bed, facing Tess. “Where'sJay?”

“He was in Ogunquit all day. He's on his way. He should behere any second.” She sniffed and wiped at her nose with the back of her hand.Oliver's mom, Annie, called here to say he had forgotten his inhaler at home.She was going to bring it over here to him.”

“You thought they were sleeping at his house, and shethought they were sleeping here.”

Tess nodded. “Yes. I should have called over thereyesterday. I should have made sure.”

“When was the last time Annie saw them?”

“Around four yesterday afternoon. They've been gone for overtwenty-four hours.”

“They'll find them, Tess,” Allen assured her.

Jay and Rose walked into the room together. Jay lookedconcerned, but was keeping it together for his family. Tess and Allen stood.Jay hurried to his wife and put his arms around her.

“Why doesn't he call to let us know he's okay?” Tess sobbed.

“Because he doesn't know we think he's missing,” Jayreplied. He stepped back and wiped the tears from his wife's cheeks. “He'llwalk through that door any minute and I'll yell at him for pulling such astupid stunt.”

Allen turned to Rose. “Anything?”

Rose shook his head. “Officers are going door to door withphotos Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Dutcher provided. We've put out a BOLO and sentcopies of the photos to surrounding departments.”

“What are your thoughts?” Allen asked.

“The same as Mr. Palmer's—they'll walk through the door anyminute.”

“Because that's how it usually ends?”

“Yes, that's how it almost always ends.”

“Should I be out driving around looking for them?” Jay askedRose.

“No,” Rose replied. “We'd rather both you and the Dutchersstay at home, just in case the boys show up, or call.”

“I feel like I should be doing something,” said Jay.

“I should have gotten him a cell phone,” Tess said again.

“Stop, Tess,” Jay said. “A cell phone has nothing to do withthis.”

“If he had one, I could call him.”

“If he's farting around and doing something he doesn't wantus to know about, he wouldn't answer the phone anyway.”

“That cop kept asking me if Jacob had ever run away before,”Tess said. “He asked me if we had been in an argument, or if you or I hadyelled at Jacob for anything, like it was our fault.”

“I apologize for that, ma'am,” Rose said, “but we have tocover all the bases.”

“They don't know us, Tess,” Jay explained. “They have toask.”

Tess sat back down in the chair and hugged her baby. “Whereare you?” she whispered to herself.

Jim Tucker stuck his head through the door; he was inuniform. He glared at Allen for a second, and then his eyes went to Rose. “CanI talk to you outside for a second?” he asked.

“What is it?” Jay asked.

Tucker ignored the question.

Rose went for the door, and Allen and Jay followed.

“Stay with Tess,” Allen said. “I'll let you know what theysay.”

Jay stopped in his tracks. “Thanks, Allen.”

The three men walked to the middle of the parking lot,stopping for a second to let a state trooper car pass. The trooper pulled ontoLong