“Mabel, where are you?”
“At home with Damon.We’re watchingJurassic Worldand eating ramen.Why?”
I swallowed again and took a deep breath.“Honey, I need you to lock all the doors, draw all the blinds, turn off the television, and hide.”
“Dad, what is going on?”
“We think Kyla might be on the island.We can’t get ahold of Naomi, and Dawn just called to tell me that Kyla’s sister hasn’t seen her in four days and she failed to check in with her PO.”
“TV’s off, Mr.Paul,” Damon said.I could hear the blinds being drawn and footsteps on the hardwood.
“Dad …” Mabel said, her voice suddenly so much younger and smaller than I’d heard in ages.
“I’m on my way, Mabes.Everything is going to be—”
“Don’t say fine.You can’t promise that,” she blurted out.
“I know.I’m sorry.”I was running to my truck now, dodging people and trying to hear my daughter’s voice over the loud music coming from the DJ.
“Keep your phone on.Put it on silent,” I said.“I have to drive now.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
I reached my vehicle in the school parking lot and climbed inside.Shit, I’d totally forgotten to roll down the windows.It was an absolute sauna.I dropped all the windows as I peeled out of the parking stall.I went more than the posted 20 miles per hour speed limit through the school zone.Hopefully, parents and islanders would forgive me.
“I’m on my way, Mabes,” I said.“I can hear you breathing.You don’t need to answer.Just box breathe.Try to stay calm.”I couldn’t tell her everything was going to be okay, because she’d yell at me not to promise those kinds of things.And she was right.I had no idea how this was going to play out.I could only hope that it would turn out all right.That I’d get to her in time.
All I could think of as I drove across the island toward my house was that at least Mabel wasn’t alone.She had Damon with her.He would help keep her calm and keep her safe.He knew this island well, and I was sure if they needed to run, he could get her to safety.And I needed to believe that the fourteen-year-old with the floppy hair and video game obsession hadsomelife skills.I didn’t require them to build a shelter and skin a squirrel to keep from starving, just stay hidden until I got there.
But where was Naomi?And how did Kyla know about her?How long had Kyla been on the island?
I was nearly home when the sound of police sirens started up behind me.The red, white, and blue lights flashed in my rear and side mirrors.
Oh no.Not now.Please.
I wasn’t going to pull over.I couldn’t.I’d get home, the cop could follow me, and I’d explain everything.I’d met all four cops on the island, and they would understand.Hopefully.
My driveway came into view, and with the cop eating up the distance between us, I turned left and raced past Maz’s chickens, startling them into a flurry of flapping feathers.Thankfully, neither Maz nor his wife were out in the yard to shake a fist at me.
The cop was right behind me now.
I hit the button for the gate, but it took too long to open, so I just put the truck in park
and bailed out, the engine still running, the door still open.
“Mr.Paul!”hollered Officer Everett Jacobs.
“I’m sorry,” I yelled back at him, bounding up the porch steps.
“Jagger called me.I’m here to help.”He raced after me and met me at the front door just as I finished punching in the code and turning the handle.
I burst inside.“Mabel?”
“Mabel?”Officer Jacobs called.
“Mabel?”I said again, panic making my voice quaver.
My phone vibrated, and I checked it.
