Page 114 of Reckoning

Roger and Mariah Lowe were standing on the edge of the crowd, but when Tate’s mother was mentioned, they turned and looked at Mariah.

She had come back begging, and Roger caved like she knew he would, but he stood firm when she wanted to remarry. She moved a little closer to him, but he didn’t budge or offer any solace.

Abel’s old boss, Curly Gibson, took the mic. “I thought the world of that family. They were good people. If you’d admit it, you all know Tate Bandy has become famous. In New Orleans, they call him the lost-and-found man. He’s worked miracles for people needing answers ever since he left, and has become a wealthy, successful man because of it. I know he’s found the lost and the dead. He’s helped the police close cold cases. Sometimes he flies to other places for his work. I know people can contact him through a website of sorts, but I don’t know how those things work, and I don’t know where Briar went after she graduated college. Those were two of our brightest and best kids, and we never let them feel welcome here. He said he’d never come back. I wouldn’t have the guts to ask him now.”

The crowd turned again, this time looking at Roger.

He shuffled nervously, uncertain about what they thought he could do. And then somebody in the crowd shouted.

“Roger could ask Briar. She’d know where he was. She could ask him for us. My son is missing. I need to know what happened and where he is.”

Roger froze. They didn’t know that he hadn’t talked to her since the day she called to tell him that she’d sent back his credit card. The day she left Star Ridge, she called him a coward, and she was right. He never knew when she graduated, and didn’t bother to ask. Their last phone call was nothing but a polite call, like one of his clients thanking him for his service.

Mariah liked being the center of attention, but not like this. The court of disapproval was staring her down, and there was nothing to be said in her own defense.

Chief Watts declared they were getting nowhere, took the mic, and announced that it was settled. Roger would call Briar. She would intercede with Tate for them, and he told everyone to go home.

The crowd was pleased. They dispersed with relief. Tate Bandy would help.

Mariah grabbed Roger’s arm. “I want to go home now.”

“Don’t whine, and we’re already walking,” he muttered.

“They were mean to me,” she said and sniffled.

“They don’t like you anymore. I told you when you wanted to move back, and you’re free to leave at any time. I won’t stop you,” Roger said.

They walked a short way in silence before Mariah spoke again. “Well, are you going to call her or not?”

Roger stopped in mid-step. “Her? Her? You can’t even bring yourself to say your daughter’s name?”

He snorted in disgust and started walking faster. By the time he reached the house, Mariah was half a block behind, huffing and puffing with every step.

He went up to Briar’s old bedroom, knowing Mariah would be too winded to climb the stairs, and made the call.

* * *

It was Sunday, Tate and Briar’s sleep-in day, and their time to be together without interruptions. She’d made brown beans and corn bread in honor of their country roots and had a little plate of sweets she’d bought from a local bakery for dessert.

Briar was putting away leftovers, and Tate had fallen asleep on the living room sofa. She knew he was mentally and physically exhausted by the week he’d just had, and she was trying to be as quiet as she could.

Once she finished, she carried a handful of wet dish towels to the laundry, then came to the living room, sat down at the end of the sofa, and gently lifted Tate’s feet into her lap. Before she could get settled, her phone rang. She’d meant to mute it, but now it was too late.

“Shoot,” she muttered, and started to let it go to voicemail when she saw caller ID. The first thought in her head was, What the hell has happened to be receiving this call? Then she answered.

“Hello, Dad. What’s wrong?”

Tate’s eyes flew open.

“I’ve been designated by the townspeople to find Tate. Do you know where he is?”

“I always know where my husband is. What do you want?”

A long moment ensued.

“Hello? Dad? Are you still there?”

“I didn’t know you were married,” he said.