Page 63 of Abandoned

“AJ, what’s the deal with you and Will and Logan?”

She stopped on her way across the room and stared at Zara for a moment before she darted to the kitchen. “Popcorn okay?”

“I guess.” Zara wanted to sink into the floor. Why on earth would this be such a difficult question? Hadn’t Will told her that it was AJ’s story to tell?

Zara wanted to push it and make AJ talk, but it was probably better to let it come on AJ’s timing. She was allowing Zara into her apartment; maybe it would take time to be fully in her life too.

Two tall bookshelves stood in the corner by the TV. Zara wandered over and perused the titles and the photographs. The picture of a little girl. Maybe four years old. Too cute. She looked just like AJ. Probably her niece. One of Will’s nephews looked exactly like him.

The popcorn popped in the background. The sound drove the quiet out, but it didn’t take the tension away.

When the popcorn stopped, Zara turned. But AJ vanished into her bedroom.

How bad had Zara screwed up by asking about the guys? The gross feeling in her stomach made the popcorn sound disgusting. Had she ruined the developing friendship? Did she need to find a different place to live?

AJ reappeared. The tip of her nose was red, and her eyes were moist. She held a photo album to her chest. “Come here.” She went to the dining table and set the album down.

Zara walked around the couch. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Don’t apologize. I want to show you something.” AJ opened the album to a photograph of three little kids. Unmistakably ten-year-old Will, AJ, and Logan, arms around one another, dressed up in costumes including bows and arrows made of sticks.

“Oh my goodness.” Will was adorable as a kid, even cuter than his nephew. “What are you dressed as?”

AJ put her finger on Will. “Will Stutely. Little John—his middle name is John, so it fit perfectly—Logan John. In Howard Pyle’s version of the story, Will and Little John were the best of friends, so it fit. Plus, at that age, Logan was so much taller than Will. He was always six months ahead of Will.”

“Who are you? Doesn’t look like you are Maid Marian.”

“Robin Hood. I insisted Robin was a girl’s name anyway.”

Zara chuckled. Somehow that fit AJ perfectly.

The three kids looked so happy.

Zara glanced at AJ’s face. Her smile was huge, but her eyes held sorrow. She took a deep breath and risked the question. “What happened?”

“We were so close … it’s a really long story. One I’m not sure I’m ready to get into tonight, but to put it simply, Logan and I had a falling out. I’m ready to mend the bridge, but I’m not sure he is.” She looked back at the picture. “I miss those guys. They were my best friends. The three of us were inseparable as kids. Always had each other’s backs.” She flipped the pages of the photo album and showed Zara more pictures. So many pictures of the three of them playing outside, making forts, and riding bikes.

Zara’s heart ached for her friends, so she had to almost literally bite her tongue to keep from asking more questions about what had happened. Logan seemed fine being in the room with AJ this morning. They’d worked together to get her out of that bathroom.

AJ sighed and stepped away from the album. “Are you up for a movie, or do you need to go to sleep?”

“I slept most of the afternoon, so I’m really not tired.”

“Funny or action?”

“Funny.”

They grabbed the popcorn and a couple of IBC root beers, settled on the couch, and watched a silly Robin Hood spoof.

When the movie was over, they picked another one. Zara didn’t want to try to sleep. The likelihood that nightmares would plague her sleep was too great. AJ didn’t seem in a hurry to go to sleep either. But neither of them talked about any of it. Instead, they watched goofy movies until they could no longer keep their eyes open.

Will sat on his back deck as the morning sun turned to midday sun. He pored over his Bible, Romans in particular, and prayed. Most of his prayers circled around Zara in one way or another. He prayed for their relationship, that he would have wisdom and strength against temptation, that she would feel safe and loved. He also prayed for her safety, that they would catch whoever was tormenting her.

He’d talked to Doug this morning. The detectives still had nothing. Ernie and Rainie were nowhere to be found. They hadn’t come home, and their credit cards remained unused.

He gripped his cup of iced coffee and risked breaking it. Lord, please give Doug guidance to solve this situation.

The low hum of a car engine echoed from the front of the house. Zara. As soon as he heard the car door shut, he hollered. “I’m out back.”