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“You know?” Jade stood. “I’ve showered and gotten dressed. Why waste it? Let’s go.”
Jade and I had just sunk our feet into the warm aromatic water at the nail salon when both of our phones buzzed simultaneously with a text.
Jade gasped. “It’s the school. Something’s wrong with Dale.”
I read the same text. “Talon probably got it too.” I pulled my feet out of the water. “Sorry. We have to go. It’s a good thing we’re here in town.”
Jade frantically called the school while I dried off and put my shoes back on. Ten-year-old Dale hardly spoke unless spoken to. If the school was calling, this was important.
“They took him over to Dr. Robbin’s office,” Jade said after ending her call. “They couldn’t tell me much else.”
Luckily, the doctor’s office was only two blocks from the nail salon. The glories of a small town. Rather than get into the car, we walked—very quickly.
“He’s in the back,” the receptionist said as soon as we walked in.
Jade and I hurried back into the exam room, where Dr. Robbin Shaefer was examining Dale.
“Baby!” Jade said. “Are you okay?”
“He was hyperventilating,” Dr. Robbin said. “I got him calmed down, but he nearly passed out at school.”
Dale said nothing.
Dr. Robbin had been a classmate of Joe’s. I’d known her my whole life. She’d taken her dad’s place as our doctor when he retired.
“Dale,” Dr. Robbin said, “the only way to deal with what’s bothering you is to tell us about it.”
Silence.
Jade took his hand. “Please, honey. We’re here to help you. Auntie Marj and I are here, and the doctor is here.”
He shook his head.
“Please, sweetie,” I said. “We want to help you.”
“I saw a man,” he whispered meekly.
“Where?” Jade asked.
“While I was at recess on the playground.”
“Was it someone you recognized?”
He nodded.
“Who was it?”
Silence.
I swallowed. This couldn’t lead to anything good. The Feds had shut down the trafficking ring, but had they caught everyone involved? According to Ted Morse, they were still investigating.
Could someone from Dale’s past be here in Snow Creek?
Why? Coming here made no sense. Why go somewhere someone might recognize you?
“I won’t let him,” Dale said.
“Won’t let him what?” Jade asked.
