Lost and Found (2 page)

“Are you sure? I thought the kids couldn’t talk? And why does she still have a contract to care for them?”

Richard just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know everything, just what Diane told me. But they’ve suspended her contract pending an internal review.”

“Well, how did the kid die, and how’s Sandra responsible?”

“I don’t know that either except they’re presuming a mix-up in his meds. Both kids were on so many. Look Marcie, the reason I’m telling you this is Sandra’s out for blood. And she’s
made drunken threats to some friends against Maggie, and you too. Both of you broke the cardinal rule and ratted them out, her and Dan, and that’s her quote. But you understand that world. You knew this was going to happen—we all did when we set them up. This underworld has a way of looking after things in their own way. We all need to be careful. Lance Silver is one dangerous and powerful bastard, and Sandra and her family are unscrupulous; their connections are deep. Remember, Dan won’t cross Sandra. And not once during that whole mess did he ever point the finger at her.”

She
glanced over just as Sam dumped a handful of leaves over Ryley’s head and then tossed him on the pile.

“Why would he protect her, Richard?”

“You still don’t get him. He and Sandra go way back. He’s cagey and sharp, and he knows who he can screw over
,
and who he can’t. She encouraged his behavior. And he controls her to a point. If he crosses her, he knows he’ll be dead. Have no doubt he’ll protect Sandra. Because that will protect him too.

“He casts illusions even with me, keeping me off guard. He was scared I’d kill him for involving Maggie, so I need to be ready for the drama he’ll twist to his benefit. What comes next could be that I threatened him. It’ll be something unexpected, something
distorted
He’s a coward. A little boy wearing big pompous pants. What goes through his mind after he screws people is
…
what he can say to keep from getting the shit pounded out of him? Lance Silver, Sandra—that whole underworld Dan slithered his way into…let’s just say, Marcie, Dan doesn’t play by their same rules. He’s not part of them; he’s an outsider who slithered in. Sandra’s a part of that world because she grew up in it. I still can’t figure out Lance and Dan’s connection, and why’s Dan still walking around? I know he’s screwed one too many of them.”

Marcie frowned, looking back at him, and tried to read past the hardness slithering down around Richard. “How do you know this, Richard?”

He didn’t look at her; instead he watched his son. “Marcie, you’re a big girl. If you’re going to live out here, you need to be aware of what’s going on around you. There’s some ugly stuff, and the people involved lead picture perfect lives. You and my wife got dragged into something…” Richard yanked his gloves from his back pocket and swatted the leather across his jean-clad thigh. He lowered his voice and said, “What you see and what is real are two different things.”

Marcie looked away
,
toward the bare towering willow that would shade the front lawn nicely all summer. “Have you spoken with Dan?”

“No. I’m just saying you need to always watch your back. Retribution doesn’t always come in ways we expect.”

“Richard, Sam said he took care of everything so we’d be safe…”

His jaw stiffened and scratched his head as he watched Sam and Ryley turn a big pile of leaves into a spread out mess as Ryley dove in over and over.

“There comes a time when you need to look after home first. Sam did that for you; he did what he needed to. For me, that’s Maggie and the kids.
But make no mistake
,
whatever Sam and I do
,
anything can still come out of left field. We all need to be aware and not so trusting that we’re safe. Because that’s when mistakes happen...and someone gets hurt.
” He
continued to watch Ryley
.

Marcie hadn’t noticed before, but tinges of gray now threaded through the strands of hair by his ear. It was thicker than before. Richard then turned and smiled at her, but the light didn’t reach his blue eyes. “Come on, oh pregnant one, let’s go on in and have some coffee.”

“Tea for me, please.”

This time Richard laughed, and it wasn’t so forced.

* * * *

Marcie leaned against Sam in the warm cluttered kitchen. Richard shoved a log into the wood stove while Maggie picked up the spoon Lily tossed under the table—for the second time since they’d walked in. Five year old Lily, severely autistic, swayed in her booster seat at the table, lining up the cheerios on the table instead of eating.

“Maggie leave her, I’ll take over.”

Maggie handed Richard a clean spoon. “Good luck, she’s driving me nuts this morning; she’s already dumped her first bowl on the floor.” Richard gently squeezed Maggie’s shoulder and then moved to the
messy
table and kissed the top of Lily’s curly dark bed hair.

“Come on my girl, what’s this about giving your mama a hard time?”

Marcie would swear Lily smiled in amusement. She was Daddy’s girl and
quite delayed
in her
development
. Marcie needed to speak with Maggie about adding some natural remedies to
aid in Lily’s therapy. Diet, vitamins, the holistic approach that was so controversial, no track record or data, but an approach she was convinced would help Lily be more responsive. Maybe before they left today, she’d broach the subject.

Richard spoon-fed Lily. And Lily leaned in for her daddy and took each bite.

“You know Marcie, I remember the first few months with Ryley, just the smell of coffee would send me racing to the nearest bathroom.”

Marcie clutched the warm mug of green tea. She could feel how relaxed Sam was behind her. He’d not worried like she did about coming home. Marcie had asked him twice what he meant by “taking care of things” so they were protected from Lance and Dan. But he wouldn’t tell her. And try as she might, she couldn’t figure out what he’d done.

“Thanks for the coffee, Maggie.” Sam’s southern charm whispered like honey when he spoke. She’d never tire of listening to him talk
because he meant what he said
,
and he spoke from his heart—always. She knew by the way Maggie smiled at him; she too loved listening to his smooth southern accent.

“All done, my girl.” Richard helped Lily down from her chair. She still wore her fuzzy pink pajamas and fluffy elephant slippers. She bolted straight for the screen door and pushed it open. Richard grabbed her before she went any farther.

She screamed, “sa, sa
,
” and reached for the door.

“Let’s put your coat on. It’s cold outside, silly girl.” Richard had just zipped up her purple down jacket when she dashed out the door.

Richard held the screen door open. Ryley was raking leaves as Lily dashed past him. “Ryley watch your sister. Take her over to the swing and keep an eye on her, I’m going to grab a coffee, and I’ll be right out.”

“Ah Dad, why do I have to watch her again? You wanted me to rake the leaves, why do I have to do both?”
he
whined like any young boy tired of being responsible for his sister.

“Go…now.” Richard’s voice was direct while he pointed toward Lily now running in circles on the grass. Ryley dropped the rake and stomped after her.

“Richard, did you put her shoes on, or is she still in her slippers?”

Richard leaned past Maggie and poured himself a coffee. “She’s fine, Maggie. Stop fussing so much about what she’s wearing. At least she has something on her feet, and she’s not barefoot.”

Bile burned the back of Marcie’s throat and rose up like a sharp wind. She grabbed Sam’s arm and nearly dropped her tea when flooded by a wave of dizziness, followed by a harsh chill rushing through her. “Oh no.”

“Marcie, are you okay, babe?” Sam grabbed her mug and set it on the counter. Marcie pulled away from Sam just as she heard Ryley’s irritated yell. “Lily come back. Lily stop!”

Richard and Maggie pushed past Marcie and bolted out the door. Sam and Marcie followed. “Marcie, what’s going on?”

“Something’s wrong.”

“You’re scaring me. Is something wrong with the baby?”

“No…
I don’t know…something…” She stared off toward the road as Sam’s hands fell away from her shoulders. Time slowed. Sam started running and raced past Maggie
,
yelling something that stretched out long and loud, waving frantically at Lily who stood in the middle of the rural gravel road. Ryley stood only a few feet from her.
Marcie blinked through
the blur as a black car sped around the bend and hit Lily. Dark tinted windows on a sleek sports car, it skidded on the gravel but didn’t stop or even slow. The car sped away.

Her head ached
, and
she struggled to breath
e,
feeling as if her chest had been ripped open by a sorrow she couldn’t rightly put into words. But it was the screaming that pierced the dreamlike state. A sharp wind rustled the trees as Sam, Richard and Maggie huddled around Lily. And Marcie moved down the steps, across the grass and reached Ryley who hovered frozen behind Sam.

“Marcie
,
call
nine, one, one
.
Now
Marcie
,
now!” Sam shouted as he crouched over Lily.

She grabbed Ryley’s arm and ran
.
Her
ankle
,
not quite healed from her recent break, throbbed. Ryley said nothing as she all but dragged him back to the house. She grabbed the kitchen phone and dialed. Ryley leaned against the wall, his face white
,
and his big eyes were nothing but large empty pools
.
She knew he
couldn’t grasp what just happened.

“Please let her be all right.” She begged as she closed her eyes.

“
Nine, one, one
.
What’s
your emergency
?
”

“Lily’s been hit by a car, she’s five years old. She’s lying on the road.”

“Is she still breathing?”

“I don’t know
.
Sam, Richard
,
and Maggie are with her
.
She’s
covered in blood.”

“We’ve got paramedics and police on their way. I need you to stay on the line with me.” Marcie gripped the cordless phone and glanced back at Ryley who didn’t move. “Ryley
,
I need you to stay here.” He didn’t move—he didn’t look at her. She
dashed out the door and
could see Maggie on her knees sobbing
.
Sam appeared to be giving Lily CPR. Richard was beside him. Marcie relayed everything to the 911 operator until she heard the sirens wailing in the distance
.
She
hung
up
when she saw the first red flashing lights.

She hurried back to the road, limping as she gripped the disconnected phone. Emergency vehicles arrived
—
ambulance, the sheriff, volunteers from Gardiner and Sequim fire department
s
blocked the narrow gravel road. Two
paramedics
raced over and dropped down beside Sam and Richard. Emergency personnel crowded around, leaning in. She was still alive, but barely. Marcie pressed her hand against her chest. “Hurry
,
”
she
whispered.

“We need a medevac here now
,
”
one
of the men shouted.

“They’re en
route. They have to land at the
fire
hall let’s move it
,
”
Another man
yelled.

Richard pushed past Maggie
,
ignoring her as if she was of no importance. “Is she going to make it?” A desperate father.

Sam glanced at the lady paramedic with the sharp features. She shook her head
.
Sam stepped in front of Richard when Lily was loaded on
the
stretcher.

“I’m going with her
!
” Maggie screamed.

“There’s no room
,
”
a
volunteer yelled as three climbed in the ambulance beside Lily
.
She
appeared so tiny hooked up to an IV with splints
and a
neck collar
,
strapped to the gurney. An
average looking st
ate trooper grabbed Maggie by the waist and held her back when she tried to jump in the ambulance. Richard stalked over to the
sheriff
and state troopers leaning against their car at the side of the road
with
lights still flashing.