“There’s no proof it’s here,” Arthur said. “Or it might be a dozen steps away from here. We don’t know how tall Lilian and Reginald were.” He glanced back at the plaque and noticed the dark clouds were closer now. Maybe that storm was going to hit sooner than forecast.
The radio on Amy’s belt squawked. “Ames, are you there?”
She lifted the radio. “Yeah, what’s up, Brandon?”
“Just got an emergency broadcast. Storm’s coming. It might even form into an early cyclone. Faith’s picking up Lara from school and coming home. Can you batten the hatches?”
Arthur’s heart lurched. Jordan. If Faith was picking up Lara, it meant the school was closing. He had to get back.
They moved back to the cars as one. “I’m at the gulf, but I’ll be back soon,” Amy said.
She might need him. His loyalties were conflicted. “I have to get Jordan.”
“Faith could pick him up.”
“No, Gretchen will want him near.” And he wasn’t leaving her alone in town if the storm was going to be bad.
“All right. Stay in town. There will be enough people at the Ridge when the others get back. Gretchen and Sam will need you.”
They were both still on the boat. He checked his phone again, but he still had no reception. He hugged his sister. “Take care.”
“You too.”
Arthur waited until Amy was on her way before he drove as fast as he dared back to town. He kept his eye on the phone reception and as soon as he came into range, he rang the school and explained who he was.
“The children have all been sent home,” the receptionist said.
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel and hung up. Gretchen wouldn’t forgive him. He called her, but it went straight to voice mail.
Finally, he hit the bitumen and sped down the straight road to town. The dark clouds were moving fast towards him. By the time he raced past the town welcome sign, the wind was gusting. His phone rang. Gretchen. “Where are you?”
“On our way back, almost at the marina. Have you got Jordan?”
He hated the worry in her voice. “Not yet. I was out at the Ridge. Just reached town now.” He slowed as a car pulled out in front of him.
“Call me when you have.”
The trees shook helplessly against the wind as he drove past the school and followed the path Jordan and Cody took home. No children were in sight. He stopped at Cody’s place first and ran to the front door. Holly answered his frantic pounding. “Is Jordan here?”
Her eyes widened. “No, Cody told his sister they were going to Jordan’s place. I haven’t picked him up.”
The oldest sister he’d seen yesterday walked up. “They were talking about finding treasure.”
Shit. Surely Jordan could see this storm was bad. “I’ve been out,” Arthur explained. “They’re probably already at Gretchen’s.” He raced back to the car and arrived at Gretchen’s in record time. The wind buffeted him as he unlocked the front door and bellowed, “Jordan!”
Nothing. He swept through the house, checking the rooms before heading outside. “Jordan! Cody! Now’s not the time to play hide and seek.”
No response. Dread filled him. He’d seen no trace of the boys on their usual route. Where the hell were they? He blocked the panic and focused. Cody’s sister had mentioned treasure. Maybe they’d decided to look for it, but where?
He dug out his notes, scanning them to see if there was something Jordan might have seen as a clue. He tapped a word on the notes. Plaque. Cody had asked him about the one in the park. Maybe they thought that’s what the document was referring to.
He raced back outside as Gretchen called again. Damn. He put the car into reverse and answered. “Jordan and Cody are both missing.”
Her anguished gasp skewered him. “Holly said they went to your place, but the boys aren’t here. I might know where they are, though.”
“Kurt.”
“There’s another option. They might have been looking for treasure.” He drove through town to the park, his hands clenched on the wheel as the wind pushed the car around like it was nothing.
