“You can’t promise that.”
“I’ve found kids I didn’t know before, so I damn well am going to find one I do.” I hoped my voice gave him some reassurance. It was time to put my experience into action. “What do we know about her?”
“She lived in the Bronx with her mom, but she said she wasn’t there often. Her mom worked nights. She mentioned a friend in East Harlem.”
“Sounds like we have a starting place.”
We took the subway to 116 Street. On the way, we looked on our phones for places of interest that Lucy may have visited as a child. The area had a strong Latin American influence, so it looked like a strong possibility.
In my experience, kids ran away from the areas they knew in fear of being recognized, but Lucy had been taken away to a new area when she was ten, so it was likely she was trying to connect with memories of happy times when her mom was alive.
The first thing we did once we were out of the subway was to try to find a coffee shop or supermarket where we could ask a local resident where the places were that people could visit or hang out.
The list wasn’t extensive and looking at the map on my phone there was no obvious or efficient route.
“Should we split?” Max asked.
“I want to say yes, but I don’t want to not be with you. Let’s justwalk fast.”
“Okay.”
We walked, paying attention to anyone that looked familiar. We stopped a few people and showed them Lucy’s photograph but no one had seen her.
The longer we walked the more anxious Max became. We touched base with Fernando, and they’d had no success but were on their way to Grand Central Station. I had a feeling they wouldn’t find Lucy at any station, but it was worth trying.
“Look,” Max said, “there’s a little park there.”
I followed Max across the street to a space between two buildings that looked not so much like a park but an allotment.
“This is Lydia’s Magical Garden. I’ve heard about it but have never been,” Max said.
In the garden, I looked around. There were loads of potting boxes. Some looked like there was nothing but soil in them, but others had root vegetables. I wondered how they coped with the cold temperatures.
“Looks like another dead end.” I touched Max’s arm, following it down until my hand wrapped around his. I gave him a little squeeze. “Let’s carry on. We’ll find her.”
As we walked toward the entrance gate a voice called out.
“Max? Isaac?” It came from the floor where Lucy was sitting in the gap between two flower boxes.
Max ran and in three-seconds flat had his arms around Lucy.
“Lucy, oh my god, sweetheart. We were sick with worry.”
I sent Fernando a quick text saying we’d found Lucy and to meet us at Grand Central and then joined in the embrace.
Max put one of his arms around me but kept a tight hold on Lucy.
“Guys, you’re squishing me.”
We laughed and gave her some space as we got up off the floor. Her face was tear-stained, and she looked exhausted.
“Lucy, what are you doing here?” Max said. “Jennifer’s mom said you canceled the sleepover, but you didn’t comehome last night. We’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I’m sorry.” She looked down at her hands. “Ididn’t know where else to go.”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my battery died. I was about to go home. I swear it.”
