The brothers' business once again thrived. Old friends were welcome at his house once more. When summer came, he could be found in the backyard manning the grill with family and friends surrounding him. His child grew like a weed, blocking out the sun until she was his golden orb. She was the brightest light in his life, his Hailey. Walking and talking turned into reading and writing as the first day of school came and went. She was the only reason for his existence now.
It had been four years since his wife died. Many seasons had passed. Now the leaves were changing color and pumpkins were rotting on porches when his world tilted off its axis for a second time.
Chapter One
For the last few months, Hailey had ridden the bus to and from school. A smart girl, she was talkative and friendly to everyone. She was a bright spot in everyone's day at the workshop where her father and uncle ran their business, McMillan Brothers Woodworking. There was a rotating list of who would walk her to the bus stop and pick her up, depending on who was available if Devon was too busy. That day, her Aunt Lori picked her up from the bus stop and let her play with the dollhouse tucked into the private room of the shop office. Hailey would come into the shop with whoever had picked her up and say hello to her father, get a snack from the mini fridge, and either do homework or play in the office. Lori ran the office portion of the business, answering phone calls, taking orders, and maintaining their website. She was the one to keep watch over Hailey more often than not; they had a powerful bond after Lori cared for her so much in the days after Hailey's mother Kathy died.
When Devon was done with his workday, he stepped into the front room to get his daughter, but she was nowhere to be found.
"What do you mean she isn't here?" Devon demanded of his tearful sister-in-law.
Lori was beside herself with guilt that Hailey wasn't where she'd last seen her. "After she got her snack, she was coloring at the table. I never saw her leave the office, and I've been right here." After indicating her chair at the desk just outside the office door, Lori sniffed and wiped at her cheeks with her palms.
"How did she leave the front office if you were here? Are you sure you didn't leave for any reason?" Devon grabbed her arm and shook it, knowing he was being too aggressive, too rough with Lori, but his baby was missing and his judgment was clouded.
"I swear, the only time I moved was to use the bathroom, but I looked in on her after I came back. The phones have been ringing nonstop today. I guess she snuck out behind me."
Devon recognized the desperate look in her eyes and backed off. Lori loved Hailey like her own, and she was pregnant. He wasn't capable of being nicer to her at that moment, so he paced away from her while he thought about what they should do.
He found Caleb in the shop in the back of the building and told him he was needed. Together they looked all throughout the shop, checking in cupboards, closets, and the bathroom, as they shouted her name repeatedly. They looked in the woods behind the building and in everyone's vehicles. Then they called the school, family members, Hailey's friends, and friends of friends. Nobody had seen his little girl.
The tension built in Devon's chest until he finally exploded, throwing what tools were nearest to his hand. Chisels and rasps flew across the room, chipping wood and breaking glass. "What thefuck!"
Caleb did his best to console him, but there was nothing Devon needed more in that moment than his daughter in his arms.
It can't be happening again. I can't lose anyone else.
The two men made their way to the front office to see if anything had changed. Through the windows they watched as a Merrimac Police car pulled into the gravel lot, the shade of blue similar to the faded paint on the building the brothers leased. Lori was waiting for them in the parking lot, and a middle-aged woman in a uniform climbed out of the vehicle and immediately started asking questions.
"I told her to go ahead and call them to help us look. You need to remain calm." Caleb placed his hand on Devon's shoulder, as much to hold him in place as to comfort him.
"Fuck that." Devon paced, he cursed, and he watched every move the people arriving made. Somebody knew something. A five-year-old couldn't just disappear.
Suddenly, so many people were there: his parents, teachers, too many bodies reminding him of his wife's wake. More police were taking more statements until there was Vince, hugging him and telling him he was sorry.
"She can't just be gone."
