“Most detectives are called by their last names, so I’m practicing now so it’s not so weird when the time comes.”
“That’s smart. I read a book about a detective once. It’s my most favorite ever. My daddy gave it to me. The detective was hired to help a little girl find her stolen kitty.”
“You know, I think I read that book to my brother when he was about your age.” Langford taps his chin with his finger. “Thecat was called Salem, right? The florist thought he had powers, so she stole him to try and get him to grow her flowers quicker for the flower contest.”
A full grin takes over my face. I pull my feet up onto the wall and sit on them, nodding with excitement.
Langford’s eyes fill with fondness as he looks at me and lets me tell him my favorite parts fromThe Detective and Me.
“That’s all you want?” Langford asks when I put my spoon down.
“I’m only allowed one scoop,” I say, wiping my lips.
“Live a little.” He shrugs, handing me back the spoon. “It’ll be our secret,” he says, his expression kind and friendly, but his words make my tummy start to feel funny again.
Why can’t you ever just understand!
My hands twist in my lap, and I shrink back a little.
“Lucia, are you alright?” Langford asks, his brow furrowing slightly as he moves the ice cream container behind him and shuffles a little closer.
“M-my mom said that I couldn’t tell. That I had to keep it a secret, but I don’t like this secret. It makes my tummy feel like worms are wiggling inside of it, and I don’t like worms.”
“Did you see someone do something bad, Lucia?” Langford asks, but his face and voice don’t carry the same anger Mom’s did. “I once saw something bad too, and I didn’t say anything,” he tells me when I don’t answer.
“Why didn’t you tell?”
“I didn’t want anything bad to happen, but even though I stayed quiet, the bad thingstillhappened, and now, I don’t get to tell the person I wanted to tell because they’re not here anymore.”
“Where did they go?” I ask him, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Someplace I can’t get to them.”
I scratch the top of my head. “You can’t take a bus or something? I’m really good at reading maps. Maybe I can help you, if you want.”
“You’re a sweet kid, and I bet you’re so, so good at reading maps, but transportation isn’t the problem, Lucia.”
I’m not sure what he means, but there’s a sad look in his eyes. I wonder if he needs a hug. Daddy always says my hugs make him feel better when he’s down.
A car beeps from behind us before I can mention it, and we both turn to look at it. There’s a girl sitting in the front seat behind the wheel.
Big sunglasses cover her face, even though it’s not sunny anymore. She leans out of the open window and waves at us both before twisting her hair into a bun on the top of her head.
“That’s my girlfriend, Emma,” Langford says, holding a single finger up to her. She gives a small nod, her lips curling slightly in acknowledgment. “We came here to watch a baseball game and stayed at the hotel last night. We’re going home now.”
“Where’s home?”
“Michigan.”
“I’ve never left Crescent Creek Lake or Cincinnati.”
Langford smiles at me. “Maybe one day, you will.”
I look up when someone steps out of the revolving hotel doors and stands to the side.
Mom.
Her hair’s pulled back into a tidy bun, not messy in the same way as before. Her makeup isn’t smudged. She has her phone pressed to her ear, one hand on her hip. Her back is straight and stiff as a board, her one foot tapping the ground fast.
