She had been crying. “I was just on the phone with the police because my son is missing.” She was clearly barely keeping it together.
“I’m in LeTort Park, and I have Angus with me right now. Can you come down here to claim him? Please bring ID and dry clothes for Angus. We’ll be waiting for you.”
“I’m on my way,” she said, and the phone went dead. Grant set Angus down and held his hand.
“Your mom is on her way, and she’ll be here in a few minutes,” Grant told him, holding his hand and keeping him away from the suspect.
“Is that the bad man?” Cameron asked. “Is he going to jail?”
Grant swallowed hard. “Yes, it is, and Atlas and Evie are going to take him to jail. We’re going to stay here with Angus.”
Cameron nodded, and damned if the most amazing thing didn’t happen. “I’m Cameron. What’s your name?”
“Angus,” the boy said.
“I’m sorry you’re all wet, but Grant is a policeman, and he’s really good. He’ll get the bad man and keep him away forever and ever.”
Marty must have had an old towel in his bag, because he handed it to Angus and helped him dry off. “Your mama will be here soon. Are you hurt?”
Angus shook his head.
“Then maybe we can go play?” Cameron asked. “Dexter is really good at playing.” He leaned on Dexter, and the police dog sat down and let Cameron practically crawl over him. This was almost surreal, and yet Marty and Cameron calmed Angus down quickly. He simply stood with them until a woman hurried past the line of police officers.
“Mommy,” Angus cried and ran over to her. More tears followed as she lifted him into her arms. She kissed him and cried. “Don’t be sad.”
“I’m happy you’re safe,” she said as she approached the three of them. “I didn’t even know he was gone right away. He was playing in front of the building, and when I looked out, he was gone. I called the police, and then you called me, and….” She buried her head in Angus’s shoulder. Cameron held Marty’s hand and stayed close to him, the fear wafting off her probably affecting him. “Do you know what happened?”
“I believe it was your neighbor. We’ve been after him for taking children, and we finally tracked him here. I believe he snatched Angus in an effort to get away. He is in custody. This is my family. Marty and Cameron were here on the play equipment and saw me, so they hurried over to try to help.” He wouldn’t have expected anything less from either of them.
“Grant helped get the bad man,” Cameron said. “Now everyone is safe.” He smiled as though a weight were off his shoulders.
“Why don’t you help Angus change his clothes and leave the wet ones with us as evidence? Then we’ll get a statement from you, and eventually I’d like to speak to Angus, but that doesn’t have to be today.”
“Whatever you need.” She turned to Angus. “I was so scared that I had lost you.”
“The policeman found me,” Angus told her. “The bad man put me in the water, and he saved me,” Angus told his mother, pointing at Grant.
She seemed to have relaxed a little. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” she told Angus again. Grant was willing to bet that she was not going to let Angus out of her sight again until he was at least eighteen. “Let’s go get you dried off and changed.” She led him back the way she had come and through the line to where she was parked.
“Are both of you okay?”
Cameron nodded solemnly. “Daddy yelled at me.”
Grant looked at Marty, who beamed and said nothing. “I know, but he was scared that you might get hurt.” Grant knelt down. “Sometimes parents yell when they get scared for their kids. It means they love them very much.” He shared a smile with Cameron. “I promise you that. Do you want to go play some more?”
“Can I take Dexter?”
“I don’t think he’s allowed in the play area, but after I get done with work, I’ll bring Dexter over, and the two of you can play in the backyard.”
That seemed to mollify Cameron, who turned to Marty. “My tummy is hungry.”
“Okay. We’ll go get something to eat.” He took Cameron by the hand, while he was still a little pale, as he led him around where the other officers were getting Bryant Gunderson in a squad car, shielding Cameron from as much of the view as possible.
“Are you ready to join us?” Captain Robards asked with a hint of impatience. Grant called Dexter and headed over to where the others had gathered. “How is the boy?”
“He’s with his mother. She’ll be back once Angus is out of his wet clothes.” He watched where they had disappeared into her car. “She is going to save his clothes for us in case they can tell us something.”
“Did he toss the boy in the water?” the captain asked.
