Lost and Found (23 page)

“When Dan finally showed up a while ago, he met me for a beer. And after a couple
,
he offered me his new truck. He said he couldn’t make the payments on the truck but an insurance settlement would net him about $30,000, which he’d sign over to me as a partial payment. But first he had to make the truck disappear. So yeah
,
I helped him. We took the truck up to Buckhorn
Lake
and drove it in. Dan left for Seattle
,
spent
the night in a downtown hotel,
and
then reported his truck stolen
to
Seattle PD. He filed an insurance claim,
and
with replacement cost on his fairly new truck, he was a expecting an insurance settlement after the lien was paid off of $32,500. But turns out the insurance company has a vehicle theft
clause
,
so
they have up to
ninety
days to hold the claim, and await recovery of the vehicle.”

Sam scrubbed the flat of his hands up and over his face
,
and Richard knew he was struggling to hold his tongue.

“You sure you want me to continue?”

Sam said nothing but gestured
with
his hand in
a
sharp circular motion. His face was flushed, and his eyes took on the
haunted
look of a man trying to absorb the content of
his
unbelievable tale.

“Several days ago, search and rescue flew over the lake looking for some lost teens. What they discovered from above
was
a truck submerged in the lake. Divers were called in to check for a body. They pulled the serial number to find out who it belonged to and discovered it was Dan’s missing truck. After they called Dan’s cell phone, which was on the police report, the
sheriff
requested his presence and questioned him on the validity of his report. You see someone
from Seattle PD decided to do his homework
then
. A detective went to the hotel Dan listed on the police report
where
the truck was supposedly stolen. According to their folio, there was no truck. He has to provide a plate number of his vehicle for security, and there wasn’t one. He tried to tell the
sheriff
he forgot to put it down
.
But
when the Front Desk manager was questioned at the hotel, she said that would be impossible
because
security matches up all the plates nightly
with
the registered guests as he does a walk-through of the lot. Any vehicles parked in the lot not listed are made note of and towed before morning. Dan phoned me several days ago in a panic. He told me divers were going back in
,
and the truck was scheduled to be pulled out the next morning. I told him I was done. He said I’d never get my money otherwise
,
and he’d make sure I lost everything if I didn’t help him get rid of the truck. So I did. He borrowed a big boat
.
When we got to where the truck was, he dove
down and attached a line to
the
frame of the truck
,
and we dragged the truck into the middle of the lake and dropped the line. The depth of
the
lake is a mile deep in the center
and
filled with caves and caverns. So when the two
deputies
showed up at my house,
it
was before they realized the truck was no longer visible in the lake. But
one of
the
deputies
told me something quite interesting. Dan changed his story
and
pointed the finger at me. Said he owed me money
,
and I forced him to sign the truck over
,
and it was me
who
told Dan the truck was gone, and I made him file a report to get the insurance money. That’s what he does
,
and he’s good at it, confess to something smaller
,
and the cops believe you.”

Sam leaned back in his squeaky chair that
swiveled
, and
he
locked his hands behind his head as he appeared to contemplate
the
whole story.

“Diane already knows about the truck. She told me not to say anything else to the cops since the truck
’
s now gone. They may decide to drop it”

Sam shook his head. “Diane’s right. But fuck
,
Richard
.
You
should have called me.”

He
was tempted to get up and walk out. “Is this all I’m going to hear today
?
Recriminations
and how badly I fucked up
?
I don’t want to hear it. I didn’t come here to be hassled.”
He
hefted himself from the chair
and
could feel his temper going from zero to sixty.

“Stop right there with that sanctimonious bullshit. I should be able to speak honestly to you. You fucked up big time. Now would you come back here and sit down
?
Please.” Sam jerked his hand toward the empty chair. Richard leaned against the doorframe in the open doorway
,
uneasy with the way he kept flying off the handle.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. This thing
…
it’s getting a little too hot
,
Sam. Maggie and I
…
you already know…
I’ve just got her back. And Ryley, his whole world’s been rocked. I don’t know how much more I can take. It would make my life so much easier if Dan was dead.”

“Whoa, stop right there. You’re talking about killing the man. And that threat alone can get you locked up.”

“How was school
,
bud?” For a moment as she walked beside Ryley to the truck, lost in her own thoughts
,
Maggie realized he failed to answer her. Maggie touched his slouched shoulder and gently shook. “Are you all right?”

A tear slid down his cheek when they reached the truck. He climbed in the passenger side.
She
glanced back at the crowd of kids and parents
,
who all hurried onto buses and into cars.
She
climbed in the driver’s side and shut the door before facing
his
.

When he turned his face toward
her
, tears filled both his eyes. “The kids at school were mean today
.
One
of them said Dad’s a thief and you’re a drug addict
.
And
God
punished us and took Lily, and I’m next.”
She
froze and was positive her mouth gaped.

She
didn’t think, she reacted. She grabbed Ryley’s hand and dragged him out of the truck and into school office and pounded like an insane woman on the front glass of the reception window.

The pert school secretary slid open the glass. “Mrs. McCafferty
,
what can I do for you?” The short squat woman sounded irritated.

“I need to see Jacob. Is he still here?”

Another teacher who lingered behind the secretary peaked in Jacob’s office. “Nope
,
not in his office. Hmm, I know he’s around somewhere. Oh
,
there he is.” She pointed briskly to the
gymnasium
behind Maggie.

She turned
around, her hand still clasped around Ryley’s
,
and
with
each fury
-
filled step
,
she all but dragged Ryley alongside to where Jacob chatted with Mr. Harris, the gym teacher.

She
didn’t wait for him to finish, she took
in
his thoughtful glance in her direction
,
and rudely interrupted his active discussion. “Jacob, I need to speak with you.”

“Mr. Harris, would you excuse us
?
” Jacob must have sensed
she
was about explode as he placed his arm around her shoulder
s
and guided her and Ryley to his office. He
shut his office door and
said nothing until she was seated beside Ryley.

“Something has obviously happened that has gotten you quite upset. You’re shaking Maggie. What is it?”

He perched on the corner of his desk right in front of
them
.

“Ryley
,
tell Mr. Petersen what you
just
told me.”

Ryley’s face appeared stricken. He yanked his hand from
hers
and stared into his lap. His voice was hesitant. “I don’t want to get my
dad
and
mom
in trouble.”

“What? Why would you think, I don’t…”

Jacob reached out and squeezed
her
shoulder. “Maggie
,
would
you let me talk to Ryley alone
?
I’ll see if I can get to bottom of whatever’s going on.”
He
didn’t wait for
her
reply
.
He
helped her up
and
guided her out of his office to a chair in reception. “Just give us a minute. Sometimes it’s best if the parent isn’t there. You have my word this won’t go anywhere.”
She
sat shunned by her own son as the door clicked closed. The big industrial clock mounted on the wall above her head ticked on while students and staff bustled in the office and past the glass window of the front office. Ten minutes slipped by before the Jacob’s office door popped open
,
and he poked his head out.

“Maggie
,
come in.” The executioner
’
s song
played
in the back of her mind as she slinked back in and scoo
t
ed her seat beside a solemn Ryley. He wouldn’t look at her
,
instead he kept his eyes down and twiddled his thumbs until Jacob sat across from him.
He
then shifted a hopeful glance at Jacob
,
not
her
.

“Ryley and I had quite a talk. I understand why you’re so upset. I’ve explained to Ryley that I will be contacting
the parents of
this other child
who said those hurtful words. We have no tolerance at this school for what was said to Ryley. It was malicious
,
and I’ll be taking this on.” Jacob gently touched the top of Ryley’s head. “I explained to Ryley how proud I am he came forward. That this is in fact bullying and will not be tolerated. Ryley, give your mom and me a moment please.” He patted Ryley’s back as he slipped past him.
Her
heart hammered in her throat when Jacob closed the door and sat beside her in Ryley’s chair.

“Maggie.” He reached for her hand and gently squeezed. “Don’t panic. Just let me say I know you and Richard have gone through hell. And if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or drop in and see me. I know you’re upset. And I don’t want you to get mad at Ryley. But you should know you scared him.”

“How did I scare him?”

Jacob squeezed her hand.
“Maggie
,
it’s not about today. I already suspected you were taking anti-depressants. But I didn’t realize you were in trouble. Ryley told me you didn’t function, you took pills to sleep
,
and he couldn’t wake you at night,
and
you took pills in the morning. He said he would try and talk to you
,
and you wouldn’t hear him.”
She
tried to
interrupt, but Jacob held up his hand to stop her. “Maggie please, just listen. I’m not lecturing you. I do understand what you’ve gone through is any parent
’
s worst nightmare. I already know whatever you and Richard have done now, you are doing the right thing. You’ve pulled it together. Most parents who’ve suffered the kind of loss you
did
don’t. But you have, and I understand you and Richard are back together giving Ryley stability. You’re putting your family back together. I’m just telling you the kind of fear Ryley’s lived with will impact him. But the decisions you make now will determine his outcome. I do need to ask you a question about something Ryley commented on about his
dad
. Is Richard in trouble? Is he under investigation for theft? Before I call these parents
,
I’d like to know everything.”