Page 142 of Single Teddy
“What time did he run? I assume the footage has a time stamp?”
He nodded.
“I put him to bed around four. He was falling asleep in front of the TV, so I took him to Mac’s room, and Mac and I were in the kitchen, cooking. The CCTV shows him jumping out the window at four-thirty. He made his way around the property and then ran off northside.”
Four-thirty. And now it was six. He’d been out and alone for ninety minutes already. Where would he be? Where would he go? And why would he run?
I tried to picture the map in my head to figure out where he would even be going, but I still didn’t know Mayberry Holm well enough to be accurate. I pulled my phone out and consulted my Maps app instead.
“North, huh? Maybe he’s trying to go to the port?” I said.
“Why would he go there?” Slade asked.
“Trying to get a boat back home?” I shrugged.
“I think you’re forgetting he’s a child. He probably has no idea which way is which,” Wesley suggested, and I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.
He was right.
I was trying to rationalize the actions of a seven-year-old. A seven-year-old who had been through hell before he could even understand the world.
“Let’s…let’s hit the road and just search,” I said.
I knew everyone else was looking for him. The whole team and their partners had been mobilized. But I’d feel better if I were out there looking for him too.
“Come on. I’ll help. Maybe we can figure out where he went together,” Wesley said, and we turned toward the door when the phone in my hand rang, making me jump.
I glanced at the screen, and Zach’s name was written across the top.
“Shoot. I forgot about him. He’s probably terrified all on his own,” I said, and Wesley checked the screen too.
“Why? What happened?”
“He saw his ex today, and he was petrified. You should have seen his face. I told him to go home and wait for me to get back, but I…I forgot.”
The call stopped.
“God, I hope he’s okay. I can’t handle another scare today,” I said and tried to call him back when my phone rang once more.
It was Zach again.
I slid my thumb across the screen and put the device to my ear.
“Hi, Zach. How are?—”
“Teddy? Oh thank god. You answered.” He sounded relieved.
“Yeah. Is everything okay?”
“I…I think so. How is Wesley?”
“He’s safe. We found him and he’s safe now,” I said.
“Oh thank god. That’s such a relief. I mean, I have no idea what the heck happened, but I’m glad you got to him.”
“Me-me too. Listen, Zach. I really want to catch up and tell you everything, but this isn’t a great?—”
“Yeah. I thought not. Can I ask…why did Bear just knock on my door?”
