Page 1 of Last Date
Chapter One
Elon Green was back from the dead.
At least, that was what the local newspaper headlines implied: “Deceased boy lives again.”
Itwasa miracle by anyone’s account. Elon Green, youngest son of the local, hugely wealthy, Green family, had disappeared twelve years ago at the age of five. Everyone had assumed the worst and given up hope. All except for Mary Green, Elon’s mother. She’d never given up faith that one day her son would return to the fold.
And it seemed he had.
Helen and Charlene had been streaming the news nonstop on a laptop in the shop since the news broke three days ago. I was pleased there had been a happy outcome for the Green family, but I had a business to run, and I was feeling a bit frustrated with my dear employees.
Rubbing my hands together, I said brightly, “We have a full day ahead of us, gang. Shall we get to it?”
“Uh-huh,” murmured Charlene, her eyes glued to the laptop screen.
I frowned. “I was thinking… Maybe like…Now?”
“Sure thing,” Charlene said, still staring at the laptop.
“I still can’t believe it,” Helen said, warming her fingers around a mug of steaming tea. “He’ll have suffered psychological and emotional damage for sure.”
“How could he not?” Charlene shivered. “Imagine thinking your parents were actually your parents, only to find out they were strangers who’d snatched you when you were a child.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Poor boy.” Helen shook her head.
Giving a heartfelt sigh, I abandoned subtlety. “Charlene, aren’t you supposed to be at Darcy Millhouse’s home right now walking Luna?”
“Huh?” Charlene bugged her eyes and stood. “Is it 9:00 a.m. already?”
“Ten past.” I frowned.
Charlene scooted toward the door, slipping into her coat as she ran. “Sorry, boss! I got distracted.”
“Did you?” I asked sardonically. “I hadn’t noticed.”
She gave a maniacal laugh, and the door closed loudly behind her.
Helen looked sheepish as she clicked out of the website she’d been streaming the news on. “You have to admit, it’s fascinating stuff.”
“It is. I’m extremely happy for the Greens. But, unlike them, I don’t have millions in the bank, so I need to keep this place afloat by doing actual work.” I gave her what I hoped was a cajoling smile. “Watch all the news you want on your breaks. It’s just hard to focus with that stuff on in the background.”
“Absolutely.” Helen cleared her throat and grabbed a stack of bills next to her computer. “These invoices aren’t going to enter themselves.”
Now I felt a little guilty, although I didn’t think I was asking too much by requiring work for pay. Still, I liked to have a casual atmosphere at work and hated the idea of being bossy, even if I was the boss. “I’ll buy lunch today to make it up to you.”
She laughed. “Kip, don’t be silly. You have every right to want us to work. I just find it so fascinating that Elon made it home safely after twelve long years. Everyone thought he was dead.”
I winced. “Well, yes. That’s only natural seeing as he disappeared without a trace.”
“He was so young when he was taken. I wonder what he looks like now. They haven’t shared his photo yet. The family is probably scared the kidnappers will come for him again.”
“They’re probably just trying to protect him from the media. I mean, the kidnappers already know what Elon looks like and where he is. It’s all over the news that he’s home.”
“That’s true. Do you suppose they’ll do DNA testing to be sure it’s really him?”
“No idea.” I felt like I was being sucked into Charlene’s co-conspirator role, so I moved into the back room. I had my dog, Spot, with me, and he followed me into the back. We were boarding several dogs while their owners were on vacation, and I greeted them cheerfully. I opened the back door and went to release the dogs outside into the dog run area for some fresh air and exercise. Spot bounced around me, eagerly waiting for his playmates to be released.
“Maybe Merrick can give us some juicy details about the case,” Helen said, raising her voice to be heard. “You should reach out to him.”
