Page 119 of Cherish Me Forever

I set him down on a chair. “Take a deep breath,” I say, holding his fisting hands. Then I offer him some water again. This time he takes a couple of sips. “Tell me what happened.”

His fingers unfurl. “I borrowed Mom’s phone. I wanted to ring Dime and Matty,” he confides. “But there was no reception around the building. I knew I wasn’t supposed to go far, but—”

He pauses as if regretting what he’d done.

“It’s okay, Raffi.”

Upon a deep sigh, he continues, “I hate it here. I hate that apartment. So I just kept going. In the end, the battery died anyway. Then I walked back. But when I got to the building, I saw Uncle Don with his bodyguard standing near our car.”

Stray cat is too good a name for him. I don’t know what Fletcher is, but how dare he!

I look away, concealing my anger only because of Raffi. Then I ask him gently, “Did he take her?”

“I couldn’t see. The garage is far away from the front gate. I wanted to come close, but I was scared. I know I shouldn’t have left her. I was supposed to protect her.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault.”

“What if he killed her?”

He leaves his seat and falls into my arms, trembling.

“Hey, easy, Raffi.” I stroke his back, leaning my face onto his head. “Your mother is strong. She wouldn’t let anyone kill her, not even Uncle Don. Good thing you didn’t approach him. He didn’t take you, so you can help us.”

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran here. We passed this station a few times when we went shopping. But Clay, I shouldn’t have come here.” He shakes his head repeatedly. “I should’ve found a phone and called Matty, and then asked Matty to call you.”

I slowly pull him away from my shoulder, so he’s facing me. “Listen, Raffi, you did the right thing. Where’s your apartment? The detective said you couldn’t remember.”

Raffi bows his head. “I lied to the policeman. I said I got lost and didn’t know my way home. Every time he asked something, I said I don’t remember.” He wipes his snort on the sleeve of the Anchorage PD jacket he’s wearing. He then scratches his index finger. “I didn’t want anyone to see the apartment. I don’t know what Uncle Don has done. I don’t want Mom to get into trouble. She’s been practicing shooting.”

“Practicing shooting isn’t a crime. Your mom won’t get into trouble.”

He scratches his finger harder. “Am I going to go to jail?”

“No! Raffi, of course not.” I cover his hand with my palm, stopping him from scraping his finger.

Raffi then adds, “Uncle Don may lie to the police. Then they’d take me away from her.”

“No one’s going to take you away, Raffi.”

“Clay, what if she’s dead?” There’re no more tears in his eyes now, but he looks to be bracing for something horrific.

“No, she’s not. I promise you.”

“How do you know?”

I kneel down and pull his hand to my chest. “I know it here, Raffi. I know she’s still alive.”

Raffi curves a tiny smile, then nods.

“Now tell me.” I rest my hands on his shoulders. “Where’s your apartment? No one else will know. Only me, Wyatt, and Blake.”

He whispers the address to me.

“Wait here.” I then fetch Wyatt and Blake from another room. “Blake, I don’t care how you do it. Get the Anchorage PD off this. And the Alaska Troopers or anyone else who might want to take an interest in this. Do you hear me?”

“Not a problem, Clay,” Blake assures me.

“We’ll go to Isabelle’s apartment, just Wyatt and me. You stay here with Raffi, okay?”

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