“Please tell me where Raoul is. He’s my best friend. What happened to him?” Gavin said, knowing he was raising his voice, and then soon, if he didn’t stop himself, he would be screaming.
The clerk looked up. “Are you still here? No Raoul Ochoa. Now, go on, before I call hotel security. I need to take this phone call.” The clerk turned away.
Gavin didn’t know what to do, where to go, who to speak to. He stood at the front desk, paralyzed with fear, staring at the clerk who was talking on the phone, his back to Gavin. Was this clerk crazy? Where was Raoul? Maybe his parents came and took him away. But for what? I’ll call them; they’ll know where he is. Gavin finally made himself walk away from the desk, staring down at his feet, willing himself to walk, to get to a phone.
“Hey, kid. Come
