Chapter 7
Greeted by a silence so heavy it was palpable, still cradling that ridiculous white tiger, Ruth froze. “What? What did I say?”
“Timmy’s missing,” Dante snapped.
Ruth looked from Dante to the tiger and burst into tears.
I wasn’t due at Hillsmere Elementary to meet Chloe until three-ten, but I decided I couldn’t bear another torrent of tears when I could barely control my own. “I need to pick up Chloe and Jake,” I announced, suddenly rising from my chair. I was desperate to get outside. Maybe breathing the fresh salt air would revive me. I consulted Officer Powers. “Is that okay?”
“Who are Chloe and Jake?” he wanted to know, as if they were suspects he needed to add to his interview list.
After I explained that Chloe and Jake were my grandchildren, he nodded permission. With
