Part 3 (1/2)

Erica handed me her prescription as we stepped into the hall outside Dr. Albert's office. ”He said to get this filled on our way home. And we need to pick up my car from The Cat's Meow. I have to work tonight.”

I put my hand on her arm to bring her to a halt. ”Did you talk to Dr. Albert about your poor self-image, your drinking, and that stuff about being a receptacle?”

”Yes, Jolene.” Erica resumed walking, kicking the new fallen snow into the air. ”He says my medication helps promote weight loss.”

”Really?” I read the prescription. It was for the same stuff she'd been taking for the last year, maybe a higher dosage. The fact sheet from the pharmacy said it could promote bloating. Good thing Erica never read the fact sheets.

”He also said studies have shown that women's hymens can regenerate after months of celibacy. I'm going to be a born-again virgin.”

I stopped walking. She took a few more steps, missed me, and turned around.

We couldn't have this conversation in front of Danny, and I didn't want to lose the opportunity. ”What are you talking about?”

”I offered to go home with one of the guys at the bar last month. We did it before, a couple years back. He pa.s.sed. He said my receptacle has been used one time too many and was stretched out like a chicken that had laid too many eggs. Then n.o.body wanted to go home with me anymore, not even this guy who always sits around until after two a.m. talking to me. And he's not even that good-looking.”

This must be what Ray meant when he said Erica was making a fool of herself all over town. She'd been begging men to take her home. Ugh!

I resumed walking. Erica followed.

”A guy over at The Cat's Meow liked me. He wanted to take me home, but Gumby wouldn't let him.” She twirled her hair. ”Gumby's just jealous. He wanted to make it with me a couple months ago, but I turned him down.”

I stumbled and righted myself. Gumby got married five months ago. Was he cheating on his wife already? I shouldn't be so surprised with his track record. But Erica was Ray's sister-in-law. Gumby should show more deference to his comrade-in-arms.

”Dr. Albert said I could be a virgin again if I abstain for a few months. Then my receptacle will be brand new.” Erica twirled in circles across the parking lot. ”He's so smart. He might even want me then.”

I didn't attempt to explain all her faulty logic, nor did I question the quality of Dr. Albert's therapy. Abstaining sounded like a wonderful idea to me. At least it would keep her out of The Cat's Meow.

We climbed into the front seat of the car. I turned over the ignition and glanced over my shoulder as I clicked the gear into reverse.

The back seat was empty.

I slammed the car into park and leapt out of the car. ”Danny? Danny?”

My gaze swept the parking lot and the grounds beyond. I couldn't spot any movement other than a plastic bag blowing with the wind.

I raced into the office building and crashed through the door to Dr. Albert's waiting room. No sign of Danny.

I ran back outside. Erica met me at the door. ”Did you find him?”

”No.”

I darted across the parking lot, threw open my car door, and wrenched my cell phone from my purse. My hands shook as I dialed Ray.

He answered on the second ring.

”He's gone.”

”Danny?”

”Yes, yes! I left him in the car outside Dr. Albert's office. I locked him in and told him not to open the doors for anyone. I came out with Erica and he was gone.”

My mouth felt dry. A lump formed in my throat. I'd lost another child.

”Do you think someone took him, Ray?”

”I doubt it. I'll issue an Amber Alert anyway. What was he wearing?”

I told him.

”Okay. Stay right there. I'm on my way.”

I hit the end b.u.t.ton and met Erica by the trunk of the car. ”Ray's coming. He doesn't think anyone took him. Danny must have taken off by himself.”

Erica kicked a stone across the parking lot. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. ”You didn't tell Danny I wanted you to give him back, did you?”

____.

Ten minutes later Ray arrived. He sent me into the building to knock on all the office doors while he conducted a car-by-car search of the parking lot. The psychiatric center sat a quarter-mile off the nearest artery, so he reasoned that Danny didn't walk away. We would have spotted him.

No one in the office building had seen Danny, nor had the guard inside the psych center. I returned to the parking lot where Ray was talking on his radio.

”Erica said a car was parked next to you when you pulled in. Do you remember what kind of car it was, Darlin'?”

I looked at the spot where Erica stood, outlining a car with frantic waves of her arms. A faint car shape remained in the snow-covered parking lot. ”It was a white car, Jo. I remember.”

I closed my eyes and visualized pulling into the parking spot. ”A white Toyota Camry, a 1996 maybe.”

Ray announced that information over his radio.

A male voice responded, ”I got a white Camry in sight. Southbound on Pinion Heights. O-o-o-h. Correction, make that stationary at the Charleston intersection. He just rear-ended a Volvo.”

”I'm on my way.” Ray leapt into his car and took off, siren blaring.

Erica looked at me. ”Aren't you going to follow him?”

We chased Ray's sheriff's car, exceeding the speed limit without fear of being stopped since every available officer was on Danny's trail. I did slow down after sliding a few feet through a red light on the fresh snow.

Ray had pulled over about five miles from the psych center, joining a line of parked cars. Danny sat on the side of the road with his head between his knees. A paramedic knelt in the gra.s.s next to him, talking to him.

Another sheriff's deputy and a state police officer stood in the road with what looked to be the driver of the other vehicle, a Volvo station wagon. His arms waved as he spoke to the officers.

Erica and I avoided them and approached Danny.

Ray got to him first.

”Danny!”

He looked up and quivered. I couldn't blame him. Ray's nostrils were flaring, his neck flushed.

”Where did you get this car, Danny?”