Five Days in Summer

the clasp but it wouldn’t give. Funny, since it was always popping open and falling off his mother’s wrist.
    “Where did you find it?”
    “That’ll cost you more, mister.”
    “It’s all I’ve got!”
    “Sorry—”
    “I’ll let you keep it if you tell me where you found it.” David realized the secret was worth more than the bracelet itself.
    “For seven dollars that’s all you want?” The girl pressed her hands into her hips and tried to look tough, but she didn’t. She was just a little kid.
    “And sixty-two cents.”
    “What’s your name?”
    “David. Where did you find it?”
    “I’m Daisy. I can show you. It’s right down there.”
    Daisy spun around and ran out of the restaurant. David heard footsteps coming toward the counter and he thought he better leave before the teenager got back with his food and he’d have to pay. He ran after Daisy, out of the Mute Swan, past all the parked cars, along more of Simons Narrow Road.
    “Follow me!” Daisy called in a voice full of ping and echo.
    She ran faster and he ran after her. He hoped shewas really taking him to the place where she found his mother’s bracelet and not on a loser’s game of hide-and-seek. They loved that, kids her age, playing games and trying to trick you. He was older than her, and faster, and if nothing else, he’d buy the bracelet off her skinny wrist. They ran to the end of the paved road and onto a dirt path that led them through a bunch of dried-up bushes, then onto the top of a grassy hill. The grass turned sandy at the foot of a bay filled with dark green water that brought David’s thirst rushing to the top of his throat.

Chapter 31
    Will pulled into the front parking lot at the police station. Sarah unbuckled Maxi, got out of the car and leaned back in to collect the limp, sleeping body. As Will waited he saw a squad car pull into the drive and head around back. An officer he didn’t recognize was at the wheel and a black couple shared the backseat. Will thought about the first time he came to this police station, a mere two days ago, and now how badly familiar the place had become. He thought about Al Snow and how he wrote his name in blue on the dry-erase board on the fridge at home, the name of a stranger whose title — detective — indicated competence. He wondered what would have happened if Snow had acted sooner when Sarah had first reported Emily missing. Would there have been any evidence at the Volvo, before the rain? Had Roger Bell planned the storm? Had he planned Al Snow too?
    Sarah stayed two paces behind Will as they walked into the lobby. The officer was bringing the black couple around to the front desk.
    “Suellen, this is Ted and Marian Joyner. I’m going to get them some coffee. Then I’m going to find somewhere to take their report.” The officer looked at TedJoyner. “There’s a special investigation going on and we all loaned out our desks.”
    “We don’t want any coffee.” Marian Joyner was agitated.
    “Just wait here and I’ll be right back.” The officer left the Joyners in the lobby and disappeared down the hall.
    Sarah carefully sat down on one of the lobby chairs and positioned Maxi against her shoulder. Will paced. The Joyners stood together by the reception window, their eyes following him.
    “Our daughter is missing,” Marian said.
    Ted reached out and stroked her arm. “Shh.”
    Will stopped pacing and stared at them. He had no idea what to say that wouldn’t sound harsh. Join the club. I’m missing three. Watch out for the cops here. They’re useless. He started pacing again. An entire constellation appeared in his mind: every cartoon he’d ever sketched for the children, all laughing at him now and pointing their line-drawn fingers. He pressed his hands against his eyes to rub them out.
    “I’m sorry,” Sarah whispered to Marian so she wouldn’t disturb Maxi.
    “What’s the special investigation?” Marian’s eyes flashed between Sarah and Will. “Does that have something to do with you?”
    Sarah nodded, her voice was quiet. “My daughter.”
    “I saw the newspaper at the restaurant,” Marian said, “while we were waiting for our lunch. We hadn’t had any news all week. I was reading the newspaper and looked over and saw my Daisy talking to a boy. We read about the woman who’s missing. My husband was just about to call about the bracelet when I noticed Daisy was gone.” Marian stepped into Will’s path. “My Daisy was showing the