Chapter 13 - The Empty Classroom

By noon, Olivia had filed an objection to the guardianship document. The witness named on it had retired from court service eighteen months earlier. That should have stopped anyone from treating it as current authority.

It didn't stop Sloane.

At two forty-five, Ethan received a call from Caleb's school. He listened for five seconds and then ran for his keys.

"Someone came with guardianship paperwork," the principal said. "We refused to release Caleb. The woman argued in the office and left."

"Where's Caleb?"

A terrible silence.

"We were bringing him to the counselor's room. He heard the argument, panicked, and ran out through the side courtyard. Staff are searching the grounds."

Ethan felt the road disappear beneath him.

"Call the police," he said. "I'm ten minutes away."

Isabel was waiting at the community visitation center when Maya called. Her first meeting with Caleb was supposed to begin in fifteen minutes.

"He's missing from school," Maya said gently. "The police are searching. Don't drive there. They know about the court order and will coordinate contact."

Isabel gripped the counter. "He must think she's taking him away again."

Detective Price called her directly and asked one question: "When Caleb was frightened before the separation, where did he go?"

"Somewhere he could see water. He said waves were easier to understand than grown-ups."

"There are beaches all around the school."

"Not the beach," Isabel said suddenly. "The old marina. There's a wooden boat there with a little brass bell. We used to count the rings."

Price relayed the information to officers already searching near the waterfront. Ethan arrived at the school just as a patrol car headed toward the marina.

The principal met him outside, crying. "I'm so sorry."

"Help them find him," Ethan said. "We can discuss everything else later."

At the marina, wind bent the flags almost horizontal. A dockworker had seen a small boy in a white sweater running toward the locked repair sheds.

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Ethan followed an officer down the boardwalk, calling Caleb's name over the slap of water against the pilings.

Then, from inside an old sailboat balanced on supports, came three faint metallic taps.