Page 42 of Drive Me Wilde

A layer of gunmetal gray clouds has moved in and seems to be hovering directly over Pullman Road. It makes the whole scene more grim. People are walking up and down the sidewalks, some still wearing pajamas and robes as they knock on neighbor's doors and check inside cars and garages. The truck hasn't even come to a complete stop before Jameson jumps down from the passenger side. A black and white patrol car drives along the road at a snail's pace, finally stopping in front of the house where a woman in a blue robe is holding the hand of a young girl. They're both in tears. Jameson runs straight toward them.

Nicole pulls up behind the truck as I'm climbing out. While Jameson's anguish is palpable, hers is not. She stops again to check her makeup before getting out of the car. Her ridiculous shoes hit the sidewalk with loud smacks.

I start walking along the sidewalk. Pullman Road is bordered by a thick forest of evergreens. If you walk far enough through the forest you arrive at some steep cliffs that overlook the ocean. I push the treacherous landscape notion from my head. Rio is such a smart kid. There's no way she'd wander into the dense trees alone … unless that was the direction the runaway kitten went.

A young police officer is getting out of the patrol car with all the urgency of a turtle on tranquilizers. He mumbles something into the radio on his shoulder and then adjusts his gun belt. His sunglasses hang out of his pocket. He's familiar, but I can't think of his name. He apparently recognizes me and smiles, an inappropriate reaction considering the circumstances.

"Is that Indiana Nash?" he asks.

His name comes back to me after hearing his voice. "Oscar? How are you?"

"I'm Officer Roberts now." He looks me up and down apparently thinking his rank gives him the right to do so. "Didn't know you were back in town."

"Well, now you do."

Oscar looks past me. "Great. What's he doing here?"

I look back to see a massive Ford truck rolling down the street. Ronan and Colin are in the back. Like Jameson, they don't wait for the truck to stop before hopping out. Zander is in the passenger seat, and sitting behind the wheel is Finnegan Wilde. I haven't seen him in years. He looks thinner, older, far less Wilde now. He parks and they both get out. I realize then that even though he's frailer and much older, he still pulls all the energy his direction by merely being there. It's as if even the birds that were twittering in the trees have stopped to watch Finn Wilde walk down the paved road in his dusty cowboy boots and dark sunglasses.

Officer Roberts puffs out his chest and takes purposeful steps toward Finn. "I'm sorry but there's a neighborhood search going on right now. I need you and your sons to vacate the area."

Finn lifts his sunglasses and stares hard at the officer. Roberts fidgets nervously with his gun belt and takes a discreet step back. "That's my granddaughter out there, so since my taxes pay your salary, I need to ask why the hell you're standing here in the middle of the road talking to me instead of out there looking for my granddaughter?"

Roberts' chin is practically on his chest. "Your granddaughter?" He chuckles. "Are you serious?"

Finn's beefy arm swings out. "Get out of my way." He and the boys spread out, and I head off down the road. It's amazing to see so many people out looking and frantically searching the area. It never would have happened in L.A. It reminds me of the perks of living in a small town.

"Rio! Rio!" Her name is being shouted everywhere. Officer Roberts is calling out to her through a megaphone. I look back toward the Everett house. A few people are gathered on the front lawn. Rio's mom is walking down the sidewalk on her impractical shoes, occasionally calling her name as if she thinks that's searching. The Wilde army, Jameson, included, is combing the forest and some of the more treacherous hiding areas. I look behind every car, every yard fence, every trash bin, even in trees. A kitten might very easily have climbed a tree, and Rio seems like the type who'd climb right up after it without a second thought.

I glance at my phone. It's a text from Kinsley.

I heard about Rio. I'm heading that way.

Thanks.

I put my phone back in my pocket. It feels like it's been an hour. It's only been fifteen minutes, but with each passing minute, the voices grow louder and more frantic. And that's when it hits me, one of those moments from the past that is too hard to forget. I turn and hurry back toward the Everett house. Mrs. Everett and Bella remain, unhelpfully sobbing, on the front lawn. They don't notice me as I walk to their side gate and let myself into the backyard. I hear the tiny squeaking sound just after the gate snaps shut behind me. There's a toolshed at the far end of the lawn. I hurry across and step quietly around to the back. Rio is crouched there, clutching the kitten to her chest. Tears stream down her cheeks as she peers up at me.

"Am I in trouble?" she asks weakly.

I shake my head as I crouch down next to her. "You're not in trouble."

She rubs her nose with the back of her hand. I take the kitten from her. Its soft, little nose wriggles up at me.

"How did you know I was here?" she asks.

"I'll tell you a little story, then we'll let your dad know you're safe because he is very, very worried. When I was about your age, I had a big argument with my parents. It was something silly, I think some rhinestone covered sneakers I wanted or something like that. They said no, so I told them I was running away. I never got past Dad's gardening shed. But I sat back there for a long time, long enough to fall asleep. I woke to the sound of people yelling and screaming my name. I was too afraid to come out of hiding because I thought I was in trouble."

She sniffles and rubs her nose again. "I just left the yard for a second. The kitten had climbed up the neighbor's tree. So, I got him down. Then I heard people calling my name and they sounded angry. I returned to the yard and hid behind here hoping they'd stop being so mad. But their voices only got louder."

I push to my feet and offer her my free hand. The tiny kitten climbs up to snuggle against my neck. Rio clutches my hand tighter as we leave the yard.

"Rhinestone sneakers, really?" she asks, crinkling her face in distaste.

"One day, my friend, I will tell you about the wonders of the bedazzling world."

We step past the gate. "Pops is here?" she asks, her voice wavering. "He'll be angry."

"No, he'll be relieved."

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