Page 137 of Crystal Iris
“He’s right, Johanna. It’s too dangerous,” I say, stepping closer.
“What if it was your mother, Iris?” she asks.
I know it, like she does: Nothing would stop me.
“Let’s ask for the police’s help,” I tell her.
Hoyt’s on the phone and I take a seat next to Johanna.
“We’ll get her help, Johanna,” I tell her.
“I can’t believe it’s her.” Her tears fall uncontrollably.
I try to lift her spirits. “You did this. You found her.”
“What if we’re too late?” She seems inconsolable.
Hoyt returns with news: The police will come tomorrow to talk to us. There’s no urgency in the situation; we’ll have to wait until morning.
“They can’t make us wait until tomorrow,” Johanna says, wiping her tears.
“Things are different here, Johanna. They have their hands full in Alaska.”
None of us sleep well. We simply close our eyes for short stretches of time, taking turns with the nightmares. Hoyt and Johanna share the bed, and I make myself comfortable on thecouch. Johanna had fallen asleep, and we didn’t want to leave her alone.
The police arrive mid-morning.
Hoyt and Johanna show them photos and tell them what they know. Still, the officer’s manner is clear: This isn’t going to be easy. The song tells them nothing, proves nothing. Too many years have passed, and the photos aren’t enough. And if the man inside is truly her son, we’re at a loss. He has the right to kick us out.
“She needs to be in a hospital,” I tell them. “Shouldn’t that be enough to check on her situation?”
“Perhaps. We’ll see what we can do,” says the officer on his way out.
They leave us without much hope.
I persuade Hoyt and Johanna to eat a little.
“We’re doing this my way now, Johanna,” Hoyt says when she asks him to go there again, to try to reason with their supposed half-brother.
“Iris, talk to him,” she asks me.
I’m torn between both of them. I know Hoyt is right, even so, I also understand Johanna’s heart.
“Look,” Hoyt says, “I’ll hire someone, okay? Someone who can maybe... take the guy.”
“Take the guy? What does that mean?” I ask.
“Just take him away for a bit, so we can get a doctor in there to check on her.”
“Can you do that?” Johanna asks.
“He could be your brother, Hoyt. You can’t—” I’m trying to clarify things.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t get hurt,” he says tiredly.
We agree on the plan.
Hoyt is still looking for someone when Johanna moves to herroom at night. She’s still upset, though I think she’ll sleep tonight. At least we have a plan.
