Page 54 of The Fall Back Plan
I study the houses and the street names. This area is about three miles north of downtown, where the city started spreading out with new housing tracts and shopping centers. I don’t know it well. It wasn’t half this big when I’d graduated.
“It’s interesting to see Harvest Hollow on a map,” I say. “It’s grown a lot.”
He nods. “Hinder can be irritating, but he’s a good mayor. And I can’t stand Oakley, but he has good business sense. He’s talked a lot of developers into building here, and that brings in more business.”
I nod, but I’m not about to join the Oakley fan club. “Tell me more about each of the girls.”
“Youngest is seven, oldest is eleven. Each doll has the same hair color and eye color as the girl it’s left for. Only half of them play with dolls, but not this particular kind.”
“That’s my next question. What do you know about the dolls?”
He unlocks his phone before he hands it over to me. “I’ve got pictures of each of them.”
I’d seen three of them in that wretched comment thread last night, posted by the recipients—victims? “What’s the crime, by the way?” I ask. “I didn’t know leaving dolls was against the law.”
He sighs. “That’s what makes the whole thing a pain. Intent matters. If they’re gifts, it’s weird but sweet. If they’re not, they could be considered harassment or even stalking. We need to find out who’s doing this and clear that up so we can settle people down.”
I look at the photos. “Fancy” is an understatement. Each doll has been shot from several angles. They have clothing from different eras, but it all looks well-made, no shiny polyester or anything. Real lace and velvet. A couple look like references to story characters, like one that might be fromHeidi, but I only vaguely know the story.
“How big are these?” I ask as I scroll through more photos.
“About a foot tall.”
“Have you done an image search on these?”
“Yes. They’re all by the same maker. Cindy Dawton. The brand has been around since the late seventies. Collectible items. Did you see the red-haired one yet?” When I nod he says, “One like it sold on eBay last year for almost three hundred dollars.”
I look at him, surprised out of words. I shouldn’t be. Wealthy people pick up weird hobbies and interests. Maybe not weirder than poor people’s hobbies. But definitely more expensive.
“I know,” he says. “So now we have not just matchy dolls but expensive matchy dolls being left at girls” houses.”
“Collectible,” I murmur. “All left in the same area.” I look at the map again. “Newer homes, younger families. Do you know anyone our age who collects dolls?”
He shakes his head. “No. I don’t have sisters, and if Brooklyn was into them, she moved on before she came to me.”
“How is she?” I ask, looking up to meet his eyes.
They soften with a smile. “Still seems happy. No trying to get out of school.”
“Good. I mean it about being her unofficial Big Buddy. I can do it however it makes you comfortable.”
“It’s a great idea,” he says. “What do you think is the best way to approach it? You’d know better than I would.”
“Honesty,” I answer immediately. “I’ll share enough about my background for her to understand why I’d want to do it and explain the idea of mentoring. I’ll ask if she wants to be my protégé.”
He laughs. “She likes big words. I have a feeling she’ll sign right up to be mentored.”
“I hope so. I noticed when I was at Book Smart the other day that they’re having an author come for a signing. Sasha Liu? She writes this great fantasy series I think Brooklyn would like.”
“Don’t know who that is, but I’m sure Brooklyn would love that. I’ll ask her and let you know.”
“Could I do it? Ask her, I mean? I want her to know the invitation is sincere, not something her uncle set up.”
“Oh, sure.” He gives me a long look. “You really do care about her.”
I shrug. “Can’t help it. Iwasher.”
“Should I bring her by the Mockingbird after school, or . . .”
