Page 2 of SEAL's Angel
“Did you check the park? Maybe he’s playing basketball with his friends and forgotten the time?”
“I did when I passed the court on my way home. He wasn’t there. No one was playing, so I couldn’t even ask if they’d seen him. I also checked with all of his friends.”
“Is there someone who can go check again?” Rafe asked gently.
Whenever she needed Rafe, he’d been there. He’d been her protector when she was young, and later, he’d helped to keep her from falling apart when Bob died in action. Rafe had been asking her to move to Virginia since then. But she’d convinced herself that staying in the house would be better for the kids. For her. Now, she was second guessing that decision. It would be so much better to have Rafe with her instead of on the phone.
“I’ll see if Janey’s mom can check. I’ll mention it to the police when they get here too.”
“Jake is talking to our CO. He’s getting me on a military transport so I can get there faster. Try to stay calm. I’ll be there soon. How is Cindy doing? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s upstairs with Janey.”
“Didn’t I meet Janey when I was there last time?”
“Yeah.” He was trying to get her to calm down, and it was working. For the first time since she’d heard Janey’s panicked voice, her heart didn’t feel like it was trying to pound its way out of her chest.
“Do you have a recent picture of Chase to give to the police?”
“Yes, I pulled out this year’s school photo, but I have lots on my phone, too.” The slamming of a car door drew Dawn’s attention, and she peered out the window. “The police are here. Will you really be able to come?”
“Of course, I’m coming. My nephew is missing. Nothing could keep me away.”
She sighed with relief. Her big brother had never let her down, and he would help them get through this, too. “Let me know what time you’re getting in, and I’ll pick you up.”
The sound was muffled, and then Rafe replied, “It’ll be late. I’ll get a rental. Try to stay calm, Dawn. I bet Chase will be home by the time I get there.”
“I hope so, and I’ll try. Thank you, Rafe. I love you.”
“Love you too, sis. Hang in there. We’ll find him,” Rafe said as he hung up.
His words echoed in her head, and she prayed he was right.
The police officer didn’t have a chance to knock before Dawn pulled open the door. “Thank you for getting here so fast.”
“Mrs. Randolph?” The nametag on his uniform said Spencer. The officer was tall, almost as tall as Rafe, with graying hair at his temples and laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.
Knowing help had finally arrived went a long way to soothing her frayed nerves. “Yes, I’m so glad you’re here. Please come in.”
The officer stepped across the threshold and looked around. He pulled a pen and a pad out of his pocket. “I’m Officer John Spencer, badge number three-fifty-two. You reported your son missing, correct?”
“Yes, I did. He never came home after school.”
“What time was that?”
“My babysitter always picks up my children, and they come home together, but Chase asked if he could play with his friends. He’s done it before, but he’s always come right home afterward.”
“Have you checked with his friends?”
As Officer Spencer asked questions, she knew he was watching her reactions. Dawn had seen enough crime shows to know that the parents were always suspects. But thinking about ever hurting her children made her want to throw up.
“That was the first thing I did as soon as I got home. I’ve called all of his friends, and no one has seen him.” Dawn’s stomach churned, and a wave of nausea made saliva pool in her mouth. If she didn’t sit down soon, she’d probably barf. “Do you mind if we sit down?”
“No, not at all.”
Dawn backed away from the entryway and led Spencer into the living room and sat on the couch. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she gulped a large breath and coughed. Her initial relief at having the cop show up was quickly evaporating.
After taking in the softly lit room, he sat in the armchair across from her. The coffee table where she’d dropped Chase’s photo when she answered the door was between them. His radio sputtered to life, and she jumped at the sound. Dawn couldn’t make out what they said, but as long as it wasn’t about Chase, she didn’t care.
