Fallen Hearts (Casteel 3)

We split up and began wandering all over the factory and grounds, calling Drake's name.

"Drake! Drake!" I shouted.

The yellow light above the factory gate was lit, casting an eerie glow over the parking lot. On a small patch of lawn we'd set up a swing set for some of the children. I ran toward it. Drake was nowhere in sight, but one of the swings was still going back and forth, back and forth, as if a ghost sat on it. I looked into the darkness for a moment.

Behind the factory there were acres and acres of undeveloped forest.

"Drake!" I called loudly. "Drake, where are you?"

The only sound was the distant metallic cry of a train threading its way through the darkness in the distance. I waited a moment and then called again.

Intense panic began to set in, rattling my bones. My legs felt as though they were ready to crack with fear.

"Drake!"

There was something about the silence and the darkness that told me he hadn't just wandered off exploring, as boys his age were wont to do. My screams finally brought Logan to my side.

"You haven't found him? You haven't found him?" I cried.

"No, no," he said. "My parents are still out searching. I'm going to call the police. But it's only a precaution. I'm sure, Heaven, I'm sure he'll turn up any minute."

I knew, by the tone of Logan's voice, he was as frightened as I was.

"Call them," I said. "I'll keep looking."

"Drake!" I screamed again.

"Please, you'll get a cold out here.I'll get some of the men to look. Come back to my office and we'll wait for the police."

"I'm staying right here, Logan Stonewall. I'm going to look for Drake."

"Heaven, it's too dark. You can't see anything. Please."

"I'll stand under the gate light so that Drake can find me. Just hurry and call the police," I said.

Logan ran back to the' ol ice. I stared out into the night, the black line of trees, the tiny sliver of a moon. Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted. And then, as if the hand of fate had tapped me on the shoulder, I knew where my Drake was as well as I knew my own heritage. There was only one place he could be. There was only one person who would know where he was. And I was certain of it as I was certain of my own name Fanny!

FIFTEEN Love Held Hostage

MY HEART WAS ENVELOPED IN A HEAVY CLOUD OF DESPAIR. I waited silently with Logan while the Winnerow Police patrol car made a quick sweep of the factory neighborhood. We had asked his parents to go wait at Hasbrouck House in case Drake turned up there, or in case anyone who found him called.

"Maybe he went into someone's house," Jimmy Otis, one of the officers, said when he stopped the police car in front of the factory.

I looked at Logan, who nodded thoughtfully. "You might be right, Jimmy," he said. "The boy's not afraid of people and very curious about things."

"I'll keep cruisin' around here," Jimmy said. "Just call the station if he returns and they'll radio me."

"Thanks, Jimmy," Logan said.

"If he's not found in another hour or so, I'll have Mary Lou call the chief at home. We'll want to get the guest list from the party so we can see if anyone saw him go anywhere."

"Okay," Logan said. As soon as the police drove off for another search, I told Logan

what I feared.

"Fanny could have done something like this," I said. "We didn't invite her to the party."

Neither Logan nor I had mentioned Fanny when we were making the guest list. His reasons were obvious, and I simply didn't want another