Four Flames for Angela

* * * *

Sawyer thought it’d be a quick, easy trip. Show up at the school and pick up Todd. They got there a few minutes before school let out, but there was nowhere to park.

“They need more parking around here,” Hunter muttered, driving down the same block for the third time.

“Well, let me out. I’m gonna walk up there. We don’t want to miss him.” Sawyer shook his head and looked at all the parents lined up waiting for their children.

“We should have left an hour ago,” Hunter said not quite under his breath.

“We weren’t even at Angie’s house an hour ago. I’m sure she would have already been here if she hadn’t been dealing with Thomas,” Sawyer said, waiting for Hunter to stop so he could get out. “Just pull up here. I’ll get out, and you can circle back and pick us up.”

“Did we find out which door he comes out of? There are several doors.” Hunter looked around, trying to figure out where the best place to stop would be.

“Shit! I don’t know. You drive around and I’ll watch. The kids are coming out. Find a place to park and help me.” Sawyer looked at Hunter. There were so many kids.

Hunter finally found a place to park and walked up to join Sawyer standing in front of the school.

“Did you see any kids that looked his age?” Hunter asked, watching as what seemed like hundreds of kids came out of the school.

“Shit, they all look his age,” Sawyer said, running his hand through his hair.

“We should call Felicia. Dustin’s the same age as Todd. She’ll know how this works,” Hunter told Sawyer, grabbing for his phone.

When Felicia answered Hunter quickly explained where they were and what they needed.

After she stopped laughing, she told them, “Just stay where you are. I can see you from here. As soon as Dustin and Todd come out, we’ll walk over there.”

Hunter told Sawyer what Felicia had said, and they waited, and waited, and waited. It wasn’t long before no more children were coming out of the school and still no Felicia, Dustin, or Todd.

“Call her again,” Sawyer said. “Something’s not right.”

Hunter nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He talked for a few minutes and then started walking, motioning Sawyer to follow him.

“Todd didn’t come out with Dustin. We need to go back into the school and talk with the teacher. Dustin said Todd got sick and le

ft early. Something’s not right.”

In the classroom the teacher was sympathetic, but stern. “I’m sorry, unless you are a parent or a guardian I can’t divulge any information. Ms. Kennedy needs to speak with me. I’m leaving in twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes. I’m not sure she can get here in that amount of time,” Hunter tried to explain to the teacher.

“I’m sorry. I need to finish some things now if you’ll excuse me.” The teacher turned away and started moving things on her desk.

“Great. What do we do now? You call Rock and tell him what’s going on. Felicia and I are heading for the principal’s office.” Sawyer grabbed Dustin with one hand, and they started walking down the hall.

Hunter headed outside to call Rock and River while Sawyer went with Dustin to find Todd.

Sawyer thought Dustin was leading him to the office he wanted to go to, but when Felicia stopped, he knew something was wrong, again.

“Dusty, this way. Where are you going?” she asked, grabbing the boy’s other hand and pulling him the other direction.

“We got to go this way, Mom. This is where they take the sick kids until they get picked up. He’s down here.” Dustin pulled on Sawyer’s hand, leading him where he wanted to go.

Sawyer let Dustin lead him down the hallway until they came to a door marked “Nurse.” Dustin reached up and opened the door. There was a small cot inside and lying on it was Todd.

He was all curled up in a ball and sucking his thumb. Sawyer approached him carefully, saying, “Hey, buddy,” as he got closer.

Todd turned his head and looked at Sawyer. “You came,” he said quietly. “I thought it’d be Angie. I’m happy you’re here. Where’s Angie?”