I pull the car up slowly at the corner of Elm and Second and stare at the huge black metal gates in front of me and read the sign.
SUFFOLK COUNTY CEMETERY
My heart drops. There’s only one person I know who may be here.
Wade Anderson.
He was coming to see his dad.
Sadness fills me as the pieces of the puzzle click into place.
With a heavy heart, I turn the car on and do a U-turn. I need to get back.
It’s just around six o’clock, and I finish up the dinner I’ve cooked for us—spaghetti bolognese. I need some carbs before I curl up and die. Claire fell asleep on the couch watching a movie, and Patrick and Fletcher are sitting on the bench talking to me.
My mind isn’t here with them; it’s up with Harrison in his room.
He’s grounded, and I’ve listened to Claire take his every privilege from him this afternoon.
It’s none of my business, and I can’t intrude . . . but I feel for the kid.
I dish him up a large bowl of dinner, slather it in grated cheese, and put some garlic bread and a drink on a tray.
He’s not allowed out of his room. I’ll take him dinner before Claire wakes.
I make my way upstairs and knock on the door.
No answer.
I slowly open it to see him lying with his back to the door.
“I brought you some dinner, Wiz.”
No answer. He ignores me.
Hmm . . .
I walk in and close the door behind me. I place the tray down on his desk and put my hands on my hips as I watch him. “You all right?” I ask.
“Get out.” He sighs sadly.
I sit on the end of the bed, trying to work out what to say. “I found your phone.”
His eyes flick to me.
“A lady found it, and I went and picked it up.”
His eyes drop to the floor.
“Why don’t you tell your mother that you go to the cemetery?”
He clenches his jaw but remains silent.
“Is that where you are whenever you go missing?”
His eyes meet mine, and I know that it is.
“How long does it take you to ride out there on your bike?” It’s fifteen miles—must take him ages.