Joe turned to his wife in bed. “The last time she saw me, I was standing across the road with the local cops and the FBI who attacked the compound. I’m sure I looked like I was on their side. What is she supposed to think of me?”
“Your actions can be explained,” Marybeth said, “but not without gaining back her trust. And that won’t be easy, I don’t think. Not after all this time. And I’m sure I’m painted with same brush as far as she’s concerned. It makes my heart ache to think of that poor girl being out there for six years thinking that the family that took her in betrayed her in the end. It just makes me want to wail.
“Our only hope is she trusts Sheridan to at least listen to her, and later to us. I can see from April’s perspective that she assumes we chose not to try and find her after the fire. She probably doesn’t even know we were convinced she was dead.”
Joe stared at the ceiling, listened to the wind pound the window.
“If we somehow get through this,” Joe said, “if everything falls into place somehow and we can talk to her… would you want to take her back?”
“In a heartbeat, Joe.”
He smiled.
“But of course it would be up to her.”
After a long silence, Marybeth said, “Lucy wants to go, too.”
Joe groaned.
“I’m not letting her, no matter how angry she gets. I know I’ll hear plenty of, ‘She’s my sister, too,’ but she’ll just have to live with it.”
Marybeth turned over on her back as well to stare at the same ceiling. Joe hoped she could gain more wisdom from the view than he had been able to get.
Joe said, finally, “How could April get caught up with a Chicago mobster? How could it even be April?”
There was a light knock on the door before it opened. Sheridan stood in profile from a hall night-light. Her phone glowed blue in the dark. She whispered, “It’s her.”
From: AK
sherry, u awake dude
ak
CB: 307-220-5038
Aug 26, 12:12 am
Erase REPLY Options
yeah im awake. I’ve been waiting for u.
sorry. couldn’t text earlier.
where r u?
same as always. in a car. ha.
Sheridan was sitting at her desk in her bedroom. Joe and Marybeth hovered behind her, reading the screen of her phone as Sheridan typed and scrolled. Tube had taken to sleeping in Sheridan’s room, and he curled at her feet.
“Ask her if she’s moving or stationary,” Joe said.
Sheridan blew a breath. “Stationary? That’s not the best word, Dad. Texting words are short and sweet. She’d know you’re here.”
“You know what I mean.”
The list of questions he’d made out was on the desk. Marybeth gestured to it, and Sheridan nodded.
“I’ve got to be cool, you guys,” Sheridan said. “April’s always been pretty suspicious-she has a high-powered BS meter. So let me do this my way.”
r u still in aspen?
na. we left last night.
where now?
some bar. middle of nowhere.
yre in a bar? cool.
na. im waiting outside in the car. bored.
where at?
not sure. cant remember.
no idea at all?
savage I think. y so many????
Sheridan said, “See, I’ve got to be careful. She’s starting to wonder.”
Joe said, “Savage?” Then: “Not Savage Run? The canyon? That’s the only Savage I know.
“Dad, please.”
Marybeth shot him a look.
He mouthed, “Okay, okay.”
im worried about u.
im ok. but kinda scared now.
?????
bad day. stenkos sick and we’re going 2 some ranch.
r u scared of stenko?
na. robert. stenkos nice.
does robert hurt u?
na. but he hurt some man 2day in a drug store.
?????
2 awful 2 say. later.
Said Marybeth, “Oh no-is that it? Did she sign off?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Sheridan said. “I think she means she’ll tell me what happened later when she has more time. It’s too much to text, in other words.”
Joe said, “Ask her where the drugstore is. Ask her where the ranch is. Ask her if you can meet her there-”
“Dad, please.”
“Joe, please.”
“Sheesh,” Joe said.
can I call u?
NO.
ok.
they cld come outside any minute.
ok. sorry. i want to hear yr voice again.
ya. me 2.
wheres this ranch?
not sure. black hills i heard stenko say.
can I c u?
id like that. me & my other sister.
Sheridan looked up. Joe and Marybeth shrugged.
there’s 2 of you? or do u mean lucy?
id like 2 see luce 2. my other sister. chicago.
confused.
sorry. i got a sister in chicago i want to fly out 2 me.
how?
get her a plane ticket 2 me.
when?
as soon as stenko gives me the $. Lol. do u drive?
ive got a truck.
cool. u drive.
where? u name it.
not sure yet. ill let u know.
????
soon i hope.
“Okay,” Sheridan said. “Here goes…”