28. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Beth
L ate Wednesday morning my phone buzzed—Chase’s daycare. They usually sent texts throughout the day with updates, pictures and other mundane things. They only called for questions or problems, so I always answered.
Like when Chase fell and bumped his head.
Luckily, Mary understood what it was like to be a working mom and let me take their calls while I was on the clock.
I knew this call was different the instant I heard Angela’s panic- laced voice.
Time stopped. My breath caught in my throat.
“What happened? Is Chase okay?” Dreading what she might say, I walked to the break room for privacy.
“Can you come to the park? We can’t find Chase. Weatherford PD is on their way.” I felt the color drain from my face as my knees buckled underneath me. I landed in the chair with a thud.
The PD! He’s been gone long enough for them to call the PD.
Terror stole my voice. Chase was missing.
I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Mary’s touch startled me out of my paralysis. I forced myself to take a deep breath before answering Angela, “I’m on my way.”
Before I could say anything, Mary said, “Go. I’ll call John.”
My sweaty hands shook as I untied my apron. Mary took it from me and handed me my purse. I dug out my keys as I ran to my car.
I’m going to be sick .
I didn’t have time to be sick, so I swallowed down the impulse and started my car. The park was less than twenty minutes away, but it might as well have been on the other side of the state given how desperately I needed to be there.
I drove as fast as I safely could, praying the entire time I’d get a call telling me Chase had been found.
It wasn’t hard to figure out where Chase’s teachers were because of the crowd gathering near the playground. I parked as close as I could, pried my hands off the steering wheel and ran towards the crowd, flexing my stiff hands along the way.
I stopped at the nearest officer and choked out, “Did you find him yet?” I held my ribs as I sucked air in, willing myself not to hyperventilate and pass out.
“You must be Chase's mom. No ma’am, but we’re still looking.”
I turned when I heard my name.
Angela ran over, her mascara stained her cheeks. “Oh Beth, we’re so sorry. One of the kids fell and scraped his knee. It was bad, so Shawna had to help me. By the time we finished, Chase was gone.”
Chase was known to wander off. He loved chasing ducks or frogs and even the occasional butterfly. But he rarely went far, and he always came running back to tell me about his adventures. It wasn’t hard to imagine he’d come running back any second, excited to see all the policemen and tell me all about the animal he’d chased.
It took me more than fifteen minutes to get here. Shouldn’t he have come back by now?
Especially since there were cop cars with flashing lights everywhere. Chase was drawn to flashing police lights like a moth to a flame. His obsession with policemen was second only to dinosaurs.
He’s really missing . My stomach dropped as the playground started to spin.
The officer grabbed my elbow to support me. “I assure you, Mrs. Wyatt, we’re doing everything we can to find your son.”
Turning my head left and right, I searched for any sign of Chase. It took every ounce of strength I had to stand still and not run off screaming his name.
The officer put his hand on my shoulder and offered comfort with a gentle squeeze. I reached up and placed my hand on his, grateful for the support.
I took a deep breath and released it slowly, but it did nothing to slow down my racing heart as I looked around again. I can’t just stand here .
“What can I do? Should I call for him?” I asked.
“Yes. We have uniforms looking for him, but he may be scared of getting in trouble. If he hears your voice, he may come out into the open, or call out if he's stuck somewhere.”
Chase had never been afraid of the police. But he might be now, Doug and I talked to him about wandering off four days ago . The park was fairly large for such a small town. There was a baseball diamond at one end and a field for soccer and football at the other. In between was a playground and a gazebo surrounded by grass and benches. There were houses and apartment complexes on three sides.
There were a million and one places Chase could have gone.
The air felt like lead in my lungs.
Chase would have returned by now, if he could.
Which means he can’t. My heart sank.
Where is he? I stepped away from the crowd and yelled. “CHASE!” I yelled until a wave of nausea forced me to stop.
Hoping to suppress it, I put my hand on my stomach. If I can’t get myself under control, I’ll end up vomiting.
Shawna handed me a bottle of water. “Drink this.”
Grateful for the distraction, I took the bottle and brought it to my lips with trembling fingers. In an attempt to not drop it, I squeezed too hard and spilled water down the front of my shirt.
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Chase.” I sobbed as the dam broke and tears flowed down my face. Visions of Chase being kidnapped, tortured, beaten, never to be seen again, flashed through my mind as I sank to the ground.
This can’t be happening .
But it was. I had been married to a cop, so I knew this could happen. It could happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
To me, today, in our small, quiet, safe town.
Shawna sat down beside me and pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back the way I often did to comfort Chase. Her voice was soothing as she said, “I’m sure we’ll find him soon. He probably followed a bunny into a bush and he can’t see the lights or hear us yet.”
I didn't believe her. After taking a few deep breaths, I thanked her and stood up.
I turned to the officer and asked, “Which way should I go when I call for him?” There was no point in screaming my head off in the wrong place.
“He was last seen walking in that direction.” He pointed towards the other end of the playground, near the baseball diamond.
The diamond where Chase played tee ball.
“Thanks,” I said as I ran off in the direction of the field. After almost tripping, because I was scanning instead of watching where I was going, I forced myself to slow down to a brisk walk. When I got to the officers at the other end, I introduced myself before I started shouting Chase’s name.
Before long, my throat was sore, and my voice was hoarse. I’d been screaming steadily while searching for him. I asked the nearest officer if they’d heard anything, despite knowing the answer.
“No ma’am, not yet,” the tall female officer answered. “We’ll let you know as soon as we do.”
When her radio crackled with an incoming message, I held my breath and prayed. Please let it be someone reporting they’ve found him .
Instead, it was another officer asking her to tell me John Sheppard was here.
John . My knees buckled in gratitude. John would find Chase. I just knew he would.
He has to .
The officer started speaking, but I was already running back towards the playground. In my mind I heard Chase say "manners," so I yelled thanks over my shoulder.