Chapter Sixty-Six
With the last of the interns headed out, Jules packs her things and makes the final rounds of the office before her parents arrive.
They insisted on her staying the night at their place, picking her up rather than meeting her at the restaurant, which was sweet.
They’re going to Spaghetti Works for dinner.
It would seem like an odd choice were it not Clare’s favorite restaurant.
She has a memory of Clare and her best friend Amy at the place when they were around eight, slurping a shared strand of spaghetti like in Lady and the Tramp.
Staring at Clare’s photo amid the others, another memory of her little sister at the Spaghetti Works leaps into her thoughts: Clare putting the long breadsticks in her mouth so they hung out like a walrus’s teeth. God, she misses her.
She wonders for a moment if she’s making any difference or if this is all a fool’s errand, since they haven’t had any true success yet.
After shutting off all the lights, she makes her way to the lobby, waiting for her parents to arrive. When Dad’s Mercedes finally pulls into the strip mall, she heads outside, locks the office door.
On the ride to Spaghetti Works, her parents chatter about nothing, as if they’re bracing themselves for the memories when they sit down for a meal at Clare’s favorite restaurant. Jules’s phone rings, and she fishes it out of her handbag.
“Ms. Delaney, this is Officer Melissa Weberman with the Omaha PD,” the woman says.
Jules feels a spike of dread. A call from the police doesn’t normally bring good news. Not on this day, especially.
“Yes?”
“My captain asked me to call you, I think you know him. He said your organization has resources for helping families of missing children. And helping the children if they are recovered.”
Her heart is beating hard now.
“Yes.”
“We have some amazing news. A missing girl, Minnie Agbayani, has been found.”
“Alive?” Jules feels lightheaded for a moment, a euphoric feeling.
“Yes,” the officer says brightly. “Can you have someone meet with the family at the Douglas County Hospital? They’re bringing Minnie there now, and she’s confused at what’s happening. And her family may need a counselor to help guide them.”
“I’m on my way.”