“They smell, Glow. Pick up what we can’t.”

“That’s right, Mr. Janes. They’ll follow your son’s trail, ma’am. His scent.

Their handler brought them into the station for a demonstration this afternoon. When the call came in, she was happy to assist. So that’s a bit of good fortune.”

“I’m sorry if I don’t feel fortunate today, Mr. um, Detective Aiken.”

“Poor phrasing,” he said. “I apologize.”

“Those dogs.” She pointed her finger out the door. “They’re sniffing around my house. Is that his trail?”

“Standard procedure. Nothing to be worried about.”

Gloria scritched her head. “Everything’s happening so fast.”

“Well, if you’re right about the rainwater on your floor, your son’s been missing between twenty and twenty-four hours.”

“Of course I’m right about the rainwater,” she said. “Telly?”

“It’s okay, Glow. We’re all on the same page here.”

“Absolutely,” the tie man said. “We’re doing everything we can, Mrs. Janes.”

Telly let go of her. He and the man went outside. On his way, Telly held the door open for Aunt Erma to come in. She came over and hugged me. “I talked to Shar, sweetheart. She wishes she was here.” Then she hugged Gloria.

“Erm,” Gloria said and started to cry. “He’s gone off with a beggar. A homeless beggar.”

—

People kept going in and out of our house. They were making noise and moving around. Outside my bedroom window a big group of men were talking about the woods. How it was easy to get turned around. Or fall over and bang your head. Gloria came upstairs to tuck me into bed.

“Look who I found,” she said, and she gave me Jenny the Head.

“Where?” I said. I thought I put her next to the toaster, but I was wrong.

“Stuck behind the cushion in the blue chair.”

I held Jenny the Head tight. I must’ve forgot sitting in that chair. Gloria always told me my remembering was not very good. I had lots of holes and things got mixed up and moved around. “Thank you, Gloria.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

“He’ll come back, Gloria. I just know it.” Before Gloria came in, I put the tiny bit of metal under my pillow.

“He will,” she said. “Telly will see to that.” She bent over the top of my bed and looked out the window. “There they go. They’re starting the search. They know where to look now. You did the right thing.”

Even though I told on Rowan, my middle didn’t hurt so bad no more.

Then she put her hand on my forehead. “You remember, Bids. No one will ever, ever love you as good as I do.”