When I got home, the Range Rover was in the driveway. I let myself in and found my mom sitting at the kitchen table. She jumped to her feet and came over and hugged me.

“Oh, honey,” she said. “I’m so sorry I left you there. I thought it would be safest for you. I thought they’d follow me and I could get them…away from you. But they didn’t follow. I’ve been on the phone with the school to make sure you were okay, but they couldn’t find you.”

“Is Kate here?” I asked.

“No,” she said. My mom’s hair, which had been up in this kind of knot-thing, had come loose. Her eyes were red and her face was tight. She was in her work clothes, even though I don’t think she went to work.

I didn’t want to say any more, so I just went into my closet. So that’s it. And you know what, Larry. I’m sorry that you aren’t speaking to me, but maybe now I’m not speaking to you either.

Rodney

14

Hey, Larry,

Who am I kidding? Of course I’m speaking to you, or at least writing to you, even if you don’t know it. Who else am I going to talk to? Ha. Anyway, I have some news that will surprise you. I am a juvenile delinquent now! So is Kate! Our whole family has gone outlaw.

Background: Kate didn’t come home after school after the reporters tracked us down. My mom nearly lost her mind. Off to the side note: my mom tried to call the principal from Kate’s school, but the teachers here don’t give out their personal numbers like they do at Circle Square.

Luckily, Kate called at 6:00 p.m. and told us that she had gone to the city and was staying with either Cavendish or Lavender. I’m not sure which.

Anyway, Kate was at least safe. But by the time she called, my mom had already called the police. They told her they couldn’t search for someone until she’d been gone for more than a few hours. They also asked if anything had happened to upset Kate recently. When they asked that, my mom hung up on them.