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Suspicions

Chapter 1

 

Day 1 - Monday

Eight-year-old Robby Hunter closed the front door with a soft click and stepped onto the porch, unaware he was about to witness something that would change his life forever.

He paused on the doorstep, half-expecting his mother to yank the door open and catch him sneaking out. Though he wanted to be obedient, the plans he and his best friend Kyle had made drew him away. Once Kyle got out of school, Robby would be waiting for him so they could go to their treehouse.

The two boys usually walked home together after their third grade class let out, but today Kyle was staying after to help Mrs. Hershfield take down the red and pink valentine hearts and put the green St. Patrick's Day clovers up in their place. If Robby hadn't been grounded he would have stayed to help too.

Sometimes Robby had trouble minding his mother; that's why he was grounded in the first place. She had gotten tired of telling him to check in with her after school before going off to play.

I just keep forgetting, he thought, not understanding why it was such a big deal.

Stuffing his hands in his coat pockets, he continued to the school, chilled by the breeze despite the warmth of the California sun. He glanced around, relieved none of the neighborhood kids were out playing; he didn't want anyone to tell on him.

As he approached the corner near the school grounds, Robby thought it might be fun to give Kyle a scare. He crept behind some low green bushes, every few seconds poking his head up to watch for his friend. His wait was rewarded when he saw Kyle ambling in his direction, dragging a stick across the chain link fence surrounding the school.

Looking across the street at the walnut orchard, Robby spied the treehouse he and Kyle had built. Robby was pleased to see it was vacant; he didn't like it when other kids played there.

Old Mr. Gowen had allowed them to use one of his walnut trees and Robby and Kyle loved to go there to play. They would pretend they lived on a desert island. They'd even brought some of their parents' old belongings to the treehouse, like an old wind-up alarm clock and a battery-operated radio.

Robby could hardly wait until he and Kyle could go there and play. He just hoped his mom wouldn't notice he wasn't in his room.

Robby peeked over the bushes again to check Kyle's progress and saw he was nearly to his hiding place. Not wanting to give away his position, Robby stifled a giggle as Kyle drew closer. When Kyle finally reached the bushes where Robby lay in wait, Robby jumped out and yelled "Boo!"

Kyle jumped, startled, and then laughed along with Robby as they raced each other across the street to their treehouse. It was a tie. They scrambled up the short ladder, pushing and shoving each other in their haste to reach the top first. They flung themselves onto the hard wooden floor and wrestled around, knocking over a large square of wood placed on bricks that they used as a table. Stopping to catch their breath, they grabbed the container of red licorice stashed in the corner and pulled out a few of the long pieces.

Kyle bit off a large chunk. "Hey, Robby, I thought you couldn't play today."

He giggled. "Yeah, but I snuck out." He took off his jacket and tossed it in the corner before reaching for more licorice. "My mom was busy and she didn't see me leave."

After placing the wood back on the bricks and balancing the battery operated radio on top, they played with the dial, listening to a station for a few seconds before spinning to another one. Soon tiring of that game, they sat without speaking, munching on their candy.

A twig snapped.

"Hey," Kyle whispered. "What was that?"

Robby looked around. "I don't know. But I hope it's not my mom. I'll be in big trouble."

Someone was climbing the ladder.

"Hey kids. What are you doin'?"

"It's only Mr. Gowen," Robby said to Kyle, relief clear on his face.

Fred Gowen looked like he needed a shave. In his late sixties, he owned the walnut orchard where the boys had built their treehouse. "What're you eatin'?" he asked as he gazed into their sanctuary.

Kyle held out the box of licorice. "Want one?"

Mr. Gowen stayed on the ladder and shook his head. "You be careful now, hear?"

The boys nodded.

Gowen climbed back down and his footsteps faded away.

Robby scooted toward the door, the unexpected meeting with Gowen reminding him he didn't want to get caught out of his room. He remembered the last time he'd been grounded and his mother had discovered he'd snuck out; she'd added a whole week to his punishment. "I'm going home, Kyle." He stepped onto the top rung of the ladder. "Are you coming?"

Kyle shook his head, his eyes downcast, "Not yet."

"How come?"

"I don't know," Kyle said, a solemn expression on his face. "I just don't want to go home right now."

"But you might get in trouble from your mom," Robby said, his brow creased with concern.

Kyle stared at the piece of licorice in his hand. "Maybe she'll just think I'm still at the school." He looked up at Robby and said with intensity, "Promise you won't tell I was here by myself."

"How come?" Robby asked, pausing on the threshold of the treehouse.

"My mom told me I'm not supposed to play here by myself. She said something could happen to me and no one would know."

An unexpected shiver of dread shot up Robby's spine. "What do you mean?"

The red licorice seemed to capture Kyle's attention once again. "I don't know."

Robby didn't understand what Kyle was talking about. What could happen? He wondered if Kyle was trying to spook him to get even for surprising him at the bushes earlier.

It was working.

"I thought you were going home now," Kyle said, watching Robby hesitate in the doorway.

"Yeah, and you should, too."

Kyle reached for another piece of licorice. "I will in a little while."

Jumping to the ground below, Robby replayed Kyle's comment about something happening to him and no one knowing. Of course his parents would know, he reasoned. Parents always know what's going on.

That thought led him to hurry toward the street so he could get home before his mother found out he had been disobedient. He didn't want to think about what would happen if she discovered he'd snuck out.

Robby paused as he reached the sidewalk while an older brown car drove slowly by. His thoughts were preoccupied with getting home and he hardly noticed the vehicle as it passed.

When he was half a block from home he realized he'd left his jacket in the treehouse. He remembered his mom scolding him for dumping it on the floor when he'd gotten home from school that afternoon. He also remembered the fuss she'd made that morning when he didn't have it on.

He would have to go back and get it.

As he retraced his steps his mind filled with thoughts of playing with his friend and concern about his mother faded.

Nearing the spot where he had surprised Kyle earlier, Robby watched Kyle jump down from the bottom rung of the ladder and cross the street by the school.

I guess he decided to go home, Robby thought as he approached shouting distance.

Kyle stared at the ground as he moved along the sidewalk.

It suddenly occurred to Robby that he might be able to scare Kyle a second time. Robby grinned to himself as he slid behind the bushes.

Peering over the top for a better view, he watched Kyle bend down to tie one sneaker. Robby couldn't hold back a giggle as he waited for Kyle to get closer. When Robby saw a car coming, the same one that had driven past a short time before, he ducked back down, the giggles finally under control.

He waited in silence as the sound of the car changed. It seemed to be stopping. He heard the low hum of voices. He thought he heard a car door slam. He was certain he heard someone cry out. Unexpected fear rolled up his spine and he shuddered, suddenly longing for the safety of his room. He remained hidden, paralyzed by an instinct he didn't understand. Only after the sound of the car's engine was completely gone did he venture a glance.

Kyle was gone.

Robby stood on his tiptoes to get a better look. Heart pounding, he darted out from behind the bushes. Uncertainty mixed with fear when it became clear Kyle was nowhere in sight.

Where did he go?

Kyle's words echoed in his head. "My mom told me I'm not supposed to play here by myself. She said something could happen to me and no one would know." Robby didn't understand. What had happened?

Then Kyle's other words came back to him. Promise you won't tell I was here by myself.

Fear poured over him in icy torrents. He turned and ran all the way home.