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“He didn’t go to school this morning either,” said Rosa. She had dark circles under her eyes, and it was clear this whole blackmail business had taken its toll. Coming upon that dreadful episode, her son’s disappearance had hit her hard. “He handed in a doctor’s note yesterday. Must have been a fake. Todd is very handy with the computer.”

“So he didn’t go to school yesterday or today?” asked Odelia.

Rosa nodded nervously.“And when he came home last night he was distracted and irritated. He snapped at me, and at his sister, and when I told him to apologize, he ignored me and went straight up to his room.”

“Did he leave here this morning?”

“He did. He left at the usual time.”

“And you have no idea where he could be.”

Rosa hesitated, then said,“I think it must have something to do with his dad.”

“You mean your husband?”

“No, his real dad. Lately he’s been asking me a lot of questions about Clive. I’ve tried to ignore them, since I don’t think it’s fair to Tilton, but Todd insisted. Started rehashing that whole dreadful business.”

“So what are you saying? That he’s gone looking for his real dad?”

Rosa bit her lip and nodded.“That’s what I’m afraid of. He talked about this years ago, when he was old enough to understand what happened, about finding his dad and asking him why he did what he did. But then the last couple of years he seemed to have accepted that his dad left us and I thought he’d dropped it. Only now it all started again.”

“Remind me again how old Todd is?”

“Sixteen.” She threw up her hands. “It could be his age. Boys his age need a father figure, maybe? I don’t know, Odelia. I’m grasping at straws here.”

“Did you try his phone?”

“Of course. He’s not picking up.”

“Maybe he’s staying with a friend?”

“I’ve called all of the people I know, but they haven’t seen him either.”

“Did Todd talk to your husband? Maybe he told him what his plans are?”

“Oh, no. Todd and my husband are barely on speaking terms these days. Even though he respects Tilton, he has never accepted him as his dad.”

“And how about his sister?”

Rosa automatically glanced up at the ceiling.“Todd and Aisha are very close. If he’s confided in anyone, it would be her. But I’ve already asked her, and she says he didn’t tell her what he was up to.”

“Maybe I can talk to her?” Odelia suggested.

“Will you?” said Rosa, an anxious look in her eyes. “It’s possible that she’ll tell you more than she would me. She’s fifteen, and she seems to have entered her rebellious phase. So now all of a sudden I’m the enemy.”

“I’ll give it a shot,” said Odelia, and gave the woman a reassuring smile. “I’m sure Todd is fine. And I also think it’s normal for a boy his age to wonder about his dad, and to want to go and look for him.”

“But if he went down to Mexico…” said Rosa, and let her voice trail away. But the look of terror in her eyes spoke volumes. A boy of sixteen, alone in Mexico, looking for his dad, might run into all kinds of trouble.

“I’ll talk to Aisha first, shall I? Maybe she knows something she’s not telling you.”

Rosa nodded, and got up.“Aisha!” she called out along the staircase. “Can you come down a minute, honey?”

“I’m busy, Mom!” the girl yelled back.

“It’s important!” Rosa said, raising her voice, and giving Odelia an apologetic little smile. Teenagers, that smile seemed to say.

“Oh, fine!” the girl’s voice came, full of exasperation, and then we heard footsteps stomping down the stairs, and moments later a teenage girl appeared. She looked younger than her age, and was dressed in stylishly ripped jeans and a T-shirt announcing that she thought Bruno Mars was way cool, and giving Odelia a curious look. Then she saw Dooley and me, and she actually smiled. “Oh, nice!” she said, and immediately crouched down to give us both cuddles. In response, we started purring up a storm.

Obviously this was not a girl who was worried about her brother, so I felt that Odelia’s mission might prove successful.

“This is Odelia Kingsley, sweetie,” said Rosa. “I’ve asked her to look for Todd.”

“Oh, Mom, I told you, Todd is probably staying with a friend, and he can’t be bothered to answer your calls.”

“What friend would that be?” asked Odelia.

The girl hesitated, and her fervor to caress Dooley and me quickly lessened and a cautious look came over her face.“I don’t know. Todd has many friends.”

“So you don’t think he’s run off to go look for his dad in Mexico?” asked Odelia.

“Oh, please. Of course not. He doesn’t even speak Spanish.”

“Your mom seems to feel that Todd has been talking a lot about his dad lately.”

“So? That doesn’t mean he’s crazy enough to go look for him.”

“So he didn’t tell you where he was planning to go?”

Aisha shook her head.“He never tells me anything. He just goes off and does whatever he likes. Doesn’t talk to me, or anyone.”

“But you’re his sister.”

“So?” scoffed Aisha. “It’s not as if he tells me his secrets.”

“Secrets?” asked Rosa, panic clear in her voice. “Todd has secrets?”

“God, Mom, we all have secrets. It’s no big deal.”

“But what secrets?”