All That's Missing (16 page)

Arlo looked at his grandmother. “I'm a good runner,” he said.

She looked back at him. “That path goes at least a mile,” she said.

Arlo shrugged. “Sam and I run that far all the time.”

“You wouldn't mind?” she asked.

“I like to run,” Arlo said.

The fine lines eased out of her forehead then. “The path leads straight to the park,” she said. “There's no danger of your getting lost. I'll take the car and meet you in the parking lot at the bottom of Cemetery Hill.”

Arlo frowned. “Cemetery Hill?”

“You'll see,” Ida said. “It's on the far side of Riverside Park.”

“OK.” Arlo was trying to keep everything straight, but there was a lot to take in.
River path. Cemetery Hill. The park.
And a
girl
named
Maywood.

“Don't worry. I'll find you.” Ida waved him off with the back of her hand. “Just keep your eyes peeled for Steamboat.”

Arlo started running. That was one thing he knew how to do. It was a relief to turn onto the river path, even if he didn't really know where he was going. At least he was doing something that made his grandmother happy.

The path followed the riverbank, which gradually changed from a gentle slope to a sharp drop-off as Arlo moved away from town. After half a mile, he was running along steep cliffs that loomed above the water. On his left, a tall, wooded hillside rose to a rounded peak.

He'd been running about ten minutes when he spotted Maywood at the end of the path. She was standing inside the entrance to the park. At least there was a girl standing in that spot, and Arlo figured she must be Maywood, because Steamboat was standing right beside her. He sped up so he could catch them before they moved on. The air was humid this close to the river, but at least there was a cool breeze.

After a short burst of speed, he came to a fork in the path. To his left was an iron gate with the words
EDGEWATER ACRES
across the top. Stone grave markers dotted the lawn behind it. To his right, the path spilled into a grassy park with picnic tables and a swing set, as well as a sandbox for little kids.

The girl eyed Arlo warily as he approached. Meanwhile, Steamboat jumped up and down and then licked Arlo on the hand.

“Who are you?” the girl asked.

“I'm Arlo,” he said. “Ida Jones's grandson.”

She stared. “What are you doing in Edgewater?”

Arlo felt as if he had been slapped across the cheek. Why shouldn't he be in Edgewater?

“I came to see my grandmother.”

The girl lifted her chin. “When did you get here?” she asked.

“Last night.” Arlo stooped to rub Steamboat's ears. At least the dog was friendly to him. When he stood back up, the girl was craning her neck to peer behind him.

“Where's Ida?” she asked.

“Looking for you and Steamboat,” Arlo said. He blushed. “I mean . . . well, you
are
Maywood, aren't you?”

“Yes.”
She took a step away from him. “How did you know my name?”

“Matthew told us you were on your way to Ida's house.”

The girl folded her arms over her chest. “How do you know Matthew?”

“I don't really. We just met. I mean, Ida introduced me to him. We were at the bookstore. Looking for Steamboat.”

At the sound of his name, Steamboat started wagging his tail. He barked and then jumped against Arlo's knee.

“Good boy.” Arlo stroked the fine hairs on Steamboat's head. “We've been searching all over for you.”

Steamboat's reaction seemed to put Maywood at ease. She dropped her arms and stepped toward Arlo again.

“What happened to Steamboat, anyway?” she asked. “Ida never lets him out of her sight.”

“We were at Val-U-Mart,” Arlo explained.

Maywood's eyebrows shot up. “Ida took you to the mall?”

“She said I needed some things and that there was nowhere else to buy them.”

“She took Steamboat with you?”

“That's right.”

Maywood started nodding. “Don't tell me,” she said. “You left Steamboat in the car, and he jumped out the window while you were in the store.”

“How did you know?”

“Because the first time Ida brought him to the bookstore, he did the same thing. He followed her into the shop.”

“Your parents must have loved that.”

Maywood tossed her head. “They didn't mind. My dad loves dogs, but my mom says we can't have one because we live in an apartment over the store. They like letting Steamboat come inside.”

“I thought dogs couldn't come in restaurants.”

Maywood rolled her eyes. “If the inspector shows up, we sneak him out the back door.” She bent down and patted Steamboat on the head. “It's not like he's hurting anything. Mom and Dad love Steamboat. They told Ida to be sure to bring him anytime.”

“Does she do that?”

“All the time,” Maywood said. “Steamboat's sort of our store mascot. If we didn't already have that frog on the sign, my parents would probably put Steamboat's face there.”

Arlo looked down at Steamboat with new respect. “So that's why Ida figured he'd run to the store.”

“Naturally,” Maywood said.

“Naturally,” Arlo repeated.

Steamboat let out a yip.

“We're talking about you, all right.” Maywood ruffled his ears. “No wonder you were confused. Poor doggy. That mall's a mess, isn't it?”

Steamboat lifted his head and let out a howl.

“Wow,” Arlo said. “I didn't know he could do that.”

Maywood patted Steamboat's head again. “Only when he has something to complain about,” she said.

“Matthew told us you were walking him home,” Arlo said.

“I needed to be sure Ida was all right.”

A loud thunk caused Arlo and Maywood to turn their heads in time to see Ida's dark-green sedan bounce its way through a pothole in the parking lot and coast to a jerky stop in a space isolated from the other cars.

“There she is,” Arlo said.

Maywood grinned. “Have you ridden in the car with her yet?”

Arlo rolled his eyes. “Three times,” he said.

Maywood giggled. “That must have been fun.”

Arlo drew in his breath and let it back out slowly. “A thrill a minute,” he said.

When Steamboat spotted Ida's car, he took off running. Arlo and Maywood chased after him.

Ida stepped out of her car and threw her arms around Steamboat.

“Thank goodness,” she said as she kissed the top of his head. Then she shook a finger at him. “You scared me to death,” she scolded.

Steamboat hung his head. He let out a small whimper and ran his tongue over his teeth, as if he were worried about how much trouble he was in.

“You're sorry now, though, aren't you?”

Steamboat wrinkled up his forehead.

“And you won't ever do that again, will you?”

This time Steamboat let his tongue loll out of his mouth, as though he were trying hard to say how sorry he was and that he would never, ever jump out of a car again.

“All right,” Ida said. “You're forgiven.” She hugged him again. “I suppose it's really my fault for dragging you along to that awful mall.”

This time Steamboat wagged his tail so hard he shook the entire back half of his body.

Meanwhile, Arlo noticed two boys passing by on bicycles. They pedaled across the lot and then bumped through the grass in the park, nearly running over a picnic spread out on a blanket.

“Hey!” a man yelled.

But the boys kept moving.

“Oh, great,” Maywood muttered.

“You know them?” Arlo asked.

“I go to school with them,” Maywood said.
“Unfortunately.”

Arlo watched the two boys pedal through the iron gate into the cemetery and begin climbing the one-lane path up the hill.

“Everyone in Edgewater knows those two,” Ida muttered.

“Hafer and Boyle,” Maywood explained. “That's who they are.”

“You'll want to stay away from them,” Ida added. “Trouble with a capital
T.
That's what they are.”

Arlo watched Maywood watch the boys. She didn't move until they were out of sight. Then she edged sideways toward Ida.

“Matthew said you were probably working in your garden,” Maywood said to Ida. “He figured that's why you didn't answer the phone. But I was afraid something was wrong.”

“That's sweet of you, dear. Worrying about an old lady like me.”

“Arlo said you went to Val-U-Mart.”

“That's right. Arlo needed a few things.”

“But you hate the mall,” Maywood said.

Ida's face turned pink. “That's true, dear. But there are times when a person has to put personal feelings aside.”

Arlo was silently grateful she didn't mention the word
underwear.

“No wonder Steamboat was confused,” Maywood said. “He's never been to the mall before, has he?”

“That was his first trip,” Ida said. “And I believe he feels exactly the same way I do about the place.” She gave Steamboat an approving nod. “Couldn't get out of there quickly enough, could you, Steamboat?”

As Steamboat wagged his tail, Maywood glanced down the path toward town. “I should be getting back,” she said. “My dad will wonder where I am.”

“How about if Arlo and I give you a ride?” Ida asked.

Maywood looked sideways at Arlo. He struggled to keep from laughing.

“Yeah,” he said. “You should ride with us.”

When Ida wasn't looking, Maywood stepped on Arlo's foot. He rolled his eyes at her.

A moment later, something exploded on the hill above them. There was a series of short popping noises, followed by a louder boom.

“What on earth?” Ida looked up at Cemetery Hill.

Steamboat yelped and took off running. First he ran toward the river. When another, louder pop echoed off the rocks near the cliffs, he whipped around and started running toward the cemetery.

“Poor baby,” Ida said. “He's terrified.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled. “Steamboat! Come back!”

The loud popping noises drowned out her voice.

“Hafer and Boyle,” Maywood whispered to Arlo. “They must have firecrackers.”

Ida yelled for Steamboat again. Meanwhile, there was another loud pop that echoed off the rocks.

“He'll never come back as long as he hears that noise,” Ida said.

“I'll go after him,” Arlo said.

“I'm coming with you,” Maywood said.

“You two be careful,” Ida said. “Just find Steamboat and bring him down here. And whatever you do, stay away from those boys.”

“Don't worry,” Maywood said.

Arlo was surprised by how fast she ran. He was running hard, yet she had no trouble keeping up with him. They were both winded by the time they reached the top of the hill. Hafer and Boyle were slumped against the brick building that housed the office for the cemetery. They looked like evil twins in their stained jeans and black T-shirts.

“There he is,” Maywood whispered, tilting her head in the direction of a tall evergreen on the right side of the building.

Steamboat peeked from behind the tree as if he believed no one but Maywood and Arlo could spot him.

“Come on,” Arlo said. “We need to get him out of there.”

“Wait a second.” Maywood put a hand on his arm. “Let's see what they're up to first.”

The boy with the greasy black hair spoke first. “Hey, Mayflower, who's your boyfriend?” he yelled. Arlo couldn't help noticing the thick mud covering the boy's leather boots.

“Pretend you don't hear him,” Maywood whispered. She darted past the office to the tree where Steamboat was hiding.

“Wait up,” Arlo yelled.

“Look, Boyle,” the other boy yelled. “They want to be alone.”

The boy with the muddy boots made loud kissing noises.