Chapter Five:

Bo walked into the garret. Maryann was sitting on “the” couch reading a book. Matthew was asleep in his room.

“Thanks for staying so late Maryann.”

“Any news?”

“No nothing that I can report on yet.”

“No clues?”

“We’re researching all avenues right now.”

Maryann hadn’t known Bo Buchanan for very long but she was a very good judge of character and she knew how to read people. It only took one look at Bo’s face for her to know that he was more frightened than he was letting on.

“Matthew finally fell asleep about a ½ hour ago.”

“Thanks again Maryann.”

“Not a problem. I’ll be here tomorrow morning to take Matthew to camp, but if you need me to come back before then just call.”

“I will. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Bo locked the door behind Maryann and walked into Matthew’s room. He looked around at all of his stuff and smiled. Posters of Donovan McNabb, Jim Thorne, and all his favorites plastered all over the walls. He laughed when he saw the sign they had made for their first Eagles vs. Cowboys game that they watched as father and son. He remembered how upset Matt was when he realized he’d spelled the sign wrong….”The Cowboys stin”c”. Go Eagles…” (sorry Tish couldn’t resist….you can yell at me later) He looked around his once empty guest room and smiled as he walked over and sat beside his bed. Matthew had kicked his covers off which brought a smile to Bo’s face, just like his mother, he thought. Bo covered him back up and brushed a few strands of hair out of his face.

“Mommy?”

“No champ, it’s just me your old man.”

“Did you find mommy?”

“No buddy, I haven’t found her yet.”

“Why not? Where is she daddy?”

“I’m not sure buddy, but daddy’s doing everything he can I promise. I’ll find mommy and bring her home.”

“Daddy?”

“Yeah buddy?”

“Don’t let mommy be and angel again. (starts to cry) Please daddy, don’t let God make her an angel again.”

Matthew sat up and threw his arms around Bo’s neck. Bo held him tight and let him cry himself back to sleep. He had no words to comfort his son, no words to comfort himself. He laid Matthew back down and covered him up. He kissed him lightly on the forehead before heading across the hall to his own room. Bo undressed and climbed into bed. He laid awake that night thinking about her, about Matthew, and about the two of them. He couldn’t sleep so he walked out into the living room and turned on some music. The voice of Percy Sledge filled the room as he, like his son did just moments ago, shed a few tears.

Nora couldn’t sleep, the silence of the forest was deafening. Her wrists and ankles were still bound but thankfully Nick had taken her arms from behind her back. The throbbing in her head had finally stopped. She stared at the ceiling thinking about Matthew and how scared he probably was. She wondered whether he was with Maryann or if he was with Bo. She hoped he was with his father. It helped a lot knowing he was with Bo. The realization that she may never see her son again ripped at her heart, but the thought that she may never see Bo again hit her like a ton of bricks. She closed her eyes and started to hum. “When a Man loves….