I thought about things Aidan liked, and the best I could do was gaming. So I went online and typed in gaming and the name of Brandi’s city and the day Aidan had disappeared. It didn’t take me long to find a gaming convention that was going on the weekend he was gone.
I explored some more and made notes in my head.
When I was done, I erased my trail.
39
I waited until we had gone to bed and Mom and Dad were safely in their room. I knew Officer Pinkus was coming to see Aidan the next day, Friday. And I figured that would be a good time for him to premiere the new story I’d made him.
“Are you ready for it?” I asked.
“Wait,” he said. Then he came and sat on the foot of my bed. “Okay, tell me.”
So I told him about the gaming convention. He could say he’d wanted to go but knew Mom and Dad would never let him. (True.) So he snuck out of the house. He figured when he got to the city, he’d go to Aunt Brandi’s and she’d put him up. But when he got there, no one answered. (He’d just have to say he’d forgotten when she was leaving for Peru.) And he’d left behind his phone, so he couldn’t call her, and didn’t know her number by heart, so couldn’t call from someone else’s phone. (Also possible.)
Aidan started with his questions.
* * *
—
Why didn’t I have my phone? Wouldn’t I have known I’d need it?
You were afraid they’d trace it.
And how did I get to the city? Did I take the train? The bus?
You took the train. But you waited until rush hour. That way, no one would see you on the security cameras. I’m pretty sure they checked the security cameras.
So what did I do when I got to the city, after I found out Brandi wasn’t there?
You went to the hotel where the convention was.
In my pajamas?
No. You brought clothes. Old clothes that we didn’t notice were missing. And a costume! Yeah, you had kept a costume. Which made it hard for you to be recognized.
So where did I stay?
The convention was in a hotel. So maybe you just slept on the couches there.
Or maybe there was a park nearby.
I guess. But Mom and Dad won’t like the thought that you slept in a park.
Okay. So I found a space in the hotel.
Yeah.
And then what?
I think you realized what kind of trouble you’d be in. After a few days.
So why didn’t I call home?
* * *
—
This was the tricky part.
* * *
—
You did call home.
What?
I was the one who picked up. There were times when Mom was busy and Dad was out looking. So it’s possible I picked up the phone.
Lucas, you can’t say that.
Why not?
You know why not. You’ll be in so much trouble.
I know.
You can’t.
I have to. That’s the only way the story makes sense.
* * *
—
Aidan looked at me for a second, and it didn’t seem like I’d convinced him. Still, he was willing to hear it out.
* * *
—
So what did you say to me?
I told you people were freaking out.
Then why didn’t you tell everyone I was on the phone? You could have ended it right there!
Because you begged me not to. You said you’d come home as long as I didn’t tell anyone. Since I wanted you to come home, I promised.
And I trusted you.
Well, you didn’t tell me where you were. But you said you’d get home.
So I got on the next train….
Not yet. Because you still had two days to go. Let’s say you were leaving your bag where you were sleeping, and while you were away and thought it was safe, it got stolen. Or maybe just your money was stolen, since your pajamas couldn’t have been stolen.
You’re scarily good at this.
Thanks. So you have your bag, but you don’t have a ticket or money to get a ticket. So it takes you a day or two to get enough money to come home.
How do I get the money?
Just by asking people. You stick to the hotel. Say your parents are gone for the day and you got locked out of your room.
Why didn’t I ask for a new key?
There was a misunderstanding. They checked out. And now you need cab fare to get to where they are.
So I get the money, and get a train back.
You call me from the train station. Maybe hang up a few times when Mom or Dad picks up. But when you get me, you tell me when the train gets in. I figure out how long it will take for you to walk from the station. Along the way, you come up with the story about going to another world—you know it makes no sense, but you figure no one will be able to prove it or disprove it. And you can’t think of anything else.
That’s a stretch.
Anything we come up with is a stretch.
Okay. So I get home…
Well, we come up with a signal—when the adults are all busy, I go into the backyard and signal you to come out of the woods. Then I sneak you up to the attic. You hide there until I come “find” you.
They didn’t search the attic the day I was found?
No. They’d already done it a few times. It would have never occurred to them that you’d sneak back in and hide there.
Because I’d need an accomplice.
I guess so. I was your accomplice.
* * *
—
My story ended there. Aidan was back home. He’d hoped to get away with not saying where he’d been, but then I slipped, and he had to tell them his cover story, about Aveinieu.
I thought Aidan would congratulate me on coming up with an alternative to what everyone thought. But instead of congratulations, he said, “I have to think about this.” Then he went back to his own bed.
I was a little disappointed. Then, out of the dark of our room, there came a “Thank you,” and the disappointment went away.