Kidnapped

Chapter 10

After the police left, Elizabeth said, "I'm going to call Nancy and my other friends. They'll let all the lids know to watch for Max."

"I don't want you using the phone," Mom said. "Max might call and get a busy signal. I want to keep the cell-phone line open, too. He memorized both numbers; he'll call if he can."

"Is it okay if I use Mrs. Watson's phone?"

Mom nodded.

Elizabeth ran next door. Mrs. Watson didn't answer the door, so Elizabeth continued down the street to the Largeson's house. She told Mrs. Largeson what had happened.

"Make as many calls as you want," Mrs. Largeson said. She plucked her toddler from his playpen and held him tight, as if she feared he would disappear next.

Elizabeth dialed Nancy' number, but Nancy wasn't home. Of course she isn't Elizabeth thought; she went shopping with Sharon.

She left a message: "Hi, it's Elizabeth. Max is missing, and so is Poochie. The police came with a police dog, and they're searching the school now. don't call me because Mom wants to keep the phone line open. I'll call you again when I can."

She felt surreal, as if she couldn't possibly be speaking the words she said. She reached two other friends, who both promised to spread the word.

"I'll alert the other neighbors," Mrs. Largeson said.

"Thanks." Then, not knowing what else to do, Elizabeth returned home.

Twenty minutes later, Nancy and her mother drove up. "What happened?" Mrs. Tash asked as Elizabeth let them in.

Mrs. Sanders quickly explained.

"I thought you went to the mall," Elizabeth said.

"Sharon has a bad headache," Nancy said, "so we decided to go shopping tomorrow. We came here as soon as we heard your message."

"What can we do?" Mrs. Tash asked.

"I don't know," Mrs. Sanders said. "I can barely think."

"Do you need anything?"

"Maybe the police need help looking for him around the school," Elizabeth said.

"We'll go there," Mrs. Tash said. "Come on, Nancy."

"Can I go with them?" Elizabeth asked. "I might be able to help."

Mrs. Sanders hesitated. "Right now, I don't want to let you out of my sight," she said.

"I'll go crazy waiting here, doing nothing."

"I'll stay with her,' Mrs. Tash said, "unless you want her here."

"You can go," Mrs. Sanders said to Elizabeth, "but please don't be gone too long."

As they drove to the school, Elizabeth told of Poochie's disappearance and the visit from Spike. For once Nancy didn't offer an opinion or make a joke.

Four police cars lined the school driveway. Mr. Quincy, some teachers, and several other people stood near the flagpole, listening to a police officer. As the girls and Nancy's mother joined the group, they heard the officer give directions for searching the neighborhood.

Before he had finished, Detective Manfield and Spike came around the corner of the building. Elizabeth hurried over to them, followed by Nancy and Mrs. Tash.

"Did Spike pick up Max's scent?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. He finds it near the side door, then cuts across the playground to the street." She pointed. "Spike stops at the curb and can't find the scent again. We've repeated the search three times with the same results. Max apparently left the school via that door, then got in a vehicle that was parked on the street."

Nancy took Elizabeth's hand.

Elizabeth clung to her friend, glad for Nancy's presence. "What happens now?" she asked. "The teachers and others are planning to search this area, but there's no use looking for Max around here if he was driven somewhere else."

"We still want a door-to-door search of this neighborhood. Someone might have glanced out a window and seen Max and the person he was with as they walked across the playground, or maybe someone walked past as they drove away. We might get lucky and get a description of the vehicle or the abductor or both."

At the word abductor, Elizabeth's blood ran cold. What a horrible word, she thought. An ugly name for a terrible person.

"The searchers are starting out," Mrs. Tash said. "Do you still want to join them, Elizabeth, or do you want me to drive you home?"

"Join them," Elizabeth said. "I'll do anything I can to help find Max."