The Exception

Chapter 66: Shocking News

My heart was pounding as I sat in the car. We were heading towards Keith's house, and I could barely sit still. 

Mrs Rondo was in tears. She explained to me briefly that something was wrong, but she could not give me details. I tried to calm her down, and organized to come to her house. I was terrified. Keith was ok...as far as I could make out...but then he wasn't ok? I shook my head. I'll let Mrs Rondo explain it to me.

"Honey, it's gonna be ok..." My mom softly spoke to me. 

"How can you be so sure?" I asked her.

My mom could not answer me, and I squirmed. Why Keith? Why on earth did everything have to happen to him?

When my mom pulled in, I jumped out of the car and knocked on the door. Mrs Rondo opened the door. Her eyes were swollen red.

"You're here!" she drew me into a hug and squeezed me tightly. I swallowed.

"Mrs Rondo...what happened? Where's Keith?"

"I don't know...that's why I need your help," Mrs Rondo started. She started hyperventilating and babbling.

"Hey, Mrs Rondo? Please...take a deep breath...I'm Kate, Agnus' mom...what is going on?" my mom calmly spoke to Mrs Rondo.

Mrs Rondo took a deep breath and took a step back. "Please come inside."

We followed her into the house and took a seat. However, as I walked in, I sensed something was really off. The room was not the same. It was darker. Yet, the windows were open, and all seemed in order.

I took a seat along with my mother. Mrs Rondo took a deep breath.

"Yesterday, my grandmother came for a visit," Mrs Rondo swallowed hard. "But..." Mrs Rondo's hands trembled. "While I was in the kitchen, cooking...she stood up to visit the bathroom." Mrs Rondo's lips quivered and I frowned. "She fell..." Mrs Rondo shook her head and gasped. "And hit her head... and Keith was there when all this happened."

"Oh no," I whispered, horrified.  "Is Grammy..."

"She's passed away," Mrs Rondo whispered. "We went to the hospital...Keith was beyond himself...and as soon as he heard the news, he disappeared. This is the first time he's disappeared likes this. I am really worried."

"Was Keith and his grandmother close?" my mother asked.

Mrs Rondo nodded. "She helped pull him through the darkest times...sweetness, she visited him when he was in the hospital every single day. Kept him company...I'm so scared. His phone was here, so I got your number and called you...because you seem to be his closest friend. I was really hoping you can help me find him.

"Of course," I said. However, I didn't have a clue where to start. All I knew, was the Keith was not in a good place, and running away from his problems was something he was prone to do. My thoughts reflected on Cara...and her interrogative nature. She might actually know something.

"I need to make a phone call," I said and stood up. I pulled out my phone, trying to keep my head clear. Grammy was such a sweet person, and I was really devastated that she was gone. However,  priority was finding Keith. I just wish that he came to me, but I wasn't going to focus on that right now. As my phone rang, Cara answered pretty quickly.

"Hey Agnus, what's up?"

"Hey Cara, do you know any place Keith might go if he is really upset?"

"I may have a few ideas...why?"

"Well, let's just say something big has happened, and I need to find him...stat..."