“Two blocks from the mall. Empty.”
Misha reached for his father’s sleeve. “Is Nina hurt?”
The man glanced at Mikhail, not answering.
Mikhail placed the kitten back into Misha’s hands and lowered his voice.
“We do not know yet.”
“But you’ll find her.”
“Yes.”
“You promise?”
Mikhail hesitated for less than a heartbeat.
“I promise I will do everything I can.”
Misha stared at him.
He was old enough to know that was not the same as a promise that everything would be all right.
I came around the counter without thinking.
“Misha,” I said gently, “does Nina have a phone? Maybe she lost it. Maybe someone helped her like I helped you.”
He clung to that possibility. “Maybe.”
Mikhail looked at me, and I could tell he appreciated the kindness even if he could not afford to believe it.
The man at the door spoke again. “There’s something else.”
Mikhail’s eyes narrowed.
The man looked uneasy. “The car was locked. No sign of forced entry. Her purse was inside.”
Mikhail said nothing.
“And her phone.”
Misha’s mouth opened.
I felt the air go cold.
Ray whispered, “That’s not good.”
Mikhail’s gaze sharpened toward him.
Ray raised both hands. “Sorry. Thinking quietly from now on.”
Mikhail turned back to his son. “We are leaving.”
Misha looked at me. “Can Anna come?”
The question startled all of us.
“No, sweetheart,” I said quickly. “I have to close the diner.”
“Then we can help her close.”
Ray made another strangled noise.
Mikhail studied his son. “Why do you want Anna to come?”
Misha looked down at the kitten.
“Because Nina said if I was ever lost, I should find the blue bell.”
The room became very still.
