Chapter 5: The Woman from Kansas
Sarah wasn't from Kansas.
Not anymore.
She had driven all night from Wichita after receiving the sheriff's call.
She entered the Dusty Spur soaked to the skin, breathing hard, searching every face.
Then she saw Noah.
She stopped.
Noah stopped too.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Sarah ran.
She dropped to her knees and wrapped both arms around him.
Noah buried his face against her shoulder.
"Aunt Sarah.""
Sarah cried.
"I'm sorry.""
Noah shook his head.
"You didn't know.""
"I should have known.""
Curtis watched them.
"You have no right to take him.""
Sarah turned.
"He is my sister's son.""
"And I'm his legal guardian.""
Sarah stared at him.
"No.""
She pulled a document from her coat.
"My sister never gave you permanent guardianship.""
Curtis stepped forward.
"What the hell is that?""
"The original custody document.""
Deputy Hall took it.
Sarah looked at Ray.
"His mother appointed me temporary guardian if she became unable to care for him.""
Ray asked, "Why didn't that happen?""
Sarah's expression hardened.
"Because Curtis told everyone my sister changed her mind.""
She looked at Noah.
"He said Noah hated me.""
Noah stared at Curtis.
"He said you didn't want me.""
Sarah looked like someone had punched her.
"I called you every day.""
Noah began crying again.
"I didn't know.""
Sarah hugged him.
Curtis stepped forward.
"You don't understand.""
Sarah stood.
"No. I understand now.""
She looked at the back room.
"You kept him in there.""
Curtis shook his head.
"It was temporary.""
"Six months.""
"He had everything he needed.""
Sarah looked at the empty mattress.
"Everything?""
Her voice broke.
"That's what you call everything?""
Curtis became defensive.
"He wouldn't behave.""
Noah whispered, "I did.""
Sarah looked at him.
"You did?""
Noah nodded.
"I cleaned.""
"For how long?""
"Until two or three.""
Sarah closed her eyes.
Ray stepped away.
He didn't want to watch her process the whole thing in one minute.
Deputy Hall asked Sarah, "Do you know about the life insurance?""
Sarah looked confused.
"What life insurance?""
Curtis answered immediately.
"There isn't any.""
Deputy Hall looked at him.
"That's not what the documents say.""
Sarah's face changed.
"My sister had a policy?""
Ray nodded.
Noah said, "Mom said it was for me.""
Sarah whispered, "She never told me.""
Curtis suddenly turned toward the office.
Deputy Hall noticed.
"Where are you going?""
"Bathroom.""
"No.""
Curtis stopped.
"You're staying here.""
The second deputy opened the office door.
The blue folder wasn't there.
Ray noticed something else.
The rear window was open.
Rain blew onto the floor.
He walked toward it.
Beyond the window was an alley.
A narrow gravel lane leading behind the building.
Curtis hadn't mentioned that door.
Ray looked at Duke.
Duke understood.
"Someone's been using the back exit.""
Curtis said, "It's broken.""
Tommy looked at the wet footprints beneath it.
"Funny.""
Ray crouched.
Fresh tire marks ran behind the building.
One set.
Pickup truck.
Noah stared.
"That's where Curtis goes.""
"Where?""
"Late at night.""
Curtis snapped, "He's confused.""
Noah pointed toward the road.
"He takes the money.""
"Where?""
"To the motel.""
Curtis froze.
Sarah turned.
"What motel?""
Noah didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered a name.
"The Silver Pines.""
Ray recognized it.
A roadside motel two exits east.
Deputy Hall immediately radioed for another unit.
Curtis suddenly moved.
Fast.
He shoved the side door open.
Duke caught him by the shirt.
Curtis struggled.
"Let me go!""
Duke held him without striking him.
Ray shouted, "Don't make this worse!""
Curtis froze.
Then he looked through the window at Noah.
His voice changed.
Soft.
Almost pleading.
"Noah.""
The boy didn't answer.
"I tried.""
Noah looked away.
Curtis stared at him.
"I tried to keep us together.""
Noah whispered, "You lied.""
Curtis's face hardened again.
He stopped pleading.
That frightened Ray more than the shouting.
Because now Curtis looked like a man who had lost the only thing protecting him.
Deputy Hall put the handcuffs on.
Curtis didn't resist.
As they led him outside, thunder shook the building.
Sarah held Noah tightly.
Ray looked around the empty truck stop.
The night was almost over.
But something still bothered him.
The envelope.
The blue folder.
The life insurance.
Too many missing pieces.
Then Noah pulled Ray aside.
"There is another room.""
Ray frowned.
"What?""
Noah pointed toward the kitchen.
May you like
"Not the back room.""
"The other one.""
