I didn’t answer, instead I just looked hard along the side of the road, even though we’d already been through this neighborhood, which was just adjacent to the boardwalk, more than once. Morris and Daisy had covered from the Pavilion to Surfside and were now doubling back, after asking everyone at Abe’s and Clementine’s to keep an eye out as well.
“You called the arcade,” I said, confirming. “And already looked at the mall?”
He nodded. “He’s on foot, anyway. He can’t have gotten far.”
“It’s been over two hours,” I pointed out. “Should we go back to the hotel, in case he somehow got a ride back there?”
“Just called them, they haven’t seen him. Anyway, that’s the last place he wants to be, especially with us leaving tomorrow.”
I turned to look at him. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
He nodded. “I was going to tell him at dinner tonight, but he overheard me talking to Leah on the way to see you this morning. I should have known he’d pull something like this.”
I scanned the road again. “He probably just was upset, with the short notice and all.”
“Your brother might be young, but he is a master negotiator,” he informed me, turning onto another street. “He’ll try to crack and improve any system to his advantage. Over time, I’ve learned I have to limit his window to do that, or he’ll always find a way to better things in his favor.”
Any other time, I would have been tempted to point out that Benji wasn’t the only one who liked to be in control; he came by it honestly. But right then, all I could think was what an idiot I was.
“Dammit,” I said, gesturing for my father to take the next left. “I know where he is.”
“You do?”
I nodded. “Cut through here, it’s right on the next block.”
He pulled up in front of the office. I jumped out and ran up to the doors. They were locked, as we’d closed about a half hour earlier. I peered through the windows in the doors, looking for lights and movement, then pulled out my keys and let myself in.
“Benji!” I called out. “Hey! It’s Emaline, come on out.”
I searched the conference room, all the offices, the storage room, both bathrooms. Nothing. I couldn’t believe I’d been so wrong. Eventually, since time was precious, I went back outside to rethink.
“No?” my father called from the car.
I shook my head. “I’m going to keep looking around here, though. Maybe do another loop up by the boardwalk and then come back?”
He nodded, then backed away and turned down the side street towards the Pavilion. I walked up to the main road, really starting to worry now. Yes, Colby was small and not like a big city in terms of danger. But it was still in the real world, regardless of what Theo might believe. Bad things happened. Just ask Rachel Gertmann.
I was just standing there on the grass, trying to think, when I heard a beep. When I looked up, Luke was turning in, a concerned look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” he called out.
“Benji’s missing,” I told him. “We can’t find him anywhere.”
He parked, then climbed out of the truck. “Isn’t Clyde’s thing going on right now?”
“He was supposed to meet his dad at four, outside the Pavilion,” I told him, scanning the road again. “But he never showed up.”
“Emaline, it’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“It’s been over two hours,” I said. “He’s only ten.”
“I know.” He stepped closer and squeezed my arm. “Just take a breath. Let’s think for a minute.”
I exhaled, skipping the intake part. “We’ve looked all over. Surfside, the Pavilion, the sound, the boardwalk. I thought for sure he would have come here, because he loves this job so much, but I just turned the whole place upside down with no sight of him.”
Luke thought for a minute. “Okay, so say we’re Benji.”
“Luke.”
“Seriously. This works.” He looked at me, nodding. “We’re ten. We’re pissed off. We go somewhere that’s familiar and comforting, safe, but hard to find. Where would that be?”
“If I knew,” I pointed out, “I would have him already.”
“Just think for a second.”
“Luke, for God’s sake. I can’t just—”
And then, just by chance, over his shoulder, I saw it. The bane of my existence, but possibly one of Benji’s favorite places, ever.
“Hold on,” I said.
I walked around Luke, breaking into a jog as I crossed the lot. The sandbar—my sandbox—was already set up for check-ins the next day. A pack of shrink-wrapped welcome packets sat just outside, two washed coolers stacked beside them, ready for cold drinks and ice. I climbed the two steps, then leaned over and peered down over the wall. Benji, sitting against the far wall with his knees pulled to his chest, looked up at me.
“I don’t want everything to change,” he said.
I bit my lip and glanced at Luke, giving him a nod. Then I opened the door, going inside, and sat down beside him. As always, the floor was dusted with a faint layer of sand. I could feel it on my feet as I slid off my shoes. “You really had us worried,” I told him, my voice low. “Everyone is out looking.”
He pulled his knees closer, not saying anything. Up close now, I could see he’d been crying, and it made him look so young I felt a lump form in my throat. “He’s making me leave tomorrow. He didn’t even tell me. I heard him saying it to my mom.”