Taking one last look at their house, Cope walked outside and locked the door behind him. It would remain frozen in time untilJude came home. Cope didn’t want to think about what would happen if Jude didn’t.
Cope slipped and slid his way, thanks to the three inches of fresh snow, across the street to Ten and Ronan’s house, which was brightly lit. It seemed like every light in the house was on, serving as a beacon for Jude to find his way home. Ten opened the door after Cope rang the bell.
“Daddy!” Wolf ran to Cope and wrapped his arms around him. “Where’s Dad? Is he coming for dinner? Uncle Ten made lasagna! It’s Dad’s favorite.”
Cope felt his emotions starting to rise. He knew he needed to tell Wolf and Lizbet what was happening with Jude, but didn’t know how. “Why don’t we all sit down and talk for a minute?”
Ronan hit the mute button on the television as everyone gathered in the living room. Lizbet climbed into Cope’s lap and looked up at him expectedly.
“So,” Cope began, feeling a lump in his throat. “We can’t find Dad right now.”
“Did you look for him in the shower?” Wolf asked. “Dad always takes super long showers.”
Cope barked a quick laugh. “Yeah, buddy, I looked in the shower, and in the pantry, and in the bakery section of the supermarket.” He offered Wolf a bright smile, but knew the worst was yet to come. “Uncle Ronan and Fitz think that someone took him.”
“Took him where? To get ice cream?” Wolf asked. “Happy Meals?”
Everly wrapped an arm around Wolf and gave him a hug. “A bad man took him, Woofie. We don’t know why or where Uncle Jude is.” Tears streamed down her face. “I’ve been trying to findhim all day and just when I think I’m close, poof! My vision vanishes.”
“A bad man has Dad?” Wolf asked, looking lost.
Cope nodded. “Yeah, buddy. We’re doing everything we can to find him, I promise.”
“Dada!” Lizbet wailed. “Want Dada!” She wrapped her little arms around Cope’s neck and held on tight.
Cope could feel the heartbreak coming off his kids in waves, like heat off a summer sidewalk. Their pain crushed him, feeling as though someone wrapped a fist around his heart and squeezed tightly.
“Why would someone take my Dad?” Wolf asked, trying to fight back tears. “The bad man should get his own father. He can’t have mine!” Wolf piled onto Cope’s lap, wrapping his arms around his little sister as if to protect her.
“We don’t know, Wolf. I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt our family. Dad didn’t mention that someone was angry at him. I have no idea what’s happening or why.” Cope turned to Everly. “Were you able to see the bad man, honey?” He hated asking the little girl for help, but his gift wasn’t giving him anything.
Everly nodded. “He’s got blonde hair and bright green eyes. Like a cat’s eyes. He’s shorter than Uncle Jude, but is skinny and he’s got holes in his face.”
“Holes?” Cope asked. “You mean from a piercing?”
“No. Kinda like when I scraped my knee and got a groove in my skin. Like that, but healed.” Everly wore a confused look.
“Acne scars?” Fitz suggested.
“Sounds like,” Ronan agreed.
“Could you see what the man was wearing?” If Cope thought his heart was being squeezed by an icy fist before, now he felt like it was caught in a vice with the screw continuing to tighten.
“Black. A black hoodie, with a black hat and black jeans with black boots.”
“Honey,” Ronan said. “Do you know his name?”
Everly shook her head. “I think it might start with a J, but that’s all I’m getting.”
Fitz sucked in a rough breath. “If you saw a picture of him, do you think you’d recognize him?”
Everly nodded. “I think so.”
Cope watched as Fitz pulled out his phone and flipped through images. He stopped on one of Jude and Jerry from the policeman’s ball. He hadn’t noticed before, but the man’s face did have acne scarring.
“I took this last night because Jude was being a…” Fitz trailed off, looking as if he didn’t want the kids to hear what he was about to say.
“A dickhead, Uncle Fitz,” Everly offered her uncle a solemn look. “We already know that.”
