Chapter 2: The Photograph
Ruby saw the change in his face before she understood why it mattered.
Colonel Harris was still holding the photograph.
His thumb covered part of the torn edge, careful not to damage it further.
Ruby reached for it.
“Can I have that?””
Harris didn't answer.
“Colonel?”” Guard Lewis asked.
Harris finally blinked.
He looked at Lewis.
“Close the outer lane.””
Lewis frowned.
“Sir?””
“Now.””
Lewis immediately turned toward the gate.
“Everyone hold position!””
The barrier remained down.
A pair of soldiers approaching the entrance slowed, exchanging confused looks.
Ruby hugged her backpack.
“Am I in trouble?””
Harris looked at her.
“No.””
“Then why did you close the gate?””
“Because I need to understand something.””
“What?””
Harris looked down at the photograph again.
“Where did you get this?””
“It was in my mom's closet.””
“Does she know you have it?””
Ruby shook her head.
“I took it.””
Harris's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because we were leaving.””
“Leaving where?””
“Our apartment.””
He glanced at the eviction notice lying on the sidewalk.
“How long have you been having problems with your rent?””
Ruby shrugged.
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“Mom doesn't tell me grown-up things.””
Harris's expression tightened.
“Does your mother work?””
“She used to.””
“Where?””
Ruby looked toward the road.
“She doesn't anymore.””
“Why?””
“She said somebody found us.””
Harris went silent.
Lewis, standing several feet away, turned his head.
Ruby noticed.
“My mom said I wasn't supposed to say that.””
Harris lowered himself again.
“Ruby, look at me.””
She did.
“Who found you?””
“I don't know.””
“What did they do?””
“Nothing.””
“Nothing?””
“They just watched our house.””
“When?””
“Sometimes at night.””
Harris's jaw flexed.
“Did you see them?””
Ruby nodded.
“Once.””
“What did they look like?””
“I don't know.””
“You're sure?””
“They stayed in a car.””
Harris stood.
“Lewis.””
“Yes, sir.””
“Check the road outside the gate.””
Lewis hesitated.
“For what?””
“Anything unusual.””
Lewis nodded and moved toward the curb.
Ruby watched him go.
Then she looked back at Harris.
“You know my mom.””
It wasn't a question.
Harris didn't respond immediately.
Finally, he said, “I knew Amelia.””
Ruby's eyes widened.
“When?””
“A long time ago.””
“Was she a soldier?””
Harris looked at the photograph.
“Yes.””
Ruby stared at the torn face.
“She told me she wasn't.””
Harris's eyes snapped toward her.
“What exactly did she tell you?””
“That she used to work near here.””
“Near here?””
Ruby nodded.
“She said she made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“I don't know.””
Harris's voice became quieter.
“Did she ever tell you my name?””
Ruby shook her head.
“Did she ever mention Colonel Harris?””
“No.””
“Did she ever mention this base?””
Ruby's fingers tightened around her backpack.
“She said never to come here.””
“Why?””
“I asked her once.””
“And?””
“She got scared.””
Harris stared at her.
“What did she do?””
“She locked the door.””
Ruby swallowed.
“Then she told me, ‘If anyone from that place ever comes looking for you, don't tell them where I am.’”
Harris looked away.
For several seconds, only the hum of an idling military vehicle filled the silence.
Then Lewis returned.
“Sir.””
Harris turned.
“What?””
Lewis lowered his voice.
“There’s a black sedan parked across the road.””
Harris's expression hardened.
“How long?””
“Can't say.””
“Driver?””
“Can't see.””
Ruby's face changed.
“That's the car.””
Harris immediately looked at her.
“You've seen it before?””
Ruby nodded.
“Same one?””
“I think so.””
Lewis stepped closer.
“Should I call it in?””
Harris didn't answer.
His attention had returned to the photograph.
He carefully turned it over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Ruby leaned forward.
“What does it say?””
Harris read it.
His face changed again.
“What?””
Ruby looked frightened.
“Is it my mom?””
Harris turned the photograph so she couldn't see the writing.
“Who wrote that?””
“I don't know.””
“You've never seen the back?””
Ruby shook her head.
Harris folded the photograph carefully.
“Ruby, where is your mother now?””
“She told me to meet her later.””
“Where?””
Ruby hesitated.
“At the old apartment.””
Harris looked toward the road.
“The apartment you're being evicted from?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“After school.””
“But you aren't in school today.””
Ruby looked down.
“She said today wasn't a school day.””
Harris knew immediately that something was wrong.
He glanced at the eviction notice.
The date was today's date.
And the notice had been issued before sunrise.
“Ruby.””
She looked up.
“Your mother didn't send you here to return a wallet, did she?””
Ruby's eyes filled again.
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why did she?””
Ruby opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, a phone began ringing inside the colonel's uniform pocket.
Harris pulled it out.
The screen showed a number he hadn't seen in years.
His face went pale.
Ruby whispered, “Is that my mom?””
Harris stared at the screen.
The call kept ringing.
May you like
Then a message appeared beneath the number.
*ANSWER BEFORE THEY FIND THE GIRL.*
