Familiar residential houses bypassed in a blur. Casey could barely focus on the road ahead of them as Detective Bailey drove him home. Casey messaged Lani to update her on everything and that he was finally coming home. He’d have to pick his car up from the bakery later.

Detective Bailey pulled up into their driveway, where Casey noticed the living room curtain rustle. Probably Lani. Or maybe their father finally arrived home.

“Thanks for the ride,” Casey said.

“Of course. No problem. It’s the least I can do,” Detective Bailey replied. “Before you go, I’ll give you my personal number. Call me if you ever need anything, okay?”

“I will.” Casey nodded, accepting the slip of paper he handed him.

“Be safe. You and your family have my condolences.”

Casey stepped out of the police cruiser, closing the door behind him. Snowflakes alighted on his cheeks and in his hair as he made his way up their driveway, crunching through freshly fallen snow on the ground. The moment he reached the porch, the front door walloped open and Lani embraced him in a tight hug.

“Oh, Casey.”

“She’s gone,” Casey murmured. “I can’t believe it. Had I not seen her myself… Where’s Wyatt? How’s he doing?”

Lani closed the door behind them, folding her arms across her chest. She wiped at her eyes, failing to keep the tears at bay.

“I’ve got him in the dining room coloring,” Lani replied. “He was with me when the detectives came by. I know you probably wanted to explain everything to him, but I had no choice. He wanted to know what happened to his Nana.”

“I understand, don’t worry. How’d he take it?” Casey asked.

“He cried at first, then he told me he hates the person who hurt her,” Lani explained. “Where’s Dad? Is he still down at the station?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see him,” Casey admitted. “When I told Detective Bailey that Dad went down to the station questioning them about her, he seemed confused. He told me he’d talk to his partner about it, but then he never brought it up again. He has answered none of my texts or calls either.”

“Yeah, he hasn’t responded to me either. That’s really freaking weird,” Lani said, lowering her voice. “You don’t think something’s happened to him too, do you?”

“God, I hope not.”

Lani rested a consoling hand on his shoulder. “Dad’s absence only makes it worse. He should be here with us. I don’t understand where he’s gone off to or why he isn’t answering us.”

“It’s almost like how Mom wouldn’t answer my texts,” Casey pointed out.

“Jeez, I wish he’d just answer already.” Lani took a load off on the couch, raking a hand through her messy red hair.

“All we can do is wait for him. Maybe the detectives found him already since I left and took him in for questioning?” Casey gave a hopeful suggestion.

“Maybe.”

“I’m gonna check on Wyatt real quick, okay?” Casey said.

“Yeah, okay.”

Casey made his way through the kitchen and into the dining room. Several papers with colorful doodles covered the mahogany table where his son colored. Only when Casey came and sat down beside him did he take a break and look up at him.

“How ya doing?” Casey asked. “I know today’s been scary. But Aunt Lani’s been taking care of you, hasn’t she?”

Wyatt nodded. “Me and Aunt Lani had donuts for lunch.”

Casey smiled. “Sounds good. I heard some detectives dropped by earlier. They spoke with me too.”

“A bad man hurt Nana,” Wyatt said, trembling as he gripped a crayon tightly in his little hand. “Will he come here?”

“Well, you don’t have to worry. I won’t let any bad men get to you, okay?” Casey told him. “The police will find the person who hurt Nana, too. He won’t ever hurt anyone else.”

If only Casey could truly convince himself of that.