Page 46 of The Boy Who Cried Bear
I shake my head, and I keep studying her face, making no effort to hide my scrutiny. She pulls the coat tighter and hunches her shoulders. I let the silence drag for a moment before I say, “We were coming to talk to you.”
“Oh?” She sounds flustered and glances around, as if we might be talking to someone else. “Of course. Yes. Sorry I wasn’t home. Let’s go inside.”
Sorry I wasn’t home.
No explanation given. Not even a false one.
We head inside. My plan had involved starting with concern for her well-being, and Isabel offering support. I don’t do that now. Something is up, and I’m not softballing this.
Once we’re inside, Dana invites us to sit. Isabel does. I stay standing.
“Can I get you a coffee?” she asks. “Tea? Water?”
“No need,” I say, a little brusquely. Yes, part of me is deeply aware that I’m questioning a woman with a missing child, but the way she acted a moment ago tells me something is up. It also tells me I need to keep her off balance.
“You know that Max spotted his bear-man in the woods,” I say. “We’ve been investigating that angle. We aren’t completely convinced it’s the answer here. We see no evidence that someone in the forest grabbed him.”
“Then Gunnar,” she says. “It’s Gunnar.”
“He is not a suspect at this time.”
Up until now, she’s been unsettled. With that, her eyes flash. “Not a suspect?”
I could tell her why. I don’t. Instead, I say, “You believe Gunnar is the most likely suspect, yes? What do you think he’s done with Max?”
Dana’s eyes flash in outrage. “Excuse me?”
“Casey doesn’t mean it like that,” Isabel slides in. “She’s clarifying why you think Gunnar would have taken Max.”
“He’s a grown man taking an interest in a little boy,” she says. “Do you really need me to spell it out?”
“Actually, yes,” I say. “Otherwise, I’m putting words in your mouth.”
“I think he’s a pedophile. I already suggested that, so it’s not putting words in my mouth. I’ve said them, and I’d rather not keep saying them.”
“What has Gunnar done to suggest that? Besides his mild interest in Max? And his promiscuity.”
Isabel clears her throat. “Promiscuity does not suggest pedophilia. In fact, it’s the opposite. Gunnar’s active sex life suggests his needs are being met.”
Thank you, Isabel.
“Yes,” I say. “I said that earlier, too, which is why I’m putting the question to you again, Dana. You think Gunnar is a suspect. You think his interest in Max is suspicious. If we’re going to consider him as a suspect, we need more than him taking a friendly interest in Max and being sexually promiscuous.” I meet her eyes. “Can you think of any other reason why someone would take Max?”
She should bring up the possibility that someone followed her here. That someone took him to threaten her.
“What about this bear?” she says. “Or a man everyone mistook for a bear. Why are you dropping that?”
She hadn’t questioned it before, when I first suggested that the investigation has pivoted. But she does now, when it’s useful. When it’ll divert my attention back to a bogeyman in the forest.
“We are still investigating all possibilities,” I say. “Getting Max back is our priority.”
“Then why are you here questioning me? My son is out there.” She waves toward the window.
“Eric is searching. I’m here, investigating, in case there’s a chance whoever took him is from town. Do you have any idea who—besides Gunnar—might do something like that?”
“No, because I don’t know anyone here, Detective,” she says. “That’s the point, which is also the problem. I don’t know anyone’s background. I only know they’re in hiding. For all I know, we could have a town filled with pedophiles.”
I lower my voice. “Do you really think we’d bring your sons here to that?”
