One
Chapter one
“He’ll miss football practice if he doesn’t hurry up.” Beth sighed, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Agatha glanced at her, amusement flickering in her eyes as she did so. “And Nicky will miss his singing lessons. This isn’t like him–” Her gaze returned to the school gates, scanning the thinning crowd of children. Some boarded buses, others hopped into cars with their families, and a few wandered home on foot, chatting heatedly.
“Where on the earth are they?” Agatha’s voice grew tense, her brow furrowing.
Beth sighed a second time.“ They should be here by now– it makes no sense,” she mumbled, tapping her foot anxiously.
Agatha had no intention of waiting another second. Huffing in irritation, she strode toward the school steps. As she reached the entrance, she spotted her son’s teacher emerging from the building. She recognized her instantly, how could she not? Nicky talked about her endlessly at home, first thing after school he rambled about everything he did in her class. Name was Martha Blake, young, probably in her late twenties or early thirties, she was the italian teacher, a new one starting this year.
Martha didn’t notice her at first, nor did she notice Beth. She was too caught up in what looked like an intense phone call. Beth noticed how tightly the young woman clutched the railing with her free hand, her knuckles turning white as she did so. Agatha caught snippets of her conversation, phrases like: ‘Leave me alone’ and ‘This isn’t the time’.
As they drew closer, Martha spotted them and forced a smile.
“I have to go,” she said, her voice unsteady. “Yeah, I told you–I’ve got a job,” a pause, then a scoff, before she muttered in a hiss, “I’d think very carefully before doing something that stupid.” Then she ended the call hastily, shoving her phone into her bag like it burned her.
Beth stepped forward first, her voice gentle but tinged with concern. “Ms. Blake, is everything okay?”
The teacher nodded tiredly, almost too quickly to appear credible. “Yes, of course. Sorry about that,” brushing it off with a wave of her hand. Her voice shifted, eager to change the subject. “I-if this is about the homework, you didn’t need to come all the way here. I was planning to email it to the boys.”
Beth frowned, before slightly shaking her head. “Uhm no. That’s not why we’re here.”
She looked at Agatha whose smirk grew. She was probably piecing together her own conclusions about why her son and Danny hadn’t emerged from the school yet. With a tired sigh, she asked. “Let me guess– detention again?”
Martha looked genuinely confused, her brows knitting together as her mouth parted slightly before she found her voice. “No, they didn’t do anything wrong, Mrs Harkness. Nicky and Danny…” a brief breath. “They didn’t come to school today.”
Beth’s eyes widened, her already pale complexion blanching further. “What do you mean, they didn’t come to school?”
“Uhm..I–”
“They came to school this morning!” Agatha objected before the teacher could formulate another response. “Rio dropped them off.”
Martha looked stricken. “I assumed you knew — otherwise, I would have called you myself. I figured they weren’t feeling well or maybe took a day off. Since they’re neighbors and usually come together, it didn’t seem odd that they were both missing today…” she explained quickly, her voice faltering. “The school usually notifies parents about absences,” she added, though uncertainty crept in as she took in the confusion on the mothers’ faces. Her voice softened, as she eyed their cellphones clutched tightly in their hands. “You... you should’ve gotten a message this morning.”
A growl slipped past Agatha's lips as she checked it out. “I was at work. I didn’t have time to go through my phone.”
A wave of nausea twisted in her stomach, the moment Beth found the message the teacher had just mentioned. “I-I was working too. I didn’t notice…”
Beth looked on the verge of tears. Martha stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. A soft smile tugged at her lips. For a moment, she saw Danny in Beth’s eyes. The boy had surely inherited his empathy and sweetness from his mother. “It’s okay. I’m sure they’re alright. Maybe–”
She didn’t get to finish, that Agatha’s voice took over.
“I’m going to kill her,” Agatha growled through gritted teeth, her hands trembling as she dialed her ex-wife’s number. “Then I’m going to kill her kid. This has Rio’s name written all over it.”
“No,” Beth stepped in, her voice steady despite her fear. “She wouldn’t do that. Rio’s a good mom to Nicky, Agatha — you know that. Plus, she wouldn’t involve my son.”
Agatha just rolled her eyes at that, deep down she knew Beth was right. It was just easier to blame Rio for whatever happened that was out of her control.
“Pick up. Pick up. Pick up…”, she mumbled, but nothing.
“It’s normal for kids their age to break a few rules sometimes,” Martha offered gently, eyes flickering between Beth and Agatha. “Maybe they decided to skip school, hang out, have a bit of fun–”
Agatha cut her off with a glare so cold, before speaking. “Is that what you’re teaching my son? That it’s okay to break the rules?” A humourless chuckle slipped past her lips. Beth was already rolling her eyes at Agatha’s unnecessary hastiness. “What’s next? You’ll teach my son how to rob a bank?”
Martha flinched, her voice stumbling out in a rush. “No, of course not! I didn’t mean it like that–”
“Agatha, stop,” Beth cut in, noticing Martha’s distress. She felt it in her heart that Martha only meant well with what she just said. After all, Nicky and Danny had just turned thirteen, their teenage years were only beginning. “She’s just trying to help.”
Agatha said nothing in response, but the tension in her shoulders eased a bit.
She hated it when Beth was right.
“I understand you’re worried,” Martha murmured, her voice quiet but steady. ““But I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of this soon. They’re good kids,” she said, rather confident. “I wouldn’t worry too much.”
Beth nodded, whereas Agatha tried calling Rio again. “Why the hell isn’t she answering me?” She swore under her breath.
“I’ll try Danny–” Beth stuttered, phone to her ear. It rang. No answer. Agatha called Nicky. Same thing. The phones rang and rang, but none of the boys picked up.
Martha was starting to have second thoughts about the whole philosophy of not worrying.
“Nicky never ignores my calls,” Agatha muttered.
“Neither does Danny…” Beth’s voice trembled.
“Maybe they went to the cliffs?” Martha suggested.
Beth and Agatha exchanged uncertain looks.
“How do you know about that spot?” Agatha asked suspiciously.
“Oh, they–” Martha faltered, unsure why she suddenly felt nervous about it. “They told me. They go there often after homework, don’t they? It’s their favorite place to hang out.”
Beth nodded slowly, hope flickering in her eyes. “It is. They might be there, Agatha.”
Her friend nodded her head, jaw set as she hummed. “If I find them, I’m grounding Danny too, Beth. Just so you know.”
Beth managed a shaky smile at that. “You have my blessing.”
Agatha scoffed, a bitter smile spread on her lips. “Please. Like I need your permission to do anything around your son.”
Beth let out a quiet chuckle in response.
Martha found their interaction oddly sweet. Agatha was sharp, her demeanor strong and stubborn– the kind of mother who would go to war for her child without a second thought. Beth was no less protective, but her strength showed differently. They were both fiercely maternal, though they showed it in different ways.
“Is there anything I can do?” Martha followed them as they walked to the car. “Anywhere else I can check while you do the cliffs?”
Agatha was already sliding into the driver’s seat as she spoke.
Beth hesitated by the door, torn. Part of her didn’t want to burden Martha with their worries — but another part longed for any help she could get.
“No, don’t you worry, “ she said, gently. Martha felt her own heart melt at her tone. “We’ll call you if we need anything. Oh, and thank you for suggesting the cliffs. That’s a great idea.” She offered a genuine, grateful smile, one that Martha returned without hesitation.
“Don’t even mention it,” she responded.
“Are you coming or not?” Agatha growled, starting the engine.
Martha gently urged Beth to get in the car, and Beth shot her an apologetic glance for Agatha’s behavior.
Agatha wasn’t cruel, not really. She just had her own way of showing emotions, sharp and unfiltered. Beth understood that, but Martha couldn’t possibly know. Not like she did, having known her for years. Still, there wasn’t even the faintest flicker of judgment in Martha’s eyes, only quiet understanding. She could see why her son Danny liked her so much.
Once she slid into the passenger seat, she leaned over Agatha’s window, which was open, “If you happen to see them, please–”
“I’ll call,” Martha finished for her. No hesitation whatsoever. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” she responded in one breath.
Agatha glanced over at the teacher, offering a subtle nod. Even without saying anything, somehow, Martha understood what that meant.
She watched their car speed off, standing there until it disappeared from sight. With a sigh, she turned and headed for her own.
Her phone rang again. This time, she didn’t bother looking at the screen.
She let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes as she reached her car. For a moment, she leaned against the door, the weight of everything pressing down on her, then, slowly, she slid inside.
Her mind trailed off to the boys.
Once in the car, she fastened her seat belt and as she started the engine, her phone– her goddamn phone rang once again. Her grip tightened on the wheel, head dropping forward as a frustrated growl escaped her throat. She tried to ignore it. Another ring.
“Damn it!” she snapped, angry, desperate tears pricking at her eyes.
She snatched the phone, switched it to silent, and tossed it onto the passenger seat.
If she weren’t worried about the boys and waiting for updates from their moms, she would have tossed her phone into the nearest storm drain.
-
After a handful of minutes — far too few — because Agatha had decided to break all road rules, the two women reached their destination. Agatha parked the car haphazardly, taking up more than two spots, but she didn’t bring herself to care.
And neither did Beth.
“If they’re not here…” Beth started, but the words died in her throat. Her hazel-green eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Danny was her whole world and the mere thought that something might have happened to him wrapped around her chest like a vice, squeezing the air from her lungs.
Agatha turned to her, shoving her sunglasses onto her head.
She knew that worry because it was her own too. Her brows knitted together as she shook her head. “Stop that,” she said both gently and firmly, placing her hands on Beth’s shoulders. “They’re fine. Wherever they’ve gotten off to —”she paused, her thumbs tracing slow, comforting circles over Beth’s shirt, “— they’re fine. Got it? They’re smart, our kids, yeah?”
Beth gave a shaky nod, blinking back the tears until a faint, wobbly smile broke through. “They are. Sorry...”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s okay,” Agatha pointed a finger at her, and forced out a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Come on. Let’s find them.”
Beth nodded her head.
Both women got out of the car, then climbed over the fence separating the road from the cliffside. The sun blazed high, forcing Beth to shield their eyes with her hands. Agatha helped herself with her shadows.
The cliff had never looked so empty. There was literally nobody.
They kept calling for their sons. Beth strayed about a hundred meters to one side while Agatha moved in the other direction.
Panic curled deep in Agatha’s chest, hot and suffocating. Nicky — her Nicky — would never wander off like this. What had driven him to do it? And Danny? Agatha knew that boy well, loved him like he was her own. He and Nicky had practically grown up together, bouncing between her house and Beth’s, sharing memories, experiences, everything. But this– this wasn’t like them at all.
Agatha turned back, spotting Beth in the distance, hands tangled in her brown short hair. Beth’s face was stricken, eyes wide and frantic as they scanned the horizon. Her lower lip trembled, teeth sinking into it to stop the sobs from spilling out.
Agatha yanked out her phone, fingers dialing Rio’s number for what felt like the hundredth time. One ring. Two. Three. On the fourth, Rio answered.
Agatha felt her lungs expand again, when she heard her ex wife’s voice.
“At last!” she snapped. “Where the hell are they?”
Rio’s voice sounded uncertain right away. “Uhm, what? Where are who?”
“Nicky and Danny, you absolute idiot!” Agatha snapped, voice sharp. “They never made it to school. So I’m asking you — where the hell is our son?”
Beth, seeing Agatha on the phone, hurried over. Her eyes were desperate, wet, and pleading. She hoped — prayed — that it was Nicky on the line, or at least some kind of good news from Rio or Miss Blake.
“I dropped the kids off myself,” Rio insisted, though her voice wavered — and Rio’s voice never wavered. But Agatha believed her. Rio might have been capable of many things, but never, not in a million years, would she mess with their son’s safety or lie about something like this. “I watched them go through the school gates. Agatha…” She paused, hearing the shaky hitch in Agatha’s breath, the barely stifled sob that broke through. Her voice softened. “Have you tried calling him?”
That sounded like a very stupid question. But she had to ask.
“You think I’d be calling you, had he answered?” Agatha shot back bitterly.
“They’re with her?” Beth’s voice was thin as she stepped in. “Please tell me they’re with Rio.”
Agatha shook her head, the motion almost physically painful for both. She could feel her own heart racing in her chest, thudding painfully against her ribs.
She heard rustling on the other end. Rio was already on the move, no doubt. She was the damn chief of the town, after all. “Have you checked the cliffs?” She asked, her voice slightly muffled, likely from switching to speakerphone.
“Of course we have. They’re not here.”
“Okay, s’ alright,” Rio said, her tone shifting into that apparent calm she wore like armor. “I’ll check the city’s cameras myself.” The faint sound of rapid typing filled the line. “As soon as I spot something, I’ll call you.” Then gentler, because Agatha needed to hear that tone, to feel reassured. “We’ll find him, Ags. He can’t have gone far.”
Agatha nodded her head before muttering a soft ‘alright, call me the second you know something.’ Then she hung up.
“What did she say? What do we do?” Her breath came out in a shaky rush as words spilled from her mouth, faster than her mind could keep up. “Maybe they’re at the park. We could check there — then the shops, every street, every alley, every—” Her voice caught, chest heaving in quick, shallow bursts.
“Beth, hey — breathe with me, sweet toots. Breathe.” If Beth didn’t calm down soon, Agatha feared she’d collapse right there on the spot. So she locked eyes with her friend, crawled her hands to Beth’s cheeks and stroked her skin ever so gently.
“It’s okay, it’s alright… hear me?”
Agatha felt as nervous as Beth, but one of them needed to stay strong, for the sake of the kids, and theirs too.
Beth let out a choked sound, somewhere between a sob and a trembling breath. Her orbs were pools of tears, and Agatha saw her own fears reflected in them. “I’m scared–” Beth muttered. “I can’t stand the thought that something might’ve happened to him.”
Agatha’s blue eyes softened, as she gently tucked Beth’s brown hair behind her ears. “I know. I am too. But listen to me — Rio’s checking the city’s cameras, alright?. She has an entire team working for her. She’ll find them. She’s hella good at this, and you know how much it costs me to say these words.”
“And as for you and I, we’ll keep looking for them. We’re not stopping, until I’ve got my hands tangled into Nicky’s ponytail, dragging him home myself.” It was meant as a joke, a desperate attempt to lighten their moods, and it worked, if only a little.
Beth let out a shaky, breathless chuckle, and Agatha didn’t hesitate. She smiled at her friend, really did. She pulled the woman into a comforting side hug. “Come on now, let’s get back to the car.”
Beth nodded softly, leaning her head against Agatha’s shoulder as they made their way back towards the parking lot.