CHAPTER 1
James Maverick drove the one and only squad car down the road. His day was slowly coming to an end. Absolutely nothing had happened. Nothing ever happened in Plainsville, Oklahoma.
James was 74 years old and the sheriff since he was 25 as he was the town's only cop. During his 49 years as sheriff nothing had ever happened. There wasn't as much as a mysterious death. His job couldn't have been any easier but it got boring. He wished something would at least happen in his last year as sheriff. It was tradition to retire after 50 years as sheriff. He didn't mind. If something did happen, he wouldn't be able to do much. He was simply getting too old, and arthritic, but that didn't stop him from wanting an interesting last year.
As he drove past the town's park on 4th street, he watched the kids running around and having fun, just like they did every day after school. A couple of the kids waved at him. He waved back before turning onto Main Street. He parked the car outside the town hall which served as the police station and walked across the road to the Main Street Bakery. He bought a coffee and two donuts and walked back to the town hall.
He went inside and directly to his office. Taking a seat at his desk, he started sipping his coffee. He ate the donuts and turned his attention to the news. As he was never involved in anything here, he liked to know what was happening elsewhere. He wasn't surprised to here that a cop had been killed in a gunfight in Seattle, Washington but was surprised when he heard that a teacher and student had been killed in a school shooting in Cleveland, Ohio. Another teacher and student had also been injured in the shooting. The only other story of any interest was about a St. Paul cop who had been arrested for steeling and reselling drugs from the evidence room.
The sheriff leaned back in his chair and continued listening to the 6:00 news. About 15 minutes later he fell asleep leaving his coffee to go cold. It wasn't unusual and wouldn't bother him in the least bit. It was just part of being old.
Dave and Lisa Matthews were getting worried. Their daughter, Jenna hadn't come home from school, and hadn't called as she normally would have if she had gone to a friend's house.
"It'll be alright," Dave told Lisa. "She'll be home soon, or she'll at least call." He knew that it wasn't true. If she was going to call, she'd of done so hours ago. It was already 8:30. She never stayed out this late without calling.
"I think we should call James," she replied. "Something could have happened to her."
"Nothing ever happens here," Dave remarked. He was trying to convince himself just as much as her.
"I know, but that doesn't mean that nothing could have happened," Lisa replied. "She's never been out after dark before. She's only 12."
"Give it another hour," James reasoned. "If she's not home by then, we'll call James."
"Fine," Lisa agreed reluctantly. She didn't want to wait any longer.
The next hour seemed to take an eternity. They were sure something had happened, but they didn't want to believe it.
"Its 9:30," Lisa exclaimed, as soon as the minute hand reached the six. She hadn't taken her eyes of the clock for the last hour. "I think it's time to call James."
Dave didn't want to admit that something was wrong, but he knew that if he put it off any longer, it would have only gotten worse. He couldn't put it off any longer. "Alright," he said worriedly, and dialed the sheriff's number.
James awoke immediately at the sound of the phone ringing. He saw that it was almost ten, and figured that his wife was calling to make sure that he knew that it was time to come home.
He picked up the phone. "Hello," he said groggily.
When Dave Matthews replied instead of his wife, he knew that something was wrong. Dave would never call him at the office otherwise. It had to be important.
"What's the problem, Dave?" James asked.
"It's Jenna," Dave said hurriedly. "She never came home from school and she didn't call to say where she was going."
"Hasn't this happened before?" James asked, knowing it had.
"Yes," Dave replied, "but she always called by four and was always home by 7:30. She's too responsible not to call."
"Ok," James said, knowing Dave was telling the truth. "I'll drive around for awhile tonight, but I can't do much. She hasn't been gone long enough to legally be declared missing. Call me if she turns up. Sorry I can't be of more help."
"Just do what you can," Dave responded.
"I will," James said. "If you don't call, I'll head over to your place in the morning. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that."
"Hopefully not, Dave agreed. "I'll let you know if she turns up."
"I'd appreciate it," James said and hung up. Then he called his wife.
Susan Maverick answered the phone after the first ring, as if she had been waiting, by the phone, for him to call. "Yes," she spoke into the receiver, knowing who it was.
"Hey, honey," James exclaimed. "Something's come up. I'm gonna be a little late."
"What could have possibly come up?" she asked quizzically. "Nothing ever happens here."
"I'm sure it will all turn out fine," he informed her cautiously, not wanting to worry her, "but Jenna Matthews never went home after school and didn't call home. I'm going to drive around for awhile to see if I can find her."
"Ok," Susan replied. "I'll be up waiting for you."
"Alright," James said. "I'll see you later, honey." They both hung up.
James left the office and hurried to the squad car, leaving immediately to try to find Jenna. He drove slowly up and down all the streets in town, looking for some sign of her. He found nothing, but continued to look.
At 11:00, he realized that there was no chance of finding her that night, so he headed back to the town hall to see if there were any messages. He was hoping Jenna had already returned home.
He went back into his office and checked the answering machine. There were no messages. He knew Jenna hadn't returned. Dave would have called and left him a message.
James left his town hall office and got back into the car to drive home. He knew that he would have to start an investigation into Jenna's disappearance first thing in the morning. Finally, in the last of his fifty years as sheriff, he had something worthwhile to do. He just hoped that Jenna was alright, and found soon.
He drove slowly on the way home, still looking for Jenna, but fifteen minutes later, when he pulled into his driveway, he still hadn't found her. For most areas, that was not uncommon, but in Plainsville that had been unheard of. It was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth.
James parked the car in the garage and went inside. As she had said she would be, Susan was up waiting for him in the front room.
"Did you find her?" she questioned as he sat next to her on the couch.
"No," he replied nervously. "I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find the slightest trace of her. It's as if she vanished into thin air."
"I hope she's found soon." It was obvious that she was worried.
"So do I," James replied. "I'm going to have to organize a search party in the morning to find her."
"I'm sure you will," Susan stated, she believed it too.
"Yea, but I'm going to have to be able to stay awake so I better get some sleep tonight." James knew that if he didn't get to bed now, he wouldn't be able to get up until at least noon the next day.
"Ok," she said. "I'll be in there in a little while. Good night."
He didn't reply, just went up to the bedroom and went to bed. He was out cold the moment his head hit the pillow.