#Chapter 226: Missing

Iris “And you said you last saw your son approximately two hours ago?” the officer asks with his pen poised over his notepad. The red and blue lights from the police cars flash across his face, illuminating his grim expression in the fading evening sun. “Yes,” I reply, my voice shaking so hard the words barely come out in a comprehensible manner. “I left to teach a children’s art class at the Marsiel Gallery around noon. I was only gone for an hour and a half. In the meantime, Miles was staying with Cliff and Augustine.” I gesture vaguely toward the building behind us, then at Emi, who is standing nearby looking completely distraught, no doubt blaming herself. “My security guard was with me, as she always is.” “And Augustine is the elderly woman who was found injured?” I nod, swallowing hard. “Yes. She’s seventy-nine. She has early-stage dementia, but she’s been doing well on her new medication. She hasn’t had an episode in months, and Miles trusts her.” T