He Thought I Had Nowhere to Go Until I Disappeared novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: The Deputy

The deputy was young, with a sunburned neck and a very clean hat.

He took off his hat in Grandma's kitchen and held it against his belt.

"Morning, Mrs. Engberg. Nolan. I'm looking for a Keeley Arbogast. Her husband filed a report last night."

"I'm Keeley," I said. "My name is Engberg."

I had said it before I thought about it.

Nolan, at the window, did not turn around.

"Ma'am, your husband reported you missing and not in your right mind. He said you've had memory trouble and mood swings, and that you made a scene and walked out without a coat."

"I had a coat."

"He's asked us to bring you home. He says you may be a danger to yourself."

The oatmeal pot ticked on the stove.

My hands were cold, and I put them flat on the table so no one could see them.

"Deputy, may I show you my license?"

"That would help."

I took it out of my jacket pocket and laid it in front of him.

"I'm thirty-one," I said. "I know what day it is, who the president is and where I slept last night. I walked out of my house on my own. I'm staying with my grandmother, and I'm not going anywhere."

He read my license, then looked up at me for a moment.

"Has he ever hurt you, ma'am?"

"No."

It was true, and I could hear how little it helped.

"He keeps my money," I said. "And my mail. And he's been seeing my cousin in my kitchen for six months. He wants you to bring me back so I'll apologize to her."

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