“You’ll need a rain slicker.” said the man behind the counter. “The rain comes every day.”
   Lucinda checked her wallet for money and handed over the correct amount.
   “Now ya’ll be careful out there.” he drawled as she reached for the door.
   “Excuse me? she asked. “What do you mean?”
   “Well, “ he said, “been some trouble up there in the forest preserve lately.”
   She backed away from the door and looked closer at him. He would not meet her gaze.
   “Trouble?” she asked.
   “uh, yuh, been a long summer it seems. Seems some kids have gone missin’.”

   As a rule Lucinda never spoke to strangers, but this man stirred her curiosity. He was probably in his seventies, paunchy and pale, with watery blue eyes. She could see the reflection of the overhead lights in his slightly sweaty brow. But still, he would not look her in the eyes.
   “Missing? You mean ‘never found’?”
   “ …uh, yuh.” he spoke quietly. “Never found.”

   A decision needed to be made…