Dani and the Backup Arrive

Fig noticed her cell phone purse hanging around Anya's neck. She gently took her purse off of her daughter's body smiling kindly at her.

"I knew you were smarter than me," Fig told her daughter, and Anya smiled proudly. Then Fig pulled out her cellphone and turned it on. She had turned it off when the power went out so that she wouldn't lose the charge.

While Fig was dialing Dani's number, Mario kept his eyes glued to the officers. Still, both Anya and Mario listened to their mother speaking on the phone.

"Fig?" I answered so relieved to see her number pop up.

"Yeah," she replied, "We were trapped without power. I may need a ride. The kids are with me, but the cops are still working on finding my Uncle."

"Where are you?" I asked quickly grabbing my purse and keys.

"We are at the end of the street, but I can't leave yet," she told me.

"I'll be right there," I said, then put my shoes on quickly and rushed carefully to her street corner.

Fig saw me pulling into the parking lot at the nearby convenient store. I walked less than half a block to get to her. I hugged her immediately as soon as I reached her.

"I'm so glad you're alright," I said gently releasing her from my grandiose hug, "I was worried sick."

Fig glanced at Anya and Mario, then back at me.

"They have called for backup to search for my Uncle," she explained.

I was slightly confused, which frightened me a little bit especially around the children. So I kept my mouth shut hoping for more clues.

We stood there for about a half an hour and a slight drizzle seemed to come out of mysterious clouds. It was getting closer to sunset time, and I wondered how long we were going to have to wait. The children were being well-behaved, but I could tell they were just as uncomfortable as I was. I was getting ready to make a suggestion that we go wait at my place, when suddenly another police car pulled up close to the one at the end of the flooded street.

Mario smiled as he noticed the four officers gather together talking. Quickly, three of them assembled and took the boat back down the flooded street to Georgio's house.

More than the drizzle I could feel on my cheeks, the tension seemed thicker than the humidity. I saw Mario walk to and stand near the officer who was still on dry land and the two of them watched the three with the boat.

Fig moved closer to me so she could whisper in my ear.

"I haven't heard a word from my Uncle since the power went off. His bedroom door was locked," she whispered as if that information was too sensitive to say loudly at this time.

I started biting my nails. It was such a stressful scene and I could feel Fig's fear. She and Anya and I waited and watched, hoping the wait wouldn't drive us insane.