She told him he had to come back into the anteroom, but before she could get him in there, he’d started crying and run from the building so fast she couldn’t catch him. She’d chased him down Main Street, but he’d disappeared and then she caught sight of him running into the woods at the foot of Hominy Ridge. Given Lois’ rotund size and the fact that she smoked close to three packs of cigarettes a day, it didn’t surprise Becky that she couldn’t keep up with a healthy, robust ten-year-old. But she didn’t say anything. The poor woman was devastated enough. No sense adding to her anxiety. Judge Morris immediately instructed the bailiff to alert the fire department to start organizing people to help search for Davy. Becky called Granny Jo and asked her to meet them at Lydia’s so she could sit with her while Becky went with Nick to look for the boy. On the way back to town from dropping Lydia off at her house, Becky asked the question that had been eating at her since they’d found out Davy had run off.
