Free Missing by Becky Citra

“We’re wondering if you have any old newspapers,” I say.
    Hana frowns. “How old?”
    â€œFrom the fifties,” I say.
    â€œWe don’t actually have whole newspapers,” says Hana. “But we have file folders of clippings. You know, stuff that happened in the town that was interesting. I don’t know how far back they go, but you can look. If you can’t find what you want, you might check at the newspaper office. I think they keep archives.”
    She directs us to several tall gray filing cabinets in a tiny room behind the counter. It’s more like a walk-in storage closet, filled with boxes of books, tattered magazines, an old clock and a bulging bag of clothes. There’s a kettle and a box of tea beside a sink.
    â€œI’m new here,” says Hana, “and I’m not sure how things were filed. You might have to do some digging.”
    The first filing cabinet is crammed with folders with headings like Arctic Animals, The Galapagos, Aviation, Greek Architecture . I peek inside a few of them; they’re filled with articles and pictures cut out of glossy magazines. The second filing cabinet has newspaper clippings, but they’re all recent: municipal elections, the campaign to build a new recreation center, closures at the mill. I’m starting to feel discouraged. Maybe the newspaper archives would have been better.
    â€œIn here!” Van bursts out. He’s been rummaging through the filing cabinet beside me. “This goes way back.” And then “Aha!”
    He produces a tan file folder with Livia Willard written in black felt pen on the tab. I can’t believe our luck. I had started to think we were crazy.
    Inside are five newspaper clippings, held together with a paper clip. I spread them out on the table in the front room. We sit down and I pass Van the article dated July 9, 1954. The headline reads DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT CARIBOO GUEST RANCH . It’s the same one that I found in the guest book.
    I pick up another article and start to read.
    July 10, 1954
    SEARCH FOR MISSING GIRL CONTINUES
    An extensive search for four-year-old Livia Willard, who disappeared the afternoon of July 7 at the Double R Guest Ranch, continues. Police and volunteers have searched the shoreline of Gumboot Lake and the forested area around the ranch. The police are not ruling out foul play. Beth Ryerson, sister of Wayne Willard, arrived from England on July 9 to be with her two young nieces, eight-year-old Iris and fourteenyear-old Esta, and her daughter Melissa, who has been visiting the family. She says she would like to thank everyone who is working so hard to find Livia and that the family wishes privacy at this time. Funeral services for Livia’s parents, Wayne and Joan Willard, killed in a car accident as they returned to the ranch, will be held in North Vancouver on July 14.
    There’s not much in there that I don’t already know. I pick up the next article. The headline catches my attention.
    July 14, 1954
    ARREST IN WILLARD DISAPPEARANCE
    There has been a breakthrough in the case of the missing fouryear-old girl, Livia Willard, who was last seen on the afternoon of July 7 at the Double R Ranch. Livia’s fourteen-year-old sister, Esta Willard, has come forward and said that shortly before Livia disappeared she saw her sister in the front seat of a truck belonging to Heb Gallagher, an employee at the ranch. Gallagher has worked at the ranch for the past four years as a maintenance and general handy man. His wife, May Gallagher, is the cook. After extensive interrogation, police have charged Gallagher with abduction. He is being held without bail.
    My first thought, after the shock of seeing his grandparents’ names, is for Van. I would give anything for him not to know this, but it’s too late. He has already picked up the clipping and is reading.
    â€œOh my god,” he whispers. “Grandpa.” He stares at me, stricken.