Chapter 3
Adam and Crane sat at the desk, trying to work on the bills, but not really getting anywhere. Crane would pick one up, look at it, and then drift off in his mind, thinking about Daniel. He had a bad feeling about his little brother, alone in the city. Something was wrong, he was sure of it. They should have heard from him after his audition earlier this afternoon, at the latest. Adam had thought maybe he'd call as soon as he got to L.A. yesterday, to let them at least know he got there safely. But he hadn't. So they thought for sure he'd call this afternoon, but no word then, either.
Adam was trying not to let himself think of Daniel and so was content to work on the bills. Right now Brian and Guthrie were huddled over his English homework at the kitchen table, while Evan and Ford washed up the dishes. Evan snapped Ford with a towel. Ford yelped and jumped back from the sink, baring his own dish towel as a weapon. Chaos ensued as a towel fight took place around the butcher's block. Guthrie abandoned his homework to watch, grinning all the while and Brian called out, "Get him, Ford," with a big smile on his face.
Hannah sat in the living room, sewing buttons on one of Guthrie's shirts. She kept looking up at Crane, not liking what she saw. She knew he was worried about Daniel, but she had no idea what to say to him to make him feel better. There really was nothing to suggest. They knew the number for Trevalow's office in L.A., but surely no one would still be there now - it was after seven. Daniel's interview had been hours ago. Hannah had suggested calling the hotel, but Adam thought Daniel would just get mad at him all over again, for checking up on him. The only thing to do was too wait for him to call them. The towel fight ended and the boys went back to the dishes. Guthrie resumed his English misery.
Sometime later, Crane's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. 8:45. It was dark out now. Why hadn't Daniel called? What was going on with him? Crane wondered if no call meant he was out celebrating or was it that he was too upset to talk to them? Crane had a bad feeling it was the latter. And Daniel was a brooder when things didn't go well. Crane pictured his little brother depressed and all alone in L.A. He knew that Daniel needed them, if only he'd let them in. But the way he left, angry at Adam, determined to do it on his own, sneaking off like he did – well, Crane just had a bad feeling that all those things would stop Daniel from seeking his families' help.
9:00. Crane couldn't stop looking at the clock. He cleared his throat and steeled himself for what he was about to say to Adam. He knew Adam wouldn't like what he was going to hear, but Crane had to say it, he couldn't wait any more.
"Adam," Crane began, waiting until his big brother was looking at him, "I'm calling the hotel. " He put up his hand to stop the inevitable argument. "This just isn't like Daniel. If things went well, he'd be calling. I'm worried they didn't. Maybe he's there, just waiting for us to make the first move." He paused. "Adam, I need to call him. If he is mad for us butting in, then he's mad. But I think it will at least show we care."
Adam looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded, "okay."
Crane grabbed up the phone receiver as the rest of the family gathered in close. They had heard the whole conversation between Crane and Adam. Hannah was relieved that Crane suggested the call and the rest of the brothers seemed to feel the same.
Crane dialed the hotel's number from off a note Daniel had left behind. "Yes, Daniel McFadden's room please." He paused, listening, "Are you sure? " He waited. "Did he mention where he was going? Okay thanks." Crane hung up and turned to the eager faces of the family. "He checked out this afternoon, right before the audition. They don't know anything about where he went."
"Oh no." Hannah said.
"What? What does that mean?" Guthrie wanted to know.
"Not necessarily anything. It could just mean he's heading home." Adam answered. Brian looked at him skeptically and Evan crinkled his eyes in disagreement.
Crane reassured Guthrie, "I'm sure that's it, Guth. He'll probably be here by the time we wake up."
"Yeah," Ford agreed. "We'll see him then. Maybe he just wants to tell us the news in person."
"Yeah," Guthrie nodded, "He probably wants to surprise us."
But Crane knew, deep inside that it wasn't the reason Daniel was AWOL.