CHAPTER 7 OFFICER FRIENDLY #2
His dad left a few minutes later, and Henry threw away his breakfast. He stepped outside and sat on the porch steps, gazing down the long, winding drive. The fog was beginning to lift as the sun slowly burned it off.
I don’t know what to do, he thought with utter despair as he hugged his aching stomach and rocked back and forth. Tears streamed down his face as he thought about Ezra. Ezra would tell him to run away, far away, and never come back—and Ezra would go with him.
But Ezra wasn’t here, and Henry was too scared his dad would catch him if he ran. He hung his head, sobbing against his chest.
A truck engine rumbled in the distance.
Henry jerked his head up, his heart pounding as he thought his dad was coming back.
But it was too early for his dad to come home.
Henry stood up and wrapped his arm around the porch pole, squinting down the driveway.
When he saw the Bronco, he thought it was his dad after all.
As it got closer, he recognized Deputy Roland behind the wheel.
Relief washed over Henry, but only slightly. What would the deputy do if Henry told him about his dad? He seemed kind, but Henry was just a kid—and his dad was the Sheriff. And his dad had threatened to hurt the deputy if Henry told him anything.
“Hey, there.” Deputy Roland smiled as he stepped out of the truck. His smile didn’t send cold chills down Henry’s spine like his father’s did. “How are you today, Henry?”
Henry wiped his wet eyes and shrugged.
The deputy frowned as he approached. “Hey… what’s wrong?”
Henry sniffed, his chin trembling. “I… I miss Ezra.” It wasn’t a lie—not at all. He missed Ezra so much he wanted to curl up and die.
“Here, sit down.” Rolan patted his arm and sat next to him on the steps.
“My dad isn’t here,” Henry whispered.
“I know. I came out to check on you.” He gently squeezed Henry’s shoulder, unlike his dad’s painful grip. “I’m sorry Ezra had to move away. It’s tough being apart from someone you care about so much, especially when you’re young. But I’m sure he’s thinking about you.”
No, he isn’t, Henry thought as his heart shattered and tears ran down his face. He’s dead—my dad killed him!
“Hey, come on, now.” The Deputy wrapped his arm around him and hugged him lightly.
“Things aren’t as bad as they seem. I bet before long, you’ll get a letter from Ezra, telling you where he moved.
Then you two can write back and forth, maybe even talk on the phone. Maybe he can come to visit sometimes.”
Henry buried his face in the deputy’s shoulder and sobbed, clinging to the man. Roland held him and rubbed his back.
“Hey,” he murmured. “I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but I promise you, it isn’t. Things will get better.”
Henry shook his head, crying harder.
“I’m sure Ezra is thinking about,” he said softly. “I know he is. He loved you too much not to be thinking about you, don’t you believe that?”
Henry trembled, choking back his sobs as his chest heaved. He straightened on the steps beside the deputy. The man handed him a handkerchief, and Henry wiped his eyes and blew his nose.
“I know you’re having a real tough time with this, and having just lost your mom, but your dad is here for you.” Roland cupped the back of Henry’s head and smiled warmly. “I know you guys aren’t real close, but he does love you and wants you to be happy.”
No, he doesn’t—he’s a monster! And he’s trying to make me a monster, too!
Henry kept the terrifying words to himself, worried the deputy wouldn’t believe him—and frightened his dad would kill the deputy if he did.
“What’s this?” Roland touched Henry’s wrist and the braided bracelet.
Henry sniffed. “Ezra… made it for me,” he whispered, his throat raw. “I-I made one for him, too, just like it, for his birthday.”
“That’s sweet,” Roland smiled. “I’m sure it means the world to him.”
Henry bit his lower lip, his chin trembling. “He said… He said he would never take it off.”
The deputy gently patted his back. “I’m sure he will wear it for as long as he possibly can.”
···
Cole trembled, his eyes fixed on the braided leather held between his shaking fingers. “If he has Ezra’s bracelet…” His brow furrowed as his mind fought against the terrifying thoughts trying to invade his mind.
Dane sat beside him, his arm wrapping his shoulders. “What do you think it means?”
Hanging his head, Cole shuddered hard. “Ezra… he wouldn’t have taken it off, unless someone…” Everything inside him went numb. “... took it from him.”
Cole leaned against Dane, tears streaming down his face.
“I thought he was my friend,” Cole whispered brokenly.
“I thought he… cared.” His throat worked as the horror seeped into him in stages.
“Was he… helping my dad?” Cole lifted his head, the horror deepening.
“Is he…” Cole staggered to his feet, his hands shoving through his hair as he clutched the bracelet.
“Is he the one who attacked Gabe—and tried to kill him?” Cole looked at Dane in a desperate panic.
“He has Gabe. Is he… is he really taking him to my dad? Or is he going to…”
Dane shot to his feet, grabbed Cole as his legs weakened, and guided him back to the bench.
“They’re going to take him away from me, too,” Cole gasped as pure panic seized him. “They took Ezra—now they’re gonna take Gabe .”