Chapter 29
Bear drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, gaze fixed on the high school’s front entrance. The final bell had rung fifteen minutes ago, and students continued to stream from the building in noisy clusters. No sign of the Johnson brothers yet.
“You know, most people would consider this stalking,” Joy said, slouched down in the passenger seat. “Sitting outside a high school, watching for specific teenagers.”
“It’s not stalking,” Bear countered. “It’s reconnaissance.”
“Pretty sure that’s what all stalkers tell themselves.”
He shot her a sideways glance. “You’re the one who volunteered for this mission, Bug.”
“And miss a chance to play detective? Never.” Joy straightened suddenly, pointing toward the doors. “There they are.”
Bear followed her gaze. Aaron and Kyle Johnson emerged from the building with a smaller boy. The three descended the steps together, laughing at something Kyle had said.
The boys headed toward a battered pickup truck at the far end of the parking lot. They tossed their backpacks into the bed and climbed in, Aaron behind the wheel.
“And now, we follow them,” Joy said, an edge of excitement in her voice.
Bear couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Ready?”
“Born ready, Bollinger.”
They maintained a careful distance as Aaron drove through town, taking side streets rather than the main road. The truck eventually pulled into the parking lot of the Frontier Diner, a local favorite for its cheap burgers and bottomless fries.
Bear parked across the street, cutting the engine. “Now, we wait.”
Joy reached into her bag and pulled out a small container. “Good thing I came prepared.” She popped the lid, revealing two perfect pastries. “Leftovers from yesterday.”
“God, I love you,” Bear said without thinking, accepting the offered treat.
Joy froze, pastry halfway to her mouth. Her eyes widened slightly.
Bear’s heart slammed against his ribs. The words had slipped out naturally, without planning. He hadn’t meant to say them like that—casually, over pastries, during a stakeout—but he couldn’t deny their truth.
“I do,” he said, quieter now. “I love you, Joy.”
For one terrifying moment, she didn’t respond. Then her lips curved into a smile so bright it rivaled the afternoon sun.
“I love you too,” she said, soft but certain. “Have for a long time.”
Relief and joy crashed through him. He leaned across the console, one hand cupping her cheek as he kissed her softly. She tasted like sugar and cinnamon and everything right in his world.
A knock on the window broke them apart.
Mrs. Fuller stood outside, peering in with unabashed curiosity, her shopping bags clutched in one hand.
Joy burst out laughing while Bear rolled down the window, fighting a grimace.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Fuller,” he said.
“Bear Bollinger, I thought that was you.” Her gaze shifted between them, shrewd and knowing. “What are you two doing parked across from the diner? Your truck isn’t exactly inconspicuous.”
“We’re just…enjoying the view,” Joy offered, still struggling to contain her laughter.
“Mhm.” Mrs. Fuller clearly didn’t believe that for a second. “Well, don’t let me interrupt. Though you might want to find somewhere more private next time.”
She patted the doorframe once before continuing on her way, humming to herself.
“So much for our covert surveillance,” he muttered.
“Your reputation as a superspy is forever tarnished.” Her eyes danced with mirth.
Movement across the street caught Bear’s attention. “Okay, they’re coming out.”
Aaron, Kyle, and the other boy emerged from the diner carrying takeout bags. A few minutes later, three more teenagers joined them in the parking lot—Bear recognized them as classmates from the high school track team.
“Looks like they’ve got a crew,” Joy said.
The boys talked for a few minutes, gesturing animatedly, before piling into two vehicles. Aaron’s truck led the way, with a blue sedan following close behind.
Bear started his engine. “Let’s see where they’re headed.”
They followed at a distance as the teenagers drove toward the outskirts of town, eventually turning onto a narrow dirt road that bordered town property. The road wasn’t regularly maintained, forcing Bear to slow considerably to avoid bottoming out.
“Pretty remote,” Joy observed, bracing herself against the dashboard as they bumped over a particularly rough patch. “Good place for an obstacle course.”
The teens’ vehicles disappeared around a bend up ahead. Bear pulled over, tucking his truck behind a dense stand of pine trees.
“We’ll go on foot from here,” he said. “Less chance of them spotting us.”
They hiked through the woods, following the sound of distant voices. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, dappling the ground with patches of gold. Bear moved with practiced quiet, his footsteps deliberately placed to avoid snapping twigs. Beside him, Joy matched his careful pace.
The voices grew louder. Bear signaled for Joy to slow down, approaching a small ridge that overlooked a clearing in the trees. They crouched behind a fallen log, peering over the edge.
“Whoa,” Joy whispered.
The scene below was impressive. Lincoln, no surprise, had been correct: an extensive obstacle course sprawled across the clearing, constructed entirely from the items stolen around town. Tires were stacked and secured to form scaling walls. Wooden pallets created makeshift bridges spanning between tree stumps. Metal pipes had been fashioned into monkey bars. Plastic barrels were positioned as hurdles. The stolen ladder was part of a complex climbing structure.
Six teenagers moved around the course, working in teams to add new elements. Aaron stood in the center, holding what appeared to be rough sketches, directing the others.
“Look.” Joy nudged Bear, pointing toward the diagrams in Aaron’s hands. “Those look a little like your designs from the Linear Tactical course last summer.”
She was right. The crude drawings mimicked the layout Bear had created for the youth camp. These kids had clearly been paying attention during the demonstration day.
“I’ll be damned,” Bear muttered. “They’ve put some real thought into this.”
They watched as Jackson, one of the youngest, attempted to cross a rope bridge strung between two trees. When he faltered midway, Aaron immediately moved to help, his voice carrying clear encouragement.
“You’re okay. Keep your eyes forward. That’s it.”
The patience in Aaron’s tone was striking—so different from the typical teenage bravado. When Jackson successfully reached the other side, all the boys cheered.
“Those kids are pretty impressive,” Joy said, her voice soft with admiration. “In a slightly criminal way.”
Bear nodded, surprised by the complexity of what they’d built. “It’s actually not a bad design. Some safety issues, but the concept is solid.”
“So, what’s the plan? Wait until they’re gone and then call Callum?”
Bear considered it for a moment, then shook his head. “No. I think we should talk to them.”
“Right now?” Joy looked skeptical.
“They’re good kids who made some bad choices. Sneaking around won’t help that.”
Joy studied his face, then nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
They stood and made their way down the slope toward the clearing. The moment they emerged from the trees, one of the boys spotted them and shouted a warning. Panic erupted as the teenagers scattered in different directions.
“Hold up,” Bear called. “We just want to talk.”
Most of the boys froze, but Kyle bolted toward the trucks. Aaron, however, stepped forward, placing himself between Bear and the younger boys in a gesture that was unmistakably protective.
“Mr. Bollinger,” Aaron said, his voice cracking slightly. “What are you doing out here?”
“Could ask you the same thing,” Bear replied, keeping his tone deliberately calm. “But I think we both know.”
The remaining boys shuffled nervously, exchanging worried glances. Kyle had stopped running but hung back near the edge of the clearing, clearly ready to bolt if needed.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Aaron tried.
“Really?” Joy raised an eyebrow. “Because it looks like you guys built an obstacle course using stuff you stole from all over town.”
Silence fell. The younger boys looked terrified, but Aaron’s expression hardened with determination.
“We were going to return everything,” he said, the words rushing out. “Eventually. We just needed it for a while.”
“For training,” Bear guessed.
Aaron’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Yeah. For training.”
“Why not just ask to use the Linear Tactical course? Or ask for help building one?”
“Would you have said yes?” Kyle called from where he stood, finally finding his voice. “Would anyone have taken us seriously?”
The genuine frustration in his tone gave Bear pause. He remembered being a teenager. Remember feeling like no adult could possibly understand anything about his life.
Aaron sighed, shoulders slumping. “We tried asking about using the Linear Tactical facilities last summer after the demonstration. But Mr. Lindstrom said it had to be supervised because of insurance purposes, so we’d have to schedule it each week.”
“So you decided theft was the answer?”
“We didn’t think of it as stealing, exactly,” Aaron admitted, scuffing the ground with his boot. “More like…borrowing. Most of this stuff was junk nobody wanted.”
“My ladder wasn’t junk,” Joy pointed out.
Jackson, the youngest kid, stepped forward. His face flushed with embarrassment. “That was my fault. I told them we needed it for the climbing section.”
“And my tires weren’t junk either,” Bear added. “Those were waiting for recycling pickup.”
“I’m sorry,” Aaron said, meeting Bear’s gaze directly. “We got carried away. After we saw you guys demonstrate those obstacle course techniques at Linear Tactical last summer… It was just so cool. We wanted to do that.”
One of the other boys, a lanky teenager with freckles, nodded eagerly. “Aaron said you were in the Marines. That you did this kind of training.”
Bear felt something shift in his chest. These weren’t malicious thieves. They were kids looking for challenge, for purpose—for the kind of structure and discipline he’d found in the military.
“You’ve got skills,” Bear acknowledged, switching gears. “This is impressive engineering, even if the methods were questionable.”
Hope flickered across Aaron’s face. “Really?”
“Really,” Bear confirmed. “Though I’m pretty sure there are safety violations everywhere I look.”
The boys exchanged glances, a tentative relief spreading through them as they realized they might not be in serious trouble.
Bear crossed his arms, studying the makeshift course. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to return everything you took that can be returned. Today.”
“Yes, sir,” Aaron said immediately.
“And for the things that can’t be returned, you’ll work it off.”
“Work it off how?” Kyle asked, finally approaching the group.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
Joy stepped closer. “What if they volunteered at Linear Tactical?”
Bear nodded. “Could use some help with the summer youth programs. Setting up courses, equipment maintenance, maybe even helping instruct the younger kids.”
The transformation in the boys’ expressions was immediate—from dread to disbelief to cautious excitement.
“You’d let us do that?” Aaron asked. “Even after everything?”
“If you’re willing to earn back trust, yes.” Bear let his gaze move over each boy. “But there’s something else first.”
“What?” They looked wary again.
“This land. You need proper permission to use it. Safety protocols. Real supervision.”
“We can’t just tear it all down,” Kyle protested. “We spent months on this.”
“I’m not saying tear it down,” Bear clarified. “I’m saying do it right. Get approval from the town council. Draw up proper plans. Make it safe.”
“They’d never approve it,” Aaron said, defeat seeping into his voice.
“They might,” Joy countered, “if you had the backing of Linear Tactical. If you proposed it as a community project for all the teens in Oak Creek.”
The boys exchanged startled glances, clearly having never considered a legitimate approach.
“We could do that?” Jackson asked, eyes wide.
“With help,” Bear confirmed. “I might know a thing or two about designing obstacle courses.”
“And I might have connections at city hall,” Joy added with a wink. “My friend’s husband is the sheriff after all.”
Hope bloomed across the teenagers’ faces, transforming their expressions from guilt to possibility.
“What do you say?” Bear asked. “Ready to do this the right way?”
Aaron looked at his friends, then back at Bear. “Yes, sir. Absolutely.”
“Good. And, Aaron?”
“Yeah?”
“That job application you asked about at the garage? Bring it by tomorrow. We’ll talk.”
The boy’s face lit up with genuine shock. “For real?”
“For real.”
Bear extended his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, Aaron shook it firmly. The other boys followed suit, a tangible pact forming between them.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, they worked out a plan for returning the stolen items discreetly, and Bear scheduled a time to meet with the boys later in the week to start drafting proper course plans. The relief and enthusiasm from the teenagers were palpable as the conversation shifted from punishment to possibility.
“Why are you helping us?” Aaron asked quietly as the others began gathering their belongings. “You could have just called the sheriff.”
Bear considered the question. “Because everyone deserves a second chance. And because what you built here—” he gestured to the course “—shows dedication. Determination. The kind of qualities worth developing.”
Aaron nodded, something resolving in his expression. “We won’t let you down.”
“See that you don’t,” Bear replied, but his tone held no real threat—only expectation.
By the time they returned to the truck, dusk had settled over the landscape. Twilight painted the sky in deepening shades of purple and gold, signaling the transition to evening.
“That was not how I expected our detective mission to end,” Joy said, looking at him with unmistakable warmth.
“Disappointed we didn’t make a citizen’s arrest?”
She laughed. “Hardly. Though I am surprised by the big softy hiding beneath that tough Marine exterior.”
“I’m not soft,” he protested.
“Oh, please. The moment you realized they were just trying to be like you, you practically adopted them.”
Bear rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words. “They’re good kids. They just needed a direction.”
“And you gave them one.” Joy’s voice softened. “That’s what you do, you know. You help people find their way.”
“Takes one to know one. That suggestion about involving the community? Pure Joy Davis brilliance.”
The glow of streetlights began to appear as they neared town. Bear glanced at Joy, taking in her profile silhouetted against the darkening window.
“My place tonight?” he asked, his voice low and rough. “I’m thinking dinner, maybe that bottle of wine we never opened last week.”
Joy turned to him, a slow smile spreading across her face. “That sounds perfect. I just need to grab a few things from my house first.”
“Done,” he agreed, already anticipating a quiet evening together after the day’s unexpected adventure.
His phone rang as they reached the edge of town, the screen lighting up with the number of his garage’s after-hours answering service. Sure enough, there was a vehicle stalled a few miles outside of town Bear needed to go see about.
Bear glanced at Joy, an apology already forming in his eyes.
She shook her head, smiling. “Go. I know how this works. Just drop me at my place. I’ll grab what I need and meet you at your apartment later.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. I’ll take a shower, pack an overnight bag, and be at your place before you’re done with your rescue mission.” Her eyes twinkled. “Besides, it’ll give me time to pick out something special .”
The implication in her tone sent heat coursing through him. He drove a little faster toward her house.
When they pulled into her driveway, he leaned across the console to kiss her, lingering just long enough to make it difficult to leave.
“I’ll see you soon,” he promised against her lips.
“Count on it.” She gave him one more quick kiss before stepping out of the truck.
Bear watched her walk to her front door, waiting until she was safely inside before backing out of the driveway. As he headed toward Route 16, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. The mystery was solved, the kids were on a better path, and Joy would be waiting for him later.
All things considered, it had been a pretty perfect day.