17. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Doug
L ate Tuesday morning I knocked on the doorframe of John’s office before walking in. He held up his hand, causing me to pause. His lips curled into a soft smile as he said, “I won’t forget.” Pause. “Yes, dear.” Pause. “Love you too.”
I didn't always think about it, but, damn, John and Jack looked a lot alike. They had the same piercing amber eyes and thick wavy brown hair. John has more gray . They looked more like brothers than Jack and Jamie, who took after his mom with his thin dark hair and kind hazel eyes.
He looked up and waved me in after putting his phone face down on his desk. “What can I do for you, Doug?”
“I got a hit on Will. A traffic cam picked him up near an established homeless camp.” Will’s parents had hired SSI to find him after he went missing two days ago. They’d reported it to the Fort Worth police as well, but the FWPD was short-staffed and overworked so looking for an eighteen-year-old drug addict with a history of running away wasn’t a top priority for them. “I’m heading there now to search the area.”
He nodded as he asked, “Want someone to go with you?”
“Nah, I got it. I’ll keep Meg updated via text.”
“Sounds good. Be careful out there. A random needle poke or bite can do a lot of damage.”
“No, sir.” In addition to my soft body armor, I planned on wearing my thick leather jacket and gloves, despite the warm fall weather, for protection. They’d prevent most incidental sticks from puncturing my skin. I wasn’t willing to risk getting stuck and being exposed to drugs, or worse, an infectious disease that could mean a death sentence if not diagnosed and treated fast enough.
On my way out, I let Meg know where I was going. When she reminded me to check in regularly, I grinned and said, “Yes, ma’am.” Meg was practicing her Mama Bear skills on the SSI team.
Half an hour later I parked a few blocks from the bridge and circled around to the far end. I held my gag reflex in check when shifted wind filled my nose with the scent of stale cigarettes, urine, and body odor. I steeled myself for the job at hand, knowing the smell would get stronger with every step I took towards the camp.
As I approached, I scanned the makeshift tents and cardboard box homes. If I was lucky, I’d spot him right away and be able to convince him to leave without having to talk to anyone else. I had a pocket full of five and ten-dollar bills to loosen their tongues, just in case. I also had two photos of Will, one clean and sober, the other from a previous arrest when he’d been strung out.
Lady Luck wasn’t on my side.
The homeless camp was about the length of two city blocks. This could take a while . Before talking to anyone, I sent a quick text to Meg to check in, then put my phone in my front pocket along with my wallet. I made sure my jacket covered my gun before taking out the photos of Will.
I steeled my resolve as the wind picked up. The smell filled my nose again, leaving a nasty taste in my mouth. As I entered the camp, people turned away or hung their heads to avoid making eye contact.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I walked on. Knowing they were watching me, I glanced back every few steps to make sure no one followed me.
Only one person didn’t avoid looking at me. If fact, he’d openly watched me as I walked down the street. When I got close, I lifted my chin in greeting and asked, “Can you help me?”
“Who are you?” He crossed his arms in front of his chest and tilted his head back, attempting to look down at me. An intimidation technique that might have worked if I wasn’t five inches taller, a good forty pounds heavier, and armed.
I rounded my shoulders a little more. Hoping he’d be cooperative if he thought he’d succeeded in intimidating me. I can pretend for a few minutes if that’s what it takes .
“Name’s Doug. I’m looking for someone.” I held up the pictures. “Goes by Will, maybe you’ve seen him?”
“You a cop?” He asked as he looked at the pictures. Recognition flashed across his eyes.
“No. His parents hired my investigation company to find him and bring him home. They’re worried about him.” I appealed to what I hoped was his compassionate side.
“He’s here.” He tilted his head towards the far end of the encampment. “But I doubt he’ll want to leave with you.” He spat at the ground between us.
I nodded. Would he be a problem if I had to drag Will out? Just because I could handle him in a fight didn’t mean I wanted to. I handed him a ten and thanked him for his help.
I turned and walked a few more yards, actively listening for footsteps matching my cadence behind me, before spotting Will coming out of a tattered, makeshift tent.
Slowing down my steps, I studied him as I approached. He looked more defeated than defiant, giving me hope he’d come willingly. Though I didn’t like the look of the bigger, older guy he was talking to. Something about his eyes made me suspect he was cruel.
“Excuse me, Will?”
Will turned towards me and looked me up and down, his expression changing as he realized I might be a cop. Hope flashed across his bloodshot eyes a second before fear replaced it. He looked down at the ground. His eyes were puffy and covered in bruises in varying shades of green, blue, and purple.
Poor kid .
All I had to do was convince him to leave with me. The flash of hope I saw in his eyes meant he probably wouldn’t put up a fight. Especially if I offered him a warm meal and some cash to come with me.
But it wasn’t Will who answered me, it was the mean looking guy standing near him. “Who the fuck are you?”
I kept my eyes focused on Will, but moved so my body was turned towards the other guy. I felt the energy around me shift as a small audience formed to watch. I did some quick math, knowing I could handle the mean guy if it came to a confrontation, and maybe one or two from the crowd, without having to draw my gun.
Maybe.
I didn’t like the odds of getting out of here without firing a shot if the crowd had a mob mentality and turned violent. I took a few deep breaths, to gain control of my rapidly accelerating heart rate, and instantly regretted it, thanks to the stench.
I answered his question but directed my attention towards Will. “My name is Doug, and your parents hired me to bring you home. They’re worried about you.”
Will glanced over his shoulder just as Cruel Guy answered, “He ain’t goin nowhere.” Will flinched when the guy grabbed his shoulder.
Possessive grip. Noted. A quick glance told me the crowd was still keeping its distance. For now .
“Will, do you want to go home?” I kept my voice calm as I shifted my body weight, ready to step between them if I had to.
“I said, he ain’t goin’ nowhere. He owes me money.”
Will tried to step forward, but the guy pulled him back.
I quickly scanned the small crowd around us, keeping the cruel guy in my peripheral vision at all times. The general body language of the crowd didn’t give me confrontation vibes. Hopefully they won’t interfere.
I took a step towards him, hands held out in front of me, palms up. I wanted him to think I was submissive, and to imply I was unarmed. “How much does he owe you?” I was sure whatever it was would be grossly inflated since we both knew I was asking with the intent of paying off Will’s debt.
If I can .
Not anticipating paying off someone’s debt, and not wanting to risk the loss if shit went south, I hadn’t brought a ton of cash.
“Five hundred,” he paused, “plus interest.” His smirk reminded me of a shady used car salesman. If he thought I’d leave without a fight because he’d thrown out an impossible number, he was sorely mistaken.
I didn’t have five hundred, so I’d have to negotiate, or fight, our way out. I’d prefer not having to fight, but would if I had to. I wasn’t leaving without Will. He looked hurt and terrified, and I didn’t think he’d survive long if I left him.
I pulled the cash from my jacket pocket, knowing the total was only about a quarter of what Will supposedly owed, not including the unspecified interest.
“I don’t have that much.” I counted the money slowly in front of him, knowing a hundred and thirty-five in cash was more than he’d likely seen in a long time.
He licked his lips as he looked from the cash to Will, calculating. “I’ll tell you what. You give me that, and when you come back with the rest, you can take Willie here home with you.” He reached for the money.
I pulled my hand back. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll get you the rest, but Will comes with me.” I stepped forward, stretching to my full height as I squared my shoulders and straightened my knees, hoping to intimidate him.
“We both know if you leave with Will, you won’t come back.”
“And we both know if I leave without him, you’ll raise the amount.” I kept my voice even as I stepped closer still. I’d been watching Will slowly edge towards me as I negotiated. “Will, walk towards me.” I held a hand out towards him.
Will started to move in my direction but his dealer moved fast, faster than I would’ve thought possible, and grabbed Will by the elbow. He yanked him back with so much force, Will tripped over his feet and fell to the ground. He let out a started cry when his head smacked the ground with a sickening thud. He clutched his head as he curled into the fetal position.
Fuck!
In a flash of inspiration, I threw the money behind me as I closed the distance between me and Will’s dealer with two long strides.
He held his hands up to block me, but I was too big, too strong, and too pissed off for him to stop my advance.
After the longest thirty-second fight I’d ever been in, I got past his flailing arms and ended it. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious, after I connected with a solid punch to the left side of his head.
I scanned behind me to make sure the crowd was staying back. They’d collected the money and were watching me, wide-eyed. No one moved to interfere. Thank God .
Ignoring the scratches on my face, I crouched by Will and carefully lifted him so I could check his head. He had a nasty gash, but it’d heal.
Thankfully, no one challenged me as I escorted Will out of the camp.
I sucked in big gulps of air; grateful it was fresher with every step. Will kept pace with me but didn’t speak.
After Will was safely in my truck, I grabbed my trauma bag from my back seat. I cleaned and wrapped his head before cleaning the scratches on my face.
“Thank you,” Will mumbled as I started the engine.
“You’re welcome.”
I called Meg as soon as I was on the road.
“Hey Meg, I’ve got Will. I'm stopping for food then bringing him to the office. Can you call his parents?”
“Of course.”
Something in my voice must have sounded off because she asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Then because I figured she’d still worry, I added, “nothing but a few scratches, I promise.”
“The kind of scratches that barely bleed, or the kind that need stitches?”
I couldn’t blame Meg for not trusting any of us if we said we had a scratch. Early in her relationship with Jack, he’d told her a wound was only a scratch. It had required sixteen stitches. She’d been giving us all shit ever since.
“The barely bleed kind.”
“Good. I’ll call Will’s parents. See you soon.”
I looked at the clock on my dashboard. Fuck . It was almost five, and I was supposed to see Beth tonight after Chase went to bed. I had no idea what time I’d get home, or if I’d be good company.
“Doug?” Meg sounded worried.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Need me to do anything else?”
“No, I’m good. Just let me know once you’ve reached Will’s parents.”
“Will do. Drive safe.”
“Thanks.” I checked on Will, who was staring out the window, looking dazed.
#
While Will ate, I texted Beth and asked to reschedule. I apologized and told her there was some trouble on my assignment.
Are you okay?
I am.
Good. Next time lead with that.
Noted. Sorry.
I owe Beth on hell of an apology when I got home. I’d call later and give her a proper explanation.
Will's parents met me at the office. It felt good to see them reunited with their son. I hoped he’d get the help he needed and stay sober. As soon as the they, Meg, Jack, and I locked up.
I walked back to my truck on autopilot, wanting nothing more than to go home and take a long, hot shower to wash the day off my skin. And maybe have a Right Side to help take the edge off.