Chapter 27
Steel
By the time we made it back to the cabin, a group of people had already arrived. Along with four officers, there were five other jumpers, Axe included.
“What happened?” Violet asked, doing her best to remain calm. She immediately locked eyes with my sister, who was also trying her best to hold herself together.
“He asked me if I’d get him some chocolate milk and I agreed. He was watching a movie. I had to mix it. When I came back, he was gone. He went out the back door. I looked for him for several minutes before calling Steel. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. He was fine. Please forgive me, Violet.”
Violet shook her head, moving closer. “I don’t blame you, Josie. I blame myself. I knew better than to leave Damon alone when he’s so distraught.” When she tossed me a look, there was no doubt who she intended on blaming and I understood why.
My chest felt as if I had a thousand pounds crushing my sternum and I had no idea what to say. Axe walked closer while the officers were already putting together search equipment. Which we all had. If anyone could find the boy, the jumpers could.
“I found this in his room.” Josie handed her what appeared to be a paper note pad. As soon as she did, she lowered her face into her hands.
I took a deep breath, watching Violet’s reaction, surprised when all she did was blink a few times.
“He thinks I hate him,” Violet said after reading the note. She handed it to me. “My son thinks I don’t love him. He must have heard us arguing that night outside Ziggy’s. He thinks what I said in anger meant I didn’t want him around.”
Mom,
I know I’m the reason you argue with Dad all the time. If I hadn’t been born, then maybe your life would be better. I’m sorry you had to bring me with you cause I’m a bad boy. Maybe you could be happy with Steel if I wasn’t around. I know why you took Zorro away from me. I deserved it. I’m sorry.
Damon
Ah, fuck. Hissing, I handed it off to Axe. “Don’t go there, Violet. He knows you love him. He’s upset about the pup being taken from him. That’s it.”
“That’s not it. Don’t you remember what I said? That my son was a scandal. Not to me, but that’s not what he heard.”
“She could be right, Steel,” Axe said quietly. “He ran after her at one point that night, disappearing for a few seconds. Kenzie and I went right after him. He was standing outside close to the two of you. He could have heard you two talking.”
“Shit. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I hissed.
Axe rubbed his face. “I would have if you two hadn’t made up. I didn’t think anything of it. I’m sorry.”
“Damon couldn’t have gone very far, Violet,” Viper said to her. “We will find him. We’ve rescued lost children before. Try not to worry.”
I yanked the pad back from Axe, reading the note again and hoping for any clues before handing it to the officer. Bart had been with the force for a long time. He knew what to do and what to expect from a distraught parent.
“In the dark? A child who’s from the city?” she threw out, immediately walking away. “It’s my fault. There is no one to blame but myself.”
“Axe is right. We will find him. Period.”
“Does this pad belong to your son?” Bart asked Violet.
She narrowed her eyes before glancing at the lined notepad. “No, it’s not his. Did you bring it, Josie?”
“Never seen it before,” she answered.
“Why?” I pressed.
“Because there’s a list that reminds me of what might be used to start fires.” Bart glanced from me back to Violet.
After cutting through me with her eyes as if I would dare mention Damon had started a fire in Los Angeles, she headed toward Bart, looking down at the page he’d turned to. “That’s not his writing. Look at the difference.”
“No,” Bart admitted. “It’s not.”
“In talking with the chief tonight after running into him, I mentioned there was an attempted break-in. What if they were looking for this list?” I threw it out there. That would make sense.
Bart flipped through the pad. “There are some other things on here as well that might be of interest. Carl, we need to bag this in case there are fingerprints.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll contact the chief as well,” Carl said, taking the pad with two fingers.
She slumped, still shaking.
I’d called in favors to try to help locate the little boy. While he wouldn’t freeze to death, there were wild animals. Plus, the Clark Forge River backed up to the property just behind the access road. And the river raged. If he lost his footing, he could tumble on rocks and slip under.
I wasn’t about to identify every danger.
“We have a plan. We need to fan out and search in a grid pattern,” Bart suggested as he spread out a map across the kitchen table. “If we want to find him, we do this methodically step by step.”
Violet was now leaning against the wall, her arms folded. Her skin was pale; after the initial shock, she’d said very little. But she was watching everything. Paying very close attention.
“Since Steel knows the area,” the officer continued, “he’ll be leading this rescue operation. I don’t need to tell you that time is of the essence. Let’s do this.” He nodded toward me.
“Alright. We have communication. If you see anything, report back with your location. If you see wild animals, use the dart guns. Don’t take any chances, but we need to find him quickly.”
“Seriously. We will find him, Violet,” Axe said and squeezed her arm. “You’re in good hands. Including with my brother.”
She closed her eyes. “I trust you. Just know he’s my whole world. My little boy.”
“Alright. Let’s head out,” I told the crew, grabbing my flashlight, nodding to Axe. He could tell how upset I was.
“I’m coming with you,” Violet said from behind me.
“No, you are not. This is something we need to do. We’re trained for this, Violet.” I turned to face her.
With her head shaking, she moved around me, grabbing a flashlight. “This is my son. My child. Mine! I need to help find him.” Finally, tears appeared, but her expression of determination was exactly the woman I’d met.
Her outburst wasn’t untypical for a mother who’d lost a child.
The silence in the room was unnerving for everyone.
I crowded her space even though she didn’t want me to.
“Listen to me. I know you don’t trust me right now and think I’m to blame for Damon running away, but we’re trained to find people who are lost, which is what Damon is.
He doesn’t know the area. He is in danger, Violet.
I’m not going to lie to you and having you out there with us will only slow us down.
I can’t worry about losing you too. Can you understand that? ”
“You don’t understand.”
“I think I do. Now, you’re going to need to place your trust in me for a little while. I promise you I’ll find him. Besides, you need to stay here in case he comes back.”
She continued to shake her head. “Fine, but I’m going to hold you to it. Find my son.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will.”
The woods surrounding the three homes went on for miles.
The river bisected the area and given that the location was at the base of the woods, only the access road provided any ability for emergency vehicles to find its way to the center of the acreage.
That’s one reason I’d purchased the house where I was currently living. The privacy and lack of access.
Now I regretted not being closer to town.
“No, Steel. I’ve changed my mind. He is my son and I’m going with you whether you like it or not.” Her determination was not going to be challenged. “Josie can stay here. Right?”
Another challenge.
“Of course, I’ll be here,” Josie answered. “Let her go, Steel. I would do the same thing.”
Every person who’d been on a rescue knew this wasn’t a good idea, but it was possible he would eventually come to the sound of her voice.
“Alright, but you’re coming with me and you’re going to do exactly as I say. Grab a jacket and a flashlight.” While exhaling, I backed away, waiting as she did. “Let’s go. We have a job to do. We’ll head in the location of this barn.”
The way Violet lifted her head, staring into my eyes would scorch my soul for weeks to come. I had to find Damon unharmed and bring him to safety if it was the last thing I did on this earth.
Flashlights helped lead the way, but it wasn’t long before the dense forest became oppressive. For a child with no source of light, only his will to get away, the situation had to be terrifying. The only light was that of the moon and even then, there was little getting through the thick canopy.
We branched out, hoping to find any clues.
The two of us walked in silence, heading directly toward the river. The sound might draw his attention. The dart gun along with my duffle full of rescue equipment was tossed over my back. We’d have everything we needed for a rescue.
Only I prayed to God it wouldn’t come to that.
“Call his name. Do it every few minutes. Then stop and listen,” I instructed.
“Okay. Damon. Where are you? Damon?”
She did as I instructed, calling his name every thirty seconds. I wasn’t going to tell her that there was no sign of him. I’d had some training in rescue, including what to look for.
While he was small, the foliage was thick, including ground cover. He’d break limbs or crush leaves while trying to make his way through the forest. So far, nothing. I kept the idea of the barn in the back of my mind.
My phone rang a short time later. “Josie. Did he come back?”
Violet was right there, standing only inches away.
“No,” my sister said with a trembling voice and I had to shake my head. “But I did find something. In the room where Damon was staying there were two boxes. They were filled with crazy stuff.”
“What do you mean crazy stuff?”
“Small propane bottles and rubbing alcohol. Mason jars and material like ripped tee shirts. Several batteries.”
“All used to start fires,” I hissed. “Don’t touch them. Let the chief of police know what you found.”
“I already called them.” Josie was calmer than I felt.
Violet was tense, barely moving.
“Where were the boxes?” I asked.