38. Reese
Reese
My eyes were dry and gritty after driving all night. The sun had risen around six, and if I hadn’t been in the middle of chasing down the piece of shit who’d stolen my kid—yes, he was mine, damn it—I might have thought it beautiful.
As it was, it was just a reminder that Nate had been gone since the previous afternoon, and we couldn’t even be sure we were on the right track.
My gut told me we were. It made sense. Axel probably didn’t plan to stay in one place for long, but it was reasonable he’d stop to regroup, get supplies, and maybe steal a different vehicle.
No word from Gunnar yet. Garrett had texted late the previous night with an update.
Surveillance footage at the gas station the bald guy had stopped at showed Axel opening the trunk on the silver sedan and slipping Nate’s shoes inside.
They had the license plate of the car he’d been driving.
It had been reported stolen a few days ago.
An Amber Alert had been issued, so if that car was spotted, law enforcement would stop them.
But I wasn’t about to drive back to Tilikum and wait for someone else to find Nate. If they did, all the better. But I had a feeling it was still up to me and Summer.
She shifted in her seat and sighed. Exhaustion had finally overwhelmed her, and she’d been sleeping for a couple hours, but only fitfully. I’d declined her repeated offers to drive so I could get some rest. There was no way I was sleeping. Too much rage flowing through my system.
With the exit into Big Timber just ahead, I gently nudged her.
“We’re here,” I said quietly as I took the ramp off the freeway.
Blinking, she sat up and looked out the window. “Any more word from Garrett?”
“Not yet. Nothing from Gunnar, either.”
“What do we do now?”
“We should check around and see if anyone has seen Nate. They had to have beat us here. Maybe they stopped for food, gas, something.”
“New shoes,” she said.
“Actually, that’s a good point. Although they probably got into town before most businesses were open.”
Since we were both sleep deprived, we grabbed coffee before setting out to search the town. We asked the baristas if they’d seen Nate, but they hadn’t.
The guy at the first gas station we came across had only been there for half an hour, and he hadn’t seen anything. We kept going and drove by a thrift store, but it was closed.
Food seemed like a probable option, especially if there were any restaurants that opened early. We didn’t see any fast-food chains on the map, but there was a bakery that had opened at six thirty, so we stopped there. Dead end. No one had seen him.
We got back in my SUV and Summer checked the map again. “There’s a diner that serves breakfast. They could have gone there. And there are a couple more gas stations.”
I nodded. My phone buzzed with a text. Hoping it was good news—or at least anything but bad news—I checked.
Garrett: Car found abandoned near Kellogg, ID. Local agency is searching the area in case they’re on foot.
I shook my head. So much for the Amber Alert. “The car they were in was found abandoned.”
“Where?”
“Kellogg, Idaho. They’re searching the area, but he probably just stole another car.”
She rubbed her hands up and down her face. “They could be anywhere.”
“No, not anywhere. Idaho means we were right, and they were heading east. Dumping the car just means he’s being careful.” I looked out over the street. “They’re here somewhere.”
“We should check this breakfast place. Locals hang out in diners. Maybe someone knows a Gunderson.”
I nodded while Summer relayed the directions. It was only a few streets away. Seemed like the town was even smaller than Tilikum.
We pulled up outside the diner. An open sign hung in the window and a handful of cars were parked out front.
Inside, it smelled like buttery toast and coffee. My stomach rumbled. As much as I didn’t want to take the time, food was probably a good idea.
“Maybe we should get something to eat,” Summer said, echoing my thought.
“That’s what I was just thinking.” No sleep was one thing, but no sleep and no food was going to catch up with me. With us.
A sign said seat yourself, so we chose a booth next to one of the front windows. A server came and poured coffee while we glanced at the menu.
“Meat omelet,” I said. “No hash browns, no toast.”
The server—a young guy with a sparse mustache—blinked in surprise.
“We’re in a hurry,” I said.
“Sure, no problem,” he said. “What about you, miss?”
“Can I just get a plate of bacon?”
“Yeah, of course. Anything else?”
“That’s it.” She met my eyes and shrugged. “Nothing else sounds good.”
I turned back to the server. “Have you been here since you opened this morning?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you happen to see this kid?” I held up my phone, open to a picture of Nate, as Summer leaned forward in hopeful anticipation. “He’s ten, but tall for his age. Would have been with a man in his thirties. They might have stopped in for an early breakfast.”
He leaned in to look. “No. I don’t think so.”
Summer collapsed back against the booth and let out a frustrated breath.
I set my phone on the table. “He’s missing, so if you do happen to see him, call the police.”
“Wow, yeah. I will.”
“Do you happen to know anyone with the name Gunderson?” Summer asked.
“I don’t think so. But I’m not from around here. I’ve only been in town a few months.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. Of course we ended up with a server who wasn’t local.
“My manager has lived here his entire life, though. Do you want me to ask him?”
“That would be so great,” Summer said. “Thank you.”
“Sure, no problem. I’ll get your order in and be right back.”
The server left and Summer shook her head.
“This is a nightmare,” she said. “There can’t be more than fifteen hundred people in this town, but what are we supposed to do? Knock on doors?”
“We’re going to find him.” I reached across the table and took her hands. “No matter what happens today or tomorrow or the next day, Axel will not win. I’ll do whatever it takes. Doesn’t matter. I will not stop until we get Nate back. That’s a promise.”
Nodding, she squeezed my hands. I squeezed back.
A middle-aged man with a short-sleeve button-down shirt approached our table.
“Hi, folks. Welcome to Big Timber. I’m Andy, the manager. What can I do for you?”
“Our son is missing.” I held up the picture again. “Doesn’t sound like he’s been in, but we were wondering if you know anyone in the area by the name of Gunderson.”
“That’s terrible. I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s see…Gunderson.” Crossing his arms, he tapped his chin a few times. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“What about someone who lives outside town. Probably alone. I’m guessing in his fifties or sixties, maybe. Do you know anyone like that?”
“Well, there’s lots of folks like that in these parts.
Plenty of people come here for the big sky, and even more for the big land.
Plenty of space—room to be left alone.” He paused again.
“There’s a guy up north who probably fits that description.
He keeps to himself, so I don’t know much about him.
Not even sure exactly where he lives. Then there’s Hugh Robbins.
Fishing enthusiast, lives northeast of town.
There’s another guy, lives south of here, off-grid.
But he’s got a family. Not sure if that fits who you’re looking for.
And there’s a few guys who have a place a bit west of here.
Hunting guides. I think they have some cabins, but I’m not sure if they live here year-round or not. ”
“Thanks.” I kept my voice even so my frustration wouldn’t show. “Appreciate the info.”
“Sorry I can’t be of more help. Your breakfast should be out in a minute.” With a friendly smile, he left.
Summer slid across the booth seat and stood. “I should use the bathroom while we’re here.”
Maybe it was overkill, but I didn’t like the idea of her leaving my sight. “I’ll go, too.”
I followed her toward the back of the restaurant where the restrooms were located down a short hallway. There were two, both unisex with a single stall. It wasn’t that I actually expected to find Nate hiding out awaiting rescue, but I still felt a slight wave of disappointment when he wasn’t.
Our food arrived shortly after we returned to our booth. I checked my phone periodically as we ate, hoping for a message from Gunnar. There had to be a way to connect Axel—Aaron Gunderson—to his uncle in Big Timber. Even if they didn’t share a last name.
I finished quickly, barely tasting my food. It was just fuel. Summer picked at her bacon. The color had left her cheeks, and she cast angry glares out the window. I didn’t know who Axel needed to fear more. Me, Mayhem, or Summer.
If she got her hands on him, she’d rip his throat out.
The server came with the check, so I paid. The lack of a solid plan made me restless. We could keep driving around and checking businesses, but the town wasn’t that big. Other than another gas station or two, nothing would have been open. And they might not have stopped anywhere.
Finally, my phone rang. It was Gunnar. Summer and I stood, and I answered as we headed out the door.
“Please tell me you found something,” I said.
“Maybe. Property records didn’t pull up any Gundersons in the vicinity. I searched Nevada as well, and I did find a Susie Gunderson. Deceased. Based on dates, she could be Aaron Gunderson’s mother.”
I looked at Summer. “Do you know his mother’s first name?”
“No idea.”
“But she passed away?”
“Yeah, before I knew him. So at least twelve years ago.”
“Susie Gunderson died about fifteen years ago, so that fits,” Gunnar said. “But here’s the kicker. Her maiden name is Fogel, and there happens to be a Sam Fogel who owns a bunch of acreage outside, you guessed it, Big Timber, Montana.”
“That could be him,” I said. “Where?”
The noise hit me like a blow to the chest. Bike engines, roaring up the road. Half a dozen guys rode by, all wearing Midnight Mayhem patches. They drowned out Gunnar’s answer.
Fuck.
“Say that again, Gunnar.”
“Did I just hear what I think I heard?” he asked.
“Yeah, you did. They’re here.”
“That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not. Where does this Sam Fogel guy live?”
“I’m sending you the address. GPS should take you right to him.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate this.”
“You got it. And Reese?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
“I know.”
“Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
The rumble carried in the distance as I ended the call. Summer met my eyes, and hers were filled with fire.
“If they know who his uncle is, they’re probably heading straight there.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Fuck them. We’re getting our son.”
Our son. Her words were a match to the tinder of my determination.
“Let’s go.”