Chapter 4 #2
Maybe even now, those peddling the substance were slithering over the accident like snakes, searching for their blood money. The image wasn’t a pleasant one. Had the accident been part of the plan?
Jackson and Swanny left the cops and firefighters and jumped into the ambulance.
By the time they arrived back at the station, it was lunchtime. Jackson took his lunch from the refrigerator, set his sandwich on a napkin, and stared at it. His stomach revolted at the thought of eating. But he needed to eat, or he might run out of steam by the end of his shift.
He took a bite, then pulled up his phone while he chewed. No word from Dylan.
He gave Cynthia a call. “Any word yet?”
She sighed, her voice tinged with impatience. “Jackson, he’ll be home when he’s ready. Stop worrying.”
“It’s just that he was so upset the last time I saw him.” Because his home should be with me.
“And he’ll bounce back. Kids do.”
Not always. “I don’t mean to bug you, but I want him to know I haven’t given up. That I won’t abandon him.”
Her voice softened. “He knows that.”
“I’d like to believe that.” He stopped himself. He liked Cynthia, but they weren’t really close enough for him to begin confiding private things to her. She didn’t need to know Dylan had been upset when Jackson couldn’t come home after their grandfather died. Dylan had only been twelve at the time.
He took one more bite of his sandwich. It sat like a ball of concrete in his stomach. Sighing, he replaced it in the square sandwich container and shoved his lunch box back on the shelf. Maybe he’d feel like eating later.
He stalked out of the kitchen and went to find Chase for a rematch. He needed to take his mind off the real world. The rain had stopped, and puddles dotted the pavement in low spots, but for the most part, it was a dry court. The game wasn’t much of a challenge.
Chase shrugged and grinned. “I knew my luck wouldn’t hold. Good game.”
“Hey, Doc!” Amber shouted from the door. “The chief wants to see you.”
“Thanks for the game, Chase. Maybe I’ll let you win next time.”
Moses hooted. Chase laughed.
Jackson sauntered back inside, then slowed when he saw Swanny and Trent waiting quietly just inside the door to the ambulance bay.
“Doc.” Trent waved him over. Frown lines cut deep into his face.
Tension bunched in Jackson’s muscles. Something was up. He walked over and stopped next to the two men, his glance bouncing between them.
Swanny’s normal contagious grin was missing. A blank expression replaced it. An expression that said he’d heard bad news.
“Trent? What’s wrong?”
“I just got a call. The man you performed CPR on a couple of hours ago didn’t make it. He died in the air.”
“Oh, man. Trent, he was worrying about his girls. He had kids.”
“Yeah. Two daughters. Both in high school.”
Jackson’s head dropped. Sometimes you gave your all and it wasn’t enough. He shoved his fisted hands into his pockets.
“Something else,” Trent continued.
Jackson lifted his head. “Yes?”
“He died from the crash, but the cops found evidence of drugs in his car. Neurosync.”
His stomach bottomed out. The new drug that had been infiltrating their beautiful city.
Jackson and Swanny stood where they were, not talking for a moment after Trent went back to work. There was nothing to say to express the shock.
“So useless.” Swanny kicked at the doorjamb.
Jackson’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He grabbed it and looked at the text. His eyebrows climbed. Elaine Dirk. Why was the mother of Dylan’s best friend texting him? He clicked on the message.
Elaine
Hi Jackson. R boys ok?
What did she mean? He excused himself and walked outside to call her back. Elaine answered almost immediately. “Elaine? I got your text, but I didn’t understand it.”
“You haven’t seen the boys?”
“I saw Dylan on Monday. I haven’t talked to him since.”
She muttered under her breath. “That kid. My son, not Dylan. Reggie said they were going camping. I assumed that they were going with you. I was a little nervous when he didn’t contact me.”
“Did you call the police?”
She scoffed. “My boy has been in so much trouble they don’t pay any attention to me. Besides.” She hesitated. “This isn’t the first time he’s disappeared. He’ll come home. I’m sorry he got your brother involved in this though. My Reggie has a knack for getting into trouble.”
Jackson’s brain went on high alert. He knew Reggie had been in trouble at school in the past, but he hadn’t been aware that he’d had run-ins with the police before. Dylan hadn’t mentioned that.
But Dylan had also never been in trouble with Reggie before. At least, Cynthia had never told him about any problems.
“Look, Jackson, why don’t you call his teacher?
I’m not that worried. Reggie will show up eventually.
But if you’re concerned, you should call.
If she knows anything about Dylan, she won’t tell me.
I know it’s summer, but they’ve had orientation meetings and IEPs since the first of the month.
She might know where they are. Or she might have heard something from a classmate. I can’t think who else we might call.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never talked to her. The woman at the foster agency always said since I wasn’t a parent, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be at Dylan’s meetings.”
He hadn’t liked it, but he hadn’t wanted to make trouble and risk jeopardizing custody. The bitter irony smacked him.
“I have her cell phone number. Nice girl. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help.” Tapping sounds drifted to him. His phone dinged. “There. I’ve sent you her contact. Go ahead and call her. If you learn anything new, let me know, okay?”
“Will do.”
Jackson glanced at the contact she’d sent him.
His breath caught. The name hit him like a punch to the gut.
Mia Turner.
Jackson would do anything, give anything, to have his baby brother home, safe and sound.
But could he do this?
Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number of the one woman he’d hoped he’d never have to face again. But for Dylan, he would face every demon he had.
Mia rushed home during lunch to check on Gus. Jane had texted earlier and said she’d run into a conflict and would arrive around ten. Gus had insisted Mia go and set up her classroom. So Mia had prepped her aunt’s midday snack and left, reluctantly.
School hadn’t started yet, and technically, Mia was still on summer vacation. But she and most of the teachers she knew came and went to make sure their classrooms were set up. When Mia had checked in with her aunt at eleven, Jane still hadn’t arrived.
Mia glanced at the dashboard when her phone rang. When she didn’t recognize the number, she let it go to voicemail. She didn’t want to be on the phone in case Gus or Jane called.
When she arrived at her aunt’s, she parked her car and dashed into the house.
“Mia! What are you doing home?” Gus muted the television.
Mia kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I have a little time. I thought we’d have lunch.”
“You mean you wanted to check on me. Jane called. She’ll be here at twelve thirty.”
“That’s good. I have to be back at school by one.”
Gus frowned. “I thought you didn’t have any set times.”
“Mostly, I don’t. But I have two IEP meetings scheduled for this afternoon.
” The first IEP meeting was at one thirty, and it promised to be tense.
She’d never met this family. The student had recently graduated from eighth grade and was moving up to the senior high school.
But she’d heard through the rumor mill that her parents could be rather intense.
She didn’t blame them. If she had children, she would want the best for them too.
Mia went into the kitchen and made Gus a quick lunch. She was carrying it out when the front door opened and Jane FitzPatrick sailed into the room.
“Jane!” Gus called out with a little cough. “It’s so nice to see you, dear.”
Mia hurried into the living room. All the lights were on. Outside, through the big bay windows, ominous clouds advanced across the sky, obliterating any sunlight that might have come in through the windows.
Jane gave her aunt a quick hug, backing away as soon as she could. “Of course, Gus. I got a late start, but I’m here now.”
Gus coughed again. Mia’s brows furrowed. Then the heavy aroma of perfume enveloped her.
“Oh! Jane, can we talk for a moment?” She kept a pleasant smile on her face. Jane could be sensitive, and the last thing Mia wanted to do was offend her cousin.
Jane followed her to the kitchen, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor. “So, are we going to talk about the…details?”
“Yes, but first, and I apologize, but I’m going to ask you to wash off your perfume.”
“What? This is my favorite! It doesn’t come cheap.”
“I understand. But Gus can’t handle anything scented right now. It makes it difficult for her to breathe, and that’s not good for her heart. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care.”
Grumbling, Jane stuck her wrists under the faucet and scrubbed the perfume off. A little of the scent lingered, but it was light enough that it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Thanks, Jane. It is lovely.” She didn’t really care for perfume, but Jane had good taste. Mia handed Jane a list she’d typed out. “I made you this so you could see what Gus needed, including her medications and times.”
She’d also included payment details.
Jane read it over. “Leave it with me.”
“I really appreciate it. I need to return to school, but I’ll have my phone on. It will be silenced when I’m in a meeting, but I’ll call back as soon as I can if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine. Gus and I have always gotten along.”
Gus got along with everyone, but Mia nodded and thanked her cousin again.
She shouldered her purse and bussed Gus’s cheek. “I’m heading back. Jane’s got everything under control.”
Gus smiled, and she whispered a quick prayer for Mia’s safety. Mia waited for the prayer to end, then waved at Jane and shot out the door. Thankfully, Jane hadn’t blocked her in.