Chapter 9
Bennett leaned against the stainless-steel prep counter, watching Mitch flip burgers at Java Beach. The kitchen was filled with the aromas of sizzling beef and caramelized onions, along with the omnipresent smell of coffee.
“Join us on Thanksgiving,” Bennett said, continuing their earlier conversation. “Ivy wants to have a big dinner for family and friends at the inn. We’ve also been talking about having a food drive for those who might not have much of a feast on their tables this year.”
Mitch pressed down on a burger, sending up a hiss of steam. “Count me in. I’ll help cook. Turkey, sides, whatever you need. As for a food drive, I could ask for donations from some of the local farmers I buy from.”
“That would be great. And Shelly already volunteered you to cook.” Bennett knew he could count on Mitch.
“Of course she did.” Mitch grinned, sliding the burgers onto waiting buns. “It’s what I do. Food makes folks happy. If people could come together over a good meal, I think we could solve all the problems of the world.”
“Maybe we’ll start here,” Bennett said, giving his friend a fist bump.
A soft, tentative knock at the back door interrupted them. Mitch and Bennett exchanged glances.
Bennett knew few people used the kitchen entrance except for deliveries. Those usually came in the morning. A thought occurred to him as Mitch wiped his hands on his apron and opened the door.
The teenager from the marina stood there, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He looked even thinner in the fading afternoon light, his face shadowed by exhaustion.
“Hey,” the boy said shyly. “Remember me?”
“Good to see you.” Without hesitation, Mitch stepped back, holding the door open. “Come in.”
“Smells good in here,” the boy said.
Bennett nodded and moved to one side, giving the kid his space.
“You showed up just in time,” Mitch said, walking back to the grill. “I’m making burgers, and I have an extra one. Hungry?”
The kid’s gaze locked onto the food with an intensity that answered the question. He nodded.
“Good. Give me a minute.” Mitch pulled out a fresh patty from the refrigerator and slid it onto the grill. He gave the teen a fist bump. “I’m Mitch, and that’s Bennett. What’s your name?”
The boy cast a quick glance at them. “People call me Vanz. With a z.”
“Cool name.” Mitch glanced down at the boy’s black-and-white checkerboard slip-on sneakers, now scuffed and dirty. These were popular with kids, especially around the beach. “Because of your Vans?”
A faint flash of pride flickered across the kid’s face. “Yeah.”
Mitch opened a display case near the door and tossed Vanz a blueberry muffin. “Start with that while I cook.”
Vanz snatched the muffin from the air. “Thanks.”
“You like avocado burgers?”
“I guess. I’ve never had one.” Vanz ate the muffin in a few big bites.
“Then you’re in for a treat.” Mitch poured a generous helping of fries into the fryer basket.
Curious to know more about the boy, Bennett pulled out a stool for him. “Are you from around here?”
Vanz shook his head. “Little town up north. You wouldn’t know it.”
“Try me. I’ve been around.” Mitch flipped the burger, the sizzle filling the silence.
“Palm Vista. Nothing ever happens there.”
Mitch raised his eyebrows in surprise. “No kidding? I visited some family there a long time ago. A cousin on my mother’s side got married. I don’t remember any names, though.”
“Wish I could forget it all,” Vanz mumbled, absently rubbing a fading bruise on his wrist.
Listening to this exchange, Bennett watched the teenager.
As he looked closer, he noticed other bruises and cuts on the boy’s hands and neck.
He looked as if he’d been in a recent altercation.
Bennett wondered if that was with other kids or family members.
Then again, maybe he’d fallen on a skateboard or bike.
As Mitch cooked, Vanz relaxed a little, though his thin shoulders remained tense.
He watched while Mitch assembled the burger on a fresh bun with a sizzling patty, sliced avocado, tomato, lettuce, and a drizzle of aioli.
He plated it with fries and set it on the small table in the corner where employees took breaks.
“Sit,” Mitch said. “Eat your fill.”
Vanz stared at the plate for a moment before picking up the burger and wolfing it down like someone who hadn’t had a real meal in days.
Bennett continued watching him. This boy was too young to be on his own. He was a long way from home, and he should be in school. He might be a runaway, in which case Bennett should let Clark know to check the missing persons database for a possible match.
He caught Mitch’s eye, and the look they shared needed no translation. They both wondered what this kid’s story was.
Vanz demolished the burger and most of the fries before slowing down. He sat back, looking almost dazed with satisfaction.
“Looks like that went down easy,” Mitch said.
“Yeah.” The boy’s voice came out rough. “That was really good.”
Mitch grabbed a bag from under the counter and loaded it with more muffins and items from the cooler. “You can take this with you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I have to throw them out otherwise. Health department rules.” Mitch’s tone didn’t invite argument. “They’re yours. If you come by tomorrow at the same time, I’ll probably have something for you. Got to follow the rules.”
“Okay, if you have to.” Vanz stood slowly, tucking the bag protectively under his arm. His eyes were fixed on a spot on the floor. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“Why not, dude?” Mitch replied with an easy grin. “You seem like a cool guy.”
“Not everyone thinks so.”
“Well, we do,” Mitch said, glancing at Bennett. “Do your parents know where you are?”
A shadow darkened the teen’s face. “They don’t care about me.”
“That’s their loss,” Mitch said, tidying his workspace. Lightly, he added, “Got a place to sleep tonight?”
A shy smile tugged at Vanz’s lips as he nodded. “I’ve been camping out. See you later.”
With the food clutched against his chest, Vanz slipped outside into the night.
Mitch closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. “I slipped the address of the local shelter into that bag. Maybe he’ll go there.”
“It’s clear that kid’s running from something,” Bennett said. “But he should be in school unless his parents gave him permission to drop out. I need to call Clark now so he can contact the Palm Vista police. There might be a missing person report.”
“Can that wait until tomorrow?” Mitch turned off the water and reached for a towel. “I’d like to hear his story because he could be in danger if he’s sent back.” He met Bennett’s gaze.
Bennett rubbed his neck. “We have to do the right thing.”
“I think we are. Seriously, I’ve got a weird feeling about this kid. Something’s not right at home, and I bet he’s safer here. Did you see the bruises on him?”
Bennett heaved a sigh and nodded. “However, that’s not for us to decide, even though you might be right.”
He recalled how Vanz had tensed when Mitch mentioned Palm Vista. And the kid had eaten that burger like he was starving. For more than food, he suspected.
“I can’t help feeling the adults in his life have betrayed him,” Mitch said as he cleaned the cooktop. “I’d hate to be another one. That kid needs help, whether he’ll admit it to us or not.”
“Still, I have an ethical duty to report a situation with a minor,” Bennett said, picking up his jacket with a heavy heart.
Although he could understand Mitch’s desire to fully understand the issues, once Bennett alerted Clark, as a mandated reporter, the police chief would have to report suspicions of abuse or neglect.
Yet the thought of sending Vanz back to a perilous situation at home was disturbing.