"That's the problem. When Mom got home¸ the note was right where she'd left it. She grabbed the spare key to his door and let herself in. He wasn't there. His bed was made, and there's a bunch of his clothes missing. He must have snuck out before dawn."
"Give me the phone."
Tino hesitated. "It's not her fault, Jack. We should've checked on him before we left."
"Damn it, I know it's not her fault. I'm the one who didn't pound on the fucking door until he opened it. If he didn't answer, I should have gone in myself. The only reason I didn't was that I promised him when he came home with us that I would never enter the room without his permission."
He finally got his hands on the phone. "Mom, are you okay? I know you're upset about him taking off, but don't be. I should have seen this coming, especially when I suspected something was wrong."
Jack listened to what she had to say. "I know what we have to do, but let's not call CPS quite yet. Let me do a drive-by in the area where he used to hang out. I'll phone if I learn anything."
He disconnected the call. "Let's get packed up. I'll drop you at home so Mom isn't alone."
Tino was already shaking his head. "We'll pack up and then go home and get your SUV. We can cover twice as much territory that way."
"If you're sure."
His brother was now sporting his military-cop demeanor. "I'm sure. The kid's practically my nephew."
Which meant the kid was practically Jack's son. He liked that idea even if he wanted to wring Ricky's neck for worrying all of them like this. "I'll call Caitlyn. If she's free, maybe she can come stay with Mom."
Their plans made, they took off running for the backyard. Tomorrow would be soon enough to put the finishing touches on the shed. The homeowner wasn't expecting it to be done today, anyway. Regardless, right now they had more important things to take care of. Family things, even if Ricky was having a hard time understanding that's what he was to them.
Twenty minutes later, they were back at the house. Jack had let Tino drive so that he could make phone calls. He started off with the most obvious call and dialed the kid's number. No answer. Not available. Son of a bitch, he was going to wring Ricky's neck when he got ahold of him. Hadn't Jack made the rules clear the last time the kid took off on them?
Next up, he tried Caitlyn, but it went to voicemail. Then he remembered last night at her place that she'd mentioned something about having a meeting at her school that she had to attend today. That must be why she didn't answer. He left a message and asked her to call him or stop by the house when she got a chance. Maybe he should've told her what was going on, but he didn't want to worry her if they managed to track the kid down before she had a chance to check her messages. If they found him, Jack would call back with an update.
After disconnecting, he called home to let Marlene know they were on their way. In truth, he needed that contact with her, hoping against hope that she'd heard from Ricky in the few minutes since Jack last talked to her. No luck. He fought to sound far more calm than he really was, but she knew.
"Jack, we'll find him and bring him home. One way or another, that boy is going to learn that his place is with you. With us."
He closed his eyes and prayed she was right. "We're almost back, Mom."
Tino left the truck running while Jack got out and headed toward the house. Marlene came out on the porch. She'd always been the one who kept her head in the worst storms they'd faced as a family. He walked right into her arms and let the familiar warmth of her hug and the scent of her favorite perfume calm his fear for the boy.
"Tino is going to help me patrol the area where I know Ricky had been hanging out before he came here. It probably won't do any good, but I've got to do something."
Marlene kissed him on the cheek and gave him one last squeeze. "I know, son. Go and look for him. I'll be fine. Besides, someone should be here if he comes home on his own."
Jack ran back to make sure Tino knew what part of town they'd be patrolling and then got in the SUV and headed in that direction himself. Tino was going to crisscross the north- and southbound roads while Jack drove up and down the east/west streets as well as any alleys he came across.
He covered at least two square miles with no sign of Ricky anywhere. He called Tino to see if he'd had any better luck, even knowing his brother would have let him know if he'd spotted the kid. Rather than give up, Jack circled back and drove through the area again. When he ended up where he'd started, he stopped to slam his fist down on the steering wheel. Where the hell could Ricky be?
Maybe it was time to call in the police and Ricky's caseworker. Damn, he'd hoped it wouldn't come to that. He phoned Tino again.
"This isn't getting us anywhere. Let's head back to the house and call in the cavalry. The cops have more resources than we do. The longer we wait to involve them, the farther away Ricky might get."
Before Tino could respond, Jack's cell signaled that he had another call coming in. When he saw the number, he cursed even as relief washed through him.
"I've got to hang up. It's Ricky calling."
He picked up the second call. "Kid, where the fuck are you?"
The boy's voice sounded shaky. "I'm sorry, Jack. I know I've screwed up again."
"Yeah, you did, but we'll deal with it when we get you home." He paused before asking the one question that had his guts tied up in knots. "You are coming home, aren't you?"
There was a lot of background noise coming from Ricky's end of the call. Lots of cars or maybe trucks. Jack had to listen hard to hear the boy's answer. "Yeah, if you'll let me."
Jack let some of his anger and worry shine through when he answered. "Hell yes, I'll let you. Damn it, we both know that's where you belong. I wish you'd get that through your thick skull. We might not have been born family, but we've become one anyway. Got that?"
He held his breath and waited for the kid to answer.
"Got it, Jack."
Maybe he did. Jack hoped so. He wasn't sure how much more of this terror he could handle. "Where are you? I'll come get you."
"I'm at the bus station, but could you kind of hurry? I went to see my mother this morning, and I'm afraid my stepfather will be hunting for me. He's the one who put me in the hospital."
Jack punched the gas. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in less than five minutes."
Then he heard the squeal of tires, and Ricky yelled, "Fuck, Jack, he's already here!"
Now wasn't the time for panic. Jack dug deep for the calm and control his military training always gave him before leaving on a mission. He kept driving one-handed even as he tried to give the teenager orders that might save his life. "Ricky, head for the bus station. Stay inside where there are people. He won't be able to hurt you there."
God, please make that true.
"Ricky! Did you hear me?"
He might have heard the sound of running. For sure he heard someone yelling, but he couldn't make out a word they said. Before he could demand an update from Ricky, the line went dead. Murderous rage mixed with fear for the kid burned through his veins. If that SOB had laid one hand on Ricky, there would be hell to pay.
Jack hit his brother's number on speed dial. "Tino, I think the bastard who broke Ricky's arm has caught up with him again outside the bus station. Call the cops and then haul ass there. I'm going to need backup."
His brother knew when to take orders. "Will do. I'll be there in five."
It was a little easier to breathe knowing reinforcements were already on the way, but only just a little. Jack wove in and out of traffic, which was light. He turned the last corner onto the street where the bus station was located. As he drove, he did his best to scan the area for Ricky.
Nothing. No sign of the kid anywhere. He wanted to believe Ricky had heard him and made it into the relative safety of the station, but there was no guarantee that was the case. Jack pulled over to the curb and slammed on the brakes. Without bothering to lock up, Jack bolted out of the SUV and across the street to the bus station parking lot. Still no sign of the kid and no one standing around who might have seen him. Son of a bitch, where could he be?
He headed inside the station, but the lobby was nearly empty. Jack walked over to the counter.
"Did a teenage kid just come through here?"
The ticket agent shook his head. "Not that I saw, but I was working in back until about five minutes ago. The other agent just left for lunch, so I can't ask her."