Always for You:Jack(44)

"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."