Secret Triplets(35)
“Hey—” I began, but the old man was already ambling away to an ancient-looking desktop computer I hadn’t even noticed.
“Good,” he said.
After a few clicks on the computer, he added, “We got his license number from the front camera: K2P C06. That help?”
With shaking fingers, I typed the numbers into the notepad app on my phone.
I reached out for his hand, to squeeze it, to hug him, to somehow express that he’d just saved my life, that I could never repay him for what he’d just done, but the old man was still facing the computer, his jeans sagging under a cracked black belt.
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I said. “Words can’t express what you’ve just done for me.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get outta here.”
“Thank you again. I mean it,” I said, and then I turned to leave.
A few steps away, however, he spoke again. “I hope you find ’im. Ain’t good for kids to grow up with no daddy. My daddy ran out when we was just toddlers. Momma ain’t never recovered.”
I stood there for a minute as the bitter old man transformed before my eyes into a sad-eyed little boy staring out the window for a father who would never return.
I nodded, though he couldn’t see it.
“I will find him,” I said, a lump in my throat. “You’re right, and thank you. I will find him.”
“Good day to yeh,” he said, turning to me with eyes that seemed droopier than ever.
I thanked him again and left.
Mixed with the new hope that was buoyantly returning me to my car was now something else too. Something scary, like little kids ruined before they were even five. No, I promised myself. No matter what, you will raise these kids right. I would find Brock, and everything was going to be all right.
As soon as I got in my car, I called Kyle.
“Can you run a plate for me?”
He exhaled. “Alex, do you even know what time it is?”
“I’m sorry, Kyle, but I’ve found him. I really think I’ve found him.”
He sighed again and then: “Okay. What is it?”
“It’s K2P C06.”
“You’re lucky I worked late tonight. It’s 7 o’clock, you know.”
“Thank you, Kyle.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said.
A few seconds later, he said, “Now, if I tell you this, you have to promise me you won’t rush out there right away, okay?”
“Yes, Kyle. I promise. Now please just tell me. I need to know.”
“Okay, so looks like your guy’s plate is for a green ‘92 pickup truck. His plate is registered on a street near the Santa Fe National Forest, on Carson Valley Way, though if he’s as clever as you make him out to be, he probably won’t be there.”
“Ah, yes, you’re probably right,” I said, feigning calmness as a symphony of excitement started sounding off in my head.
“So you won’t go there, right, Alex?”
“Got to go, Kyle, thanks for this!” I said, and quickly hung up.
Pulling down the sun visor, I stared in the mirror at myself. Had lying to Kyle been wrong? My reflection shook its head. No. I hadn’t had any choice. I was working with only days to go; I had to find Brock immediately, or I could end up never finding him.
I took out my phone and opened the maps app. What a lucky coincidence. The plate was registered to a street near the Santa Fe National Forest, and where was I but right in the middle of Santa Fe itself?
My phone rang. It was Tiffany.
“Alex, please tell me you’re not doing what I think you’re doing.”
“I’m sorry, Tiff,” I said.
“Alex, no matter what you think, you don’t really know this guy, okay? You met him one time. Once. He might not react how you want him to. He could even attack you, hurt you and the babies. Or worse, he could kill you. Alex, do not do this alone. Just wait. Kyle and I will come get you. We can go hunt him down together.”
“Tiffany, I’m over six hours away. I need to do this myself. I’m sorry.”
“Alex, please don’t be rash like this. Just think—”
“I’m sorry, Tiff,” I said. Then I hung up.
I stared at the phone, noticing for the first time that it was at 10% battery. It rang again. Tiffany. I didn’t pick up. Turning it off, I slid it into my pocket. I had made up my mind. I was going to do this. I had to. I was going to find him, come what may.