The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor(72)

The only light he could see came from a flashlight Kyle had brought with him. It looked like a weird torch standing on its end like that. Simon angled his head and saw a table piled high with batteries, pipes, cords and other electrical items. His jaw dropped as he spotted a shotgun against the far wall and a pile of handguns on the floor. He started to write it all down, making sketches as quickly as he could, then felt his heart hammer in his ears as Kyle turned and bent down to wedge open a heavy wooden box and stare inside.

Suddenly, the slick, dewy ground gave way and Simon’s feet went out from under him. He clunked against the cabin.

Kyle shot up straight and Simon ducked, afraid of being seen. His chest hurt as he struggled to stay silent and dug his fingers into the wood to steady himself. Barely breathing, he pressed his eye back to the knothole. As soon as Kyle left, he was going to get inside and see what was there.

That was what deputies—even junior deputies—did, right? They investigated. And Simon had sworn an oath when Sheriff Luke had given him his trainee badge. If only he could get closer... He shifted position, but skidded in the damp leaves, his elbow banging against the cabin as he caught sight of Kyle racing toward the entrance.

Simon pushed his glasses up his sweaty nose as he scrambled away. Kyle had heard him that time. He was coming! But the first person he’d see would be...

Charlie.

Simon gasped, running as fast as he could, feet slipping and ankles twisting as he fought to keep his balance. “Charlie!” She jumped to her feet when she saw him flying around the corner of the cabin. “Go! Back to camp!” He wouldn’t have time to find anything else out. “Go get the sheriff!” Simon didn’t care if anyone heard him now.

Charlie darted out of sight as Simon skidded to a stop. He had to keep Kyle from chasing Charlie. He couldn’t let his best friend get hurt. Not when it had been his idea to follow Kyle in the first place. Kyle darted toward him and Simon felt his confidence drain.

“I saw what you have in there,” Simon lied, squeezing his hands into fists as his entire body started to quake. “I’m going to tell the sheriff.”

“Why are you always following me?” The rage on Kyle’s face made Simon’s entire body go cold. “This isn’t any of your business, you stupid little—”

Simon turned to race after Charlie, but his foot caught on a tree root and he slammed forward. His notebook flew out of his hands and skidded into the underbrush. He hit his head on the ground so hard, his glasses snapped at the nose. Stars exploded in his eyes; his head screamed as he shoved himself onto his back, something wet streaming into his eyes. Kyle stepped over him, fists raised as he leaned down. Simon scrambled away. Tried to call for help.

Everything went dark.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“THEY’RE NOT AT the lake.” Jake limped up the narrow path from the shore, his sour expression matching Luke’s. “Anyone know anything?”

Luke glanced around the sleepy campers, none of whom seemed surprised. Nor did they appear anywhere near coherent. Who would at six thirty? It was never a good start to the morning to find three of your charges missing. It was Cash’s barking that had woken him out of a sound sleep, like a canine alarm system gone crazy. The second Luke emerged from the tent, Cash had padded over to Simon and Charlie’s and sat in front of it as if to ask where his playmates had gone.

Luke’s heart beat an unsteady and, in this case, unfamiliar rhythm. He’d served his country, chased down drug dealers and gangbangers; he’d detonated and defused dozens of explosive devices and even watched as one of his men was blown to kingdom come.

None of that equaled the terror coursing through him when he thought of Simon being missing.

His training kicked in. Control and calm settled. The solution for finding Simon and the others was to remain rational. They were kids. They couldn’t have gone far, and knowing Simon wasn’t overly fond of the dark, chances are it had been light when they’d ventured out of camp.

At least wherever Simon had gotten to, it seemed Charlie had gone along. “None of them know anything.” He pointed at the other campers.

“Simon doesn’t go wandering. Not without a good reason,” Jake added at Luke’s skepticism. “He knows better.”

That meant it couldn’t be a coincidence Simon had gone missing at the same time as Kyle. The kid had been adamant for days that Kyle was up to something. Obviously Luke’s attempts to distract him from focusing on the older, troubled teen had failed. “I’m going to head east,” Luke told Jake, gesturing toward the overgrowth leading into the brush. “You stay here with the rest in case any of them come back.” He went to his tent, grabbed his backpack and pulled out the two satellite phones he’d brought in case of emergency. He tossed one to Jake and then grabbed a couple bottles of water. “Don’t worry. I’ll find them.” He whistled for Cash.