Page 21 of Lost Truth
“Please call me Jake.”
“We don’t have any information to suggest something bad has happened to Kai.” Hayden explained Rocco’s concerns.
Jake hissed air through his teeth. “Man, I’d hate to have something bad happen to that dude. He’s like my amigo, you know?”
Abby continued to peer at him. “Since you’re close to him, did he tell you where he was going?”
“Nah, he said if no one knew where he was, no one could bother him.” He took a few exaggerated blinks. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now that you mention it, itiskind of odd for him. He’s really an open book. A what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person. He doesn’t hold back.” A grin spread across his face. “I can’t tell you how many times he’s blurted something out that’s gotten him into trouble. Never a dull moment with him.”
“We’ve been told he doesn’t much like computers.” Hayden let his statement rest in the air.
“Hah!” Jake shook his head. “Doesn’t much likeis an understatement. He hates them, and he hates what they’re doing to our society. He gets that we need technology and understands it can make things better. But it irks him when people come here for vacation or to take surfing lessons with him and every second he’s not talking to them or they’re not in the water, their noses are buried in their phones. They’re missing God’s creation and all of the beauty around us.”
Even though Hayden was a geek and probably spent too much time on his phone, he had to agree with Jake’s comment. “So it’s fair to say he didn’t own a computer.”
“Not only no computer, but no tablet, and his phone is a basic device for making calls only.” Jake shook his head. “He didn’t even want that phone, but since he spends so much time away from his business and out on the beach, Rocco insisted so he could check in on his dad at any time.”
“Sounds like Rocco might be a little overprotective,” Abby said.
“Yeah, he got that way after his mom suddenly died of a heart attack. She was alone and unable to call for help. He didn’t want the same thing to happen to his dad.”
“Understandable.” Cady’s grief over losing her father lingered in her tone, but she raised her pen over her notepad. “Other than Kai going off on a vacation when he doesn’t take vacations, have you noticed anything off or unusual with him?”
Jake shifted, his bare feet smacking the tile. “Not really. I mean, maybe he was more intense and less relaxed or easy-going. He hasn’t had time to surf with me like he usually does. He said the business was taking up more of his time. I’m self-employed, so I get that and didn’t think anything of it.”
“Do you think Rocco is overreacting?” Hayden asked.
Jake shrugged. “I mean, who am I to say someone is overreacting? I guess something could be up with Kai, and I think you should probably keep looking into it just to make sure he’s okay.”
“I don’t see any security cameras on the property,” Hayden said. “Do you have any that might’ve caught Kai’s movements?”
“Nope. No need for them in this town. At least not in most of the neighborhoods.”
“Is there anything else you think we need to know that might help us locate him?” Cady tapped her pen against her notepad with growing intensity. “Like maybe places he’s ever said he would like to go on vacation?”
“Hmm, a vacation for Kai would have to involve surfing, but honestly, he’s surfed every one of the best areas in the world. He talks about the positives of each one, so I couldn’t begin to pick which one he might go back to.” Jake scrunched up his face. “But then, if this really is a vacation to get away from everything, he probably wouldn’t go anywhere that had anything to do with surfing.”
“Does he have a favorite surfboard he would take along on a surfing vacation?” Abby asked. “If it’s not where he stores it, it might tell us he’s gone surfing.”
“Oh, yeah.” Jake grinned. “We all have favorites.”
“Can you tell us what his looks like and where he stores it?” Cady asked.
“At his shop, he has a storage area in the back. You can access it from outside.” He got out his phone. “I’m sure I have a picture of the board.”
Jake thumbed through his phone, then held out a photo of a well-used surfboard.
“Text it to me.” Hayden held out his own phone. “Here’s my number.”
“Sure.” Jake tapped his screen. “Done.”
Hayden’s phone dinged, and he confirmed the receipt of the picture. “Thank you for your help, Jake.”
“Yes, thanks,” Abby said, sounding sincere. “If you think of anything else we need to know, you can reach us at the phone number on my card.”
“Hey, yeah, man.” Jake frowned. “I’ll keep thinking, and maybe something will come to mind, but hey, can you let me know once you find out he’s okay?”
Abby offered Jake a comforting smile. “Of course we will.”
They turned down the walkway, but Hayden didn’t hear the door close. Hayden glanced back and Jake stood intently watching them. He’d seemed sincere, and Hayden really had no reason to believe he was lying to them, but why was he watching them this way?
Maybe he was just shocked by the fact that an investigator was asking about his best friend. Or maybe he was in contact with Kai and Jake was making sure they left the area so he could call Kai and tell him people were asking for him. Kai might not have gone on vacation and could be hiding out at Jake’s house for all Hayden knew.
But if Hayden were to follow on that thought, then his next question would be—what was going on in Kai’s life that he felt a need to hide from everyone around him?
