Page 18 of Rescuer
“So useless.” Swanny kicked at the doorjamb.
Jackson’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He grabbed it and looked at the text. His eyebrows climbed. Elaine Dirk. Why was the mother of Dylan’s best friend texting him? He clicked on the message.
Elaine
Hi Jackson. R boys ok?
What did she mean? He excused himself and walked outside to call her back. Elaine answered almost immediately. “Elaine? I got your text, but I didn’t understand it.”
“You haven’t seen the boys?”
“I saw Dylan on Monday. I haven’t talked to him since.”
She muttered under her breath. “That kid. My son, not Dylan. Reggie said they were going camping. I assumed that they were going with you. I was a little nervous when he didn’t contact me.”
“Did you call the police?”
She scoffed. “My boy has been in so much trouble they don’t pay any attention to me. Besides.” She hesitated. “This isn’t the first time he’s disappeared. He’ll come home. I’m sorry he got your brother involved in this though. My Reggie has a knack for getting into trouble.”
Jackson’s brain went on high alert. He knew Reggie had been in trouble at school in the past, but he hadn’t been aware that he’d had run-ins with the police before. Dylan hadn’t mentioned that.
But Dylan had also never been in trouble with Reggie before. At least, Cynthia had never told him about any problems.
“Look, Jackson, why don’t you call his teacher? I’m not that worried. Reggie will show up eventually. But if you’re concerned, you should call. If she knows anything about Dylan, she won’t tell me. I know it’s summer, but they’ve had orientation meetings and IEPs since the first of the month. She might know where they are. Or she might have heard something from a classmate. I can’t think who else we might call.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never talked to her. The woman at the foster agency always said since I wasn’t a parent, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be at Dylan’s meetings.”
He hadn’t liked it, but he hadn’t wanted to make trouble and risk jeopardizing custody. The bitter irony smacked him.
“I have her cell phone number. Nice girl. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help.” Tapping sounds drifted to him. His phone dinged. “There. I’ve sent you her contact. Go ahead and call her. If you learn anything new, let me know, okay?”
“Will do.”
Jackson glanced at the contact she’d sent him.
His breath caught. The name hit him like a punch to the gut.
Mia Turner.
Jackson would do anything, give anything, to have his baby brother home, safe and sound.
But could he do this?
Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number of the one woman he’d hoped he’d never have to face again. But for Dylan, he would face every demon he had.
Mia rushed home during lunch to check on Gus. Jane had texted earlier and said she’d run into a conflict and would arrive around ten. Gus had insisted Mia go and set up her classroom. So Mia had prepped her aunt’s midday snack and left, reluctantly.
School hadn’t started yet, and technically, Mia was still on summer vacation. But she and most of the teachers she knew came and went to make sure their classrooms were set up. When Mia had checked in with her aunt at eleven, Jane still hadn’t arrived.
Mia glanced at the dashboard when her phone rang. When she didn’t recognize the number, she let it go to voicemail. She didn’t want to be on the phone in case Gus or Jane called.
When she arrived at her aunt’s, she parked her car and dashed into the house.
“Mia! What are you doing home?” Gus muted the television.
Mia kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I have a little time. I thought we’d have lunch.”
“You mean you wanted to check on me. Jane called. She’ll be here at twelve thirty.”
