by Laura Acton
Several minutes later, Dan pushed upward, reached for the handle, and pulled himself up, placing a hand on the tiles for support. He rinsed his hair, and carefully washed his face with soap to disinfect the cuts on his lips, cheek, and above the right eye, hissing at the throbbing pain.
Once he managed to dry off and dress, Dan stared at his new backpack. He pulled out his notebook, ripped out a piece of paper, and grabbed a pen.
General, I’ll never measure up to your standards. I always screw up. I’m leaving. That is what you wanted all along. I’m not worthy of love or family and don’t belong anywhere. That was made abundantly clear to me today. No one will care if I disappear from this earth. Daniel Broderick
After setting the note on the backpack, Dan pivoted and exited the locker room, unaware of the droplets of blood which dripped on to the paper. Once outside, he started a slow jog. To where, he didn’t know. All Dan knew was he must leave. As snow began to fall, so did his tears.
Find My Boy!
10
February 11
Hillview High School – Outside – 5:15 p.m.
William’s meeting ran longer than planned, and he arrived thirty minutes later than he told Daniel he would be here. He expected to find him waiting outside the school because Daniel always followed orders. In this case, with the recent snowfall and plummeting temperature, he was glad his son waited inside. Checking the time, William noticed he had been waiting in the car for ten minutes. Yvonne would be keeping dinner warm for them by now, so he exited the vehicle and headed to the front office.
Coach Westwell pulled his jacket closed, glad the snow stopped, for now at least. He smiled thinking about the beef stew his wife said she made and was waiting for him. Today had been extra-long, staying late to review all the tryout times. My team will be fantastic this year. We are going to win the division with Broderick. Christ, the boy’s times are outstanding, even wearing boots.
The sound of crunching gravel pulled Kevin from his reflections. Turning in the direction of the noise, he spotted the general marching towards the administration building. “General Broderick, sir.” The soldier stopped and changed course towards him. “Hello, sir. I’m Kevin Westwell. Your son is in two of my classes. Thank you for permitting him to stay to try-out today. That boy of yours is a godsend to our cross-country team. Fastest runner I’ve seen in years.”
William allowed a rare smile. “Excellent news. He enjoys running. I’m looking for Daniel. Have you seen him?”
“Well, hmmm.” He checked his watch. “About an hour ago he was in the lockers after showering and dressing. Had his back to me but he sat on a bench and started to pull out a notebook. Perhaps to do homework since I told him he could wait inside. Haven’t seen him since.”
“Is there anywhere he might go to stay warm? Is the library still open? He likes to read. He might’ve gone to check out a book.”
“No, our library closed a long time ago. Perhaps he is still in the locker area or went into the gym since it is quite cold out here. Let’s check. Follow me, sir.” Westwell led the way as he pulled out his keys to unlock the door. While walking, Kevin took the opportunity to elaborate on Dan’s performance on the run, his weight training assessment, and how well he did in rugby.
William’s chest swelled with pride and happiness. His son always amazed him. Daniel’s first day appeared to be an enjoyable one. When Daniel called from the spirit store and requested permission to try out, William couldn’t wait to find out the results. Cross-country sounded like a perfect fit for Daniel because his boy loved to run.
Yvonne will be pleased too. Her boy is home, and our family might heal now. He and Yvonne had been so ecstatic Daniel did not go catatonic at the intersection yesterday. Yvonne also shared with him how she got Daniel to talk about Sara and a spark of hope lit William’s heart. My wife is an amazing woman. Perhaps things will change for the better between Daniel and me too.
Hillview High School – Boy’s Locker Room – 5:20 p.m.
“Dan’s locker is down the next aisle. If he isn’t there, I’ll hustle into the gym.” Rounding the corner, Kevin smiled. “Well, his stuff is still here.”
William went to Daniel’s backpack when he spied a piece of paper on top. As he picked it up, William noted his son’s handwriting and a rust-colored drop which appeared to be dried blood. The words he read crushed him. The blood worried him. “Was Daniel injured today?”
Kevin shook his head. “No. Appeared a bit tired but after an hour of rugby and a three-mile run that is to be expected. Why?”
“There is blood on this sheet.” William only flashed it, not wanting Westwell to read Daniel’s painful words.
Westwell wondered why the general didn’t allow him to examine the paper closer. Though, his thoughts switched as he caught sight of a blood droplet on the floor. He followed a trail ending at the used towel basket. “Christ, almighty!” Westwell exclaimed.
William followed and spied the bloodied towel the coach held in his hand. He reached for the towel, his mind running over Daniel’s message … No one will care if I disappear from this earth. His gut seized.
While Broderick stared into the hamper, Kevin spotted a path of droplets leading towards the showers. He stopped short as he peered at the scene before him. Dread at what might’ve happened colored his tone as he said, “General, you need to see this!”
William hurried over, halted, and stared at the tiled area which contained smeared blood down one wall with a bloody handprint, a puddle of blood, and blood-streaked soap dispenser and shower handle. He roared, “What the hell happened to my son?’”
Shaking his head, Kevin said, “No idea. I heard nothing. I hope that isn’t his blood … but if not his …” Westwell didn’t finish his statement. Instead, he pivoted and called out as he started to run, “I’ll check the restrooms and gym, back in a minute.”
As William stood stock still, images of Sara’s blood-covered, lifeless body superimposed over the disturbing scene. Daniel, what happened? Please be okay. Dear God, I can’t lose another child.
More of Daniel’s words repeated in his head. I’m not worthy of love or family and don’t belong anywhere. That was made abundantly clear to me today. William’s logical mind took control, and he reached for his phone. Whether this was Daniel’s blood or not, this must be investigated.
Coming to a halt, a tad out of breath, Kevin reported, “I didn’t find him. What did his note say?”
“I’m calling the MPs.” William started to dial.
“Dan said he was calling MPs?” Kevin’s expression showed confusion.
“No. I am. Daniel’s missive and this,” William’s hand waved to the evidence of violence, “leads me to believe someone assaulted him.”
“Sir, the school is off base and out of their jurisdiction. We should contact the constabulary instead.”
“You call them. I’m phoning the base MPs.” Though he comprehended this would be out of their scope, William wanted men he trusted to find his boy.
Kevin hurried to his office to contact the local station. He told the officer who took his call he found a blood-smeared shower and a student appeared to be missing. He then telephoned the school principal. Charles would want to be informed of an apparent attack on one of their students.
Five minutes later, Constable Liam Sundqvist entered the boy’s locker room through the propped open portal. Familiar with the high school, his alma mater, and his son’s current school. He strode up to the two men. One he knew well, the other he did not. “Westwell, what seems to be the issue here?”
Spotting Jacob’s father, Kevin said, “A bad situation. A new boy is unaccounted for, and the shower is a bloody mess. I’m unsure what occurred, but it can’t be good.” He pointed to the general. “This is General Broderick. His son Daniel is the one missing.”
“How long has he been gone?”
“Last time I saw him, he was sitting on the bench by his rucksack, about ninety minutes ago,” Kevin sh
ared.
“Let me take a look at what concerns you,” Sundqvist directed.
“My son disappeared over an hour ago. You need to get his description out to your men now. Examining the attack scene can wait,” William asserted.
Pulling up to his full height, which was several inches shorter than the imposing general, Sundqvist said, “You may be in charge at the base, but this is a civilian matter.” Dismissing him, Liam strode for the boys’ showers.
Frustrated, William shadowed them because he received the same response from the MP he spoke with. He now waited for a call back from the master corporal’s commander. But William would not be thwarted. “Daniel’s injured. I’m not sure how severely but there is a lot of blood. I have no clue where he would go. Daniel knows no one here. We must begin searching now.”
Viewing the mess, Sundqvist asked, “Are you sure it is your son who is injured?”
“My gut and his note tell me yes.”
“What note?” Liam turned his eyes to the general.
“This one.” William handed over the message. “That is blood. And Coach Westwell followed a trail from his locker to the hamper to these showers.”
Sundqvist took a moment to read before peering at the father. “Says here he screwed up. Perhaps he beat someone up, and he’s afraid to take responsibility for his actions and ran away.”
General Broderick stared at the man in disbelief before bellowing, “Are you an idiot? It would’ve been reported by now if Daniel was the aggressor. Besides, I know my son, it is not in his make up to attack someone. He is the one injured. Get your ass in gear and find my boy. Now!”
The hot fury combined with cold eyes caused Sundqvist to back up several steps. He swallowed a lump of fear stuck in his throat. Realizing this was a man you didn’t cross, Liam pulled out a notepad and said, “Give me his details.”
William banked his fire. “Daniel Broderick, sixteen years old, five foot eight, muscular build, golden-blond hair, cut short, but not cropped, and blue eyes. He is wearing jeans, a blue, long-sleeve shirt, a navy jacket, and hiking boots. Daniel had a red, Ottawa Senators ball cap this morning, don’t know if it is with him or not. I didn’t check his backpack yet.”
Sundqvist wrote it down. “Are you certain he didn’t go home?”
Rage built again, but William tampered down and controlled his emotions, hard to do when this involved his child. “Yvonne would’ve called me if Daniel arrived home without me.”
“Yvonne?”
“My wife.” William’s heart sank. He would need to call Yvonne soon, but he hoped to find Daniel before he did.
“Do you have a picture of your son?” Sundqvist asked.
“Not on me.”
Charles Wiggins approached in time to overhear the question and answer. “I can provide one. He had his school ID photo taken this morning.”
“Alright. Well, I’ll fill out the report, and once I receive the photo, the dispatcher will send out a BOLO to the patrol officers. Though, few constables are patrolling in this area given the ruralness. Oh, and don’t touch anything, including his backpack. The crime scene specialists will be here soon to do their thing.”
William glared again. “That’s it? You’re not sending people out searching?”
Shaking his head, Sundqvist said, “His note reads to me like a run-away … he says he is leaving and he doesn’t measure up to your standards. This,” he motioned to the bloody towel, “could be a set-up to make you worry. Seen it before. Teens do the stupidest things when the smallest thing in their world goes wrong. All sorts of drama.”
Pinning his icy eyes on the mindless constable, William ground out, “My son would not stage this. If you knew anything about him, you would not make such an asinine remark.”
Five MPs marched in and stopped before the group. “General Broderick, I’m Sergeant Riabald. Captain Barrett sent us to help search for your son. Can you provide us with particulars?”
“This is my jurisdiction,” Sundqvist objected, irritated by the interference.
Riabald turned frosty eyes on the constable. “That may be true, but the more hands-on-deck, the better. How many men are out searching now?”
“None. I’m gathering data.”
A smirk played on Riabald’s face as he dismissed the ineffectual man and turned his attention back to the general. “Sir, Barrett distributed Daniel’s base ID photo to all our men. Twenty started a perimeter search here, and ten more are combing the area beginning from your home in case he headed that way. Do you possess any additional details which might help?”
William gave them the description of Daniel’s clothing and shared his belief Daniel may have a head injury given the height and amount of blood present on the shower’s fixtures. Once they obtained specifics, Riabald and his action-oriented men hurried out to join the other soldiers in the search. Sundqvist went with Wiggins to obtain the school photo which left William and Kevin alone in the lockers.
Turning to the coach, William spoke calmly but intensely, “We need to find out who did this to Daniel. Whoever is responsible for this must be brought to justice. Something like this cannot be allowed to happen again.”
Crestfallen, Kevin nodded in agreement. “I’m certain the constables will locate Dan and discover who attacked him. Nothing like this has ever taken place here. This should not have occurred. I was in my office the whole time. I didn’t hear a thing. No one cried out.”
Shifting away from the evidence of Daniel’s attack, William moved to one of the benches, slumped down, and put his face in his hands. “Danny should’ve been safe here. Why do such horrible things keep happening to my son? I’m supposed to protect him, and I keep failing.”
Westwell watched as the hard, tough as nails General Badass became merely a man, a concerned father, who loved and cared for his son. Kevin struggled with whether he should approach or not, but compassion won. He placed a hand on the general’s shoulder. “You didn’t fail him. If anyone did, it was me. Dan was in my charge at the time this occurred. Sir, I’m so sorry I allowed this to happen to Dan. Your MPs or the constables will find him.”
Inhaling and holding for a four count before exhaling, William pulled his general mantle tighter, cloaking his soft spot for his family. He rose, needing to act. Retrieving his phone, he paced as he dialed.
When the call connected, William said, “Tom, I need help. Daniel’s missing. The MPs and police are searching, but I could use one of our in-country units … one well versed in tracking. Daniel excels at covering his tracks if he doesn’t want to be found and I’m certain that is the case now. I don’t have time to go into details. Who is available?”
“Yankee’s unit is here. His recon man, Shy, is our best tracker. Where do I send them?” Colonel Sutton responded as he also decided to send Trigger’s unit and any available soldier.
“Hillview High School. Daniel’s injured, not sure how seriously. But he’s out there alone, and it is supposed to snow again tonight. We need to find him before he freezes.”
MacEwen Station – 6:05 p.m.
Heading north for the past two hours, though not aware of his direction, Dan alternated between jogging and walking, and when the pain became too much, he would drop to his knees and rest. In the back of his mind, he worried the general might be searching for him, and he didn’t want to be hauled back and dressed down for something that was not his fault. So he stayed off roads, choosing to follow a river for a short while, then crossed farmland and went through small copses of trees between the fallow fields.
Alone, cold, hungry, tired, and hurting, Dan stumbled out of the latest woodland area. Shivering, he leaned on the streetlight pole, tucking his freezing hands in his pockets. The sun had gone down quite a while ago, and the lamp above created a small pool of illumination, pushing back the darkness of his environment but not of his thoughts. He spotted a newer pickup pull into the gas station. Too exhausted to keep walking, Dan considered hitching a ride. The further he got from base
the better.
He crossed the road and hung back as he contemplated the possibilities. If he asked someone for a lift, they would see his beat-up face and likely call the cops, something he wanted to avoid. And if they didn’t, they would want to know where he was headed which he wouldn’t be able to answer because he couldn’t say, anywhere but Dwyer Hill.
Dan spied three teenagers in a car as they drove into the station. Their laughter made him sick to his stomach … or maybe it was the last kick. Placing a hand on his painful belly, Dan breathed slow and shallow trying to quell his nausea, inhaling deeply hurt his chest too much.
When the truck’s driver went into the store, Dan made his decision. Moving as swiftly as he could without being seen by the teens and the occupants of another car, he headed for the rear of the tarp-covered truck. He noted the personalized license, with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ logo and the plate message RUN FREE. The license holder read Sullivan Sports Supply. Taking that as a positive sign, Dan lifted an edge, careful not to dislodge the tiedown, and snuck into the bed.
Crouching inside, he tugged the canvas back down. With a shaky inhale and groan, Dan crawled to the front corner. In the dark, his hands landed on a pile of coarse fabric. Shifting the pieces, he made a warmer and softer place to lie down. Once there he pulled more of the material over his body after curling up into a tight ball and using one arm to cushion his head. A few moments later, the vehicle roared to life and began to move.
In his little cocoon, Dan gave way to exhaustion as the constant drone of the engine lulled him into an uneasy sleep filled with demons who wanted to suck him into the depths of Hell. He laughed telling them he was already in Hell. I am alone. What Hell is worse than being unwanted and unloved?
An ethereal glow surrounded Daniel as archangel Hamon spread his wings as a shield and turned to face Samael. “You will not take his soul today.”
Samael’s talon reached out towards Hamon’s descendant … one who only comes along once each millennium. The soul he desired and strove to turn black since the boy was born. He almost succeeded the day he arranged for Sara’s death. “I am so close. He will be mine. You cannot shield him from all I can do. Even now the darkness encroaches.”
