by Sharon Sala
“I’ll call my husband. We’ll be there at eleven, but I just want you to know I do not appreciate all this secrecy.”
“This isn’t about appreciating anything, ma’am. It never has been,” Charlie said, and disconnected.Then he made the same call to the Young family, but it was Peter Young who answered.
“This is Peter.”
“Mr. Young, this is Charlie Dodge, of Dodge Investigations.”
Peter’s heart dropped. He already knew Justin hadn’t told the whole truth, and he still wasn’t talking. But he hadn’t expected a call from the investigator.
“Do you have news?” Peter asked.
“I have information. I’ve already spoken to the Wells family, and now I’m asking the same thing of you as I asked of them. I need you to bring Justin to my office this morning.” He gave him the address and then added, “Be there at eleven.”
Peter’s heart skipped. “What’s happening?”
“All will be explained then.”
“We’re all going to be there together?” Peter asked.
“Yes, sir,” Charlie said. There was a long moment of silence, and then he heard the man sigh.
“Yes, okay. We’ll be there,” Peter said.
“Thank you,” Charlie said, and disconnected.
He heard the toaster pop up the waffles and grabbed a plate. One thing at a time, Charlie. One thing at a time. After he’d eaten, he sent Wyrick a text about the eleven o’clock appointment, but that was all. She would find out Raines was coming when he showed up.
* * *
Randall Wells was in shock when his parents showed up at school and checked him out, and when he found out where they were going, he seemed anxious. The closer they got to the address, the more nervous he became.
“Why do we have to go talk to that man?” he asked.
Harve Wells glanced at his wife, who was unusually silent.
“I don’t know, but if it helps them find Tony, we’re doing it,” he said.
“Yeah, of course,” Randall said.
“I suspect none of this would be happening if you’d been honest with the rangers when this all began,” Nita said.
At that point, Randall shut up. His mother had been riding him ever since that Wyrick woman’s visit, and he’d be glad when all of this was over.
It was ten minutes to eleven when they arrived and parked.
Randall looked around as they got out, recognized the same Mercedes he’d seen Wyrick driving and frowned, then reminded himself she worked for Dodge. Of course she would be there.
The family was silent in the elevator, and walked down the hall to Dodge Investigations without talking.
Wyrick glanced up as they walked in.
“Be seated,” she said, and then went back to what she was doing.
The trio did as she directed, and realized they were the first ones there. All three of them looked at each other, then took out their respective cell phones and stared at the screens instead.
* * *
Peter and Andrea Young all but dragged Justin to the car.
“I don’t want to go,” he kept saying.
Finally, Peter grabbed him by the arm and yanked him around to face him.
“This isn’t about what you want. It’s about Tony,” Peter said.
Justin paled, ducked his head and got in the back seat without further comment.
“Do you think we should have asked our lawyer to be there?” Andrea asked, as they backed out of the driveway.
Peter frowned. “Which signals we have something to hide.” He glanced up at his son in the rearview mirror as he put the car in Drive and accelerated. “Justin, do you have something to hide?”
“God, Dad! I’m sick of talking about this. Give it a rest.”
“How do you think Baxter and Macie are feeling?” Peter asked. “They’re probably sick, too. Heartsick. I have to say, I am very disappointed with the attitude you’ve taken. A friend you were with went missing, and all of a sudden you can’t be bothered.”
Andrea frowned. “Peter, for goodness’ sake. You act like Justin is guilty of something. He’s a kid. He doesn’t know how to process this grief, that’s all.”
“I don’t see tears,” Peter said. “I haven’t seen tears once. Just a lot of yelling about wanting to be left alone.”
Andrea glared. “You just don’t understand him. You never understood him. You’re always at work. I’m the one who’s there for him. I’m the one who knows him.”
Peter sighed. “Way to go, Andrea. It’s always about you, only this time, it’s not. And supposition won’t make any of this easier. Let’s just wait and see what this is about, before you decide someone is hurting your baby...who, by the way, will be eighteen in two months.”
“Dang, Dad,” Justin said.
“I’m not talking to you,” Peter said.
Justin slumped back down in the seat and the rest of their trip was made in stone-cold silence.
“There’s the Wellses’ car,” Andrea said, as Peter pulled into an empty spot and parked.
“Good. Randall is already here,” Justin said, already perking up.
They walked single file into the building, and rode the elevator up without looking at each other, walking into the office the same way.
Wyrick looked up again.
“Take a seat,” she said.
Andrea glared at the woman, resplendent in shiny purple leather pants and a gold satin vest revealing far too much of that appalling tattoo. She obviously did not own a decent blouse.
And then she realized Wyrick was staring back at her, waiting for her to do as she was told.
Andrea sat down on the other side of the room between her husband and her son, and looked at Nita and rolled her eyes, as if to say, What are we doing here?
Moments later, Charlie Dodge walked in, accompanied by two men in dark suits.
Wyrick blinked. Special Agent Raines and company.
She stood.
Charlie gave her a steady look.
“If you’ll please bring the families into my office, and your notes, as well, we will proceed.”
Wyrick nodded.
“Morning, ma’am,” Agent Raines said.
“Good morning,” Wyrick said, and then looked at both families. “Follow me.”
Seven
Wyrick had seating for Charlie and the families, but she hadn’t set up chairs for the agents. When she started to get two more, Raines stopped her.
“Thank you, but we’ll stand, ma’am.”
She nodded, then took a seat near Charlie’s desk, facing the families.
Both agents were at the door.
The families were looking worried now.
“What’s going on?” Harve Wells asked.
Charlie put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward.
“I called you all here to give you the news. Tony Dawson is alive, so if anyone wants to change their story, now’s the time to do it before shit hits the fan.”
The boys looked at each other, and then Justin stood. His voice was shaking when he started to talk.
“I told Randall the whole camping trip was a bad idea, but he thought it would teach Tony a lesson. We didn’t mean to hurt him. It was an accident.”
Randall started shouting. “You went along with everything. You even lied about Trish to make it worse. You made Tony believe he was dating some whore!”
Both sets of parents were in shock, but it was Wyrick who shut it all down. She stood abruptly.
“Sit down, both of you. Stop shouting. We already know you saw him fall. We know he was alive when you went off and left him. You lied to the park rangers. You could have told them immediately where your friend was, but you didn’t.”
Peter Young stared at his son in horror. “Justi
n! What the hell made you do something so vile to a friend?”
“He wasn’t a friend. Not a real one,” Justin said.
Charlie was angry, and Wyrick knew it, even though he had yet to raise his voice.
“So, because he wasn’t your real friend, it was okay to leave his body for the animals? Is that what you’re saying?” he asked.
Justin looked away.
Wyrick pointed at Randall. “So, you’re the one who wanted him dead?”
“Not dead. Just to put him in his place,” Randall muttered.
“You left him for dead,” Charlie said.
“We thought he already was,” Randall said. “But we didn’t touch him. He fell off the trail on his own.”
Justin pointed. “No, he fell when he ducked to dodge your fist.”
Randall came out of his chair in a rage, but before he could get to Justin, both agents grabbed him and pinned his hands behind his back.
Harve and Nita Wells were in shock, and Andrea Young was bawling. Her husband, Peter, was the only one aware of the reality of what was happening. His son was going to be arrested, and the charges were serious.
“If you thought he was dead, why didn’t you just go back and tell the rangers that he fell?” Charlie asked.
“He fell into those rocks and jammed his boot in so tight we couldn’t get it out. We tried to get him free. We took off his backpack and were trying to pull him free, but his boot was stuck. We finally got his foot out of the boot, but he screamed so loud and so long when we did it and then passed out. We thought he was dead,” Justin said, and started sobbing. “We thought we’d killed him. I panicked. I grabbed my pack and we started running. I didn’t realize until a few minutes later that I had his pack, and not mine. Randall said we had to hurry, that we couldn’t be found anywhere near the body or they’d blame us, so I dropped his backpack and ran back to get mine.”
“Why did you hide the pack?” Charlie asked.
Randall shrugged. “Justin was stupid for leaving it. I just shoved it out of the way to—”
“I found the damn thing, so don’t lie to me,” Charlie said. “If it hadn’t been for animals dragging it out, it might never have been found. You didn’t shove it anywhere. You hid it.”
Randall glared.
Justin was still crying. “I didn’t mean for all this to happen. When I went back to get my pack, Tony was just lying there. I thought he was dead. I thought the rangers would find him that day. I just didn’t want to get in trouble.”
“Oh my God,” Peter muttered. “I have no words. I’m horrified, and saddened beyond words that my son was a part of all this.”
“I’m sorry, Dad,” Justin said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Some friend you turned out to be,” Randall said. “You ratted me out. I didn’t touch him! I didn’t touch him!”
“They’re all yours, Agent Raines.”
Harve Wells gasped. “Agent?”
“Special Agent Raines with the FBI,” Hank said, and then addressed both boys as they put them in handcuffs. “You lied to the park rangers, who are federal employees, who work on federal land. You caused the accident, then left a friend to die. You pretended you did not know where he was. If he had died, you would both be facing murder charges.”
Andrea Young screamed and fell back in her chair in a faint.
“I’m calling my lawyer,” Harve Wells said.
Agent Raines shrugged. “Be sure to let him know that your son will face charges in federal court, and if he does time, he will do it in federal prison. My partner and I are arresting these boys and will be escorting them to jail. Charges will be determined and filed accordingly.”
Both boys were in shock. Even Randall’s bravado was gone. He kept looking at his parents, waiting for them to rescue him, but they were silent.
When the agents began reading the boys their rights and leading them out of the office, Justin sobbed.
Both sets of parents followed, with both fathers on their phones calling lawyers.
Once the office was quiet again, Wyrick spoke. “They still don’t know Tony Dawson has not recovered consciousness.”
Charlie nodded. “And that is its own kind of justice.”
“Trish Caldwell?” Wyrick asked.
“Now you can tell her Tony’s alive. I’m going to Morning Light.”
Wyrick’s gut knotted. Annie must be failing, and Charlie wasn’t talking about it.
“I’ll call her, then catch up on email and billing. Are you available for another case?”
“I’ll let you know,” he said, then left the office.
Wyrick sighed, then stopped at the coffee bar to get a cheese Danish and a cold Pepsi, taking them to her desk.
She ate about half the Danish, then pulled up Trish Caldwell’s phone number and made the call.
* * *
Trish was in her room, sitting by the window in her favorite chair, staring off into space. The house was quiet. Her mother was at work, and she was supposed to be doing homework, but she couldn’t focus.
She’d said so many prayers to God, and made so many deals with Him over what she’d do and what she’d give up if He’d only let Tony live, that she didn’t remember what she’d offered up last.
When her phone suddenly rang, she jumped. Then when she saw who was calling, she was almost afraid to answer. But the need to know...good or bad...was stronger than her fear.
“Hello?”
“Trish, this is Wyrick. Charlie found Tony alive.”
Trish cried out, then slid out of the chair onto the floor, sobbing.
“Trish! I need you to listen to me,” Wyrick said.
“Yes, yes, I’m listening,” she said. “Is he okay?”
“No. He’s far from okay. His injuries are severe. He’s in ICU in Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas.”
“Odessa?”
“He was airlifted there. Broken bones. Infection. Concussion, and the list goes on, but the surgeon was hopeful. What you need to know is that Randall and Justin were complicit in the injuries. They caused him to fall. They thought he was dead and left him where he fell.”
“Oh my God! Why? Why?”
“It’s not pretty,” Wyrick said, “but you have to know the whole truth. Randall and Justin planned the trip to ‘teach him a lesson,’ they said. Randall did it out of jealousy, and Justin went along with it.”
“I should have told him. It’s my fault. I should have told him,” Trish said.
“They blindsided him with the news. Randall bragged you were his girl first, and Justin lied and alluded to the fact that you slept around.”
“Oh my God! He will hate me forever,” Trish wailed.
“His parents are at the hospital. You can keep up with the updates on his healing from them. After that, the rest of it is up to the two of you.”
“Where was he?” Trish said. “Why couldn’t they find him?”
“He still hasn’t regained consciousness, so we don’t know all the details, but we know for sure what Randall and Justin admitted. And Charlie found Tony in a cave. He probably crawled in there as protection from predators and the elements.”
Trish was sobbing again. “I don’t care if he hates me for the rest of his life. I’m grateful he’s alive.”
“Do you know how to contact his parents?”
“Yes, I have their number,” Trish said.
“So, the rest of this is up to you.”
“What happens to Randall and Justin?” she asked.
“They were arrested this morning by the FBI. I don’t know what they’ll be charged with, but they’re both in big trouble.”
“Thank you for letting me know,” Trish said.
“Of course. And don’t give up on the relationship. Give it time. If it’s meant to be, it will happen,” Wyr
ick said, and then rolled her eyes after she hung up. “What the hell, Wyrick? You are such an expert in the romance department that you’re giving out advice?”
She took a drink of her Pepsi and then finished off the Danish before she went back to sorting through the emails from prospective clients.
* * *
Charlie’s gut was in a knot all the way back to Morning Light.
Please give me one more Christmas with her.
But the prayer was silent desperation. And why did it matter? She hadn’t known him or anyone else for months. His Annie was already gone. All that was left was the shell of her—a taunting reminder of the beautiful, vital woman she’d been.
Charlie had always been good at seeing past people’s public facades, but love had made him blind to what was becoming painfully obvious. All he could do for Annie now was make sure she was safe and comfortable, and be grateful she was ever in his life.
By the time he parked and got out, he’d shifted into quiet mode.
Pinkie, the receptionist, was on the phone when he walked into the lobby at Morning Light. He paused to sign in, then walked to the inner door for her to buzz him in. She was still talking when he heard the click, and he turned the knob to let himself in.
The faint scent of old bodies and the residents’ diapers was almost masked by the aroma of antiseptic cleaners and some kind of artificial spray—maybe lavender. Whatever it was, it was cloying.
An old man came shuffling up the hall and passed him without acknowledging he was even there. He heard a nurse from somewhere behind him talking to the old man.
“There you are, Jerry. It’s time for bingo. Do you want to play bingo?”
“Bingo?” the old man said, and let her lead him into another hallway.
Charlie walked past the common room, remembering the puzzles he used to work there with Annie. Working jigsaw puzzles had been her favorite pastime.
An orderly he knew came out of a resident’s room.
“Hey, Charlie. Still looking for lost people?” he asked.
Charlie nodded.
“Well, you came to the right place,” the orderly said, and laughed, like he’d made a great joke.
