Shirley didn't say anything; her mind was scrambling. She didn't like where this conversation was heading.

“So I went to the address on the lawyer's card. It was downtown, and there was a law office, but the name of the law office there didn't match.”

“Maybe they changed the name.”

“I thought the same thing, so I went inside. They've been there nearly twenty years and no one had heard of Zebulin Johnson.”

Wade stopped and Shirley's brain started running through logical possibilities until none could be found except for the one they were both afraid to say.

“What about the name, did it show up in the phone book?”

“I did a search on my laptop and couldn't find a Zebulin Johnson anywhere in the country, as a lawyer or otherwise.”

Shirley was quiet for a long time.

“Maybe you should call the police.”

Wade had apparently already considered that and ruled it out.

“What would I tell them? I couldn't think of an explanation that would make sense. And then they'd likely have a bunch of questions I don't have answers for.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don't know yet, but until I do, not a word to Katie. I don't want her knowing about this until I can figure out how to handle it.”

“You know you can trust me. Let me know if I can help.”

“I will. I just needed someone to talk to. Thanks.”

He hung up.

Shirley laid the phone down and sat for what felt like hours, just running through the possible scenarios over and over in her head. She couldn't get any of them to come to a positive end. She hoped her son-in-law could think of something she hadn't.

 

Chapter 10

Detective Jason Strong had spent the last several days trying to find connections between the victims. He wasn't having any luck. He assumed that Michael had lost touch with reality. It also seemed likely that he somehow held all of these people responsible for what had happened to his son. Never mind that there was nothing to suggest that they even knew each other.

Sam Garner came into the conference room that Jason was using as a makeshift office. He was waving a stack of papers.

“Got something!”

“Really, what?”

“Phone records from Stan Turnbull's cell.”

Jason took them as Sam continued.

“They show several calls were made recently to a number in Texas.”

“Did you get an I.D. on the number?”

“Yeah. It belongs to a Benny Carter in Hondo, Texas.”

Jason sat back in his chair and whistled. Sam stared at him.

“You know the name?”

“Yes. He was the torture-murder victim that led me to check out Michael Barton in the first place.”

It was Sam's turn to whistle.

“No kidding? And Stan Turnbull was trying to reach him.”

“Yes. That makes the connection between Texas and Missouri, but it doesn’t tell us why they were in contact.”

Sam was nodding.

“It seems to settle the question of whether or not we're on the right track.”

Jason tossed the phone records onto the table.

“I think so, but it still doesn't give us a next step. What did these people have to do with Michael Barton?”

Sam took off his hat and wiped his brow.

“Maybe he thinks they stole his son. You know, some type of conspiracy.”

Jason realized that if Sam was right, he could be on the path to solving the biggest case of his life. The Barton kidnapping still haunted him. He couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have the answers after ten years. He also realized that Michael may just be a madman, blaming anyone for his pain, and these people had nothing to do with it.

“It's possible. He may think that, but that doesn't make it true. At least, not to us. To Michael, it may seem undeniable. If that's the case, it makes him very dangerous.”

****

It was a few days before Katie allowed them to go to the ice cream truck, partly as punishment, and partly because of her own worries.

Jesse came up behind her.

“Mom, can we have our dollar today?”

“All right. First, tell me what the rule on strangers is.”

“Don't talk to anyone who has never been to our house.” Jack intoned.

It was the new rule. The revision had come from their dad when he found out what had happened. Dad had seemed even more upset than mom.

Jack and Jesse got on their bikes and headed down the road. The ice cream truck was there, and they could see Tommy waiting for them. They rode up and got off, laying their bikes in the grass.

“Hi, guys. Haven't seen you two in days.”

“We got in trouble.” Jack explained.

“I figured it was something like that. The usual?”

“Nope. I want an ice cream sandwich, like Jack.”

Jack turned and looked at his brother, then back at Tommy.

“Okay. Make it two sandwiches, please.”

Jack paid and the boys said goodbye. Tommy helped some other kids while the brothers settled in the grass to eat.

Jack was done first, and got on his bike.

“Come on, Jesse. Let's go.”

Jesse seemed to be trying to decide whether to eat the remaining ice cream or wear it. Wearing it finally won out when Jesse scrambled to catch up to his big brother.

Jack looked over his shoulder and saw Jesse gaining on him. He also saw a truck coming up from behind Jesse, and it was gaining fast. Before Jack could react, the truck had overtaken Jesse and clipped his back tire.

Jesse catapulted into the air, his bike spinning out from under him. The truck sped away, barely missing Jack, as Jesse landed awkwardly on the sidewalk.

Jack screamed, dropped his bike and ran back to his brother. Jesse's arm lay at a strange angle. Blood was coming from his knee and the back of his head. He wasn't moving.

“Jesse! Jesse!”

His brother didn't answer. Jack started to cry. He looked up and saw Tommy running towards him with his cell phone at his ear.

“Jack, go get your mother!”

Jack didn't move.

“Jack! Jack!” Tommy waited until Jack focused on him. “Go get your mother, now!”

Instantly, Jack was running. He was running faster than he ever had. He raced to get to his mother.

 She can fix it, she has to.

He nearly tripped coming through the door.

“Mom! Mom!”

He was screaming and crying all at the same time.

His mom was upstairs putting away laundry and he didn't hear her fly down the stairs.

“Jack! Jack, here I am.”

Jack had gone in the kitchen looking for her. He came back into the living room and found his mother. He ran at her and when she went to hug him, he ducked her arms, instead grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door.

“Come on! Jesse got hit by a truck!”

Katie stopped so suddenly that she nearly jerked Jack off his feet.

“What?”

Jack was still pulling at his mother's hand.

“Down the street. Come on, mom!”

His mom finally began to move when they heard a siren in the distance. She picked up Jack and ran.

****

Michael had barely missed Jack in the effort to get away, so he couldn't tell how badly Jesse was hurt. He knew he had clipped his bike and he had seen the boy fly up in the air. He was still shaking from nearly hitting Jack. Tammy would have been terrified to see how close he had come to their son.

He drove several blocks before pulling around the corner and into a parking lot behind an apartment building. He stepped out of the truck, wiped the steering wheel down, and strode over to his car. Heading back to the motel, he cruised past the accident scene.