The Homecoming: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 5 (17 page)

     “Wait. I remember when he cut off his mullet. We were in the fifth grade.”

     “And were you in love with him at that time?”

     “No. Honestly, at that time he was just another boy who sat across the room from me.”

     “Well, even back then he was in love with you. And trust me, he’d have been your hero even back then. You wouldn’t have gone back to being poor and living in a car. Not with Super Jordan in your corner.”

     “That’s so sweet, but pardon me if I don’t believe you. I mean, you’ve been known to tell a tall tale occasionally to make a point. Linda says the reason your eyes are brown is because so often you’re full of…”

     Scott interrupted her.

     “Well, I hope she says that in a loving way.”

     “Of course she does. You know she still loves you, even though you’ve been divorced for years.”

     “I know. And I still love her too. I’m of the opinion that once two people are in love they never really fall out of it, despite their differences.”

     “I think the same thing. It’s amazing how many beliefs you and I share. That’s why I consider you an incredibly smart man.”

     “Likewise, my dear. And if you really don’t believe me about the photo, ask Linda. She’ll not only confirm that it exists, she’ll show it to you.”

     “I hope it does. It would be nice knowing that my husband secretly loved me for so many years.”

     “Sara, look in the mirror when you get inside. And then tell me, honestly, how anyone with half a brain could possibly
not
love you.”

     Sara smiled, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

     “Thank you, Scott…
Dad
. Not just for that, but for everything.”

     “You’re welcome. It what us Scotts… dads… do. It’s how we roll. It’s our essence. It’s what we live for.”

     As they walked into the house, Sara asked one last question.

     “You said there were three things you were certain about with my situation with my mom. But you only mentioned two of them. What was the other one?”

     “I’ll keep that one to myself for now. It’s more a prediction than anything else. When and if my prediction comes true, I’ll point it out to you that I knew it was coming.”

     Sara laughed, and as Jordan carried Christopher to her, she kissed her husband and then her son.

     “Boy, have I missed you guys. It’s nice to be home.”

              -33-

     Scott stayed for a late dinner and then said his goodbyes. They were short and sweet. After all, he’d be back for good in five short days. There wasn’t much to be said that couldn’t wait that long. And besides, it was already past dark, he had a two hour drive ahead of him, and he was scheduled to be back on duty at oh-six-hundred.

     So he was a bit disappointed when his youngest son Zachary wasn’t around to tell him goodbye. But not so concerned that he’d wait around forever waiting for him.

     “He’s been going down to the fishing pond lately to listen to the frogs croak after sunset and look at the stars and ponder the meaning of life,” Linda told him. “He’s of that age, remember, when he’s so unsure of everything. Turning into a teenager is a really turbulent time of life.”

     “I remember it well,” Scott said. “Please give him a hug for me, and if he wants to tell me goodbye he can reach me on the ham in a couple of hours.”

     Ten minutes later he was back on the road, both windows rolled down, enjoying the feel of the late summer breeze against his face.

     It never dawned on him he might have a stowaway in the back of his patrol car.

     And it never dawned on young Zachary, tucked tightly in the trunk and lulled to sleep by the motion of his first car ride in months, that his sudden disappearance would cause such turmoil back at the compound.

     But cause turmoil it did. Sara and Jordan put young Christopher to sleep, then walked to the fishing pond to check on Zach. They knew he frequently went there to sulk or to meditate when things were bothering him, and they wanted to let him know they were available to help.

     Not finding him there, Jordan assumed the worst.

     “Oh, my God! He went for a late night swim and drowned.”

     “Don’t be silly, honey. It’s too cool for an evening swim. That water must feel like ice this time of night. Besides, he’s a better swimmer than either of us. He can outswim a fish.”

     “Then… he must have wandered off and gotten lost.”

     “Now how in heck is he supposed to wander off? The entire property is surrounded by fallen mesquite trees and three strands of barbed wire. I kinda think he’d notice before he left the property and turn back.”

     “Then you tell me, smarty pants. Where the heck is he?”

     She couldn’t help but smile.

     “Smarty pants? What, are we back in second grade again? Nanny nanny boo boo and all that? Seriously, baby, he’s fine. He must have just wanted to be alone. Maybe he’s having some troubles he’s trying to work out.”

     “He’s a punk kid. What kind of troubles could he possibly have to work out?”

     “Are you telling me you didn’t have troubles when you were that age?”

     “No. I really didn’t start having troubles until I started dating you.”

     “And exactly
how
is my kicking your butt going to help this situation?”

     Jordan was still pondering the question when Linda’s voice came over the handheld radio.

     “Any luck, you two?”

     “No, Mom. He’s not at the pond or in the orchard. I think the bears might have eaten him.”

     “Is Sara still there with you?”

     “Yes, ma’am.”

     “Please tell her to kick your ass.”

     “Sheesh. Nobody can take a joke tonight.”

     Linda’s voice suddenly adopted an edge.

     “Jordan, it’s hard to find such a thing humorous when your brother is missing. Are you sure there aren’t any more secret places he goes to relax?”

     “Mom, if there were, we wouldn’t know about them because they’d be
secret
. Duh…”

     “Sara, kick his ass again.”

     “Gladly.”

     “No, wait. He might come in handy. Wait until after we find Zach. Can you think of anything else we can do?”

     Jordan did indeed come in handy.

     “Well, you could let Sally loose. If anyone can find him, it would be Sally.”

     It was a stroke of genius on Jordan’s part. Sally was a black lab, a product of Duchess’s latest litter a few months before. Half grown and a beautiful dog, she’d bonded with Zachary since before she opened her eyes, and the two were almost inseparable. And Jordan was absolutely right. If anyone or anything could track down Zachary, it was his canine best friend.

     Linda went immediately to Zachary’s room and called Sally’s name. She picked her head up from where it rested on Zachary’s pillow and quickly jumped off the bed.

     When Linda commanded, “Let’s go, girl. Let’s go find Zachary,” Sally left the room like a shot.

     It wasn’t until she went through the back door, into the walled compound, that she became confused. Linda watched helplessly as the dog wandered around the back yard, sniffed the air several times, and then scratched at the door to go back into the house.

     “No, honey. He’s not in there. We’ve searched the house several times. He’s not in there.”

     Linda waited several more minutes before finally giving up the idea and opening the door for Sally.

     Sally made a bee-line for the front door.

     “What is it, girl? Did he leave out the front door? Why in the world would he do that?”

     Linda hadn’t opened the door even halfway when Sally squeezed her way through it, bolted into the front yard, and barked three times.

     It reminded Linda of an old television show called
Lassie
, in which a beautiful collie would bark for help each time her young friend Timmy got himself into trouble.

     Once again, though, Sally became confused when she lost Zachary’s scent.

     She walked in circles several times around the front yard, then lay down in the middle of it, rested her nose on her paws, and softly whimpered.

     Linda was becoming increasingly exasperated, until Hannah and little Misty joined her.

     “Hey, isn’t that the spot where Scott’s cruiser was parked an hour ago?”

              -34-

     “Surely Scott wouldn’t have taken him anywhere without checking with us, would he?”

     “Not unless he had a death wish. And besides, he didn’t have time. He said he had to haul ass to get back to San Antonio so he could get some sleep.”

     “You’re right. But let’s try to call him anyway. Maybe Zachary came out to tell him goodbye at the last minute. If that’s the case, maybe he gave Scott a clue on where he might have gone.”

     The two women bumped into Sara and Jordan on their way to the security console.

     “You two, keep looking. Anywhere you can think of. Take Sally with you. If she catches his scent again, she’ll lead you right to him.”

     Hannah relieved her daughter Rachel from the security desk.

     “Honey, you go with them. I’ll take over here.”

     “Yes, ma’am.

     Hannah immediately got on the ham radio.

     “John Castro in San Antonio, this is Hannah at the compound. Come in, please.”

     Instead of her husband, she got Robbie.

     “Hannah, this is Robbie. You know that John gets his weekly shower on Friday night. He’ll be out in a minute. Can I help you in the meantime?”

     “Robbie, we’ve got a problem. Zachary’s gone missing. We’re hoping he may have told Scott where he was going before Scott left. Can you raise Scott on his police radio and ask him?”

     “How long ago did Scott leave?”

     “I don’t know. Maybe an hour or so ago.”

     “He may still be in the dead zone. Our radios only have a range of twenty five miles or so. But I’ll try and get right back with you.”

     “Thank you. Please have John call me when he’s free. He’s much better at thinking through these kinds of situations than I am.”

     “Will do.”

     Hannah’s next call was to the Sheriff’s Office in Kerrville.

     “Deputy Dawn, this is Hannah Castro. Come in.”

     “Go ahead, Hannah.”

     “Dawn, is the sheriff in his office?”

     “Yes, he is. Hold one.”

     A few seconds later Tom Haskins’ voice came over the airwaves.

     “Sheriff Haskins here.”

     “Tom, it’s Hannah. Believe it or not, I’m not going to give you a hard time about working so late or tell you your supper’s cold again. But we have a crisis and need your help.”

     “Uh, oh. What’s wrong, dear?”

     “Zachary’s gone missing. We can’t find him anywhere.”

     “Has Scott gone back to San Antonio yet?”

     “Yes. He left about an hour ago.”

     “Any chance Zach went with him?”

     “No way. He’d have told us. And he has to work his last few days. He wouldn’t be able to entertain Zach even if he did go down there.”

     “Any vehicles missing? Are all of the Gators accounted for?”

     “We didn’t think to check. Linda’s on her way outside to check now.”

     “Ask her to check the horses too. Has he been depressed lately? Had any arguments with anyone? Expressed any interest in running away from home?”

     “Zach would never do that.”

     “I don’t know why not. I did a couple of times. I think Scott probably did too.  I suspect it’s a rare boy who doesn’t run away at least once in his life.”