The Passenger by Jacqueline Druga (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

that way. But I think you can call off the goodwill efforts. I understand it was started because he was alone, didn’t know who he was …”

“He still doesn’t.”

“We do,” Russ said. “And that’s good enough. His grandmother can take him and find him the doctors he needs. We don’t need to waste our time trying to be nice to a bad seed.”

“Ah, now see, Chief. I don’t believe anyone is a bad seed. Everyone has good in them. You just have to find it. God makes it a little difficult, but He always has a plan.”

“Well, your plan may be to guide him …”

“It is.”

“My plan is to get that boy out of town, but not before citing him for a bunch of things.”

“Are you serious?” Pastor Rick asked.

“The law is the law, Pastor. He broke that law when he got behind the wheel of that car under the influence. It wasn’t any freak accident.”

“So, he had a high blood alcohol level?”

Russ shook his head. “No, but it was something else. His behavior, I’m all too familiar with that reaction. He was on something; we’re just waiting for the blood test to …” He glanced behind him and Doc Jenner stood in the doorway. “Speak of the devil. Sorry Pastor.”

Pastor Rick just shook his head.

Doc Jenner walked in. “I have been calling and texting you,” he said.

“Sorry,” Russ replied. “I have been on the phone for an hour. What’s up?

Pastor Rick asked. “Did you need me to leave?”

“Nah, that’s okay. We don’t really worry about HIPPA laws.” He set a folder on the chief’s desk. “Dale ran the bloodwork on our Harold Whitmore.”

“And?” Russ asked.

“The only thing we found was GHB.”

Pastor Rick shook his head confused. “I’m sorry, what is GHB?”

Doc Jenner replied, “Gamma Hydroxybutyrate.”

Russ added, “It is found in ecstasy. It’s called a club drug.”

“Or,” Doc Jenner said. “A date rape drug.”

Pastor Rick stammered some. “I ... I ... I don’t understand. Why would someone deliberately take a date rape drug?”

“He took ecstasy,” Russ said. “That’s what it was.”

“Nope.” Doc Jenner shook his head. “The levels were not consistent with ecstasy. See, the levels of GHB drop fast, they disappear, usually within eight hours even in the blood tests. Dale said he was given the GHB not long before the accident. So, either someone wanted to have their way with our accident man or …”

Pastor Rick sunk into his chair with a heavy sigh. “They wanted him to die. They knew full well he was getting in the car.” He glanced at the chief. “Still want to cite him Russ?”

“I don’t know.” Russ shrugged. “If someone wanted to kill that boy it confirms he is a lot of trouble. A lot more than we see. You still want to follow God’s plan and guide him?”

“Actually, yes,” Pastor Rick replied. “Now, more than ever.”

“I hear you Pastor, I do,” Russ said. “Just like I have to ask my self is it worthy of my time to cite him, you have to ask yourself is he worthy enough of your time to help.”

“That’s where we differ, Chief. In my opinion,” Pastor Rick said. “Everyone is worthy.”

TEN

Cate watched her husband. He was literally beside himself and that was strange for him. At least him showing it.

He paced as he spoke on the phone, out of earshot then back in. It was hard for her to piece together what was being said. She knew it was the police calling back and when the conversation stretched into several minutes, she relaxed knowing it wasn’t bad news.

She worried it was.

They had stopped by the local police station earlier and they said they’d get back to them.

That didn’t set well with Grant. She supposed, like her, he felt helpless.

He had gone on his own to Jonas’ apartment and to talk to his band mates. Grant even cancelled dinner with Jessie because he said he couldn’t keep his promise not to talk about Jonas.

That wasn’t fair to Jessie. She always got pushed aside when Jonas caused concern.

After that, he sat at the piano biding time and tinkling random keys until the police called him back.

Finally, Cate heard the conversation end. Grant returned to the kitchen, nearly slamming his cell phone on the counter. He released it with such emotion it spun.

“What did they say?” Cate asked.

He shook his head and turned around. “They said they’ll make it an official missing person’s report in three days.”

“Did they say why the wait?”

“I don’t know, Cate,” Grant hissed in frustration. “Maybe because he’s an addict, maybe because they talked to the bartender and she said he left the bar alone. Maybe because he’s done this before. Who knows why? I told them Brett said he was fine. Angry about the fight, but fine.”

“Did they say when they talked to the bartender if she saw him drive off?”

“She told the police when she left there were no cars in the parking lot.

“You think he’s just sleeping like you said earlier?”

“I don’t know.” Grant shook his head. “The police said they called the Iowa State police, there were no accidents. He’s not been arrested. That we know of.”

“But they checked?”

Grant nodded. “That’s what he said.”

“Do you think he’s sleeping it off somewhere like you said earlier?”

“I don’t know, Cate, it’s eight o’clock at night. Although, he’s … done it before.”

“Do you think …?”

“Cate!” he cut her off.

“Grant, please don’t get angry with me, I’m upset, too.”

“Then show it. Show it. Oh, wait, that’s right, the sun is still up.”

Cate scoffed a laugh. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means your neuroticism has a schedule. Weekends are the worst and, like last night, you’re ready to jump out of your skin thinking ‘that’ phone call is going to come. But, hey, when the sun comes up, you go to church and everything is fine.”

“That’s not it, Grant.” Cate stood. “It’s because when the sun comes up, I realized how foolish I was getting over things I can’t control. And I’m