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

“He hasn’t seen him. I’ll be more than happy to have this behind the bar and show people.”

“I would really appreciate that,” Grant said.

“And you checked all the hospitals? Jails?” she asked.

“We have exhausted every hospital, jail, even rehab. There were no accidents that night. His name wasn’t registered.  Or even …” he lifted the wallet. “A John Doe.”

“John Doe?” Jeff spoke up with question to his voice. “When was this? When did he disappear?’

“We haven’t seen him in two and a half weeks,” Grant replied.

“Not sure when it was, but there was a big accident on Broke Man’s Curve a little while ago. Week, two weeks, I’m not sure. The guy pretty much walked away with only a little bit of injuries, which …” he fluttered his lips. “Was a miracle. Lots of wrecks there. No one ever survives. He lost his memory though. The local news called him John Doe. Just made me think.”

Chelsey snapped her finger. “Oh, that’s right. That’s the guy they’re saying claimed Jesus was in the car with him.”

“Um, He had to be in the car with him,” Jeff replied. “Just saying.”

Grant’s head spun. “Wait. There was an accident with a John Doe? We checked every hospital in the state. No one said anything about a John Doe.”

“Iowa?” Jeff asked.

“Yes.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s why,” Jeff said. “Broke Man’s Curve is in Nebraska. About twenty-five miles from here. I think they mentioned Williams Peak. Pretty sure it was Williams Peak Hospital.”

Grant felt instantly deflated. “Thanks, but that’s west, he would have been headed east.”

“It’s west on eighty instead of east,” Jeff said. “It was late. You said he had a gig. It was dark. Could be an easy mistake. You came all this way already, what’s another thirty miles to check it out?”

Grant suddenly perked back up. “You’re right. You are absolutely right. And you know what? That is the first solid lead I have had to follow. Thank you.” He backed away from the bar, stopped, pulled out his wallet and put money on the bar. “Buy this man his lunch and keep the change. Thank you so much. Both of you.” He headed to the door.

“Good luck.” Jeff lifted his hand.

“Let us know,” Chelsey added.

Something stirred in Grant, it was an exhilaration he hadn’t felt in weeks. He hurried out of the bar. As soon as he stepped to his truck, he looked at the road and it took him a second to remember which way he came in. Grant smiled. If he couldn’t tell in the middle of the day, surely Jonas could have been confused on direction at night.

The moment he got into the truck, before he drove off, he picked up his phone to call Cate and let her know about the hopeful news.

◆◆◆

Williams Peak was about as picturesque as any small town depicted in the movies. Grant was amazed at how clean it was. The buildings and stores were all in great condition. Tree lined sidewalks with outdoor cafes.

He thought about showing the flyer, but instead opted to go to the police station. If there was an accident and a John Doe, surely, they would know about it.

After getting directions from a very nice man at the gas station, Grant found the station and pulled in a spot by the road across the street.

He paused before crossing, but traffic stopped to let him go. He had never seen anything like it.

A female officer was seated at a desk by the door when he walked in.

Grant approached her. “Hi, Ma’am, would there be someone in charge I could speak to?”

She glanced up to him, but as her mouth opened to reply, a taller man stepped closer.

“That would be me,” he said walking to Grant. “I’m Chief McKibben, how can I help you?’

Grant was nervous, his stomach twitched, and hand shook a little. “I’m Grant Truett.”

“How can I help you, Mr. Truett?”

“I may be way off. Like three hundred miles off. But I heard there was an accident and … and my son is missing. I’m looking for my son.” Grant held up the flyer. “Have you seen him?”

Chief McKibben looked down to the flyer and lifted it. “Come into my office.”

NINETEEN

Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, Russ knew this. As a father himself, he hated that he had left Grant hanging, sitting alone in his office with no answers. But there was more to it than just saying, ‘Yes, we know where your son is.’

Russ wasn’t a medical expert, not by a long shot. Even he was aware there had to be cautionary steps taken with amnesia victims.

He called in reinforcements for the talk with Grant Truett.

“Marge can you and Old Joe come to the station,” Russ called them at the store. “It’s important. Nothing bad. Please, I’ll explain when you get here.”

“On their way?” Doc Jenner asked.

“Yes. Should only be a minute.”

Jenner leaned back and glanced into Russ’ office; he lowered his voice. “Did you say anything to him?”

Russ shook his head. “I thought it would be best if we all explained, and you tell us how to handle this.”

It wouldn’t take long for Marge and Joe to show up. Russ knew that. They were only a block away.

They, like Jenner, arrived within five minutes. Mr. Truett had been kept waiting a little over ten minutes, which to him must have seemed like a lifetime.

Marge and Joe had no clue what was going on when they showed up, and it was written all over their faces.

Just outside his office. Russ stopped them. “There’s someone here you need to meet. He’s in my office.”

Marge and Joe walked in ahead of Jenner and Russ.

Grant turned around in his seat, standing when the group entered.

“You’re him,” Joe said. “You’re his father.”

Russ looked quickly at Joe. “How did you know that?”

“I just did. This is fantastic.” Joe extended his hand to Grant.

Marge just stepped forward and embraced him. “Oh, you poor man, I know what you have been going