Page 87 of Wasted On You

Anne Sullivan answered and asked too many questions, probably because he kept answering with,“I don’t know.”

“Mike Paul do you want a deputy to come out there? Because I can send Humphries but he’s already at a call so it will take a while.”

“Send him when he’s done. I’ve got a missing kid.”

“Didn’t know you had one.”

“It’s the Clappison boy. He’s staying with me while his dad’s in jail.”

“All right. I’ll send Humphries out, but like I said, we’re short staffed seeing as it’s Christmas Eve so it will be a while.”

Where the hell was Jacob?

Mike Paul ran out to his office, but it was locked up and nothing was out of place. Then he headed for the barns and checked on the animals. Again, nothing was out of place. His cell phone pinged, andThe Kidcame up on caller ID. Relieved, he grabbed it as he turned to head back to the house.

“Where the hell are you?”

“Dad’s out.” The words were whispered.

Immediately concerned, Mike Paul stopped dead in his tracks. “Jake?”

“I’m sorry he wrecked the house. I tried to stop him.” The teenager sounded weird and was slurring his words.

“I don’t care about that. Where are you?”

“Home.” That bad feeling in Mike Paul’s gut intensified.

“You don’t sound right.”

“I don’t feel good.”

Mike Paul hopped in his truck. “I’m coming to get you. Stay put, and don’t move.”

There was no answer. Mike Paul wheeled the truck around and headed toward Big Bend. He called the Sheriff’s office and told the dispatcher that he’d located Jacob and to instruct Humphries to meet him at the Clappison place.

He drove to the south end, an area that had seen better days. Some of the homes were well-kept, but most were in a state of disrepair. The Clappison place fell under the latter category and looked no different than the week before—sheets covering the windows and garbage piled up along the side with two broken-down vehicles parked haphazardly in the driveway. Mike Paul parked his truck on the street and ran up the small, uneven steps. The lights were on, and music blared into the otherwise quiet night.

He didn’t bother knocking because no one would hear him anyway. He opened the door and let himself inside.

The front room was small and messy, with piles of clothes and crap in the corners. A cat stared at him from on top of the old television with a busted-out screen. The tired grey walls, bright from the overhead lightbulb that hung from the ceiling, were harsh. He spied Jacob, seemingly asleep on the ratty sofa, a bunch of half-empty liquor bottles on the coffee table. The kid’s face was starting to bruise, and his right eye was swollen shut. He bent over and checked his vitals. His breathing was shallow, his heart rate thready. There was powder residue on the table and a bag of pills beside it.

Blinding rage shook through Mike Paul. His body thrummed with the force of it.

“Get away from my boy.” The guttural voice came at him.

Mike Paul took a moment. It was that, or he’d kill the bastard. “You don’t deserve this kid.”

He turned, and the world became small. Marcus stood by the front door, his crazy eyes glassy and round in his gaunt face. Spittle pooled at the corners of his thin mouth, and his clothes were dirty and stained. He was strung out and aggressive, but it was the thing in his hands that made Mike Paul’s blood run cold.

He tried his best to keep his voice calm and reasonable. “Now, Marcus, let’s talk about this. I don’t know what he’s taken, but he’s not doing good. Your boy needs to get to a hospital. We need to get him there. You and me. Okay?”

Marcus Clappison didn’t say a word. He pulled on the trigger and fired.

Chapter24

Ivy droveout to Mike Paul’s place and found it dark with no signs of him or his truck. She’d knocked, hoping that maybe Jacob was there and could tell her where to find Mike Paul, but again, no luck. All she’d managed to do was spook the dogs. Weiner and Bun barked crazily, and she stepped back.

She’d pinned all of her hopes on finding him here. Of throwing herself into his arms and making him see just how much she loved him. She didn’t need to figure anything out. All she wanted was him. Forever.

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