Page 7 of S.O.S. Billboard

When there was no response, he kept up his conversational patter. “I wonder, though, if this is the right time and place for you to be practicing your skills? Your mother is really upset; scared actually, that something terrible happened to you. And I can only imagine how she’ll feel if the weather takes a turn for the worse.”

Billboard looked at the cloudless sky through the leaf-burdened trees and chuckled to himself. He knew the forecast was supposed to be good for the next few days. But was Ethan aware of that?

He continued.

“You know, if I don’t bring you home, your mother won’t have any choice. Her next step will be getting the police out here with their dogs. And I’m fairly sure you don’t want all that fuss.” He was banking on Mrs. Jakes’ distrust of the authorities having made it into Ethan’s steel-trap brain, so the decision would be easy.

“No police,” came a small voice ahead and off to the left of him.

Billboard pretended to ponder. “Well then, if that’s the case, I’m thinking I’m your best bet.” He casually played what he felt might be a trump card. “And maybe once you agree to head back with me, I can show you where a few of your attempts to evade me, went wrong.”

There was rustling in the undergrowth, and Billboard waited patiently. Ethan had to make up his own mind whether or not to come out, because if BB oversold his hand and lost the boy’s interest, there’d be a chase, after which Ethan would surely never trust him.

“You’re a good tracker?” Ethan finally asked, from a position that was a little bit closer than before.

“It took a long time,” Billboard admitted. “But, yeah. I learned the basics when I was in the Marines. Then when I took my current job at SOS—which is a search and rescue company—I met a guy named Sarge, and he blew me away with everything he knew. It made what I’d learned in the military look like a children’s game of hide and seek.”

“Wow,” Ethan expounded, clearly having his interest peaked. “Do you think I can…? Can you make it so I can meet Sarge?” Ethan asked.

Billboard snorted to himself. Of course, the kid wanted to be introduced to the best, but still, BB couldn’t help but tease. “What am I, kid? Chopped liver? Aren’t I the one who followed you out here?”

“Yeah. You did,” Ethan agreed. “But youalsofell into my pit,” he added without missing a beat.

Billboard let out a booming laugh, and it felt good. When was the last time he’d been this amused?

“You’re right. I did. And the guys are going to give me a ration of incredible sh--…um, grief over it.”

Now there was a snicker. “You can say shit,” Ethan assured him. “My mother told me that’s only a twenty-five-cent swear. Not like the ‘F’ word. That’s worth a whole dollar that goes into our swear jar.”

Billboard found himself really liking this kid, who was an interesting combination of naiveté and brains.

“Duly noted,” BB responded. “We’ll both owe your jar a quarter.”

“Wait. You’re going to tell on me?” Ethan asked suspiciously, but sounded more cheerful than annoyed.

Okay.It was time to cut a deal.

“I tell you what,” Billboard pondered. “You come out and sit with me; let me convince you it’s in both our best interests for you to accompany me back to your mom, and I won’t say a word about the swearing.”

“Does that mean I can use the ‘F’ word?” Ethan’s curious voice came back.

Billboard laughed again. “Don’t push your luck, kid. That’s some pretty spicy language for an eleven-year-old.”

“Twelve,” came the immediate reply before he backtracked a bit. “Well, almost. My birthday is next month, then I’ll be old.”

Billboard couldn’t stop his mirth from bubbling over as he howled. “Well, I’m thirty-four, so I guess that means I’m ancient. But you know what kid? I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. So what do you say? Should I teach you some stuff before I’m too decrepit to move anymore?”

Billboard made the offer, then held his breath. The bushes swished again. Was Ethan getting ready to run, or would he agree to hang out?

“Umm… Okay.” The small, tentative voice was back. “But you have to promise that my Mom won’t punish me.”

Should BB lie?Nope.That was a slippery slope.

He slowly shook his head, hoping the boy was looking. “I can’t promise anything, Ethan.Thatis your mother’s call to make.” Maybe a little guilt would grease the wheels. “You know she didn’t sleep at all last night; she was so worried about you.”

“She knows I’m good in the woods.” There was a strange kind of strength in Ethan’s answer, but he wasn’t finished. “Andshe knows I’m doing it for us. Just in case—” He cut himself off abruptly.

Billboard sat up straighter. What had the boy been about to say? “Just in case, what, Ethan?” he asked, hopefully keeping his tone casual.

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