Page 61 of Higher Notes

“Where are we?”

“Wow, what have you done with our sweet Jason?” Sikes sat a fresh cup in front of me and slid into the booth.

“Just exhausted. Sorry.”

“To answer your question, we’re somewhere between Fargo, North Dakota and Minneapolis.” We’d stopped in Fargo last night so the bus drivers could rest. This morning, we hit the road again for a short four-ish hour drive to Minneapolis where the bands played tonight.

“You’ve got a few hours before sound check to lie low and get your bearings.” Less than two weeks into one long ass tour. I hoped the guys found their footing fast.

By the time we arrived at the venue, the guys were caffeinated and ready to mingle in the form of video games in our bus, of course, while Ely and Jordan prepared lunch in their own buses. Totally understood why they kicked their partners out. Too many cooks in a small ass kitchen.

While the bands ate their fill, Snipe, Bones, Deuce and I met with the in-house security team and took a tour. We’d already memorized the maps and emergency protocols Fizzbo emailed to us as he did for each venue, but with time on our hands, why not?

Another day, another show, another town.

Lyrics from one of Chaotic’s songs, “Until You Came Along,” played on repeat inside my head. By now, we had all of them memorized plus many of Embrace’s. Thankfully thus far, no security breaches or concerns aside from overzealous fans had arisen, which was amazing considering Joey and Stoli were with us though they had their own guards. Those two knew how to draw and command a crowd.

I’d never understand the mind of fans who wanted their body parts autographed. All we could do was shake our heads and hope private parts weren’t flashed. To each their own but…yeah.

Public figure, I was not.

Thank fuck for that.

Things were smooth until somewhere between Richmond and Raleigh.

“Sikes,” I answered the call.

“Sending a picture of a possible perp asking around about Gabe. I had a local team tail him after school security notified me.” Fizzbo knew where everyone should be at any given time and had connections literally everywhere.

“Does Dana know?” I wasn’t sure she shouldn’t have been the first one the school called.

“Negative. I wanted to see if we could divert before we alarmed her. If you don’t recognize him ask Jason.” Fizzbo hung up. A few seconds later a picture of a man in filthy, tattered clothing came through.

“Snipe, do you recognize him?”

“Never seem him before. What’s the story?” I filled him in then we woke Jason.

“Jason, does this guy look familiar to you?”

He groaned and wiped his eyes then blinked at the screen. “Kinda. Why?”

“He’s been hanging around the school asking about Gabe. School security reached out to Fizzbo first before alarming Dana.”

“Let me see it again.” He studied it then when it hit his face fell. “Fuck. That’s Paul, Gabe’s deadbeat dad. He’s never even met him, and he wasn’t around when Gabe was born. I can’t remember his last name, though. He looks like shit.”

I grabbed the phone and immediately contacted Fizzbo. “Tell me you got something.”

“Jason said that’s Gabe’s dad whom he’s never met. His name is Paul, but Jason can’t remember his last name.”

“Fuck. I’ll alert school security and have them call Dana. Boots on the ground in less than an hour.”Click.

At this point, Jason was wide awake and dressed. “Is Gabe okay?”

“Sounds like it. The school is calling your mom now and Fizzbo is sending a local team to the school.”

My heart raced like mad but remaining calm was first and foremost. The one positive was that Gabe was safe at school and Dana would be picking them up at the end of the day.

“I texted Mom to call me. I didn’t want her answering my call and missing the school’s.” Jason paced the galley area of the bus. “What in the hell does he want with Gabe? He’s never cared before. He fucking bailed the second Mom said she was pregnant.”

---