Page 82 of Legacy of Lies
It was already 4:00 p.m. now. He needed to head down to the highway and pick up Zach.
After driving to the end of the ranch road and parking the truck, Garrison took off his hat and rubbed his face and head. Shit, what a day.
The flat-nosed yellow school bus rumbled up to the ranch road and stopped. With a hiss, the doors opened.
Zach didn’t exit.
A fist of cold fear strangled Garrison.
Dashing out of the truck and up the three stairs into the bus, he scanned the interior. A few kids were left to complete the route.
“Where’s Zach?” he asked the matronly woman at the wheel.
Her eyes widened as she twisted around. “I don’t know. I thought he was here.”
“You don’t know if he got on the bus in the first place?”
“No I don’t take attendance each day. By now, the kids know which bus to get on. None of the other kids said anything.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Oh no.”
The foam on the padded rail shredded beneath his fingers.
His heart raced. Where was Zach?
Maybe still at school? Did Sara keep him late and was bringing him home? Surely she would have called.
“Mr. Taggart?” The driver sniffed as she finished dialing her cell phone. “I’m going to call this in to the superintendent’s office right now, but then I have to take these other kids home. I’m so—”
Garrett stormed off the bus before she could finish her sputtered sentence.
Zach.
As the bus hissed and rolled down the road, Garrett’s cell phone rang. Blocked caller.
He ignored the snow landing on his head and answered the phone.
“Yes?” he shouted.
“Hey, asshole.”
