Page 14 of Final Escape
“Just because there wasn’t a prowler still out there when Rick showed up doesn’t mean you didn’t have one.”
* * *
AT THE RUCKUS EMANATINGfrom the riverbank, Logan set aside his camera, took a last disgusted look at the massive rip he’d just photographed as evidence for the insurance company—too straight and even to have been from natural causes—along the deflated, fifteen-foot side tube of one of the larger rubber rafts, and strolled over to check out the latest fishing disaster.
Sure enough, the Nelson twins were in the thick of things—teasing and chortling over the tangled lines of two younger boys. Another two ignored the others as they sat on the bank tossing rocks into the water.
“Dylan, Austin, lay off,” Logan said mildly as he took hold of the fistful of tightly knotted filament. It was too tangled to ever pull apart. He eyed the two younger boys, both with nearly white-blond hair, who had come out just a couple times with the older ones. “Looks like you tried to get this apart, and it just got worse. Right?”
The boys nodded.
“Some days are just like that. Let’s see. You are...Robbie and Danny?”
They both nodded.
“Fifth grade?” Logan guessed high, hoping to elicit a smile.
“Third.” Danny’s lower lip trembled. “Robbie’s in fourth.”
“Do your parents know you’re out here?”
“We rode our bikes,” Danny said evasively, dropping his gaze to the rocky ground.
“Mom has to work on Saturdays. She don’t care,” Robbie added with a defiant tilt to his chin. “Just so we get back for supper, is all.”
“I see.” Logan pulled a knife from the sheath at his belt and cut away the mass of fishing line, then reattached each hook and bobber. “There you go, boys. What did you say your last name was?”
“Jensen,” Danny piped up as he eagerly reached for his rod.
“Now he’s gonna tell, stupid,” Robbie hissed, elbowing his younger brother in the ribs. “See if we get to go fishing then.”
“I don’t care if you’re here, but your mom does need to know and give her permission. Okay? The river can be a dangerous place.”
“Nobody owns the river,” Robbie shot back. “We learned that in school.”
“You’re right,” Logan countered, hiding a smile at the boy’s spunk. “But the land is mine, and since I’m the responsible adult here, I just want you to be safe.Andfor your mom to say it’s okay.”
“But...but this is the best spot on the whole river. Clear back to town.”
“I know. It slows down along this stretch, and there are nice deep trout pools close to the bank. There’s a good one just a dozen yards down from the raft launching area.”
Robbie’s brow furrowed with intense concentration. “Can we come again if we bring a note?”
“That would be good, though I also need to tell her that I can’t be responsible for you. All of the other moms had to do the same thing—talk to me, and write a note, if their boys wanted to be here.”
Robbie and Danny looked at each other.
“Phone number?” Logan prodded gently. He punched the numbers into his cell phone as the older boy recited them, then hit Send.
It didn’t take long to discover why the boys both looked so crestfallen. After he explained the situation, there was a brief silence, then the decibel level of their mother’s voice rose with each word, until he had to hold the phone well away from his ear. She disconnected before he could say a single word in the boys’ defense.
“Sorry, guys. She says you can’t be riding your bikes down the highway, and you are not allowed near the river.” He smiled at them, trying to soften the news, though the quiet snickers of the Nelson twins from a few yards away didn’t help matters.
Danny’s eyes glistened with tears, but Robbie’s face reddened.“Never?”
“She says you can’t come here alone. But maybe when you’re older, okay?”
“Are we grounded?” Danny whispered, a tear trailing down his cheek.
