“Gracie, she didn’t show up for Physio and she hasn’t called or texted.”
“She’s probably busy with work, maybe an emergency.”
“Na, man, she’s got a week off.” I peered out the window as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “I’ve got a bad feeling.”
I opened the text she’d sent me earlier, at 0800 hours. I hit the blue writing of Martha’s number and flicked her a text.
Me: Hey, it’s Kaden. Have you heard from or seen Gracie?
I hit send and then sent a text off to Gracie.
Me: Babe you all good??
I couldn’t shake my gut feeling that something was wrong.
My phone vibrated and I swiped to unlock, hoping it was Gracie. Nope, it was Martha.
Martha: No, isn’t she with you?
Me: No, she left earlier and said she would be back to watch my physio.
Martha: Was that last night?
Me: No, she spent the night here with me and left this morning around 8.
Martha: Okay, that’s not good.
That text confirmed my gut feeling. My baby was in trouble and I had to get to her.
Me: Where does she live? Brad is here, and he’ll take me.
“Brad help me up, now.”
I glanced over to where he dozed in the chair. His eyes opened lazily. “What?”
“Gracie’s in trouble, get me up now.”
His eyes snapped open on hearing the alarm in my voice. He could see I was deadly serious.
“Fuck, dude your pale as.” Jumping up, he hoisted me out of bed and set me into the wheelchair.
“I have a fucking bad feeling about this.”
Martha: 16 Mount Raven Drive. I’ll meet you there.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
KADEN
Brad hadn’t come to a complete stop before I threw the door open, hauled my shit as heavy legs out of the car and ignoring the pain, pulled myself onto my feet. Pain licked at my senses, leaping and spiking through me, beads of sweat broke out over my face and body. up ignoring the pain licking at my I dragged myself to the open front door, noting skid marks in the lawn and street, as if someone has taken off in a hurry. A heavy weight settled in my gut as Brad and Martha raced up to join me.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Martha was as worried as me and Brad draped his arm around her.
“It’s going to be okay, honey.”
His eyes fixed on mine; I saw right through him. We had been friends since we were kids and I could read him like a book. His mouth was saying one thing, he was thinking another.
Holding onto the side of the house for support, I dragged my legs up the steps. Sucking in a deep breath, I walked into the house. The stench of beer and fear overwhelmed me, the place was a mess and deadly quiet.
