“Can you tell me what happened?” she asks.
“Y-Yeah. These people grabbed me. Did Waylon already tell you that part?”
“He did, but I’d love to hear it from you.”
“Okay,” he says before reciting pretty much what Waylon had told them.
“Then they crammed me in the back of this SUV. They tied me up and started driving. It felt like they were driving for hours, but at some point, they pulled off for some reason. I don’t know why. It was in the middle of this field. I think… I think they were waiting for someone else. Maybe someone else was going to take me from them? I don’t know. I was still able to sit up, and when I did, I saw that the entire group was standing at the front of the vehicle. When they tied my feet together, I think it got stuck on my shoe, so once I slipped my foot out of my shoe, I got my legs free. I pushed open the hatch and took off running intothe marshy area. The weeds and, I don’t know… cattails? I don’t know what they were, but they were tall enough I could kind of hide in them if I crouched down. I was so scared they’d find me.
“But I managed to run across there and ended up in some park where I borrowed a lady’s phone and called my mom.”
I notice that she examines Cam the moment he says he ended up in the marsh. And I’m glad that Leland had us stop at that very marsh and forced him to run from one end to the other. Leland was so particular that he made us stop and buy shoes that didn’t fit us before we tramped around in the marsh as if we were looking for him. I think Cam was put off by the idea, not wanting to leave his mother, but it left his clothes dirty in the right places, and if Detective Patel stops to check it out, she’ll find his path through the marsh. Cassel even sent a fake call to Sophia’s phone so if Patel checks, she’ll see the call.
“That must have been so scary for you. We really want to figure out who took you, so let’s get you somewhere you can sit down and tell us more details.”
Nathan comes running out of the house and grabs Cam hard, squeezing him tightly. “Oh, buddy, you’re okay. You’re okay.” He kisses the top of his head and squeezes him again as I see Waylon and Ellis come out after him. Waylon looks extremely relieved to see Cam as well, and then he throws a huge smile at us.
Leland freezes when he sees it. “Why is he looking at us with such adoration? It’s… strange, Jackson.”
“Well, hon… you did just save his best friend,” I say.
“Ew.”
I’m forced to stifle a laugh as Waylon walks over to us.
“Uh… thanks… a lot… I knew you guys would find him,” he says quietly.
“You owe me so much,” Leland demands. “I’m going to make you train until your bones ache.”
“Please, no.”
“You’re going to be invincible. You’re also required to wear full body armor at all times. Just… not near any pools.”
“Jackson, please talk some sense into him,” Waylon begs.
I hesitate because… I’m kind of with Leland on this. I want him to be able to protect himself. I want to make sure that no one can ever hurt him again. Because there are people out there who know what he can do. And what happens when they come for him? We can’t be around him all day every day.
“Maybe just until his muscles ache, not his bones,” I say.
Waylon looks shocked. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I think we both like you too much,” I tell him.
That seems to fluster him a bit.
“Cameron, what if Waylon takes you inside so you can decompress for a minute while I talk to your parents?” Detective Patel suggests.
Waylon urges us to come with him—leaving the rest of our party behind—so we head into the house where Cam turns to face Waylon, opens his mouth, then proceeds to stare at him, like he’s not sure what to say now that he’s facing him. That’s when I realize that he’s not sure if Waylon is in the category of someone he’s supposed to lie to.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more,” Waylon says.
“It’s not your fault,” Cam replies. “Did you… know…” He stops and stares at us again.
“Did I know…” Waylon repeats.
“Am I supposed to do a magic trick?” Leland asks. “The only magic trick I know is how to pull a knife out when it doesn’t look like I have one. Like ‘Woooooo, knife is here… now knife is gone.’” He shows thiswitha knife, which doesn’t appear to reassure Cam in the slightest. Like imagine Detective Patel walking in at this very moment.
“So what really happened?” Waylon asks. “You were lying, right? Did those people take you because of your mom?”
