18
Russell
“Where is that boy?”I said under my breath as I looked at mywatch.
He hadn’t even seen the text I sent him before I went jogging. Even though it was still early on a Saturday, Ryan always woke up to my texts and replied. He usually went back to sleep, but he always acknowledged them. I knew he was most likely okay, but that hadn’t stopped an uneasy feeling from creeping over me. It prompted me to pick up my cell phone to send anothertext.
Russell: I got my jog and swim in. All showered and sitting out on the patio with my coffee and breakfast. Hope you’re sleeping peacefully. I’d love to be next to you rightnow.
I smiled at it and set my phone down next to my coffee mug. If I didn’t hear from him by nine, I’d call him. He had enough restless nights and sleep disturbances. If he’s sleeping, then I wanted him torest.
I finished breakfast, my coffee, read the news and even checked on the score to Ryan’s Dodgers from the night before. Picking up my phone, I opened my text string with Ryan. He still hadn’t seen either of the texts. I took my dishes into the kitchen and loaded them into thedishwasher.
I had just poured myself a second cup of coffee when my cell phone rang. The caller ID listed it as an unknown number. Given what I had going on with my attorney, and the fact that Ryan hadn’t seen my texts yet, I answered thecall.
“This is Russell,” Igreeted.
“Okay, Russell,” I relaxed once I recognized the voice as my attorney, “I know this is short notice, but the Los Angeles Police Department, along with a federal agent, are expected to arrest Chad Hudson this afternoon on possession, the production, and the distribution of pornography with a minor.” In victory, I clenched my fist and leaned against the counter as I continued to listen. “The warrant is being obtained this morning, so the arrest will be sometime early this afternoon at hishome.”
“Ryan’s childhoodhome?”
“Yes, correct. That’s where Chad Hudson currentlyresides.”
“Thank you for the information,” I said as I quickly made my way to myden.
“Russell—”
“Don’t say anything,” I warned him. I didn’t want him to say anything that might get himself introuble.
“Russell, be careful. Whatever the fuck you’re going to do today, becareful.”
“Always.”
I disconnected the call and grabbed the portfolio that I had prepared for an occasion similar to this. Might as well take care of that too while I was in L.A. I raced to my room and threw together an overnight bag, just in case. I got in my SUV and punched the address into the GPS for the house where Ryan grewup.
“Five hours, twelve minutes,” I mumbled as I read out loud what the display told me. It was five after sevennow.
Once I made it to the highway, I pressed my phone button on the steeringwheel.
“Call Ryan,” Icommanded.
“Calling Ryan,” the carconfirmed.
Moments later, the ringing tone filled the interior of the car. It eventually went to voicemail, and I left a message since I knew that I probably wouldn’t talk with him until latertonight.
“Rise and shine, my boy. I sent you a few texts a bit ago, please reply so that I know you’re up and okay. I have something urgent that requires my attention today, so I will not be around. I will call you as soon as I can. I love you,Ryan.”
I wouldn’t say that I was reckless on the road, but in the stretches of road where there were few or no cars, I opened up and let those 550 horses run. Four and a half hours from the time I left home, I was within a mile of Ryan’s childhoodhouse.
I spotted a Starbucks and pulled in for coffee and the bathroom because I had no idea what time it’d be when I got done with this. After I used the bathroom, I got a Venti coffee, a bottle of water, and two blueberry muffins to hold me over for awhile.
I turned onto the street where Ryan grew up, and when it came into view, I took a deep breath. As I slowly drove by it, I was filled with anger and sadness. My boy survived hell in there. I turned around at the end of the street and parked across the street, diagonally from his house. It was barely noon when I grabbed my cell phone and saw signs of life from myRyan.
Ryan: I’m up. Sleptin.
Each time I was about to reply, another car would drive by, and I’d wait to see if it was going to be the start of the arrest. I set my phone down on the charging plate of the console and ate the muffins while Iwaited.
My heart broke as I stared at the porch. It looked identical to how Ryan had described it. Metal folding lawn chairs with tattered fabric seats and seat backs. There was a faded blue ice chest between the two chairs. Potted plants hung haphazardly from the eaves, and a thermometer was attached to the house beside the screen door. I winced as I stared at the door. It was protected by a beat to hell screen door that contained the demons and secrets that caused my boy to wake with jolts during the night. Chunks of cement were missing from the concrete steps that took countless women into the house to hurtmyboy. My eyes fell upon the three-foot-high brick retainer wall that the mailbox sat upon. That was the wall where Ryan read his acceptance letter to USC for a baseballscholarship.
