"Good." He smiles. "I have some news."
"What? They're letting you out? Already?"
"No, it's not about that."
"Then what is it?"
His smile gets even bigger. "They caught him."
I bolt up to standing. "Your dad?"
"They caught him trying to break into someone's house. It was a cop's house. The guy was home and had his gun. My dad couldn't even try to run away unless he wanted to risk getting shot."
"Is he back in prison?"
Dean nods. "Got there about an hour ago. I was going to call you but I wanted to tell you in person."
I lean down and hug him. "I'm so relieved. I was starting to think they'd never find him."
"Me too. I thought he might've left the country but they found him in some small town in Indiana. They got him last night around midnight. Drove him back this morning."
"Where's Jake?" I ask, looking around.
Dean sighs. "That's the bad news."
"What do you mean?"
"He wasn't with my dad. They don't know where he is."
"Does your dad know?"
"He said Jake took off. My dad stopped for gas and when he got back in the truck, Jake was gone. I don't know if he got a ride with someone or just ran."
"Dean, I'm sorry." I take his hand.
"It's good. He got away. Jake's smart. He'll find a way back. I'm just relieved he's not with my dad anymore."
"I could try to go find him. And maybe Danny and some of the other guys from the team could look for him too. You said Indiana? Do you know what town?" I get my phone out. "I'll look it up."
"Brook, you're not going." Dean takes my phone and sets it down, then wraps his hands around mine. "I love that you offered to look for him but there's a whole team of people already looking. They've got alerts out at all the truck stops and gas stations. He'll show up. I'm not worried. Well, I am, but I know he'll come back."
"I'm scared for him. He's still just a kid."
"A kid whose smart and knows how to fight. I taught him how to defend himself. He couldn't fight my dad but he's smarter than him. That's how he got away."
"I'm still worried about him."
"I know you are." He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it. "I love you, Brook."
"I love you too."
"Now sit down and tell me what happened this morning."
"I told you, nothing—"
"You're lying. I can tell. Now what is it?"
"Chad came over," I say with a sigh as I sit on the bed. "I don't even know why he was there. He never really told me."
