Raking my hand through my hair, I state, “I’ve got a feeling there could be something wrong with cell phone reception in the Flagstaff area where I’m heading to now. If he needs me and can’t get through, that’s the problem. Tell him I’ll find some way to get in touch. You got it?”
Dum raises and lowers his chin. “Got it. You’ll be in Flagstaff but might not be able to make or receive calls.”
I have to trust him, but he knows the risks. The consequences of failure at any task given to a prospect are made clear to them time after time. As they’ll do fucking anything to earn their patch– including cleaning the heads with their toothbrush if asked – I have confidence he won’t fuck up.
For a moment, I consider taking my bike, but then realise it’s impractical. Ace has ridden on it plenty of times, but not for five hours, and there simply isn’t space for my bag or the shit he’s taken with him. The truck will have to do.
Once I’m on the road, I feel easier. I hated it when I was relying on phone calls and feeling useless when there was no answer. Now I’m taking action, I feel more in control. When I get on the other side of Tucson, I stop, top up with fuel, grab a sandwich to eat on the way, then quickly get back on the road. One by one, the miles add up, and although my numb ass and stiff shoulders remind me I’ve, yet again, been driving for hours, my physical discomfort fades into the background when at last I enter Flagstaff, navigate my way through, and finally end up at Toni’s house.
Immediately, I notice there’s no car in the drive. At first, the accident idea slams back into my mind, but the clock in the truck tells me it’s eleven-thirty. I made good fucking time. Them being involved in a car crash is still possible, but remembering Toni and all her fucking plans, now’s not a time when I should expect them to be home. She could have taken him out somewhere. She wouldn’t have expected me to arrive for a couple more hours.
After trying their phones one more time and still getting no answer, I’m too anxious to wait and decide I’m going to go inside. It will ease my mind if I can find evidence they slept here last night – maybe breakfast plates in the dishwasher or Ace’s bed left unmade. Her front door is locked, but that doesn’t faze me. I simply take my lock-picking tool out of the kit I keep in my truck, and only a few seconds later, the door is open.
An air of desertion greets me as I walk in. It seems strange to invade her home when she’s not here. But as I enter the livingroom, I notice the furniture’s all in place, but the throw cushions and personal items that made it hers are missing.
Blinking my eyes, not understanding what I’m seeing, my steps speed up as I ascend the stairs, heading directly to the room Ace stayed in. The bed’s still in the middle, but it’s devoid of sheets, a comforter, or pillows, and there’s no clothing, no bag, nothing to show anyone’s ever stayed there.
My hands start sweating, my breathing catches.I’ve got the wrong room.Quickly, I go to Toni’s and find it just as empty. All personal articles have been removed. It’s exactly the same in the bathroom.
What the fuck?
Panic rises through me, my heart racing fast.There must be a reasonable explanation.But damn if I can think of one. Quickly, I inspect the other rooms, only to discover the whole house is like a ghost town.
Pulling out my phone, I’m not even surprised when I get a signal, a full five bars. With shaking fingers, I stab at the first stored number.
“Freak, got your message…”
“Prez,” I roar. “I’ve got a fuckin’ problem. I’m here at Toni’s, and she’s fuckin’ gone. Ace, too. It’s like they’ve never been here.”
“What the fuck? What are you talking about?”
“I’m telling you my son’s missing. His aunt, too.” My voice is an octave higher than normal. Raking my free hand through my hair so hard I pull out a few strands, I barely notice. “Ace is gone, Prez,” I shout. “He’s fuckin’ gone. And I’ve no fuckin’ idea where to look for him.”
There’s silence then he says, “Calm the fuck down, Freak. Go back a step. How do you know they’re missing? They could have gone out somewhere.”
“They’re gone, gone, Prez.” Christ, I’m not making sense. I try to calm down enough to explain to him. “The place looks like a furnished rental property, but all the personal items have been taken away. Sheets, cushions, clothing, and personal effects in the bathroom are all missing. I tried ringing Ace and Toni yesterday, but couldn’t get through.”
“So you assumed a cell tower was down.” Dum obviously came through on giving him the message.
“Prez, what do I fuckin’ do?”
“You sit tight, Freak. I’ll get some brothers out to you. You think over all your interactions with that woman, and see if anything stands out. Did she say she was moving? Or was there anything odd about your interactions?”
“She said nothing. We arranged that I’d meet them both here this morning.” I’m pacing, unable to stop. “I’ll drive around Flagstaff…”
“Brother, you don’t know the area. I doubt that would achieve anything. Why would Toni disappear with your son? Didn’t she give you a hint? Think, man. Is there anything you can remember?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know,” I yell. “I don’t understand this.”
“Freak, calm down. We’re Kings. We’ll find him. I’ll get Pippa and Genie on it. They can track his phone…”
“His phone’s turned off. Couldn’t find him onLife360.”
There’s a pause while he’s thinking. “Text me Toni’s number and her address, and I’ll start Pippa working on it. She can try to trace her calls. Maybe we’ll find a pattern, or who she’s been talking to. But, Freak, right now, only you could have a clue about why she’d disappear with him. Was she running from anything?”
“How the fuck would I know? She never told me. If she had, I’d never have left Ace.” Crumpling, I fall to the ground. Unashamed, I wail into the phone, “I can’t lose him, Bullseye.”
Prez’s voice is steady. “You haven’t lost him. We’ll find Ace. I’m going now to organise the troops. We’ll be with you soon. Nobody fucks with the Kings, Freak. Ace is ours. We’ll get him back.”
