Marty raced to his car and got in before pulling out into traffic. Grant took his time, loaded Dexter into the back, and headed back to the station to get started.
He was just pulling into the drive when his phone rang. He answered it through the car. “Marty—what’s going on?”
“Cameron isn’t here,” Marty told him. “I don’t know where he is, but he didn’t come out of the school, and I’m scared half to death.”
Grant kept as calm as he could as he flipped on his lights and siren, then pulled to the right and made a turn, then made another, heading in the direction of Cameron’s school. “I’m on my way. Tell the teachers and the principal to lock down the building, and that none of the buses or cars are to leave until each one is searched.” He hung up and made a call to get additional units to the school.
He arrived to streets packed with cars and buses in line to leave as other units pulled in. “Check the cars, and once they’re cleared, let them go,” he told Red and Carter, who were the first backup on the scene. Atlas arrived with Evie, and he sent him to the buses, forwarding a picture of Cameron to each of them.
“When was Cameron last seen?” Grant asked his teacher, who stood with Marty.
“He was in class when the bell rang.”
“And he never came out of the building?” Grant asked.
“I don’t think so. I didn’t see him leave. And I was watching.” She seemed determined.
“Then we get the kids out and into the care of their parents. Once we’re sure he isn’t in any of the cars, Red and Carter will let them go. Dexter and I are going to search the building.” He stepped inside and let Dexter off his leash. “Find Cameron. Go find him.”
Dexter raised his nose and then walked down the hallway. He passed the gym and the larger rooms before heading down the hallway, picking up speed as he went. Grant followed him, walking faster.
“Do you smell Cameron?” he asked, and Dexter went faster down the hall before pawing at the door to a classroom. That was unusual, because he was trained to sit down when he found hisquarry. But he whined at the door, and the principal hurried up behind them, unlocking the room. Dexter continued inside and went right to a cupboard at the back. Grant opened it and leaned down.
A pair of frightened eyes stared back at him. “Cameron, it’s me, Grant,” he said gently. Cameron slowly got out, and Dexter finally sat down while Grant lifted Cameron into his arms. Cameron clung to him and burst into tears, crying deeply as though he had held in all his fear and now that he was safe it just had to come out.
Grant made a call through the radio for all units to stand down. “The boy has been found. Let the buses go and the parents leave with their children.” He couldn’t express how happy he was to be able to make that call.
“Why would you do that?” the principal asked Cameron. Grant turned to him, his gaze hard as stone. He swore if the man said one more thing he’d jump down his throat. Thankfully, he didn’t ask any more questions, and Grant carried Cameron back through the school, cradling him in his arms until he got outside. Marty raced up, and Grant transferred Cameron into his arms, both Marty and Cameron crying.
“I’m glad he’s safe. Where was he?” Cameron’s teacher asked.
“He closed himself into one of the cupboards in a room and hid under one of the shelves,” Grant explained as Dexter sat down next to him. Grant praised him and gave him a treat. He knew he was going to have to work with Dexter to reinforce his reactions, but somehow he figured that when it came to Cameron, Dexter was always going to overreact. He and Dexter might work together, but it was damned clear that Dexter adored Cameron and had taken him in as part of his pack. Grant would remain the alpha, but Dexter was always going to watch out for Cameron.
“We need to find out why he hid,” the principal said. “That caused a great deal of effort for nothing.”
Grant cleared his throat. “We will determine what happened and why. This involves a police investigation.” He narrowed his eyebrows, and the principal backed away.
“Cameron,” Grant said, standing next to where Marty held him. “What happened?” He knew he needed to be patient.
“I seed him,” Cameron said, tears running down his cheeks. “I seed him out the window.” He continued crying and began to hiccup.
“It’s okay. Marty is here with you, and so am I.” He smiled slightly. “So is Dexter, and Officer Atlas is here with Evie. No one is going to get to you.”
“Because you’ll beat them up?” Cameron asked, wiping his eyes. “You’re big. You can beat up anyone.” He sniffed.
“How about we don’t beat anyone up, but you tell me who you saw and where?”
Cameron held on to Marty tightly. “The bad man, I seed him.” Grant went still for a second. “He was outside, and I didn’t want him to get me. I seed him.”
“Okay. I believe you.” He turned to the principal. “Get me all the video from every camera for the entire day today. Wait…,” he said, and found Carter and Red, who were guiding the last of the parents out of the parking lot. “Carter, we need your skills,” he explained, and Carter strode over. “I believe the kidnapper was near the school today. Cameron saw him outside his classroom window. Can you check the video feeds? Marty and I are going to take Cameron inside so he can show us where he saw him.”
“What if the bad man sees me?” Cameron asked.
“Then we’ll see him too and we’ll get him,” Grant told Cameron. “You just have to show me where he was. That’s all, and Marty can come with you.” Marty set Cameron down, and Grant extended his hand. Cameron took it, and the three ofthem, with Cameron in the middle and Dexter following, went back inside the now-empty school.
They returned to the room where Cameron had hidden, and Cameron went over to the window. He pointed to a stand of trees and bushes. “He was in there.”
“How could you tell it was him?” Grant asked.
