Back Before Dark (14 page)

H
iro marched out of the backyard ahead of the boys. She didn’t care if they knew how uneasy she was with their plan. And she wasn’t kidding about protecting them—even if that meant calling Coop’s dad. That was the only reason she was going along with this insane idea. They were going to check out the homes anyway—with or without her. If she joined them, she might help keep them out of trouble. That was
her
plan, anyway. Without a word, she went straight to her bike.

Fudge didn’t share her opinion. She pranced alongside Coop, showing with every step and wiggle how grateful she was to be included.

If you knew where we were going, you wouldn’t be so eager.

Cooper clipped a short leash onto Fudge’s collar and whispered something Hiro couldn’t make out. Not that she cared. But whatever he said, Fudge seemed to understand. She sat at attention, her eyes riveted on Coop.

Lunk unstrapped a yellow, plastic wiffle-ball bat from the frame of his bike. “I’ve got something for you.” He held it out to Coop, his arms outstretched and his palms up like he was a Japanese officer presenting a samurai sword.

Coop tilted his head like the idea of a plastic bat confused him.

“Feel it.”

Coop bounced it in his hands, estimating its weight. “What did you fill this with? Sand?”

Lunk grinned. “Concrete.”

“Lovely.” Hiro knew
exactly
what it was all about. “And this is supposed to keep him safe?”

Lunk gave her a look like he couldn’t believe she asked the question. “It’ll help. It’s kind of a
persuader.
One hit with this and people will see things your way.”

Right now Hiro wanted to whack Lunk upside the head with it. Coop too, in fact.

Cooper took a practice swing. “Yeah. This is a game-changer.”

“I made one for myself too.” Lunk pointed at a black plastic bat mounted to the side of his bike.

Black. Of course. How predictable.
Hiro shook her head in an exaggerated way, hoping they’d pick up on her disapproval.

She could have saved the energy. They didn’t care.

Lunk reached for the bat. “I’ve got some nylon ties. We’ll strap the bat to your bike—but loose so you can draw it out like a sword.”

“A
sword
?” Hiro swung a leg over her bike. “What are we, the Three Musketeers?”

Coop nodded, like he totally missed her sarcasm. “All for one.”

“And one for all,” Lunk said.

“Yippee,” Hiro said with mock excitement. “So where’s
my
sword, d’Artagnan?”

Lunk grinned and pointed at her mouth. “You’ve already got one. Your tongue is all the sword you need.”

Touché.
Hiro wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d just scored a perfect jab. “Be careful, or I’ll use it on you.”

Lunk mounted his bike and laughed. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

She tried her best to hide her smile. Instead, she nodded. “Trust me. It won’t be the last.”

L
unk mounted his bike and pulled alongside Coop. The yellow bat looked good, strapped on his friend’s bike. And Coop really seemed to like it.

Hiro was another story.

They pedaled in silence. Lunk had to pedal harder because of the size of his clunker BMX bike. Block after block they passed rows of homes, and plenty for sale, Lunk noticed.

For sale. For sale. Different realtor signs, all with the same message. Somebody was uprooting and moving on—either by choice or by force. He wondered when the sign would go up in front of his rental house. And where they would go?

He glanced at Coop. Completely focused on finding Gordy. Would he notice when the realty sign went up? Would he care?

Up until six or seven months ago, Lunk didn’t have friends. Always him and his mom. And he’d been okay with that. Not anymore.

The Halloween night incident at Frank’n Stein’s changed everything. Trapped in the walk-in freezer, Lunk and Cooper faced certain death. Lunk would never forget two things. Coop saved his life that night. And changed his life too.

Coop had reached out to him ever since. Really reached out. And Hiro and Gordy had in their way too.

Lunk had always been cautious around others. He didn’t let himself feel too much. Until after that night. He liked it, but it scared him.

He’d never gotten close to anybody in all the places he’d lived before. In fact, he probably pushed others away. It was safer. Almost without realizing it, he had let his guard down. Now the thought of moving again—of leaving Rolling Meadows—filled him with dread.

“Raymond Proctor,” Coop yelled over his shoulder. “One more block.”

Lunk shook his head. He needed to refocus. Keep his head in the game. He wasn’t so sure Coop would stick to his end of the bargain with Hiro. Coop had guts. He had to give him that much. But the way Lunk saw things, it was already too late. Gordy was gone forever. Lunk just wanted to be there for Coop when he finally had to accept that fact.

C
ooper coasted to a stop several houses short of Raymond Proctor’s home, sizing things up. Single story with gray vinyl siding. Concrete driveway running up from the street to an attached two-car garage. Front yard in really bad need of mowing—and a For Sale sign stuck right in the middle of it.

Cooper straddled his bike, just staring at it. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or discouraged. Hiro, on the other hand, looked happier than he’d seen her since before the kidnapping.

Lunk wasn’t quite so easy to read. His face certainly didn’t register any surprise.

“He’s been out of there for awhile,” Lunk said.

He was right. Cooper noticed the bushes directly in front of the house needed serious trimming. Paint had peeled off the garage door in big patches. “I’m going in for a closer look.” He looked at Hiro and raised his eyebrows. “You won’t call my dad if I do that, will you?”

“I’m right behind you.”

Yeah, now that there was no chance Gordy was actually there.
Cooper pushed ahead and pedaled the rest of the way. He pulled onto the driveway and hit the brakes. Hiro couldn’t have a problem with that. Proctor didn’t live there anymore.

Fudge trotted to a stop beside him and sat down, tongue lolling out one side of her mouth. She’d tracked well while he rode. Careful not to pull ahead or drop behind. Always keeping enough slack in the leash to allow Cooper to steer.

“Good girl, Fudge. Nice run.”

She gave her tail a single salute and watched him, as if waiting for orders.

Hiro stopped next to Fudge and reached down to pet her head. Lunk pulled up on the other side of Cooper.

Lunk adjusted the straps holding his bat in place. “What’s the plan, chief?”

Cooper shook his head. “Not sure.” He dumped his bike. “I just want to take a walk around the place. C’mon, Fudge.”

She seemed eager to explore, sniffing the ground as Cooper walked to the front window. If there was any scent of Gordy, the rain would have washed it all away. The ground was absolutely soggy.

Cooper cupped his hands on either side of his face and looked inside. Empty. Not a piece of furniture or a picture on the walls.

“I’ll check in back,” Lunk said.

Cooper took one last look inside. “I’ll come with.” There was nothing to see in front. Fudge trotted alongside him as he circled around the house.

The backyard ended at Salt Creek—which was dangerously close to swelling over its banks. Cooper had never seen it so high. Any more rain and Proctor’s entire yard would flood—along with the basement—if he had one. Fudge tugged at her leash like she wanted to go for a swim.

“Not today, girl.” He reined her in. “We need to find Gordy first.” And this obviously wasn’t the place to find him. A snow shovel leaned against the siding by the back door. Clearly Proctor had been gone for months. Lunk was peering through one of the back windows. He looked at Cooper and shook his head.

“Okay,” Cooper said. “I’ve seen enough. Michael VanHorton’s?”

Lunk nodded and led the way back to the bikes. Hiro still sat on hers. Apparently the realty sign was all she needed to see.

“I’d like to do a little door-to-door work down this block.” Hiro said. “See if anyone saw the minivan.”

What Cooper figured she’d really like was for him to give up on the idea of checking out sex offender’s homes. Cooper swung a leg over his bike. “I’m not so sure it would be safe for you to do something like that on your own.”

Hiro gave him a questioning look. “I meant the three of us.”

“Lunk and I are going to Michael VanHorton’s.”

Lunk snickered behind him. “I’d like to say
nice try
, Hiro, but I’d be lying. That was pitiful.”

Hiro let out a very exaggerated sigh.

Cooper pushed off and headed for VanHorton’s. He did his best to weave around the massive puddles. But he still kept ahead of Hiro and Lunk easily enough, which was probably best. He needed time to think. The fact that Proctor’s house was empty was a good thing, really. It meant one less suspect. One less house to stake out.

But Proctor’s house had seemed like the obvious choice. The front runner. The location on School Drive was a perfect fit. When Cooper lost sight of the minivan, he figured it had turned on Campbell. But it could have kept going straight just as easily—and Cooper would have never seen it. Michael VanHorton lived on the other side of Kirchoff Road. The opposite direction. But that didn’t mean the kidnapper didn’t turn east on Campbell and cut across on New Wilke Road. It would have been a gutsy move to circle around right in town like that—but the guy would have had everyone searching in the wrong direction. Gutsy and brilliant.

The closer he got to Michael VanHorton’s house, the more uneasy Cooper felt. What if this guy really did take Gordy?

“I still think this is a mistake,” Hiro said. “I don’t like it.”

Honestly? Cooper didn’t like it either. But he had to do something more than post flyers in windows. And right now VanHorton was the best lead they had.

“So, Hiro,” Lunk said. “How are you ever going to be a cop if you don’t take any risks?”

“I’m not afraid of
calculated
risks,” she said. “I’m riding next to you, aren’t I?”

Lunk laughed. “I can’t see you as a cop. Maybe a crossing guard.”

“Well somebody has to protect those kids once you start driving.”

Lunk and Hiro bickered for the next three blocks. Cooper and Fudge kept ahead of them just enough not to get caught up in the battle. He picked up enough to know that Hiro still felt they should abort their mission. No surprise there.

But seeing Michael VanHorton
was
a big surprise. He stood at the curb, opened his mailbox, and scooped out a stack of mail. He looked a lot bigger than Cooper had imagined from the picture. Like a bodybuilder.

Cooper slowed to a stop several houses short of VanHorton’s. Lunk pulled up beside him.

“That’s him,” Lunk said. “Big enough to toss Gordy into a van, right?”

Exactly Cooper’s thoughts.

Whatever Hiro was thinking, she kept it to herself.

“That guy can be trouble.” Lunk looked antsy to do something. Maybe he was nervous. He adjusted the concrete-filled bat strapped to his bike frame. “What’s the plan?”

“Well we can’t just stay here,” Cooper said. “I’m thinking we cruise by, keep our eyes open for anything suspicious. Just like we said. A couple homes past VanHorton’s we’ll look for a place to find a little cover and watch this house.”

“When you first suggested we check out these homes,” Hiro said, “I thought it was crazy. Now I
know
it is. I’m getting some second thoughts on this. We should stick to passing out flyers.”

The idea of going door-to-door, talking to normal people sounded inviting. Safe. But Cooper had to do more. Something bigger. And the gutsy thing meant checking the most likely places Gordy might be.

“Coop,” Hiro said. “I don’t like this. I mean I
really
don’t like this.”

Cooper nodded. “I think you’ve said that before. And for the record, I’m with you.” That was an understatement.

“We’re just riding by. You’re not going to stop and talk to him. Not one word. Right?” Hiro didn’t look convinced.

“Every minute counts at this point. Let’s just do this.”

“I still say you’re getting over your head on this one.”

Like he really needed the reminder. “It’s just a drive by.” He pushed off, and Fudge trotted beside him.
Just do this. Cruise by and get a good look at this guy. Try not to act suspicious. This is about finding Gordy.

“Coop!” Hiro said to him.

He didn’t turn around but kept focused on Michael VanHorton. The man stood there at the mailbox, sifting through the mail. He wore a black T-shirt with sleeves hacked off at the shoulders.

He could be the one.
Cooper’s heart kept time with the pedals.

Just keep pedaling. Don’t look him in the eyes. Don’t say a word.
Hiro didn’t have to worry about him getting too close to VanHorton. The closer Cooper got, the more he wanted to do a one-eighty and pedal the other way.

Almost there. Don’t even look at him.
Suddenly Fudge charged the man. The leash jerked free from Cooper’s grip. “Fudge!”

Barking and snarling, Fudge stood five feet in front of Michael VanHorton like she was trying to keep him from escaping. But it was Cooper that wanted to get away.

“Fudge, no!” Cooper fishtailed to a stop and dumped his bike at the curb.

Ears plastered against the sides of her head, Fudge kept her eyes on VanHorton and kept barking.

“No bark, Fudge. No Bark!” Cooper grabbed for the leash and tried pulling her away from the man. Fudge clawed at the ground and fought to stay where she was. “No!”

VanHorton slapped the mail back in the box and crouched
over slightly with his arms out in front of him like he was ready to start a wrestling match.

“She won’t hurt you, mister,” Cooper said, which sounded pretty lame the way Fudge was tearing up the grass trying to get to the guy.

“Get Cujo out of here boy—or you’ll be taking your animal home in a box.”

VanHorton took a step closer. Fudge scrambled to get at him.

“Fudge!” Cooper jerked on the leash. “No!”

Suddenly Hiro was kneeling beside Fudge, arms around her neck, whispering in her ear. Fudge stopped barking, but kept a nasty growl rumbling from deep inside her. “That’s it, girl. Good girl.” Hiro stroked Fudge’s head and neck like she was trying to get the fur to stay down and calm her at the same time.

Cooper backed Fudge away. That’s when he saw Lunk holding his black wiffle-ball bat. Lunk’s chest was heaving, and he held the bat at the ready. Cooper had no doubt that Lunk would step in if things got dicey.

Lunk stepped over to Cooper’s bike and freed the yellow wiffle-ball bat—obviously ready to hand it off to Cooper.

“What is this,” VanHorton said, “the wiffle-ball bat gang?” Now that Fudge was in control the man turned his attention to Lunk. “Put that toy down, boy, before I make you eat it.”

VanHorton’s eyes were as dark as the shirt he was wearing. Cooper couldn’t get past them. There was something unearthly there. Evil.

Cooper must have been staring at the man—and VanHorton seemed to notice it. VanHorton stared right back, eying him up and down. Was he trying to intimidate Cooper? Or did he
recognize
Cooper. The guy who grabbed Gordy got a good look at Cooper.

VanHorton’s eyes shifted from Hiro and Lunk back to Cooper. “Now why don’t you kiddies pedal your bikes off my property—and take your animal with you. Now.”

VanHorton’s in-your-face approach totally unnerved Cooper.
“We’re leaving,” Cooper said. He pulled Fudge close and back toward his bike. “We don’t want any trouble.” Which was true. There was nothing he could do right now anyway. But it wasn’t over in Cooper’s mind. Not by a long shot.

Lunk didn’t move.

VanHorton started toward Lunk. “Do I need to call the police?”

“Mr. VanHorton,” Hiro said, her voice stern, “we were riding by on our bikes and the dog went berserk. You saw that. Nobody was deliberately trying to hassle you—and you know it. If you’d just back off for five seconds we would like nothing more than to leave your property and never step foot on it again.”

VanHorton’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know my name?”

Was Hiro shaking? Cooper was pretty sure she was. Maybe from anger, but more likely fear was behind it. But he definitely didn’t want Hiro tipping the guy off by telling him they got his name off the website. If VanHorton had Gordy, he’d likely double his efforts to keep him hidden.

“C’mon, Hiro,” Cooper said. “Grab your bike.”

VanHorton bore into Cooper with those eyes. “If you do come back, better not bring the dog.” VanHorton folded his arms across his chest, flexing his pectorals as he did. “Next time I’ll be carrying my taser. Your dog so much as comes near me and I’ll zap it good.”

Cooper froze.
Taser
? Michael VanHorton was the kidnapper!