When You Were Mine (Stone Lake 2)

“I forgot to ask Luna if I was supposed to take Joshua’s uniform with us. Let me just call her a minute. Is that okay, Officer… what was your name?” I quiz him, because even though he has a badge there’s no little gold emblem showing the deputy’s name on his uniform.

Don’t all police have that? They do in Nashville. Is that just a regional thing?

Shit.

My gaze sweeps over the deputy and that’s when I see his shoes. Okay maybe name tags are regional, I don’t know. What I do know is that Nike tennis shoes are definitely not police issue.

“Adams, Ma’am. You just run up and get the uniform, and I’ll take Joshua and put him in the car so he can be secure. We can’t be too careful with a murderer on the loose.”

“I don’t even have my uniform here, Junie. Let’s just go, I want to hurry back so I can kick your ass at Fortnite,” Joshua says, and my instincts are definitely going wild now. Panic fills me.

“You know what? I think we’ll just stay in, I’m not feeling so good,” I tell the guy, who I’m pretty sure isn’t a deputy at all. I all but push Joshua behind me.

“Junie?” he says, and I turn to look at him and I make sure he sees the panic on my face.

“Go fire up that game, Joshua,” I urge him, hoping he understands.

I made one fatal mistake though. I took my eyes off the man at the door. I feel this sting at the back of my neck as a needle pushes through my skin. Instantly the world starts to go dim.

“Joshua! Run!” I cry, right before the world goes black and I hit the floor.

Gavin

“Gavin!” My head jerks up to look at Luna as she walks into the sheriff’s office. I stand up and walk around my desk, but the smile instantly dies on my face when I see her clearly. She’s upset…

No, she’s terrified.

“Luna, Baby, what’s going on?” I demand, going to her immediately and getting there in just enough time for her to fall into my arms.

“I can’t find Joshua.”

“What?” I repeat, a cold chill running through me.

“I can’t find Joshua, he didn’t call when he got to the school!” she cries, more frantic this time.

“Calm down, Moonbeam. He had practice, right? I’m sure he’s on the field and just forgot to check in with you.”

“Juniper went with him. She promised she’d call and her phone just rings and rings. I can’t get anyone, Gavin.”

“Okay, calm down. First things first. Kingston had one of his deputies pick Joshua up. Let’s see where that guy is. Even if there’s no cellphone service, he’ll have his radio in the squad car,” I tell her, trying to calm her down. I’m worried, but I’m trying to keep my head and examine this without letting my fear get the better of me.

Luna nods as we walk deeper into the room.

I look over at Myrtle who is running dispatch.

“Who went out and picked up my son for practice?” I question her and her brow furrows as she looks down at her sheet.

“That was Rivera,” she says.

“Can you raise him on the radio and find out if everything is okay? Joshua forgot to check in.”

“I’m sure he is, you know how kids are,” Myrtle says, looking at Luna’s worried face. “But, don’t you worry. I’ll get a hold of him lickety-split.”

“Gavin, Joshua always checks in. I’m worried.”

“Did you call his coach?” I ask her and her eyes go round.

“No, but he always keeps his cell with him, even while on the field. I’ll call him while Myrtle talks to the deputy.”

“Do that, Baby. Use my phone there,” I tell her pointing over to my desk. She nods and I squeeze her, kissing the top of her head as she jogs over and grabs the receiver off the cradle, pushing numbers.

“Any luck, Myrtle?” I check in, keeping my voice down and one eye on Luna.

“Not so far, Gavin. It’s the strangest thing, but Rivera isn’t answering at all.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, my heart rate kicking into overdrive as adrenaline spreads through my system. I know in my gut something is off. One person, maybe even two not responding could be a coincidence, but three? And one of those being a deputy? Something is wrong, which means my son is out there somewhere unprotected.

“What’s going on?” Kingston asks, coming over, probably because he could see the panic on my face.

“Rivera is MIA and I can’t find Josh. Rivera was supposed to take him to practice at the school.”

“Maybe he’s taking a piss,” Kingston says, but he doesn’t look very positive either.

“Junie hasn’t checked in either, and she went with them,” I tell him, and I see it in his eyes, the same worry that I feel.