Curvy Valentine Match

I snorted a bitter laugh because I knew a boy just like that and I fell for him. Hard. “Of course he doesn’t.”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the boy Lonnie’s been spending time with, and his parents reported him missing the other day.”

“Really? How do you know?”

I shrugged. “The sheriff was placing an order when the call came in, a personal favor I’m guessing, for the golden boy.” That sounded more bitter than was necessary, because if nothing else, Xander was good at his job.

“Now that’s what I want to know about. What’s the deal with you and Xander anyway?”

“There is no deal, I just refuse to fawn over him like every other female in town.”

Joss looked skeptical. “But why? He’s definitely worth fawning over. A big strong law man with a permanent gleam in his eyes, what’s not to like about that?”

“Everything,” I told her honestly. I’d fallen for that charm and those eyes once before. “Oh look, a pool table is finally open.”

“Great.” Joss jumped up excitedly. “I’ll wipe the floor with you for holding back on me.”

I nodded, knowing I would let her because I hadn’t been a good friend to Joss, at least not as good a friend as she’d been to me. “We’ll see about that, Soccer Girl.” I couldn’t let her win too easily, though.

“Soccer girl? Real original, Baker Babe.” We stared at each other across the pool table and erupted into a fit of giggles more appropriate for Joss’ soccer girls than two grown women. But it was just what I needed, a good time with a good friend.

It kept me from thinking about Xander. And Lonnie. And the familiar road she was determined to tread.

Xander

“I’ll check out the old paper mill while you comb through the vacant homes and we can meet up in an hour to compare notes.” Searching for Kyle Jacobs wasn’t my idea of a productive day of work, but I’d given the Jacobs family my word and I was nothing, if not a man of my word.

Tara sighed. “Sure. I’m headed to foreclosure row right now.” I understood her reluctance to visit the decade old block of vacant homes that drew in down on their luck squatters. “I’ll call if I need anything.”

“Same. Good luck.” The call ended and I sat staring up at the brown and red brick paper mill that had, at one time, been a big employer for Pilgrim in the early days of the 1900’s. Now it was empty and decaying, which made it the perfect place for a teenage boy to hide out after running away from home. Though why Kyle Jacobs would run away from the large upscale farmhouse, was anybody’s guess.

Then again, you never knew what went on in people’s homes behind closed doors. The Jacobs seemed like decent parents, but they were overbearing even with me, so I could only imagine how helpless a young boy would feel under that scrutiny. Hell, I’d been a boy similar to Kyle when I was his age.

“Enough.” I stepped from my patrol SUV and headed towards the side entrance with the broken lock. It didn’t matter how many times the Town Council paid to keep the place locked up, and more appealing to potential buyers, but every few months someone broke it, usually teens in need of a private place to party and be teenagers.

I stepped through the door slowly, armed with my flashlight because I didn’t anticipate any danger inside, other than a few pissed off kids. The offices were empty, but filled with discarded booze bottles, mounds of cigarette butts and other types of debris. But no Kyle. No people at all.

“Oh shit!” A bottle tipped over in the main manufacturing floor and I unsnapped my gun holster and followed the sound. More cursing helped me find the trespasser.

“Pilgrim Sheriff’s Office, stop right where you are.”

A grunt sounded, and then a flash of light appeared. “Of course you’re here,” Mara groaned. “Why?”

“Oh, I don’t think so Mara. What are you doing here besides trespassing on private property?”

“If the town owns the property, is it technically private?” I couldn’t see the smirk in the darkness, but I heard it in her tone. “I’m looking for my friend Lonnie. You?”

“I’m looking for Kyle Jacobs.”

Mara let out a derisive snort and shook her head. “The rich kid matters, so that’s who you’re looking for. Of course.” She folded her arms and sent the flashlight beam arching across the room, revealing more signs of partying.

“Whatever your problem is with me, Mara, you should know I’m damn good at my job. I don’t do the bidding of rich people because they’re rich. This is about a missing kid.”

“Right. And Lonnie is what, just some poor vagrant, so who cares, right?”

“Dammit woman, that’s not it at all!” I refused to let her paint me as some kind of corrupt cop at the beck and call of the privileged. “Do I need to remind you that no one has reported your friend Lonnie missing? I’ve checked.”