Huge Working Hero (Hard Working Hero 3)

Kelsie stares at me for a long second. She wiggles her fingers deeper into mine and squeezes me back. Her lips thin and she gives me a weak smile. I can see the wheels turning in her head. What I'm saying isn't just about her brother, it's about us, too.

We can sit around and wait for the perfect time, for the perfect moment to present itself, and in the end, that moment might never come. It really is a matter of now or never.

“I'm just worried, is all.”

“I know, but I promise you, we'll find him.”

We drive in silence, both of us keeping our eyes out the window, looking for him. The main stretch of road is fairly busy. Cars are coming and going, but neither of us see a bright red Ford Fairlane. And you'd see it; it sticks out like a sore thumb.

“I don't see him anywhere. Maybe we should try a few side streets. What do you think?” she asks.

“Yeah, we can try.”

I take a right down a long, curvy road. There are trees lining the sides, but not much else is around. There are no houses or businesses, just forest. We follow it for a few minutes, then turn around, and try a different road off the main street.

I start to lose hope that we'll find him. I don't want to give up, but how long are we going to do this? It's not like the kid ran off, I know that much. He's just out for a joy ride, maybe getting his kicks from a few cute girls who might look his way.

It's harmless in my eyes, but I get it. He doesn't have permission. No one knew, except for Kelsie, that this was his plan.

“You see that?” Kelsie asks, sitting up higher in her seat and pointing out the windshield.

I look out and down at the pavement. “Yeah, I do.”

There are thick skid marks on the road. A set of tires that create a snake like squiggle that crosses the double yellow line and comes whipping back. The marks fade, but you can see them again a little further up. The second set is wider, more erratic, and ends with a full circle.

“Oh my god, Brand. Pull over! Pull over!”

There's a car upside down in the ditch. Smoke is pouring out from the undercarriage. I don't even have the car in park when Kelsie throws her door open and jumps out.

She takes off running. “Seth! Seth!” she screams. Her voice screeches, echoing off the trees around us.

I quickly follow and run to the car.

“I'm in here!” Seth calls out.

I drop to my knees and look in the passenger window. Seth is upside down, still buckled in his seat, the airbags deployed and deflated. The windshield is smashed, and there's glass littering the roof around his head.

“I'll get you out, hang on.” I sit back on the ground and place my feet against the passenger side window. “Cover your face,” I tell him.

Seth uses both his arms, covering his entire head. Pulling back my legs, I drive them forward, kicking hard against the glass. It's already cracked from the crash, so it busts open easily with a couple well placed kicks.

The glass shatters, spraying Seth with a million tiny pieces. I grab a stick off the ground and clear the sharp edges from the window trim.

“Here I come, buddy, hold on.” I crawl through the window, and squeeze through the bars of the roll cage to unbuckle his belt. Seth falls onto his back with a loud thud.

“Oh my god, are you okay? Are you all right?” Kelsie is a mess. She's up, she's down, she's pacing, she's yelling.

I grab his arm and help pull him out through the window. Seth crawls across the ground, and slowly tries to rise to his feet.

“Hold on, don't get up yet, just sit for a second.”

He falls back on his ass, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his arms on his legs. Kelsie runs around the car, tears streaming down her face.

“Are you hurt? Let me see you?” She grabs his face and lifts it up. “You're bleeding. We need to clean it. I think there's a first aid kit in the car.” She's back on her feet and jogs to the car.

“What the hell happened?” I ask.

“Can't you tell? I lost control.”

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I'm okay. My head hurts a little, but I'm fine. That roll cage you put in works like a charm.” He tries to smile, but it doesn't last. I can see the worry on his face. He knows he's in shit knee-deep.

“Yeah, that's the point of it. I'm just glad you're okay.”

“Give me your head,” Kelsie snaps as she drops back down with the small first aid kit. She takes his chin in her hand and lifts his face. “Hold still, this might sting.”