Finding Daniel chapter eight
After getting back on the road, Patrick began the task of getting Daniel to open up more about himself, hoping to get to the bottom of why he was really going to Sacramento alone.
Daniel had told him all about his life at home with his brothers. It sounded as though the kid came from a loving, close-knit family; things just weren't adding up that he'd be traveling alone.
He noticed that Daniel relaxed a lot more once he'd turned on the radio. Though they had different preferences in music, Daniel preferring Country and Western to Patrick's love of Hard Rock, they settled on a station that played more pop music that both were familiar with. Soon, they were singing and laughing together as they sped down the highway.
"Awe, I love this one." Patrick said as he turned up the volume when 'Kiss You All Over' by Exile came on the radio.
"Yeah, I like it too. It's pretty good." Daniel agreed as he piped in and began singing the lyrics with Patrick.
"You know, this song has real staying power. I bet ten years from now, mathemeticians will have to come up with some fancy formula to figure out how many people lost their virginity to this song." Patrick laughed, noticing immediately that Daniel's demeanor changed.
Daniel had stopped singing and began looking out the window. I obviously hit a nerve. Does this have something to do with sex?" Patrick began to wonder. It could explain a lot. The kid was fourteen, just starting high school. Did he maybe have a bad experience with a girl? Patrick decided to try to pry it out of him.
"Can't help but notice you're getting quiet on me, Daniel. If something's bothering you, we can talk about it." Patrick said.
"No. I'm fine, I'm just anxious to see Crane." Daniel lied. How on earth had music turned to of all things math? Daniel wondered. He had actually forgotten his troubles for a moment.
"Look it, I've been real respectful of your privacy, but Daniel I've gotta admit something to you." Patrick blurted out.
"What's that?" Daniel asked.
"I'm not really comfortable with any of this. It sounds like you have a great family back home and... I mean, you're just a kid. I don't think I should be taking you away from them. I know they must be worried." Patrick stated, sounding a little more serious than he'd intended. He didn't want to freak the kid out.
"You're not taking me away from family. You're bringing me to family, Patrick. Crane is my family too, and I really need to see him" Daniel sighed. He was feeling guilty enough about Brian and Adam, he didn't need any more guilt heaped upon him right now.
"Look, I'm not blind. You're running away from something at home and I just think if you'd talk to me, I could help. I promise, I'll take you to Crane, but... I would feel better about this if you'd just talk to me about it. Maybe I can help you." Patrick pleaded.
Daniel sat in silence for a couple of minutes. The fact of the matter was, he did want to talk about it. He was starting to have second thoughts about everything anyway. He knew now that he was wrong to run off like he had done... but at the time he'd panicked.
"Okay, I'll talk." Daniel said after a long sigh. He was actually looking forward to getting everything off his chest and besides... he trusted Patrick. He was a sensible guy who reminded him a little of Crane.
Brian had caught up to Adam and Crane at the sheriff's office in Angels Camp. The sheriff had already gotten a call from Sheriff Turner in Murphys, but listened intently to the McFadden boys as they reiterated the entire story.
"Well, it sounds like you boys pretty much know where he's headed. I think we should probably think about roadblocks between here and Sacramento. I don't care for the idea of a youngster like that out there hitching and I told Sheriff Turner that when I spoke with him. He and I agreed that if we haven't seen or heard from him in the next couple of hours, we should set up some roadblocks in the neighboring areas. We need to get started before it gets dark. We can stop motorists and see if anyone has him in their vehicle or seen him along the road. What I need is a description of your brother and what he was wearing. Also, if he has any birthmarks or scars that could help identify him, we need that too." Sheriff Carter explained.
Adam's blood felt as though it had turned to ice. Birthmarks or scars? Why would they need to know something like that? He instinctively knew the answer to the question; he just couldn't let his mind go there.
He looked helplessly at Brian and Crane. Their faces looked equally as horrified. Adam tried to find his voice, but it was as though it had left him. His tongue was frozen.
"Dan'l has a birthmark behind his left ear. It's reddish brown, looks a little like the boot of Italy." Brian answered soberly. He knew why the sheriff wanted this information; until now he hadn't allowed himself to think the worst.
"Yeah, and he has about a three inch scar across his right knee. He had stitches there a couple of years ago." Crane said, his voice shaking. Clearly, the question had shaken Crane too.
Adam finally found his voice and described the clothing he remembered seeing Daniel wearing at breakfast that morning. Nothing too distinct for this area... Blue jeans, a light blue t shirt, a denim jacket and light brown roper style cowboy boots.
"Okay boys, I'll call Buck and give him all of this. He'll likely go ahead and call the sheriff's in Sutter Creek and Drytown... maybe even Sloughhouse. We won't likely have any luck with Sacramento- not until he's been missing twenty four hours. Once he's considered a missing person, they'll join in, but not before.
"Thanks, Sheriff Carter." Adam said as he shook his hand.
"I'd advise you boys to either go home or stick close by here. I mean, if we find him, we're gonna need to get in touch with you." The sheriff advised.
"Adam, we can't just go home and sit on our hands. One of us should hang out here in case any calls come in from authorities, then the other two should keep looking." Brian said.
"Yeah, I think you're right, Brian. Crane, maybe you could stay here. You should probably call your friend back at the dorm and give him the number to the sheriff's office here, that way if Daniel shows up at Davis, he can get in touch with you right away. Me and Brian can split up and keep searching." Adam said.
"Yeah, okay Adam." Crane said dejectedly. Adam could see how scared the kid was; he thought he might see something else too. Anger maybe? Crane was probably furious with him for his mishandling of Daniel. He supposed they needed to air all of it out now, rather than to do it in front of Daniel later.
"Can I talk to you for just a second, Crane?" Adam asked. Brian took the hint and headed on over to the jeep.
"Yeah, Adam." Crane replied.
"Look, I can imagine you're pretty ticked at me. I'm sorry all of this happened. I don't know why Daniel is so afraid of me. I try-" Adam said before Crane cut him off.
"Look Adam. I'm just worried. I know this isn't your fault, anymore than it's Brians fault because of what happened with him and Mr. Kramer. This... this is on Daniel. There's no sense in blaming each other. Truth is, I've been blaming myself for some of it. I just knew he was gonna have trouble once I left him. I let him get too dependent on me." Crane said miserably.
"Hey, let's not do this, huh? Blaming ourselves or each other isn't gonna help the situation. Fact is, we both let him get too dependent on you... and I'm too hard on him sometimes. I don't really know why I do it. Seems like it's a little easier for me with the younger ones. I've been their parent longer than mom and dad were. Daniel's just... just-"
"Complicated?" Crane finished Adam's sentence with a small grin.
"Yeah. He was still young when they died, but he can remember what it was like to have good parents." Adam replied.
"Don't say that Adam. You and Brian are good parents. It's just that you're our big brothers too. For Daniel... well, I don't know, he just wants to please you both... make you proud. That's all it is. He worships you both so much... your like heroes to him. He just wants you to always be proud of him." Crane explained. "Can you remember feeling that way about Dad?
"Yeah, I think I do. Funny, I don't feel much like anyone's hero these days. But, Daniel and me are gonna sit down when all of this is over and come to some sort of understanding. I've got to convince him that he can talk to me when he's in trouble." Adam sighed. "And I have to learn how to listen and not be so quick to judge."
"Go find him Dad." Crane said with a smirk as he punched Adam in the arm. He was relieved to see Adam letting himself off the hook a bit. Now if he could figure out how to let himself off the hook.
"Yeah." Adam agreed and reached out to bring Crane in for a quick hug.
As Adam walked away, Crane yelled after him. "And talk to Brian, would ya? He's blaming himself too."
Adam waved his hand in the air to let Crane know he'd handle it.
After telling Patrick the whole story, Daniel felt some of the weight he'd been carrying around all day lift a little. Patrick had listened to him intently and not said a word. He figured the guy would think of him as a big baby, but he didn't care. At this point, all he wanted was to figure out how to fix everything he'd screwed up.
"Look Daniel. I'm not gonna lie and tell you I have all the answers, but I don't think Crane will have them either. I think you are going to have to fix this yourself. First off, you need to go home. Your family is likely worried sick about you and that's not going to help your situation. You're gonna have to stop leaning on Crane and figure things out for yourself. You're a good kid that's caught in a bad situation, but I have to believe that if you go back and face your mistakes, everything will work out okay." Patrick said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey Patrick?" Daniel said weakly. "You think you could drop me off at the next pay phone we come across? I think I need to call home."
"No problem." Patrick said as a smile broke out across his face.
They pulled in to a park just outside of Drytown and Daniel got out of the car. He walked slowly up to the payphone and took a deep breath. After turning around to glance at Patrick, who gave him a smile and an encouraging nod, he picked up the receiver.
Daniel knew he could call collect, but he knew the family couldn't really afford extra charges on their phone bill. No, this was a call he wanted to pay for himself. He was already feeling like a little kid and thought that maybe paying for this call may just make him feel a little better about how badly he'd screwed up everything. Patrick had offered him some money for the call, but he had refused, saying he had enough.
Daniel listened nervously as the phone rang. On the fifth ring, Daniel was surprised to hear a female's voice answer the line.
"Hello? Is this the McFadden residence?" Daniel asked, confused.
"Yes it is. Um, is this Daniel?" Jan Sutter asked excitedly. She had heard Daniel's voice many times, but he was usually happy and lighthearted; this voice sounded troubled, but then again, with all the events of the day, she figured he had a right to sound troubled.
"Yes ma'am. Who is this?" He asked. The voice was familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.
"Daniel, it's Mrs. Sutter. Are you okay? Where are you?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Can I speak to Brian or Adam?" He asked nervously.
"Sweetheart, they're out looking for you. I need you to tell me where you are, honey. Someone can come and get you." Jan replied.
"Oh, I'm... I'm on my way home. Can you, uh, can you just tell them I'm okay and I'm on my way home?" Daniel stammered. His mind was whirling. He should have known they'd be looking for him, but he wasn't thinking. Suddenly, all he wanted was to get home and see his brothers. He wanted to explain himself to both Adam and Brian and apologize for everything he'd done.
"Honey, you need to tell me where you are, Adam will want to come and get you-" Jan began to argue.
"No, there's no need Mrs. Sutter. I can get home myself. Just please, please tell my brothers not to worry. Tell them I'm fine." Daniel answered. He just felt that he needed to prove to them that he was old enough to get himself home; that he didn't need his big brothers coming to rescue him.
Jan Sutter started to continue the argument with Daniel, but the operator interrupted the line and asked him to insert another fifty cents to continue the call. Daniel was out of change and was actually glad of that, it made it easier for him to end the conversation.
"Mrs. Sutter, I'm out of change, just tell them I should be home tonight... tomorrow morning at the latest." Daniel said before the call was disconnected. He hung up the reciever and made his way back to Patrick's car.
"Did you talk to them?" Patrick asked hopefully.
"Sure did." Daniel lied. "I'm gonna ride on in to Drytown if you don't mind. My brothers can pick me up there." He continued, a bit surprised at how easily the lie rolled off of his tongue.
"Sure, Daniel." Patrick agreed as he started the engine and got back on the highway. "Drytown it is."
Jan Sutter called sheriff Turner's office as soon as she hung up the phone. She told him everything she knew... which wasn't much unfortunately.
"No sir, he didn't tell me where he was. I suppose he already has a ride home because he said he was on his way home." She answered worriedly. She knew she'd done all she could, but she felt as though she'd let the McFadden's down. "If he calls back, I'll be sure to let you know right away and I'll try to get more information out of him." She said to the sheriff. "Please, tell Adam that I'm sorry and that I really tried, but he didn't give me much of a chance. But tell him he sounded fine." The sheriff thanked her for the information and promised her he would pass her message on to Adam.
"I don't like it either, Ed but the kid didn't give us anything else to go on. We're just gonna have to wait it out." Buck Turner said as Ed Sykes voiced his displeasure at not knowing Daniel's wherabouts or who he was with.
"Look, can we at least keep the roadblocks up until he shows up? I mean, just in case? If he plans to be home tonight, then he's probably still between here and Sacramento. Just because he called and said he was coming home, doesn't mean he's safe. He could be with a stranger and not even realize he's in danger."
"I have to notify the other sheriff's that we've involved in this and let them know what I know. I'm okay with keeping my personnel out there, but that's gonna be up to them as to whether they want to keep their manpower on this. You know that, Ed." Sheriff Turner replied.
"Yeah, I know. But for all we know, the kid is still running away. He may just be trying to throw us off of his trail. " Ed replied. "What if he saw a roadblock and this is his way of convincing us not to look for him?" He still had a bad feeling about it all. Something didn't seem quite right. If Daniel had wanted to come home, why wouldn't he have asked for someone to come get him? It didn't add up.
"I doubt he saw any roadblocks. Everybody is just now getting set up. But, I suppose it is a slight possibility. I will pass our concerns on to the other jurisdictions. They may be willing to keep looking for him. I'll do what I can." Sheriff Turner said. "I'd better get on the horn to them all. I'm calling Angels Camp first, see if they can let the McFadden's know we've heard from him."
"Thanks Sheriff." Ed replied. "I'm gonna get back out there. We've pretty much exhausted the local search, but I'm gonna head back out to the highway and help with our roadblock." He said.
"Yeah, you do that." Buck replied. "Don't worry so much, Ed. He called and we know he's okay for the moment. This is good news." The sheriff said, smiling.
"Yeah, I guess." Ed replied. He still had a bad feeling.
Crane couldn't make any sense of what he was being told. Daniel called and said he was coming home, but gave them no information as to where he was or who he was with? This was crazy.
"Come on sheriff. Didn't Jan tell him how worried we are?" Crane said, his voice sounding every bit as hysterical as he felt.
Crane had spoken with his roommate numerous times in the last few hours but no one there had seen Daniel. Crane couldn't understand any of this. Did Daniel somehow make it to Davis without being seen and find out that Crane was in Murphys? No, that couldn't be it. The only way for him to find out Crane wasn't there was to speak to someone at the dorm. All of his dorm mates had been alerted and still, no one had seen the boy.
"Where was Adam the last time he checked in with you? Have you heard from Brian yet?" Crane was spitting out questions faster than Sheriff Carter could answer them.
John Carter had been the sheriff of Angels Camp for the better part of fifteen years. He knew the whole story of the McFadden boys, just like everybody else in this part of the country did. In fact, he had known their father. Adam McFadden Sr. was an honest, hardworking, reliable man. The sheriff had no doubt that the same could be said of his boys' too. He felt really badly for them all and knew they were scared to death. He was being very understanding of the state Crane was in. He had two sons of his own and he'd be every bit as worried if it were one of them.
"Adam is over in Sutter Creek. The sheriff there was putting some men out on the highway to stop motorists and he asked Adam to help them with their search. As for Brian, I think he's still here in town. He's asking around to see if anyone saw him today. Crane, try to settle down. It's good that we know he's okay for the time being and with everybody looking, we're gonna find him and get him home safe. Can you trust me on this?"Sheriff Carter pleaded.
"Yes sir. I just wish there was more I could do-" Crane began.
"Son, you're doing everything you can. Keeping in touch with the campus is the best thing you can be doing for us right now. At least we know Daniel is okay and if he's heading home, we'll find him. If he's still heading to Davis, you're friends will find him and call us. We have everything covered." The sheriff said.
"Okay, okay." Crane replied, running his hands through his thick hair. He knew the man was right, but he still felt helpless.
Brian had failed to find anyone that claimed to have seen Daniel in Angels Camp. He had decided to check with the Angels camp deputies out on Route 4 that were setting up a roadblock. It was there that he had been told of Daniel's call home. He knew he should feel relieved but instead all he felt was more frustrated. Why didn't I go back to the ranch? If I'd taken that call, I'd have gotten to the bottom of where the boy is and who he's with. He knew it was useless of course to second guess the situation, but he couldn't help it.
He had been told that both Crane and Adam had been notified about Daniel's call. Now, he had to decide whether he should stay in Angels Camp, or head back to the ranch. He figured with Crane here and Adam in the next town over, he'd best head back to Murphys. If Daniel came home, one of them needed to be there. He stopped by the sheriffs office and checked in with Crane and sent word to Adam that he was going to wait for Daniel at the ranch.
The drive home seemed ten times longer than it actually was. Brian kept thinking about the things he'd done to Mr. Kramer and how it all had likely led to this mess. He tried not to feel hard against the teacher in all of this, but he couldn't help himself. He would tear the guys head off if anything happened to his little brother.
Mr. Kramer had been nothing but a jack ass to Brian when their parent's had died. Back then he'd been a scared, grieving kid with way too much responsibility heaped upon him and for a teacher to be so unconcerned about him... well, it had hurt. It had hurt a lot. Brian lashed out at him the only way he knew how. He'd set out the whole year to humiliate the man. He wanted the guy to hurt every bit as badly as he hurt.
He could see now that he'd handled it badly, but at the time, he felt justified in his actions. Mr. Hodges had let a lot of his behavior slide and had never made Brian apologize... he had suggested it, but never forced it. Brian had been surprised about it, but he was relieved about it back then. He couldn't have imagined actually telling that man he was sorry. The fact of the matter was, he wasn't sorry... until now. If anything happened to Daniel because of his stupidity back then- Brian just didn't know what he would do. Please, please, please God. Watch over my brother. Bring him home to us safe and sound. Brian prayed like he'd never prayed before.
