Chapter 6

Jake strained to see into the darkened house. It was no use. It was pitch black. Jake gingerly stepped off the back porch. He knew he was taking a big risk, but he wasn't about to let Seth get away with murder. Especially if he had killed someone else. Jake slowly walked towards Seth's house, hoping Seth or his parents didn't discover him out here. Jake was about to take another step when an arm wrapped around his neck. Jake was getting ready to shout out but a damp cloth was placed over his mouth and nose. Jake struggled against his attacker but was easily overpowered. The last thing he was aware of was being taken down to the ground.

……….

David sat in at his desk, looking over the case file for the ninth time that hour. There were no new leads in the gas station shooting. It wouldn't be long before it was put in the cold case storage unit and David was reassigned to another homicide. David jumped as his phone rang. He groaned as he picked it up. This was going to be a long night.

"Detective White," he said answering.

"It's me," answered the caller.

"Holly? What is it? It's one-thirty in the morning. Are the boys alright?"

"They're fine. The hospital just called. I have to come in at nine so that means you have to go get Tyler at the airport." David sighed. He didn't have time for that. His oldest son Tyler was coming home from summer camp and his flight was due at nine-thirty.

"Holly, I'm in the middle of a double homicide."

"So you're just going to leave Tyler at the airport?" David sighed.

"Fine. I'll go get him."

"Thanks, David. Take Connor too. He's been spending too much time at Jake's house. Jake needs some time alone so he can rest."

"OK. I'll pick him up at eight-thirty."

"He'll be up. Bye, honey."

"Bye." David hung up. Just what he needed. More delays.

……………

Jake woke up to find himself tied up and gagged. He looked around and realized he was in Seth's garage. His fever hit him with ferocious force. Seth walked towards him from the shadows. Jake whimpered in fear.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you not to be nosy?" asked Seth. Jake whimpered in response. Seth pulled up a stool and sat down.

"You're in over your head, kid. You and that friend of yours. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

"I think I have an idea," mumbled Jake, his lips straining against the gag in his mouth. Seth grinned.

"We'll see," growled Seth, leaning down and injecting Jake with a drug. Jake felt his eyelids getting heavy. Seth walked away as Jake's vision got blurry. Jake let out one final whimper before he drifted into blackness.

………….

David swore as an old woman cut him off.

"This woman can't drive for shit," exclaimed David as he passed her for the second time. Connor shifted in the seat next to his father. His dad could get really mad when it came to bad drivers. Especially old people who were bad drivers.

"Just get farther ahead of her, Dad," offered Connor. David glanced at his son. The boy could be exceptionally bright sometimes.

"Why didn't I think of that?" asked David, as he got three car lengths ahead of the woman. David sighed as an uncomfortable silence fell over the car. It had been like that for the whole trip.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you the other night. I've just been stressed lately," apologized David.

"It's OK, Dad. I know how your job can suck sometimes," replied Connor. David laughed and ruffled Connor's hair.

"Smartass," muttered David. Connor smiled. His dad was back to normal. Guess he really did need this trip after all.

…………..

Tyler White was coming out of the airplane when David and Connor arrived at the gate. They saw other kids from Tyler's camp running to greet their parents. It took Tyler a few moments to see David and Connor and he quickly ran over to greet his brother and father. Tyler was the favorite of the family, a fact that was blatantly obvious to Connor. Tyler did well in school and was on the start on his soccer and football team. Connor did have his little league fame, but it was overshadowed by Tyler's popularity.

Connor was quiet the whole way home as Tyler went through the details of his three weeks at Camp Greenwood in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. His soccer talent had made him a camp celebrity. He had a small relationship with a girl from a cabin next to his and he was given an award for friendship during the last evening gathering. Typical Tyler. Always popular and well loved. Connor was happy for his brother, but he wished that some of that popularity would rub off on him. One thing that made Tyler so popular was his looks. He had girls falling head over heals at school. They fell in love with his piercing blue eyes or his somewhat full lips. Connor was usually referred to as "Tyler's little brother." Luckily some people found that cool. And Connor did have Jake and their group of friends to fall back on. It's not like Tyler was a jerk. Tyler looked after his younger brothers. It just sometimes hurt Connor to see his brother being popular and not him.

…………….

Connor snapped out of his thoughts as they passed Jake's house. There were cop cars everywhere. David parked and told the boys to wait in the car.

"But, Dad. What if Jake's in trouble?" asked Connor.

"Stay in the car, Connor!" ordered David as he got out. He headed towards the house, showing the cop guarding the perimeter of the house his badge. Connor bit his lip nervously. He kept glancing at Seth's house and then back at the Bakers. Seth's house was dark. Foreboding.

"We got too close," muttered Connor quietly. Tyler heard his younger brother mutter something to himself and turned around in his seat.

"What was that?" asked Tyler.

"Nothing. Just talking to myself," replied Connor, diverting his eyes away from Tyler.

"I don't believe you. Come on. Connor, talk to me," urged Tyler. Connor sighed. He could trust Tyler. Tyler was good at keeping secrets.
"Ok. But promise me you won't say anything to Dad. He's real close to grounding me," begged Connor. Tyler chuckled a little but nodded in agreement. Connor gave him a dirty look.

"I promise I won't say anything," assured Tyler. Connor nodded and explained the situation regarding Seth to Tyler. He showed Tyler the photo of the blood and told him about the knife in the garbage. Tyler couldn't argue with photographic evidence. He let out a nervous sigh and stared at Seth's house.

"Dad won't believe me if I show him the picture. We need more evidence. Evidence he knows can't be made up," explained Connor.

"Connor, if something happened to Jake, that means Seth is on to you. This is really dangerous," warned Tyler, his voice a nervous whisper. Connor leaned in close to his brother. They were nose to nose.

"He killed someone. We can't let him get away with it," whispered Connor.

"What if he killed Jake? Then what, huh?" asked Tyler. Connor narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"Don't say that," hissed Connor. He sat back as David approached the car. Connor could see Mrs. Baker crying on the front porch. Jake's older brother Charlie slowly led her back into the house. David got in the car and sat in silence for a few moments. Tyler finally spoke up.

"Dad? What's going on?" asked Tyler. David sighed.

"Jake wasn't in his bed this morning when his mom went to check on him. There's no sign of him in the house," replied David. Connor faded out after that. Seth had gotten to his friend. They had gotten too close. What if Tyler was right? What if Jake was dead?

…………..

Seth opened the truck of his car and pulled Jake out. He'd be driving for two hours to make it to his safe house in time. He had given Jake enough drugs to knock him out for twelve hours. Jake still had a lot of sleeping to do. Seth dragged Jake to the run down shed on the property and secured him inside. Maybe he'd get lucky and Jake would die from his fever or something. Seth went into the house and called an associate of his on a secure line.

"Yes," said the associate answering.

"Morton, it's me," explained Seth.

"What is it, Seth?"

"I need you to watch the safe house. I have a kid tied up in the shed."

"For how long?"

"Don't know yet. Not too long."

"I'll be there in a half an hour."

"The keys in the usual place. Morton, when you hear from me next…" Seth paused. He couldn't believe it had come to this.

"Seth? What do I do?"

"Kill the boy and dispose of the body."