9

Geoff didn't remember the ride over. He was overwhelmed with worry that something had happened to the little dinosaur. The next thing he knew he had parked near the Kingston Police Department's headquarters and was quaking with adrenaline. He checked his watch, realized he hadn't actually memorized the time and looked at it again. The kidnappers would be calling again soon. He had to get home to answer that call!

He hurried through the double doors and approached a counter. "I'm Geoffery Jason McKenna. I'm here to see Officer Merriman."

The balding man behind the counter eyed him strangely. "Are you all right, son?"

"Uh, yes. I'm fine, sir. Officer. I'm…okay."

"Deep breath," the man told him, straightening in his elevated chair and lifting a hand to emphasize the movement. Geoff helplessly mimicked him. "All right then. Slower this time. How can I help you?"

By the time Shaun arrived to gesture for him to follow him through a heavy wooden door with a small wire-reinforced window set near the lock, he was clammy with perspiration. "Hey, Geoff. Heard you were at the folk's place the other night."

"Yes. For dinner. Had to leave, though. Something came up."

"At least it wasn't mom's cooking," the young police officer joked, smiling through a mask of freckles. "This way." He escorted him through another doorway. "So, you know the guy who took your vehicle?"

"Yeah," he sighed, smiling bravely. "Always was a bit of a troublemaker."

"I'll say. He has a handful of outstanding warrants."

"Oh," McKenna said, unsurprised.

"Is he related to you?"

"No. Did he say he was?"

"He hasn't said anything to us at all. Just made a phone call and has been sittin' ugly ever since." Shaun grinned at his own joke. "You need some coffee or a soda or anything?"

"I'm good."

"You seem…a little off."

"Just got betrayed by someone I thought was my friend," he replied.

"Uh-huh. Where was he heading, do you know?"

"Oh, I have no idea."

"But when you called, you told us what road you thought he might be on. Didn't you tell us he was heading for New Jersey?"

"Right. Right. He said that. New Jersey. But I don't know where, exactly."

Officer Merriman stopped before another door. "So who is this guy, Geoff? Just someone visiting for the holidays?"

"Old school friend." He brightened suddenly. "You'd know him. Sterling Silver?"

"Oh, God. I thought the name sounded familiar. Looks a lot different than he did then. I didn't really know him of course…mostly by reputation."

"You can't forget a good nickname like that."

Shaun chuckled. "Yeah. What were his parents thinking? Brit Silver?"

They passed through the doorway into a small area dominated by a large wall with a small counter set in it at the bottom edge of a large window. A slender man in uniform looked up at them expectantly, and Shaun took over, trying to help Geoff through the process of recovering his damaged vehicle. McKenna was asked for his ID. The other man took it to make a photocopy of it.

"Any idea why he'd take your Jeep?"

Geoff was licking his dry lips, concerned with the time. He told Shaun, "I dunno. Just for the thrill of it?"

"Had the two of you argued? Maybe just disagreed over something?"

"No," the veterinary student replied, wondering if he should have worked up some kind of a cover story.

Merriman rested a hand on his left upper arm. "Are you coming down with something?"

"No. I…maybe. I don't know."

He moved a little closer and turned away from the open window. "You seem extremely uptight. I think we should talk."

He knew the other man had seen the turmoil in his eyes.

"You keep looking at your watch."

"It'll have to be quick. Is there someplace private we could go?"