Free The Black Cadillac by Ryan P. Ruiz

stepped foot in the driveway. Cody had forgotten to call his babysitter and let her know he went to his friend’s house after school.
    “Where were you?” she screamed.
    “At Zach’s house, sorry I didn’t call,” said Cody.
    “Well, you are in big trouble, boy. Your mother will hear about this, don’t you worry,” explained Phyllis.
    Olive was behind the babysitter, making funny faces while she was yelling at Cody. He couldn’t help but smirk a little. The smirk sent Phyllis over the edge.
    “You are grounded, I’m definitely telling your mom, and get up to your room,” she screamed, her voice getting louder and louder.
    Cody took his shoes off and ran up the stairs into his room. He didn’t care that his babysitter grounded him; it didn’t mean anything. His mother would be home soon, and he could explain everything. He was certain his mom would understand.
    Cody went straight to the alarm clock radio in his room on his desk. He tuned it to a local AM news station. The reporter on the news was talking about Mandy Coefield.
    There was urgency in his voice.
    “If anyone has any information regarding this missing girl, please call authorities,” the reporter said.
    Cody sat at his desk and turned off the radio. He thought about what Zach’s mom had said.
    “There are some evil people out there,” he remembered her saying.
    Cody thought about Sam Jennings, the missing girl from five years ago. He thought of an article in the newspaper he read of how her kidnapper kept items that Sam had on her at the time she was taken. The girl had a multicolored woven bracelet her mother had given her with an inscription on it that authorities were certain her abductor took as a souvenir. Just the thought of that made Cody’s stomach cringe.
    “There are some sick and evil people in this world,” he thought, “and I’m going to catch one of them.”
    Cody prayed that Zach’s brother would help them.

CHAPTE R X Th e Ga s Station
    A couple of days went by, and Zach still had no good news. It wasn’t until the middle of the week when Cody got the news from Zach.
    Cody and Zach were on the playground behind the school at lunchtime on the early spring day.
    “Okay, dude, I got to talk to Scotty. It took a while, but I actually convinced him to help us! He will give us a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon. We have to pay for his gas in his car. He’s driving back to college around seven on Sunday night,” Zach told his friend.
    “Wow, that’s great! Does he know fully what we are doing and why?” asked Cody.
    “No, not really, and he doesn’t really care, either. He’s just helping us,” replied Zach.
    “That’s great. Now, we just have to pray that the black car is there,” said Cody.
    “Yep,” chirped Zach.
    The boys ate their lunch and talked about different things the rest of the time.
    The next few days moved slowly, and the boys hardly talked about the investigation.
    Sunday finally came, and the two friends had a sleepover again, this time at Zach’s house.
    Zach’s brother, Scotty, pounded on the bedroom door and opened it. Scotty had dark-brown hair parted down the middle and really dark eyes. He was tall and slender with long legs. His face was partially covered in acne.
    “What time am I taking you guys?” he asked aggressively.
    It was 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, and the boys had slept in. Zach was in his bed, and Cody was burrowed in a blue sleeping bag on the floor. Zach looked at the clock above his door. Cody’s ankle was all healed and felt much better.
    “Like around one, dude,” Zach murmured, half awake.
    “Okay, be ready at one and don’t call me dude . I’m going to go for a jog,” snapped Scotty.
    Cody barely budged from the sleeping bag. Scotty left, and Zach hopped out of bed.
    “Come on, Code, get up, let’s grab some breakfast,” said Zach, now more awake.
    Cody’s head popped up from above the top of the sleeping bag. He unzipped the side of it and slipped out.