Free Reclaiming by Gabrielle Demonico Page B

police handle it.”
    Before Jett could reply his father said, “Jo, that’s not going to work. They’ve got their sights set on Jett. What we need is time to get this sorted out.”
    “No David, please.” Jett’s mother begged.
    “Jo, no. I am not going to just turn him over to the police.” David replied. “You know what we have to do. Now go get the map to the cabin.”
    “David! Please, the police can protect him.”
    “Jo, now. The map.”
    Jett ’s mother sobbed as she stood from the kitchen table and walked away.
    After she disappeared, David turned to Daniella. “You have to understand,” he began. “She already lost one son. She doesn’t need to lose another. This is for the best. She needs time to come to terms with it.”
    Daniella had no idea what he meant by that but she felt for the poor woman.
    “Excuse me for a second.” David said as he pushed his chair and headed off after his wife.
    As he walked out of sight, Daniella looked at Jett and said, “What’s this cabin your dad was talking about?”
    Jett shrugged. “When we were young, there was a cabin we’d go to in the summer but we haven’t been there in years.” He replied as he shook his head. “I don’t know why he’d send us there.”
    They sat in silence for a minute or so when David and Jo reappeared in the kitchen doorway. Even though her eyes were still puffy from crying earlier, Jett ’s mom seemed to have collected herself. David gestured for her to sit down at the table and as she entered, he followed behind her. After they sat down, David unfurled an old piece of paper that contained a hand drawn map. He rotated it upright and slid it into the center of the table.
    “Alright…” he said as he pointed towards the middle of the map. “That’s where you are headed.”
    “What’s this cabin you are talking about, Pop?” Jett asked. “Is it the same one we went to when we were kids?”
    “What? No. No, we sold that years ago…” his father replied. “No, it’s Owen Carmichael’s place.”
    “Who?” Jett asked. “I’ve never heard of him.”
    “He’s an old friend of ours.” Jo replied.
    “Oh…” Jett said. “I don’t understand. Why would he agree to help me?”
    “Because he owes us a favor.” Jo interjected. “Your father saved his life years ago, right around the time that we adopted you and Wyatt. Isn’t that right, David?”
    “In a manner of speaking, yes.” David said as he nodded. “But, that’s not important right now. What is important is that you and Daniella get there as soon as you can, preferably leaving here at first light.”
    Jett grimaced. “Dad, I’m starting to think that maybe I should turn myself in, like Mom and Daniella are saying.” He crossed his hands together on the dining room table and continued, “Being on my own and on the run is one thing but now all of you are involved. The last thing I want is you sitting next to me in jail.”
    “I understand, Jett.” David said. “I appreciate that but you let me worry about dealing with the police here in Pine Hill. They’ve been sniffing around since the day you went missing and they ain’t found nothing yet.”
    “But Pop…”
    “I said no, Jett. That’s final!” David barked. “Show me the respect I deserve as your father and do this for me. Your mother has been through enough.” Jo reached down and caressed David on the shoulder as she stood behind him. He looked up towards her and said, “I’m fine, honey.”
    After a brief pause, Jett nodded and said, “Alright, Pop. But if the police do anything to either one of you, I’m back here and I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
    “Agreed.” His father replied. “Now, tell me, how did you get here?”
    “Oh, Daniella’s car…” Jett said. “It’s parked about a mile away, in a safe spot.”
    “Okay, well, the earlier you can get headed north towards Fesser’s Grove, the better. The cabin is about thirty minutes south of there.” His