page to access Jimmyâs, but he hadnât posted anything new. A couple of girls had posted photos of themselves, but if heâd seen them, Jimmy hadnât responded.
âIt was worth a try,â Samantha said, shutting the machine back down.
âI wish Nick would call. I canât stand this waiting.â Mary led the way back downstairs and Jimmyâs golden retriever, Duke, fell in beside them, a hopeful look on his doggie face. He accompanied them into the kitchen, toenails tapping on the wide-planked hardwood floors. He lay down on his bed in the corner, clearly waiting for his friend to come home.
Samantha glanced around the kitchen, which was state-of-the-art, with stainless steel appliances and designer lighting. Clearly, Jimmyâs father had been a very successful man.
Just as they walked up to the breakfast table, the door from the laundry room swung open and Jimmy walked into the house.
âJimmy!â Maryâs voice came out high and shrill. âForgodsake, where have you been?â
The boy didnât answer. Duke jumped up and hurried toward him. Jimmy patted him absently on the head and kept walking. He was tall for twelve and muscular, a good-looking kid who was clearly part Alaska Native. Mary spotted his swollen and blackening eye at the same time Samantha did.
As the boy walked past, Mary reached out and caught his arm. âWhat happened, Jimmy? Who did that to you?â
âI got in a fight, okay? Iâm all right. Itâs no big deal.â
âItâs a very big deal, Jimmy! Do you have any idea how worried Iâve been? An hour ago, I called the police!â
His face seemed to turn a shade lighter. âCall them back and tell them Iâm okay.â
âAre you sure?â Mary asked. âI think you should sit down and let me take a look at you, at least let me put some antiseptic on your lip.â
âI didnât hit my head or anything. Iâm fine.â
âIâll call the troopers,â Samantha volunteered, âlet them know heâs home safe. And Iâll see if I can reach Nick.â
âThank you.â
As Samantha headed for the phone, Jimmy tipped his head in her direction. âWhoâs she?â
âHer name is Samantha Hollis. Sheâs a friend of Nickâs.â
Samantha lifted the phone and dialed 9-1-1. When the dispatch answered, she relayed the information that Jimmy Evans was home, safe and well, answered a couple of other questions, then hung up the phone.
She heard footsteps in the living room, figured it was Nick. âWeâre in here,â she called out to him. âJimmyâs home.â
Nick walked in scowling. It was clear he was barely hanging onto his temper. âWhere the hell have you been? Your auntâs been frantic.â
His scowl deepened as he spotted the boyâs black eye and split lip. He reached out and caught Jimmyâs chin, tipped his face up. His gaze remained hard, but his deep voice softened. âWhat happened, Jimmy? Are you in some kind of trouble?â
The boy pulled away. âIâm not in trouble. I got in a fight with one of the kids from school. Itâs no big deal, okay?â
âWhich kid?â Mary asked.
Jimmy didnât answer, just mulishly set his jaw.
âYour aunt asked you a question,â Nick said.
âIâm not a rat. We had a fight. Thatâs all Iâm saying.â
Mary looked at Nick for guidance.
âAll right, Jimmy, you donât have to rat out your friend. But I think itâs time you talked to someone. I called earlier to ask if you wanted to go fishing in the morning. You can either talk to me tomorrow, or you can go to a counselor. As your guardian, your aunt can make that happen. Whatâs it going to be?â
Seconds ticked past as Jimmy mulled over his choices. Samantha was sure heâd pick talking to Nick. âIâll go to the counselor.â
Nick
Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Danica Winters, Casey Dawes