Seven Dollars to Borrow a Father

I had never ridden faster than I did that night.

Eddie drove like the devil himself was chasing us, cutting through empty streets and taking corners so sharply that the tires screamed against the pavement.

My injured arm throbbed beneath my jacket. Blood had soaked through my sleeve, but I barely noticed.

All I could see was the photograph on my phone.

Noah in the back seat.

Marcus beside him.

The little boy's hands were folded in his lap, and his eyes were fixed on whoever had taken the picture.

He looked terrified.

"Where are we going?"" Eddie shouted over the engine.

"Elaine's house.""

"You just said Noah's in a car!""

"I know. But if Marcus took him, he knows where we were headed. We need to find out whether Elaine is safe.""

Eddie didn't argue.

Five minutes later, we pulled onto Elaine's street.

Her porch light was on.

Every window was dark.

I jumped off the motorcycle before Eddie had fully stopped.

"Elaine!""

The front door stood open.

I pushed inside.

A lamp lay shattered on the living room floor. One of the dining chairs had been knocked over, and a framed photograph of Noah and his mother had been crushed beneath a muddy boot print.

"Elaine?""

I ran through the house.

The kitchen was empty. The bedrooms were empty. A back window stood open, its curtain moving in the cold breeze.

On the kitchen counter lay a folded piece of paper.

My name was written across the front.

I tore it open.

Ray,

They came for Noah. I tried to stop them. I'm sorry.

Please don't trust the man who tells you he saved you.

David knows what I mean.

Find the church where he made his last promise.

—Elaine

I read it twice.

Then I called Detective Coleman.

She answered on the second ring.

"Ray, where are you? We found blood at the storage facility.""

"Mine. Someone took Noah.""

Her voice sharpened.

"Who?""

"Marcus.""

A pause.

"Your friend?""

"Yes.""

"Are you certain?""

I sent her the photograph.

She went silent.

"Mr. Dawson, I need you to listen carefully. We tracked the black truck from the school.

It belongs to a company registered to Bellhaven Security. We've also discovered that Victor Hale has a record of intimidation complaints that never made it to court.""

"So Marcus was telling the truth about Victor framing the club.""

"Possibly. But there's something else. We found a second vehicle registered to Marcus Bell near the storage facility.""

I closed my eyes.

"He's been helping them.""

"We don't know the full extent of his involvement. Don't confront him alone.""

"I don't intend to.""

I hung up and called Marcus.

He answered immediately.

"Ray.""

His voice sounded exhausted.

"Where's Noah?""

"He's safe.""

"Then put him on the phone.""

"I can't.""

"Why?""

"Because Victor is listening.""

I gripped the phone so tightly my fingers hurt.

"Where are you?""

"The old clubhouse.""

"You took a child to a place connected to a man who threatened to kill him?""

"I brought him here because I had no other choice.""

"You had forty-seven other choices. You had me.""

Marcus's voice cracked.

"I know.""

"Then explain yourself.""

He breathed heavily.

"Victor has Elaine. He said he'd kill her unless I brought Noah and the key. I thought I could get the boy away from him once we were here.""

"Thought?""

"I didn't know Victor had men waiting.""

I stared at the shattered photograph on the floor.

"How do I know you're not lying?""

"You don't.""

For the first time in our friendship, Marcus had no excuse.

Then I heard Noah in the background.

"Mr. Marcus, why can't I go home?""

Marcus's voice softened.

"Buddy, I'm trying to help.""

"Then why are you crying?""

I shut my eyes.

The phone moved, and Marcus whispered, "Ray, I need you to come here. Bring the folder.""

"No.""

"Please.""

"You betrayed David. You helped Victor find Noah. And now you want me to walk into another trap?""

"I deserve that.""

"You deserve worse.""

"I know.""

His voice broke.

"But Noah doesn't deserve any of this. Neither does Elaine. I can still get them out.""

I looked at Eddie.

He was standing beside the broken window, his expression grim.

I covered the phone.

"We need the police.""

Eddie nodded.

Then Marcus spoke again.

"Ray, there's something you don't know about the night David disappeared.""

I put the phone back to my ear.

"What?""

"David didn't run away.""

"I know that.""

"No, you don't. He stayed behind so I could get Laura and Noah out of the house.""

My breath caught.

"What are you saying?""

"I was supposed to take them to safety. Victor caught me before I could leave. David came back and surrendered himself in exchange for their lives.""

I felt sick.

"Why didn't you tell me?""

"Because I was ashamed. And because Victor made me believe that if I spoke, David would be killed.""

For nine years, I'd imagined David choosing to abandon us.

Instead, he'd chosen to save us.

And I'd spent those same nine years trusting the man who'd helped put him in danger.

"Marcus," I said quietly, "if you've hurt that boy—"

"I haven't.""

"Then prove it.""

A long silence followed.

Finally, Marcus said, "There's a church on the old highway. Saint Andrew's. David used to go there when he needed to think.""

Elaine's note flashed through my mind.

Find the church where he made his last promise.

"What's at the church?""

"Nothing. It's just where David left something for Noah.""

"What?""

"A letter.""

I closed my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?""

"Because I didn't know if I could trust myself to do the right thing.""

I heard a door slam on his end.

Then Victor's voice.

"Give me the phone.""

Marcus whispered, "Ray, don't come here. Go to the church.""

The call ended.

I stood motionless in Elaine's kitchen.

Eddie approached me.

"What did he say?""

I looked at the clock.

Then at the photograph of Noah.

"We're going to Saint Andrew's.""

"What about Noah?""

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

"We're going to find out why David left a letter there.""

Outside, sirens began wailing in the distance.

Detective Coleman was coming.

But I had a feeling the truth wouldn't wait for the police.

And if David had left a final message for his son, I needed to find it before Victor did.

Because somewhere between the church, the missing evidence, and the man who had betrayed us, lay the answer to a question that had haunted me for nine years.