Page 3 of The Wedding Driver
Tony dropped his gaze.
That was never good. It usually meant one of two things. The first one was that she was out pimping herself for drugs. Although, the last time he’d seen her, she looked like death. She was skin and bones, pale, but her skin had a yellowish tint. So did her eyes. She had these big black bags under them as well. He couldn’t imagine anyone would give her money for sex, but then again, what did he know? He’d never lived that kind of life. While he’d seen her choose her addiction over their child, and he tried the drugs, he still struggled with how it all happened.
“When was the last time you saw her?” Foster asked.
“A couple of days ago, I think. I lose track of time,” Tony admitted. “She didn’t look right. Sick maybe. And she limped.” He shrugged.
“If I give you some things, will you keep them for her?”
Tony lifted a blanket. “I have her valuables, so anything that won’t go bad, I can save for her.”
“Thanks. I’ll come back in a few days.” Foster pulled out his card with his cell number on it. “Find a way to reach me if she’s in really bad shape, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Tony organized the items that Foster dished out.
“You can keep some food and water for yourself.”
“Thanks, man. Much appreciated.” Tony nodded.
Foster spent the next hour wandering the streets, searching for Victoria, but with no luck. Instead of going home, he found himself at the new restaurant, the Blue Moon. It had been an old warehouse down the street from all the other food establishments. It had been an eyesore for years until three brothers bought the place and had Sutten and Tanner Construction renovate it.
He found an empty spot at the bar and ordered a bourbon.
“Hey, Foster.”
Foster twisted his body. “Oh. Hi, Jared.” He stretched out his arm. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well,” Jared said. “Except for feeling like an old man.” He glanced over his shoulder. “My wife thought it would be good to have dinner and drinks with our new neighbors down the street. They have a kid the same age as Bella, our youngest. Only, that’s their oldest, and I feel like a dinosaur.”
Foster laughed. He didn’t know Jared all that well, but what he did know, he liked and respected.
Not to mention, Jared had been there the night Lisa, his precious daughter, had died.
“Age is just a number.” Foster lifted his glass.
“Easy for you to say. Have you even hit forty yet?”
“Getting close,” Foster admitted.
“Well, when you’re fifty-seven, let’s talk.” Jared raked a hand across the top of his head. “Honestly, I wouldn’t care, except my Bella is only fifteen and their son is the same age and it seems I’m the last to know they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“Ryan knew?” Foster had gotten to know Jared’s wife at a couple of local weddings. She was a lot of fun and most likely kept Jared on his toes. They had the kind of marriage that most people could only dream about. “And didn’t tell you?”
“Bella didn’t tell either one of us because she knew her mother would push her to bring it to me. But the hardest part is one of the Lake George Patrol troopers busted this kid and his friends doing shit they shouldn’t be doing last week. I haven’t figured out how to deal with it yet.”
“Drinking? Pot smoking? That kind of stuff?”
“If it were that, I’d be putting an end to it right now.” Jared let out a long breath. “Especially at that age. I mean, I know kids will be kids. Trust me. I’ve got twin seventeen-year-old boys that some days I want to lock up and throw away the key. No, this was stupid horseplay on the lake, but someone could have gotten hurt. I can’t have my daughter around that and I don’t know how the parents are dealing with disciplining their teenager.”
“That’s a tough one, especially when some parents don’t like to bring up their children’s bad behavior with others.”
“Worse when it’s a state trooper.” Jared arched a brow. “When Caitlyn was about the same age, she had one friend whose dad constantly tried to make their daughter out to be a perfect child until I had to bring them home in the back of my patrol car. It could have been worse, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt because I knew the family. After that, my kid wasn’t allowed to hang out with his because I was power-hungry. I don’t want this to turn into that, but shit, I’m not ready for my baby girl to have a boyfriend. It’s bad enough Caitlyn has one. Hell, I’m struggling with the twins going off to college next year.”
“Before you know it, you’ll have a dozen grandkids.”
“And I thought I liked you.” Jared laughed, shaking his head. “I better get back to the table and address the elephant in the room.”
“Good luck, man.”
