Page 81 of The Cannon
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
He keeps his eyes on the streets.
“Yeah. We can’t ignore how wounded this has made him. He might be having self-destructive thoughts.”
The words bring tears to my already tired eyes. I press my lips together trying to hold the emotions back.
“There! He just crossed the street. On the left there! Pull over! I’ll go get him,” he says.
Changing lanes, I pull the car to the curb. Thank God there’s two empty spaces because I came in crooked. Sawyer’s out before I have time to straighten my angle.
“I’ll call his parents!”
“Call the police!”
I watch him sprint across the four-lane Main Street, dodging cars in both directions. Shit, there’s some seedy looking characters leaning against the Wig Barn. Looks like they’re both high as kites.
Sawyer makes it to the sidewalk and heads in the direction Jude was last seen.
I take out the card the policeman gave us and make the call. My hands are shaking.
“Hello. This is Bristol Swift, Officer Calhoun. We located Jude. He’s walking on Main Street between Ninth and Tenth. My boyfriend is trying to catch up to him now.”
“We’ll send a unit. Stay where you are.”
Our conversation is over with his command. Now where did Jude go? I don’t see him. Shit! Then Sawyer starts running. My eyes move ahead, scanning the scene. There, saying something to a shady looking man, is Jude.
When Sawyer reaches them, words are exchanged. Jude looks angry. Defiant. He starts to walk away. The man puts a hand on Sawyer, in a gesture to hold him back from grabbing Jude’s arm. Oh Lord!
As he shakes off the man’s hand, Sawyer holds on to Jude’s arm. Things are escalating. Voices are raising. Even from across the street I can make out the occasional word. Sawyer’sStop. Please.
Jude’sNobody cares.
I can’t stay in the car any longer. Maybe I can do something to help diffuse the situation. I exit and take only my key fob, locking my purse inside.
These fucking cars. I can’t make it across like Sawyer did. The crosswalk is my best bet. There’s no sprinting in these heels, but I pick up the pace. Red light. Shit.
I wait impatiently for the green and listen to what’s going on between Jude and Sawyer. The kid’s crying. Fuck me. He’s pulling away from Sawyer’s grasp as hard as he can.
Green light.
I hurriedly head for the opposite corner. As I step onto the sidewalk, Jude turns and makes eye contact with me. He’s crying and now he’s embarrassed I’ve seen it.
“Jude! It’s alright. Let’s talk!”
But instead he pulls away from Sawyer’s grip with all his might. One step off the curb and he’s in the street dodging the oncoming cars. Horns blast and more than one angry voice yells an expletive. Tires screech.
“Jude!” Sawyer yells.
He goes after him.
Oh my God! My heart is racing with the realization of what is happening. I raise my arms in the air attempting to get the attention of the drivers.
“Stop! Stop!”
“Just let me die!” Jude cries.
Just as Sawyer reaches Jude’s side, a car full of teenagers change lanes. They didn’t see the two figures weaving through the traffic.
