Page 107 of Turn the Tide
“I will, I promise. But I need your help. Where would Freddie go?”
Mama T thought for only a few seconds. “He and Patty’s old place. It was nothing but a rusted single-wide trailer, but he thought it was a palace. Said something about getting it from a guy who couldn’t hold on to it. I was always afraid to ask what that meant.”
“Do you know the address? Or where to find it?”
Mama T’s chin came up as she straightened. “Don’t know that it has an address. But I can draw you a map.”
Marco smiled and helped her to her feet.
“Here, Mama. Let me get you settled, get you some paper and a pen.” Sarah helped her to a chair at the table, casting worried looks in Marco’s direction.
Marco grabbed his phone and called Josh, but the signal dropped before the call went through. He tried again. Finally, he sent a text to both Josh and Hunter.
He typed:At Mama T’s. Freddie grabbed Donny, stole my ATV. Mama T drawing map to Freddie’s old trailer. Think that’s where he’s headed.
Josh’s response came back immediately:On my way. Leave me a copy of map.
Hunter’s response said:Patty’s not at café. Her car’s gone. She wasn’t with Freddie?
Marco typed fast:No sign of her. See if you can track an address on that trailer. Text us. Cell service sketchy.
Hunter:10–4. Keep an eye out for Patty, too. Marshall’s got a screw loose. We’ll meet you there as soon as we can.
Marco tucked the phone in its holster and turned back to the table as Sarah removed the blood pressure cuff. “You feeling a little better, Mama?” He addressed the question to her, but his glance flicked to Sarah for confirmation. She nodded, and relief flooded through him.
He studied the map. “Walk me through it, would you?” He quickly sketched the map for Josh, making notes as she talked, trying to picture exactly where she meant. Unfortunately, instructions like “go yonder a fair piece” were hard to translate into miles.
Marco stood and squeezed her hand. “Thanks. This will be a big help. FWC Officer Tanner is heading this way. Give this to him, all right?” More thunder shook the cottage, and rain pounded on the tin roof. Marco checked the radar on his weather app. The worst was still coming. He had to get moving.
When he saw Sarah grab her poncho from the railing and slip it over her head, he stood. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like? Getting my poncho.”
“You’re not coming with me.” No way in hell would he put her in that kind of danger.
“Yes I am. That boy may need me before it’s over.”
She had a point, but he ignored it. It wasn’t safe. “Mama T needs you here to keep an eye on her.”
“Boy, I been taking care of myself since before you was even a twinkle in your mama’s eye.” Marco heard the unmistakable sound of a shotgun shell being ratcheted into the chamber. “I need you both to go get my grandbaby.”
Sarah flashed him a triumphant grin, then instantly sobered, while Marco’s gut churned with all the possible things that could go wrong. But he didn’t have another second to waste. He turned back to Mama T. “Don’t go shooting Officer Tanner by mistake.”
“You’re gonna need wheels. Come with me.” They followed her through the kitchen and across the flooded yard to the little outbuilding from which she ran her business. She unlocked the padlock and slid the door open and lit another hurricane lamp. Beyond the shelves of home-canned goods, she walked to the back of her shop and raised the lantern, illuminating an aging dirt bike.
Marco grinned. “Since when do you ride a bike, Mama T?”
She dangled the keys. “I don’t. But I took it as collateral for some sewing. Patty rides it to work some days.”
Marco walked around it, checked it out.
Mama T reached up and patted his cheek. “Go find my Donny.”
He folded her in a gentle hug. “Yes, ma’am.”
After Mama handed them an extra helmet and Marco pushed the bike out of the shed, Sarah swung her leg over and whispered, “You’re a good man, Marco Sanchez, no matter what anyone says.”
His head snapped up and Sarah winked before she wrapped her arms around his middle and tucked her head against his back.
