Tommy is driving through town for what seems like the zillionth time today. He's even checked Timmy's favorite spots and areas Tommy believes his son might go. All the while, Bambin's lackey's warnings replay like a scratched record over and over in his head. Please don't let them have him, please, he begs. Wiping away the river of tears that continues to stream down his cheek.
Tommy then recalls what the first two years were like, being forced to live in secrecy under an alias name, uprooting the kids to a new school, and him getting a new job. The worst part of all was having to sever all ties with the people he loved and knowing that he'll never be able to set foot in his hometown again.
"Why did I do what I did? Why? He asks himself for the millionth time today. Slamming his hand against the steering wheel, Tommy plays out the sequence of events in his mind. I thought I was doing good for my family; I truly did. But I never expected it to turn out like this.
After having enough money to pay for Jen's operation, Tommy decided to continue his life of crime, hoping he could get enough money to buy their first family home. I should've stopped before everything went down, he thinks, recalling his near-death experience with Babinin's daughter Lanna. He thought that he, Jimmy, and Jen's sister Linda were going to die that day. We probably wouldn't if it weren't for the Berryville cops.
Tommy then recalls how when Timmy was little, he'd run to his aunt Linda, Jen's baby sister, when he got into trouble for something he'd done. Timmy wouldn't run to her now, would he? Tommy then recalls how upset he was. I need to call her to see if he's there. He starts to head back to the house when another thought comes to mind. Her phone is probably tapped, so using our landline could lead Babini's men right to us. He then recalls grabbing Timmy's phone on the way out. He'd planned to take it to the police once he finished his initial search. "That would be a lot safer. He fishes the cell from his pocket, types in the area code, and then stops. It's best I don't do it here, in case someone can trace where the cell pinged from. So how far should I go? A hundred miles or so? Tommy pictures the area in his mind. It might be best if I call from another state. Yeah, that's what I'll do. I should probably call the Berryville police and ask them to keep a lookout for my son.
****
Once the officer leaves, Jen resumes her pacing back and forth across the front room floor. She tried cleaning the house to take her mind off things, but that seemed to make everything worse. She'd either find something of Timmy's or pick up something that would bring back a pleasant memory she and her son shared.
"I wish Tommy would call," she says, glaring at the phone, wishing for it to ring. She glances at her watch to find Tommy's only been gone an hour. No news is good news, right? She asks. But no matter how many times she said it, she couldn't convince herself it was the truth.
The phone breaks the unnerving silence in the room. Startled, Jen dashes over to the desk, smacking her shin on the edge of the coffee table on her way through. "Damn table," she says, glaring at the god-awful piece. The hideous thing was one of her husband's finds. A battered eyesore he'd found at the flea market. With great pride, he claimed it'd give their home a style. If you're going with a junkyard theme, Jen thinks, glaring at the table. She glances down at her extremity to find a small stream of blood trickling down her leg. The phone rings again. Rushing over, she breathlessly picks it up. "Hello?"
"Jen, it's Tommy."
Finally, she thinks. Pressing the phone tighter to her ear, she asks, "Did you find him?"
"Not yet, but I'm still looking." He says, trying to sound more hopeful than how he feels. Tommy turns his back away from the man who lent him his phone. In a quieter voice Tommy says, "I think he might've gone to Linda's. I'm going to call and see if he's there."
"You can't call from the house."
I'm going to call from Timmy's phone, but not here." Tommy nervously glances around.
"Where then?"
"I was thinking about calling from another state?"
With a heavy sigh, Jen says, "Do what you have to do, but get home safe and preferably before dark." The family quickly learned how dangerous the nighttime can be. Once the sun set, everything seemed to change. The roads around them became hazardous. The woods around them come alive, and a sense of fear settles in, a subtle reminder that their safety is never guaranteed.
"I will, love you, hon."
"Love you more."
Smiling, Tommy hands the cell back. "Thank you, sir."
The man shakes the phone, smiles, and says, "I know what women are like when they don't hear from you in a while."
"Thanks again. Tommy repeats. Hopping in his truck, he pulls away.
Taking I88 out of Bettendorf, Tommy crosses the Illinois state line. This is still too close, he thinks, continuing on. After nearly another hour of driving, he reaches Rock Falls. This should be good, he thinks, pulling into a gas station; he turns off the car. Pulling out Timmy's phone, he dials Linda's number only to be greeted by a recording."
"I'm sorry, but the number you're trying to reach is no longer in service. If you feel you've reached…"
Hanging up, Tommy tries again only to get the same recording. He glances at the phone. "I know that number is right. Maybe she had it changed. He calls directory assistance, but there isn't a number listed for her or her hubby. A horrid thought comes to mind. I hope she's alright. Hanging up, he dials the Berryville PD.
"Bower," Rachel answers, shuffling a few folders across her desk.
"Just the person I wanted to talk to." Tommy sighs, recalling how she saved his life. "This is Tommy Cambell; my oldest son Timmy has run away, and I think he might be headed your way to see his aunt."
"You haven't heard, have you?"
Fear surges through his entire body. Tommy grips the phone tighter and asks, "Heard what?"
"She and her family started receiving threats shortly after you left, so we had to move Linda and her family to witness protection." She pauses for a second, then asks, "Would Timmy know they moved?"
"I don't see how he could, unless he's somehow kept in contact with them, but I didn't see their name on his phone. "Sergeant, oculd you please keep an eye out for my son?"
"How do you want us to contact you if we find him?"
"The safest way would be to call the Bettendorf police."
"I will make note of that, and Tommy, please don't do something careless that will get you or your family killed."
Tommy smiles. "I'll try not to, sergeant. Oh, and Sergeant.'
"Yes?"
"I never did get the chance to thank you for saving my life."
Rachel smiles. "It was my pleasure." With the evidence Tommy gave them, they were able to make the biggest bust in the state.