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“Are you still thinking about the Rangers?” asked Forrest to the other two boys.
“I definitely am,” said Leif. “I don’t want to be miserable, stuck on a ship that can’t accommodate my size. I’d like to think about SEALs, but Rangers seem the better route.”
“You could do Coast Guard or Paratroopers,” said Walker.
“That’s true, although Coasties have the same problem as the Navy with our height. I’ve got a little time to think about it, but I’d love it if we could all go in together,” said Leif.
“Me too,” said Forrest. “Maybe we could all be in the same unit, like the others.”
“It’s definitely possible.”
The boys enjoyed walking home when the weather was good. They each had a car but didn’t want to drive it unless they really needed to. The extra exercise and steps allowed them to continue to build on their endurance and physique.
The walk from the high school wasn’t far, but to ensure their safety, Matthew had constructed paved pathways that were lighted and had call boxes along the side of the path if they needed them or found themselves in trouble.
Sometimes, the other kids at school would walk with them, hoping to get a glimpse of Belle Fleur. But once they hit the gate requiring handprints and codes, the kids would be turned back.
“Do you think the guys found out anything new about those kids?” asked Walker.
“I’m sure if they do, they’ll tell us. It’s all just so weird,” said Leif. “Why would someone tattoo a kid only to kidnap them? It’s sick and twisted.”
“Which is why our parents do what they do,” said Forrest.
Turning the big curve toward the main road, they could see the diner up ahead, along with the signs for the bike shop, tattoo shop, hair, nail, and massage salon, and Gwen’s design shop. The dance studio was on the other side, hidden from view.
Up ahead, a dark blue, rusted-out van was swerving all over the road, and the boys frowned, staring in its direction. Suddenly, it pulled over to the side of the road, opened the sliding door, and shoved something out.
“What the hell?” asked Leif. The driver sped off, leaving a big canvas bag on the side of the road.
The boys carefully crossed the road, kneeling next to the bag. Walker touched it, then heard a whimpering and crying from inside. Panicked, he untied the top and pulled the canvas bag down.
“Don’t hurt me. Please don’t hurt me anymore,” cried the young girl.
“Hey, hey, we’re not going to hurt you. We’re going to help you,” said Walker.
“I’m calling for help,” said Forrest. “Dad…”
“She doesn’t look familiar to me,” said Leif.
She was wearing a plain pink t-shirt with jeans, no shoes, and her hair was a mess. There were a few scratches on her hands, but other than that, they couldn’t see anything wrong.
“No, she doesn’t attend our school, for sure,” said Walker. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Everywhere,” she cried. “They hurt me everywhere!”
The boys turned, hearing the pounding of feet running toward them. Doc, Wilson, Ajei, and Riley ran toward them, and they could see the cart coming out of the Belle Fleur gates behind them.
Wilson kneeled beside the young woman, beginning his examination of her. By the time she was on the cart, the senior team had arrived. Their roadside victim had one distinguishing feature. A Chinese symbol on her shoulder meaning ‘possession.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Her name is Gracie Huckabay,” said Ajei. “Is that familiar to you, boys?”
“No, ma’am,” they said in unison.
“What’s wrong with her?” asked Leif. “I couldn’t see anything other than some scratches on her.”
“That’s about all we can see, too,” said Ajei. “She doesn’t have any injuries anywhere, yet she’s back there screaming like a banshee that she was tortured. You boys stay right here. The seniors are going to want to ask you some questions, and her parents have been notified that she’s here. You did good. You did the right thing.” She stood, kissing all three boys on their foreheads, and went back down the long corridor.
