“I guess. I’ve never had one.” Vanz ate the muffin in a few big bites.
“Then you’re in for a treat.” Mitch poured a generous helping of fries into the fryer basket.
Curious to know more about the boy, Bennett pulled out a stool for him. “Are you from around here?”
Vanz shook his head. “Little town up north. You wouldn’t know it.”
“Try me. I’ve been around.” Mitch flipped the burger, the sizzle filling the silence.
“Palm Vista. Nothing ever happens there.”
Mitch raised his eyebrows in surprise. “No kidding? I visited some family there a long time ago. A cousin on my mother’s side got married. I don’t remember any names, though.”
“Wish I could forget it all,” Vanz mumbled, absently rubbing a fading bruise on his wrist.
Listening to this exchange, Bennett watched the teenager. As he looked closer, he noticed other bruises and cuts on the boy’s hands and neck. He looked as if he’d been in a recent altercation. Bennett wondered if that was with other kids or family members. Then again, maybe he’d fallen on a skateboard or bike.
As Mitch cooked, Vanz relaxed a little, though his thinshoulders remained tense. He watched while Mitch assembled the burger on a fresh bun with a sizzling patty, sliced avocado, tomato, lettuce, and a drizzle of aioli. He plated it with fries and set it on the small table in the corner where employees took breaks.
“Sit,” Mitch said. “Eat your fill.”
Vanz stared at the plate for a moment before picking up the burger and wolfing it down like someone who hadn’t had a real meal in days.
Bennett continued watching him. This boy was too young to be on his own. He was a long way from home, and he should be in school. He might be a runaway, in which case Bennett should let Clark know to check the missing persons database for a possible match.
He caught Mitch’s eye, and the look they shared needed no translation. They both wondered what this kid’s story was.
Vanz demolished the burger and most of the fries before slowing down. He sat back, looking almost dazed with satisfaction.
“Looks like that went down easy,” Mitch said.
“Yeah.” The boy’s voice came out rough. “That was really good.”
Mitch grabbed a bag from under the counter and loaded it with more muffins and items from the cooler. “You can take this with you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I have to throw them out otherwise. Health department rules.” Mitch’s tone didn’t invite argument. “They’re yours. If you come by tomorrow at the same time, I’ll probably have something for you. Got to follow the rules.”
“Okay, if you have to.” Vanz stood slowly, tucking thebag protectively under his arm. His eyes were fixed on a spot on the floor. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“Why not, dude?” Mitch replied with an easy grin. “You seem like a cool guy.”
“Not everyone thinks so.”
“Well, we do,” Mitch said, glancing at Bennett. “Do your parents know where you are?”
A shadow darkened the teen’s face. “They don’t care about me.”
“That’s their loss,” Mitch said, tidying his workspace. Lightly, he added, “Got a place to sleep tonight?”
A shy smile tugged at Vanz’s lips as he nodded. “I’ve been camping out. See you later.”
With the food clutched against his chest, Vanz slipped outside into the night.
Mitch closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. “I slipped the address of the local shelter into that bag. Maybe he’ll go there.”
“It’s clear that kid’s running from something,” Bennett said. “But he should be in school unless his parents gave him permission to drop out. I need to call Clark now so he can contact the Palm Vista police. There might be a missing person report.”
