Page 123 of Steel

I took a deep breath, watching Violet’s reaction, surprised when all she did was blink a few times.

“He thinks I hate him,” Violet said after reading the note. She handed it to me. “My son thinks I don’t love him. He must have heard us arguing that night outside Ziggy’s. He thinks what I said in anger meant I didn’t want him around.”

Mom,

I know I’m the reason you argue with Dad all the time. If I hadn’t been born, then maybe your life would be better. I’m sorry you had to bring me with you cause I’m a bad boy. Maybe you could be happy with Steel if I wasn’t around. I know why you took Zorro away from me. I deserved it. I’m sorry.

Damon

Ah, fuck. Hissing, I handed it off to Axe. “Don’t go there, Violet. He knows you love him. He’s upset about the pup being taken from him. That’s it.”

“That’s not it. Don’t you remember what I said? That my son was a scandal. Not to me, but that’s not what he heard.”

“She could be right, Steel,” Axe said quietly. “He ran after her at one point that night, disappearing for a few seconds. Kenzie and I went right after him. He was standing outside close to the two of you. He could have heard you two talking.”

“Shit. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I hissed.

Axe rubbed his face. “I would have if you two hadn’t made up. I didn’t think anything of it. I’m sorry.”

“Damon couldn’t have gone very far, Violet,” Viper said to her. “We will find him. We’ve rescued lost children before. Try not to worry.”

I yanked the pad back from Axe, reading the note again and hoping for any clues before handing it to the officer. Bart had been with the force for a long time. He knew what to do and what to expect from a distraught parent.

“In the dark? A child who’s from the city?” she threw out, immediately walking away. “It’s my fault. There is no one to blame but myself.”

“Axe is right. We will find him. Period.”

“Does this pad belong to your son?” Bart asked Violet.

She narrowed her eyes before glancing at the lined notepad. “No, it’s not his. Did you bring it, Josie?”

“Never seen it before,” she answered.

“Why?” I pressed.

“Because there’s a list that reminds me of what might be used to start fires.” Bart glanced from me back to Violet.

After cutting through me with her eyes as if I would dare mention Damon had started a fire in Los Angeles, she headed toward Bart, looking down at the page he’d turned to. “That’s not his writing. Look at the difference.”

“No,” Bart admitted. “It’s not.”

“In talking with the chief tonight after running into him, I mentioned there was an attempted break-in. What if they were looking for this list?” I threw it out there. That would make sense.

Bart flipped through the pad. “There are some other things on here as well that might be of interest. Carl, we need to bag this in case there are fingerprints.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll contact the chief as well,” Carl said, taking the pad with two fingers.

She slumped, still shaking.

I’d called in favors to try to help locate the little boy. While he wouldn’t freeze to death, there were wild animals. Plus, the Clark Forge River backed up to the property just behind the access road. And the river raged. If he lost his footing, he could tumble on rocks and slip under.

I wasn’t about to identify every danger.

“We have a plan. We need to fan out and search in a grid pattern,” Bart suggested as he spread out a map across the kitchen table. “If we want to find him, we do this methodically step by step.”

Violet was now leaning against the wall, her arms folded. Her skin was pale; after the initial shock, she’d said very little. But she was watching everything. Paying very close attention.

“Since Steel knows the area,” the officer continued, “he’ll be leading this rescue operation. I don’t need to tell you that time is of the essence. Let’s do this.” He nodded toward me.