Hunter Read Free Page B

many people like paying
a PI with anything other than cash. Something I didn’t argue about.
                “We
charge…”
                “Fifty
an hour. I saw in your office. I’m okay with that. Just find my son,” she
interrupted.
                “I’ll
keep records,” I assured her. “You’ll get at least a basic accounting of how we
spend the time while we search. And if it turns out we can’t help you, I will
let you know.”
                There
was no need for her to spend her money on an impossible search. She nodded and
walked back to her car, leaving me to begin my hike down the trails. I’d never
met her son, so there was no way I’d be able to recognize his steps. It might
not even make sense for me to wander the wooded trails, but if I found nothing,
I wouldn’t charge her for my time.
                For
my own peace of mind, I needed to try to find any signs of struggle. And if I
found something, it could lead to a son being reunited with his mother. I
checked my watch and decided I would only stay out until dark. It wasn’t worth
searching in pitch-blackness, even if I technically didn’t need to see in order
to find something.
                At
least it was a nice day for a walk. My lightweight spring jacket was enough to
keep me comfortable without getting too warm, which was good because I only had
a T-shirt underneath. Wearing them at all was a recent development, but only
with Sam. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been paying attention when I grabbed clothes
this morning, so I’d ended up with a shirt that showed off all the obvious
scars on my arms. Sam had grown accustomed to me walking around the house in
short-sleeves, so he hadn’t mentioned it when I walked out the door.
                Wearing
short sleeves was something I rarely did when leaving the house. I hated the
looks I got from people when they noticed the scars, and the inevitable
questions from people I would talk to. Some wouldn’t ask verbally, but the
questions were always there in the quick glances and hushed whispers.
                I
paused and knelt on the trail near the end of where I had checked earlier,
before I’d rejoined my client. And she was my client. Joe didn’t know about her
yet, and I had been her contact. He’d told me before that if he didn’t know a
client, he didn’t want to have to be involved in the case unless I got stuck or
needed him to help me track someone. Although he did need to know about it and
be kept in the loop as I worked. So far, I hadn’t needed help. I also hadn’t
gotten any of my own cases. I’d helped with most of Joe’s since I’d started
with him, and after the first few where I’d proven that I could handle myself,
he’d decided if I caught a case when he wasn’t around I should be able to be
the primary on it.
                When
he was sober, he was actually a nice guy. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too attached
to the drink after his wife’s announcement, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if
he were. That would be a good reason to move on. I couldn’t stay and work for a
man who got that angry when he was drunk.
                Hannah’s
voice came back to me then. “ I’ll be here when you’re ready to come home. ”
She hadn’t hesitated to call her house my home, which made me wonder if I could
go back. The only time I’d gone back to a place after running away, was when
I’d gone back to my father’s house to get Sam. And I hadn’t completely decided
to take him with me until I saw him limping and holding himself like he had
bruised ribs. He’d looked so small and helpless that I couldn’t help but take
him.
                Returning
to Alice and Hannah’s home would be completely different. It would be returning
to something familiar and positive, and I actually wanted to be there. I
wouldn't be counting the minutes until I could get away again, like