Fear - 41

Gene looked around and shook his head. "Now where's he disappeared to?"

"He was heading that way," Max replied, pointing in the direction of the bread booth, "Which means he probably found the one with the pies just around the corner."

"If they have samples, he'll be trying them all. You should have seen him at the apple stand. He charmed the woman into giving him slices from all the different kinds."

As they talked, Gene and Max went in the direction they'd last seen Shawn. It soon became apparent he wasn't where they'd thought he'd gone.

"Okay, if I were him, where would I head?" Gene muttered.

Max chuckled. "Straight back to you once he knew you weren't with him. Other than that, it's anyone's guess."

They were at an intersection where four aisles of booths met. Gene stood on tiptoe, trying to spot Shawn over the heads of the people mingling down each of them.

"Lose someone, Doctor Gene?" one of the women running the bread booth asked in amusement.

"Yes. Did you see a young man with dark hair, about five-nine, anywhere around?"

"Sure did. He was standing just about where you are when this big fellow came up to him. They must have known each other 'cause the big guy put his arm around your friend, said something and they walked off. Looked like they were heading toward the parking lot, though I won't swear to it."

"Hell no!" Gene took off running with Max right at his heels. They reached the lot just in time to see a battered truck pull onto the street, heading toward the highway a half mile away.

"That's Jared's truck. I'd recognize it anywhere, despite the condition it's in," Max said angrily.

Gene whirled around, looking for the any of the police officers on duty in the Market area. He spotted one a few hundred yards away and raced over to him. "I want to report a kidnapping," he said, trying to rein in his anger.

"Whose, Doc?"

Gene took a deep breath. "His name is Shawn. Shawn Mathews. He…"

"I know who he is. I had to get him away from his boyfriend when he was beating on him, about two, three months ago give or take. Down at Ms Johnson's motel. The question is, what makes you think he was kidnapped, and by who? The boyfriend?"

"Yes, damn it. And I know he wouldn't have gone willingly. Not after what the bastard did to him. They're in a truck…" Gene turned to Max. "You describe it. You know it better than I do."

"Two thousand and three Ford Ranger. Black with gray primer on one fender. Dirty, like it's been through the mud, which it could have been. Not sure of the license plate but…"

"If you check police reports you'll find out," Gene put in. "The owner's name is Jared Lewis. He's wanted for first degree assault and battery."

"On Mr. Mathews?" the officer asked as he took out his two-way.

"Yes," Gene replied angrily. "And now he has him again. Damn it, do something."

Max put a hand on Gene's arm. "He is. He's calling it in. So take a deep breath and let him do his job."

Gene did, muttering, "Sorry. I'm scared, and Shawn's got to be terrified."