Taken (Lost Town Book One) by Nathan Hystad

Author:Nathan Hystad [Hystad, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Woodbridge Press
Published: 2024-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

2

John was grateful to be active, rather than sitting around twiddling his thumbs. He was helping as a volunteer for an important task.

“Patrols, come in,” a voice said. He realized it was Dot, not Amelia this time.

Haley glanced at him and took the radio when he nodded. “Patrol Ten active. Over.” She shrugged and smiled from the passenger seat of Darcy’s van. He already missed his truck, and knew he’d never drive it again. He’d been too busy to dwell on that, but driving down the road to nowhere in this vehicle had solidified his reality.

Many other patrol teams commented, but it sounded like a couple didn’t.

“We have a situation. Two girls are missing, and the parents are worried. Summer Dawson and Carly Lawrence,” Dot said. “They were last seen on their bicycles, so keep your eyes peeled. If anyone finds them, report to me immediately. Over.”

Haley let out a yelp as they caught sight of the perimeter of their familiar township. Beyond it loomed the dark woods.

“What’s got you so…” A pink backpack lay in the ditch, between the road and field of cornstalks. He climbed out and grabbed it. “You recognize this?”

“I bet it’s one of theirs,” Haley said.

“It’s Princess Diamond. Aren’t they a little old for…” John remembered Haley obsessively watching those movies, even now, when she didn’t know he was paying attention. “Never mind.”

Haley unzipped it and showed him the sparse supplies. A couple of chocolate bars, a bottle of water, and headphones. “Why would it be here?”

A glint of the waning sun reflected off something near the crop, and John investigated. He pulled on handlebars, dragging a bike from cover. He found a second one, and Haley trembled when she reached the pair. “These are theirs. I’ve seen them all around town. Summer is constantly zipping on hers with those huge headphones on. I almost ran her over once, but she didn’t notice.”

John brought the radio out of the van and stowed the revolver in his belt. “Dot, come in. It’s Patrol Ten.”

“Go for HQ.”

He mouthed the letters questioningly.

“Headquarters,” Haley said.

“We found the bikes off Railroad Drive at the boundary. They’ve ditched them in the cornfields, so I doubt it was these animals Amelia warned us about.”

There was a pause.

“Lillian Carson is on her way to you. Can you stay put for fifteen?” Dot asked.

John entered the stalks, locating footprints between the rows. Two smaller sets, and one much larger. “They’re with someone… a man.”

“How do you know?”

John stomped his own shoe beside it, finding them nearly the same size. “Because he’s rocking size eleven boots.”

“Don’t follow them. Wait for Lillian,” Dot said.

“It might be too late. I won’t let anything happen to them,” John said, surprised at his own bout of courage.

“John, it’s Lillian. Follow them and keep me posted. Tell me where they are. Don’t engage. I repeat, do not engage until I’m there. Understood?”

“Roger that, HQ,” he said.

“Are you serious?” Haley asked.

“What do you think?”

“That you never listened to Mom and Dad,

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