Hunter by Adrianne Lemke Page B

if
something bad happened to you, I would only respect you more for getting
through it. You said earlier that you don’t think you have people who care, but
I’ll tell you: despite you trying to push me away, I care.”
                The
detective’s emotions threw me a bit. He hardly knew a thing about me, how could
he think he cared about me? “Are we friends now, detective?” I asked softly.
“Because I’ve never done anything with you, besides avoid questions.”
                “You
want to help people,” he said. “You are obviously hurting and angry, and, from
what I can see, you’re afraid of letting people get too close. Despite that,
you still care, and try your best to help. Those are the traits of a person I
want as a friend.”
                I
glanced into the car, where Caleb watched us closely, and thought for a moment
before responding. “You’re saying… what, exactly?”
                He
sighed heavily, opening his door, and talking over the car to me. “I’m saying
that if you let me in, even a little, I want to be your friend. But it’s your
choice, Jason. Let me know when you’re ready to be mine.”
               

TWENTY
    Sam

 
 
                By the time Jason picked me up, he
was pretty much over his anger, and had fallen into a melancholy mood. We
picked up some take-out and drove home in silence. “I’m sorry, Sammy,” he said
when we pulled into our driveway.
                “For
what?”
                He
looked at me briefly, a bit surprised that I seemed confused by his apology.
“For dragging you here. I know you didn’t want to leave Crandal, and I never
even asked your opinion before I decided to leave.” I stared at him silently,
perplexed by his sudden apology. “It was wrong of me to take you away from
people who love you.”
                “They
all love you too, ya know.” It was the only response I could come up with.
People caring about him was something he always had trouble believing. Jason
couldn’t believe he was worthy of anyone’s love. Sometimes I think he believes
I only care about him because he takes care of me. “Jason, if you’re thinking
of going back…”
                “No.
Not yet, anyway. I need to find this guy, Sam. And…”
                “What?”
I prompted, hoping he’d share more, but he shook his head.
                “Never
mind. We should go eat. It’s pretty late. Sorry about that too, kiddo. I didn’t
think it would take quite so long to deal with the Caleb thing.”
                He
found Caleb. That much he told me when he reached the Thompson’s house to get
me. Anything about why his emotions had been everywhere was kept to himself.
Being Jason’s brother could be frustrating at times, but somehow I wanted him
to understand he was worthwhile. That he could be loved just for being himself.
I wanted him to believe he wasn’t always seen as someone who was broken, and
needed to be pitied.
                Due
to the late hour, we ate our meal and then went directly to bed. It was
Thursday night, and I still had school in the morning.
                The
rumors started flying around as soon as the doors opened on Friday. Depending
on who you talked to, Caleb had been kidnapped, murdered, killed someone, or
killed himself after killing someone. Considering Jason said they found him, I
knew the rumors were not accurate. But one of the kids who’d been partnered with
Caleb on a project recently was pretty confident when she said, “I heard his
dad beat him up, and he tried to commit suicide.” I got a jolt when she shared
her opinion, and realized that situation would explain Jason’s emotional
responses the previous evening.
                Except
for his completely unexpected apology. I still wasn’t sure what to make of
that. If Caleb was abused, and Jason