When they pulled into the front yard of Willie’s home they saw Bob Coombs’ truck parked there. Willie got out as the front door opened and Bob was standing there smiling and waving. Willie hurried up the steps to embrace his grandfather while Stone, who’d been following Willie, turned and walked back to the truck to grab Willie’s bag.

He had just closed the truck door when the force of the explosion knocked him off his feet and slammed him facedown into the mud. As debris rained down around him, a dazed Stone lifted up his head. Where the trailer had been there was now nothing. He could see straight through the gap to the trees behind. Something large landed next to his head, smoke rising off its sizzled surface. He didn’t recognize it. And one could hardly blame him.

They were the earthly remains of Willie Coombs, what little there was of him left.

Stone’s head dropped back into the mud and he lay still.

Chapter 52

CHAPTER 52

ANNABELLE AND CALEB had returned to the bus station and discovered that, somewhat ahead of the regular schedule, the same driver was just about to head out with a load of people on the route Stone had taken. Annabelle snagged a seat right behind the driver and peppered him with questions while Caleb followed in the van. A half hour into the ride Annabelle saw the 1924 Indian motorcycle with the rare left-hand sidecar pass the bus, drop back and then fall in behind the van.

She sighed with relief. Big Reuben Rhodes had arrived. They might very well need the man’s muscle. She’d told Reuben to bring quite a few things with him that she’d thought they might need. She noted with satisfaction that the sidecar was filled with items.

A few hours later Annabelle climbed off the bus in the middle of a curvy road bracketed by a mountain on one side and a typical sheer drop on the other. This was where Stone and his friend had gotten off, the driver told her.

Before she left the man had added, “Lot of interest in those two. What’s going on?”

“Can’t talk about it. National security.”

“National security, huh? They looked like a couple of bums.”

“If you were on the run from the feds, what would you dress like?”

“I guess I see your point.”

“And you’re sure you don’t remember anything they said about where they were actually going?”

“Kid just got up and told me to drop him off here. The older guy got off with him.” He paused. “The kid was wearing a varsity jacket. You know, for sports.”

“Did you get the name of the school? College? High school?”

“Didn’t pay that close of attention.”