The Old House by Willo Davis Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

anybody up, so they intended to check in at home later. They were taking a load of lumber to L.A. Only they never got there.”
    â€œBut that must have been days ago!” Buddy exclaimed. “How long could it have taken to drive from one end of California to the other?”
    She heard her brother’s indrawn breath. “Not this long, Buddy.” Bart cleared his throat. “There seems to be some suspicion that . . . thatDad and Rich hijacked the load, maybe sold it to somebody. It was worth a lot of money.”
    Buddy’s indignation exploded. “Dad never would have done anything like that!”
    â€œYou know it, I know it. But all the trucking company knows is that a couple of newly hired drivers disappeared with one of their trucks and a load of really expensive lumber.”
    â€œBut that’s crazy! How could they? You can’t hide something as big as an eighteen-wheeler!”
    â€œNot without really working at it. Edmonds has reported them to the police as missing. The California Highway Patrol is looking for them. But I’m afraid what they all think is that Dad and Rich deliberately disappeared after peddling their load for cash. They said there are lots of desolate places in northern California where they could have hidden a truck, or run it off a cliff where it wouldn’t have been found right away.”
    There were unpleasant prickles along Buddy’s spine. “No way,” she said angrily, but there was more fear running through her than anger. “They don’t know Dad!”
    â€œNo,but we do. I’m not giving up, Buddy. I’m going down to Eureka to see if I can pick up their trail. There are a lot of truckers running between there and San Francisco and Los Angeles, the whole length of California. Everybody runs with their CBs on; they must have talked to someone. It was a bright green truck with Edmonds’ logo on the doors. Somebody must have seen it. They had to stop to eat and refuel. It may take me a few days, because I’ll have to stop everywhere they might have stopped, talk to everybody who could have seen them or talked with them. So don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a few days. I don’t know how long it’ll take. California’s eight hundred miles long.”
    Buddy’s throat was aching so, it was hard to speak. “Are you okay?”
    â€œSure. I keep the doors locked when I sleep in a rest stop or whatever. It’ll be nice to sleep in a bed again, but it’s not bad in the car. I don’t want to waste cash on motels or anything like that. Aunt Cassie taking care of you all right?”
    â€œI only got here this morning,” Buddy reminded him. “She’s a good cook, and they’re nice.” She didn’tmention what Max had said about her relatives being a dysfunctional family. “Aunt Addie signed me up to go to school if you don’t get back before Monday.”
    â€œNot much chance of that, Buddy. Just go, do the best you can. I’ll call you when I find Dad, even if I can’t get up there to get you right away.”
    â€œIt won’t be very long, will it?” There was a tremor in her voice.
    â€œI don’t know. I hope not. Take care, Buddy. Don’t give up hope. I’ll find him and Rich, or maybe the police will find them first. But they’re figuring stuff like hijacking a load, and I’m not, so we’re looking in different places, I guess. Even if I don’t find Dad right away, I’ll come get you. Okay?”
    She was so choked, she could barely echo his okay. If he didn’t find Dad, what would happen to them both? Bart wasn’t even out of high school yet, and he had no skills to enable him to support them both.
    She hung up, fighting tears.
    She didn’t want to walk back into the kitchen and see those questioning faces, butthere was no choice. They were still drinking their tea, except for