Where Tomorrow Leads by Cyndi Raye Read Free Book Online Page B

we’re on this road trip. I won’t put you in danger, it’s how I am.”
     
    “Danger! From a teenager! That’s crazy, Jake. You’re taking this too far.” She began to walk away when he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
     
    “Maggie, my phone is dead in the glove compartment. Let me have your phone to call Josh. I need a photo too so I can send it to him. It’s the only way I’ll help the kid.”
     
    She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Okay, you win. Except you’re not the only one who can help him. I can too.” She dug in her pocket and handed him the cell phone. “I can’t believe you’re being so cautious over a poor, bedraggled teenager. Have a heart man!”
     
    Jake watched as she stomped to the gift shop. After a while, she came back with a few shirts and some shorts. “I know these are not what you wear on a normal basis,” she nodded towards the clothes Danny had on. “But they’re clean.” She dished out a few dollars from her wallet. “Take this money and these clothes and go back through the gift shop towards where those truckers are standing back there. You’ll find a lounge and a shower. You need one before I’ll let you in my car.”
     
    Jake snapped the shot of him and for a moment Danny looked startled. A look of anger crossed his face but disappeared the moment he realized Jake watched him. “Sorry kid, I didn’t mean to snap that, not sure how this cell works. I’m not real gadget savy.”
     
    Maggie gave him a look as if he were the biggest liar in the world. When Danny left the table to change his clothes and get a shower, she spun on him. “You, not computer savvy? Oh Jake, you need to trust people sometimes. The kid is getting a ride from us whether you like it or not. Besides, it’s my car.”
     
    “You’re going to use that one on me? You do what you got to do Maggie McCoy and I’ll do what I have to.” He walked away with her cell phone, pushing in the number of his friend Josh.
     
    Jake got right to the point. “Josh, I don’t have a lot of time to talk.”
     
    “Hey, heard you were off on some kind of road trip.”
     
    “Yeah, it’s fun. Except we ran in to a kid who needs a ride down 95. He’s pathetic and his Mom is supposed to be dying, but there’s something about him I don’t trust. I have a name and a photo, can you check it out?”
     
    “Send it to me and don’t turn your back on anyone.”
     
    “He’ll be riding in the back of a pink Impala with us for the next few hours at least. I’ll send you the info. Call me at this number when you have something.”
     
    “A pink Impala? What did you get yourself in to this time?” Josh’s voice sounded incredulous.
     
    “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.” Jake hung up before having to explain about the pink car because he had no doubt Josh texted everybody anyway. He’d be the laugh of the day until they saw the classic Impala for themselves. Jake grinned as he sent the photo and info of the kid to Josh, then slipped the phone in his pocket.
     
    He wanted to help the kid. It looked like Maggie already decided they would do so. He had some reservations but maybe he was being a bit too old school, although it never hurt to be careful. Was Maggie right, he didn’t trust people? On the other hand he didn’t run a major company by being a nice guy. Jake always went with his gut feelings, which never seemed to fail him.
     
     
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    Jake was starting to make her angry. Why couldn’t he see the kid was out of money and luck? She knew he was a bit skeptical of people but the teenager was in dire straits and she’d do whatever it took to get Danny back to his Mother.
     
    When he came out of the trucker’s lounge, she shuffled him to the car. She stood at the passenger door and let the kid in the back seat, while Jake stood at the driver’s door, watching the kid get in. Then he looked up and smiled, an absent minded one, not like his hot one that caused her to