Courtney gripped Jayden’s hand while speaking with gritted teeth, “We aren’t lying. My brother was kidnapped.”

“You also said that he was in the hospital, but he wasn’t admitted.” The officer or detective or secretary, or whatever position the man behind the desk held, wasn’t being cruel about it, but they were wasting Courtney’s time. “Are you sure he wasn’t lying to you about it?”

“No, he wasn’t. I watched him get hit by the car,” and she remembered the way he had crumpled onto the ground as the small blue car had raced away. She remembered the way his leg twisted in an impossible angle. “We took him to the hospital.”

The cop still didn’t believe them and, directing his question to Jayden, asked, “And what is your relationship to her brother?”

“He’s my friend.” Jayden was a lot more put together than Courtney was, she supposed that was because his mother had been a cop too. “And he was worried that he was being followed this last week.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve already put him in the system, but what you’re telling me isn’t lining up with the facts. There’s no hospital records and the hit and run you’re talking about wasn’t reported.”

“Yes, it was!” Courtney yelled. “I called it in myself. I called while we were on our way to the hospital.”

“I’m sorry. But there isn’t any record of it. And, if you aren’t going to give us something concrete to work with, we’re going to have to follow the lead your parents gave us.” The man’s face screwed up in frustration. “Not that they’re much help either.”

“Couldn’t you ask around the hospital?” Jayden asked. Honestly, he had the patience of an angel. Either that or Courtney was just too frazzled by the whole affair to think straight. Both were valid options.

“I suppose we could,” the man said. “Who did you say his doctor was?”

“I don’t remember his name,” Courtney said, mad at herself for not paying more attention. “He had dark hair and wore glasses. I think his name started with a ‘C.’”

“Okay, we’ll look into that. Is there anything else you need?”

“No.” Jayden said, wearing a closed-eye grin. “Thanks for wasting our time. Let’s go.” He pulled Courtney towards the exit; the dark look on his face took Courtney off guard.

“Hey,” she said, worrying for Jayden, “At least they’re going to ask around for the doctor.” The encouragement was weak at best. There was already a lot of time lost.

“No, they aren’t.” Jayden said, his voice tight. “They would’ve called in a sketch arty and have you describe him if they were. We’re on our own.” He opened the door to his truck and got in.

“What?”

“Listen, Court, do you really trust your parents to genuinely try and find him? Do you think that any police officer is going to take us seriously?”

“Your mom would’ve.”

“My mom is dead, Court.” He started the engine. “No one is going to believe us cause we’re teenagers. If we were kids then maybe but if we want to find Shawn, we have to do this ourselves.” He jerked his head, “Get in.”

She got in the passenger seat and buckled the seat. “But we are just kids,” Court stated, “we can’t do it.”

“You sure about that?” Jayden pulled out of the parking lot. “Cause I’m pretty sure we can. For Shawn.”

Courtney steeled herself and nodded, “for Shawn.”