Grave Shadows (9 page)

Chapter 32

Jeff’s Diary

by Jeff Alexander

It’s only a day before the bike trip of a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more excited. A lot of people biking this year had cancer and beat it, so that gives me hope. There are also people biking who have lost someone they love to cancer.

I met Bob yesterday, whose daughter, Cassie, died just last year. You’d think he would not want to be around people like me, but he smiled and gave me a hug. He actually rode with Cassie last year in a specially made carrier that she sat in. He said he wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

He said being around Cassie and me makes him appreciate every moment of life, so I guess that’s something we can all learn. He also believes nothing happens to us that surprises God. Not my cancer, not a car wreck, or even a terror attack. (I have a friend whose dad was killed in a plane crash caused by terrorists.)

Over the next few days we’re supposed to go 200 miles and wind up in Colorado Springs. I’m hoping there will be some people there when we finish—though I’m kind of nervous. A lot of people riding in this have really strong legs and look like they’ve biked for years.

My doctor gave thumbs-up to this ride and even kicked in a bunch of money per mile. If you can contribute, that’s great. If not, that’s okay too. Just keep praying someone will find a cure.

When you read this, I’ll be on the road and going through the most beautiful mountains God ever made!

Chapter 33

I had a hard time getting to sleep Friday night
and spent a couple of hours on the Internet checking eBay. I found some of the same memorabilia that had been stolen from Jeff, but it was from places like New York and North Carolina. And none of the signed stuff had Jeff’s name on it.

In the morning Sam sipped his coffee, and we talked about baseball as he drove me to the bike-hike site. He had rooted for the Cincinnati Reds when he was a kid and now didn’t seem to have a favorite. My team is the Cubs, even though I live in Colorado. I like the Rockies, but there’s a loyalty I feel with my real dad. Some of the best times we ever had were watching the Cubs make some late-inning comeback. Plus, we were able to go to the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field a few times.

“I talked with Jeff’s mom and dad last night,” Sam said, finally changing the subject as we drove through the Eisenhower tunnel. “They wanted to make sure you knew that you don’t have to finish this.”

“Not finishing would kill Jeff.”

Sam pursed his lips, like that was a poor choice of words. “But in his condition, I’m not sure he’s going to be able to help much. And the hills you’re going to tackle are not like the ones on the Santa Fe Trail.”

“We’ll walk them if we have to.”

Brake lights flashed ahead of us. Sam pulled into the left lane to pass a huge truck and muttered something. He pointed to the median where the body of a deer with a huge rack of antlers was tangled in the guardrail. There was blood on the road, and people slowed to look.

“Sam, did you ever have any friends die when you were a kid?”

He rubbed the stubble of his beard. “First grade. Kid in my class was helping his little brother cross the street. His brother got excited and broke away from him. The car wasn’t going that fast, but I guess fast enough. They didn’t have crisis counselors back then. Everybody just kind of went on without talking about it.”

“It bothered you?”

“I was sad. I knew the kid, had played with him a few times. I still think about him. Wonder why it happened.”

Sam’s first wife and young daughter died too. Sometimes hard things draw people toward God while others are pushed away. Jeff had certainly gotten closer.

“Anyway,” Sam said, “the Alexanders appreciate what you’re doing. And I’m proud of you too.”

Chapter 34

Hayley and I walked
to her aunt’s house early. When we got there I saw a long, black car parked in front.

Hayley studied the car. “I don’t recognize it. I don’t think I have any relatives with a car like that.”

The windows were tinted black, so we couldn’t see inside. Hayley looked in one of the house windows near the porch. “Two guys are sitting in the living room talking to my aunt. She looks upset.”

Someone cleared his throat behind us. I swung around to a huge guy in a shiny suit—he looked like a shark with sunglasses. His arms were like tree trunks and his chest was a barrel. He had dark eyebrows, black hair, and a neatly trimmed mustache.

“How are you today, ladies?” he said, smiling. “Can I help you?”

The only time I was called a lady was by a teacher when I was doing something wrong at school.

“Just checking on my aunt,” Hayley said.

“Who are you?” I said.

The guy seemed surprised at the tone of my voice. “Friends of Gunnar. We’re worried about him.”

The other two came outside. They weren’t as big as The Shark, but both looked like they had a million-dollar clothing allowance.

“Either of you seen Gunnar?” a short man said.

“Why?” I said before Hayley could answer.

The short man glared at me. “’Cause we wanna know.”

“No,” Hayley said. “How do you know him?”

The short one waved the other two toward the car.

We hurried inside.

Chapter 35

I couldn’t believe
all the colorful outfits and smiling faces at the start of the race. Bikes looked like rainbows lined up behind yellow police tape that said Do Not Cross. Bikers wore Bike for the Cure T-shirts. The organizers handed out numbers to attach to our bikes.

Jeff’s face lit up when he saw me. “Have I got a lot to tell you!”

“Save it for the hike,” I said, smiling. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk out there.”

Jeff’s phone chirped. I figured it was someone from the newspaper or maybe a friend, but he talked a long time at the back of the van. I tried to listen in, but he was too far away. When Jeff returned I asked who was on the phone.

“Nobody.” He turned. “Hey, Mr. Timberline, you going to take over if Bryce gets tired?”

Sam shook his head. “They’ll have to drag him off that bike before I can take over.”

Finally it was time to mount up. I couldn’t wait.

Chapter 36

Hayley’s aunt’s face was puffy and red.

“What did those guys want?” Hayley said.

“Gunnar. They wouldn’t stop asking questions, as if I knew something and didn’t want to tell them.”

“Were they the police?” Hayley said.

I knew they weren’t. At least, they didn’t look like any police officers I’d ever seen.

Hayley’s aunt shook her head. “They wanted to go through his apartment, but I said no.”

“Were they friends of his?” I said.

“That’s what they said, but I’ve never seen them before.”

I hurried to the window to write down their license-plate number, but they were already gone. I kicked myself for not thinking of it earlier.

Hayley’s aunt wrung her hands. “They saw the article in the newspaper. They’ve been looking for Gunnar a long time.”

“Did they know him from work?” I said.

She shrugged, trembling. “I think Gunnar is in trouble.”