Trust Me

one of the patrol cars. He could see two small figures huddled together in the back seat. “What happens next?”
    “A lot of paperwork, unfortunately.”
    The second officer walked toward Stark. “I just had an interesting conversation with the kids. They claim they’re related to the owner of the house. Said when they discovered he wasn’t home they tried to let themselves in to wait for him. They swear they weren’t trying to steal anything.”
    “Damn,” Stark got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. “What did you say their names were?”
    “I didn’t say.” The second officer glanced at his notes. “The twelve-year-old is Kyle Stark. The ten-year-old is named Jason Stark. They say they’re from Portland. Know ‘em?”
    An odd sense of resignation settled on Stark. “I’ve never met them but I know who they are. They’re my half brothers.”
    The first officer cocked a brow. “Real close-knit family, huh?”
    “You noticed?” Stark said politely.
    An hour later Stark went into his study while Kyle and Jason dug into the tuna sandwiches he had made for them. He hadn’t known what else to do except feed them while he tried to sort out the situation.
    There were three messages on his answering machine, all from Alison Stark, his father’s third wife. Soon to be ex, according to Kyle and Jason. Stark had never met her.
    Alison’s recorded voice was laced with tension and anger.
    Sam, this is Alison Stark. We’ve never met, but I’m your father’s latest ex. Have you seen my sons, Kyle and Jason? They left a note saying they were going off to find you in Seattle. Please call.
    In the next call, the urgent tone was even more pronounced.
    Sam, this is Alison Stark again. Call me as soon as you get this message.
    In the last message, Stark knew he was listening to a woman at the end of her rope.
    Sam, it’s Alison. I’m going to call your father. This is his fault. That bastard can damn well take some responsibility for once in his life. The boys have been acting out for the past six months, and their therapist says it’s because of the divorce. I swear I’ve had all I can take. Kyle and Jason have been driving me up the wall, and now they’ve pulled this stupid stunt. It’s too much, do you hear me? Call me, for God’s sake.
    Stark pressed the rewind button on the answering machine. This was the last thing he needed.
    He contemplated his alternatives for a long moment. Then he nicked up the phone and dialed.
    A desperate-sounding Alison Stark answered midway through the first ring.
    “It’s about time you called me back, Hudson. I’ve been going out of my mind. Your sons took a bus to Seattle. Alone, for God’s sake. They’re only ten and twelve, in case you’ve forgotten, and they’re all alone somewhere in Seattle. They’ll never find their half brother. It’s the middle of the night. They’re probably on the streets right this minute, along with the drug dealers and the crazies. What are you going to do about it?”
    “This is Sam Stark, Alison. Kyle and Jason are safe with me.”
    “Sam. I thought it was Hudson. My God, Sam, I’ve been so worried. If it hadn’t been for Cliff, I would have gone out of my mind. He tells me I’m overreacting, but – “
    “Who’s Cliff?”
    “Dr. Clifford Titus. A friend. The boy’s therapist, actually. I was with him tonight when Kyle and Jason disappeared. I got home and found a stupid note saying they were taking the bus to Seattle. You’re sure that they’re okay?”
    “A little hungry, but otherwise they’re fine. They had my address. After they arrived at the main bus terminal, they managed to figure out the Metro system. Caught a bus that dropped them off a block from here. Not bad for a couple of out-of-town kids operating on their own.”
    “They’re both smart enough when they want to be, although you’d never know it from their grades this past year,” Alison said bitterly. “They used to get A’s and B’s. Since the divorce they’ve been bringing home nothing but D’s and F’s. They’re failing, if you can believe it. And they’re so bright. It has to be deliberate.”
    “Divorce can be rough on a kid.”
    “Well, I’ve got news for them, it’s rough on everyone. Do they think they’re the only ones who have suffered since their father walked out to go live with his thirty-six-C executive assistant? It hasn’t exactly been easy for me, either, you know.”
    “No, I guess it probably