The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 9

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 9

That’s not good news, I muttered. I was sure they were together.

Reed said he’ll explain everything once we go and pick him up. I should leave now, it’ll be a long trip.

I’ll go get him, I said, turning to Matt. Will you come with me?

Sure, Matt said. Road trip, sounds like fun.

Are you sure? Justin, I’ll give you gas money.

Don’t worry about it, I said. Reed’s my friend. I don’t mind, really. Matt will keep me company for the trip there.

They’re in the Galesburg Rest Area, near the city of Kalamazoo. Manny will wait there until you arrive. It’s about a 5 hour drive. It’s 7 now so if you leave now you should be there about midnight.

Sure, I said. Let me gas up the SUV and we’ll be off. I have my passport in the glove compartment.

I have mine with me, Matt said, patting his wallet.

Xander pulled his own wallet from his jacket and handed me $100—for gas and dinner, he said. I tried to refuse but he insisted.

I called Mom on my cell and told her of our little adventure and to not wait up—I wouldn’t be back until tomorrow morning.

What about school? She asked.

I think I can miss one day—besides, I could go to school right after if I have to. I’ve already done my homework and I just had a nap.

Very well she said. Drive safely.

Soon we were off. I drove while Matt was in the passenger seat. We cranked up the tunes and were soon headed west. The sun lowered in the sky as we approached Detroit. We made it across the Ambassador bridge and thru customs and were soon on the I-94 headed west.

The trip to the rest area was without incident. We had stopped in Detroit for dinner—a quick burger and fries and pulled into the Galesburg rest area at 12:15 am—Monday morning.

I found the equipment bus where Manny, the driver was waiting with Reed.

Good to see you, I said to him and he nodded.

Thanks for coming to get me, Justin, he said solemnly. It really means a lot.

This is my friend Matt, I said, introducing him to Reed. They shook hands.

I’ll be off then, Manny said. He was about 60 with dark hair and was short and a little overweight.

Thanks for everything, Manny, Reed said, shaking his hand. Manny moved off and got on the bus and started the engine.

Are you ready to leave? I asked.

Reed nodded then yawned. I’ll tell you everything on the way home. Let’s go, can we? I want to see Dad and tell him what happened.

We hopped back in the SUV, Reed up in the passenger seat and Matt in the back. He would try to catch a quick nap, then take over driving for me once Reed related his experiences.

Once back on the interstate, Reed began his story. I decided to go to the trailer last night—well Friday night, he said, yawning again. Rhys was with you and your friends, so I decided on an early night. I was headed to the trailer when a strange woman met me at the door. I didn’t know who she was, but she seemed to know me.

I tried to get away from her—she was annoying me, asking me stupid questions. Then someone walloped me from behind. When I woke up I was on the equipment bus, tied up and gagged. It was dark but I recognized the cargo hold, I helped fill it many times. I was moved from there later on then returned to the cargo hold where they left me. I didn’t see anyone, I was blindfolded the whole time.

I was finally able to get myself untied. I thought someone was still watching me to make sure I didn’t escape, but once I was loose I realized no one was there.

What happened when you tried to call me? I asked.

My battery on my phone cut out. I had just enough juice to send you a quick text. It’s completely drained now, he remarked.

Well, you’re safe now. But I have to tell you what happened. I proceeded to relate my experiences with Rhys and the fact that he was now still missing.

We don’t know if he’s being held captive somewhere or if he’s gone off on his own accord. We don’t know his part in all this. He was talking to the woman, who was most likely the one who was talking to you when you were taken. And he wanted to keep  me occupied—that was why he was being all friendly to me all of a sudden. I tried to text you but he got upset. Then later on he drugged me and left my house. I haven’t seen him since.

I know my brother is a jerk sometimes, but I can’t believe he would do something like that on purpose. Maybe he was being forced into doing it?

That’s something I hadn’t thought of, I replied. Maybe something to do with the mysterious woman. She had been aboard the stunt plane and there was sabotage to your Dad’s parachute. So she seems to be the key to all this. Do you have any idea who she is?

No, Reed muttered.

We drove in silence for a while, the lights of the passing cars lulling me into a slight trance. I jerked up a few moments later when I saw flashing lights in my rear-view. Had I been speeding? I checked the odometer and I was only a few notches above the limit. Hardly cause for a traffic stop.

The car approached but passed me a few minutes later. So they weren’t after me. Must be an accident up ahead, I thought, lowering my speed.

What’s up? Matt said from the backseat. You ready to switch?

Yes, I said. But a cop just passed with the lights flashing. Kind of woke me up.

I pulled over at the next rest stop and Matt came up front to drive. Reed elected to go in the back seat and I got in the passenger seat. We got some coffee at the rest area then continued on to Detroit, arriving around 3 am.

We crossed the Ambassador bridge and proceeded to go through customs. After asking us the usual questions the man went back inside his booth and returned a moment later.

Please pull over, sir, he said to Matt. We need to ask you some questions.

Is there a problem, sir?

Just pull the car over there, he said again, pointing to a parking spot next to one of the customs buildings.

Matt complied. Another man met us and asked us to get out of the SUV and to follow him inside.

We were ushered into a small room where we were met by two police officers. One was an older man with thick blond hair and a bushy moustache. The other one was younger, taller with darker features and a brush cut. He was clean shaven.

 You’ll need to surrender your cell phones. Then you can have a seat gentlemen, the older officer said sternly.

What’s going on? I asked, a little annoyed, handing over my cell. Reed and Matt did the same. We had only been in the States for a few hours. What was the problem?

We’ll ask the questions, he retorted. He turned to Reed. Are you Reed Wyatt?

Yes, Reed said nervously.

Do you know these gentlemen?

Y-yes, he said, glancing at me. Justin Macdonald and Matt—I don’t know his last name. I just met him, but he’s a friend of Justin’s. Justin’s my friend. W-why, what’s wrong?

You’re positive?, the younger cop said.

What’s going on? I asked again, but got a stern look from the first cop. Look I don’t know what’s going on here, but Reed is my friend and my friend Matt and I came over here to retrieve him from a bus that was hauling equipment for his father, a stuntman named Xander Wyatt. Reed had been kidnapped—

Kidnapped? The blond cop blurted, looking at me with a hard look. Was this reported to the authorities?

Yes, I said. The authorities in Port Salser, Ontario, where it happened. If you could call them and try to speak to an officer, Paul Canning he will corroborate my story. I know it sounds a little farfetched but he can explain everything.

Reed nodded. Justin’s right. I don’t understand why you’ve stopped us. Can you tell me why?

We had a phoned in report that a young man matching your description was being held by two other men against your will and were attempting to cross the border this morning in an SUV matching the description and licence plate of the vehicle you were driving, the older cop remarked.

This is not true, Reed exclaimed. These are my friends. I’m certainly not being held against my will.

Who made this report? I asked anxiously. Someone was trying to delay us returning home. But why?

The younger officer responded. We’re not at liberty to say. You’ll have to remain here until we sort this out.

The two officers left us alone in the small room. There was only a small metal table and the three hard plastic chairs that we were sitting on.

Wow! Matt muttered. This is crazy. I wonder who made the report?

I wonder if it was our mysterious woman? I remarked. We can’t make any calls either—they took our phones. I’d like to talk to your Dad, I added, looking at Reed. Tell him you’re OK.

Reed nodded. I know, he said. This is really weird.

I glanced at my watch. It was now almost 5 am and I was really starting to get tired. We should have been nearing home by now but it looked like we would be stuck here for a while.

About an hour later, one of the officers, returned, the younger man with the brush cut. You’re free to go, he said. We spoke to Paul Canning of the Port Salser police and he was able to corroborate your story.

It took an hour to sort that out?, Matt blurted out.

The young officer turned to him. Yes, he said evenly. These things have to go through proper channels. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will of course investigate this false claim and will be in touch with the Port Salser police if we find out anything.

He handed back our cell phones and led us out into the morning mist. The sun was just peaking over the horizon when I started the SUV and we continued on into Windsor then on the 401 for the trip back to Port Salser. I was driving again.

Reed called his father but there was no answer. Matt called home and told Mom we would be a little bit later than usual. She wasn’t too thrilled that I would be missing school, but understood our predicament when Matt related what had happened at customs.

My eyes were scratchy from exhaustion when I drove thru the city limits of Port Salser 3 hours later. It was now 9 am and I was ready for bed. I dropped Matt off at home first then continued on to the fairgrounds to drop off Reed and to talk to Xander.

The tour buses were parked in their usual spot. I parked in the regular parking lot and we headed to the entrance to the fairgrounds. No one seemed to be around.

We checked out the main fairground field and the stunt plane was gone. No one was around here either. It was as if everyone had left.

Reed tried calling his father again but the phone went to voicemail.

Well, the buses are still here, I remarked. They must be there.  I followed Reed out of the fairgrounds to where the buses were parked at the far west side. Reed knocked on his father’s buses door but no one was there. The door was locked.

Dad doesn’t usually keep it locked during the day, Reed remarked. In case anyone had to get in. I don’t know why it’s locked. I don’t have a key.

Let’s try your bus. Maybe Rhys is back, I suggested, though I doubted it. Something wasn’t right.

We went over to Reed’s bus and the door was open. We went inside but found nothing out of the ordinary.

No one’s been here since Friday night, Reed said. I left my bed unmade and these dishes in the sink. Nothing has been touched. Rhys hasn’t been here.

I wonder where everyone is? I muttered. I think we need to involve the authorities. I think your parents are missing.