Chapter 36

Evening drew in, the lights of the city began to come on, but Bud hadn’t come home. David didn’t know what to do or whom to call. Because of the earlier easing of tension in Bud and David’s ever-turbulent lives, Corey had agreed to go stay with Peter at his apartment near the base for the remainder of the summer.

David didn’t think he could call the cops. After all, despite his injuries, Bud was still a member of the Marine Corps, supposed to be able to defend his country, let alone himself. So David could do nothing but wait.

* * * *

David woke with a painful stiffness in his neck. His left arm seemed numb. Becoming more aware, he realized he’d fallen asleep in the armchair. Looking through the window, an action which jarred his neck, it was daylight. Consulting his watch, he saw it was a little after six A.M. Hoping Bud had come home sometime in the night, David got stiffly to his feet.