Retaliation

Whatever It Takes

Kathleen was standing over the stove. It had been two weeks since Zack had been missing and Kathleen tried to stay strong.

She had been able to put up posters about her son missing. So far no one had called her, and Officer Ruiz said that as soon as he was able to talk to the kids he'd get back to her.

Kathleen continued adding the spices to the broth when she heard a knock at the door. She lowered the settings on the stove and made her way to the door. When she opened it she saw Officer Ruiz standing in front of her.

He smiled and she returned it moving to the side so that he could enter. Did he find something? Is that why he was here? She hoped with all her heart it wasn't anything bad. Officer Ruiz seemed to look around before he looked down at her.

"Hello, Mrs. Bianchi." He said smiling slightly.

"How did you know?" Her hand went to the necklace around her neck. Having it right above where her heart was made her feel closer to him some how.

"Angelo West told me, how your husband died years ago." Officer Ruiz said kindly as if he felt she would shatter.

He would have eventually found out, but Kathleen hadn't felt it was something to say. It didn't matter as much as knowing  Zack was still missing and she was trying to stay strong.

"You talked to the kids?" She asked. Surely that's why he was here, maybe they knew something that she didn't. Kathleen made her way to the living room, she was sure that she needed to sit down just to be prepared.

When she sat down and was settled Officer Ruiz sat across from her.

"I did, and I have a lot to tell you." He sat back on the couch and Kathleen stared at him.

"Okay, I hope it's good things, Officer Ruiz." She almost whispered, and stared at Officer Ruiz who seemed to hesitate.

"It's nothing bad I assure you, but I wouldn't say that it's great either." He said looking at her.

Officer Ruiz didn't seem the type of man to lie but maybe he could everyone could.

"First off, the Principal he sends his regards and that everyone one sends their strength along." He smiled at her.

That made Kathleen feel a little better, to know people were thinking of her son. She returned his smile but she still felt anxious. She was sure something had happened to her son and she didn't know what. Which was torture.

"Oh, I thank them." Kathleen smiled, she felt a little reassured. "What did you find out Officer Ruiz?"

"Please call me Ruiz." He smiled at her and she smiled back. "And I talked to all the boys, the most distraught were Todd and George." His smile turned a little sad.

"Did they say anything?" Kathleen asked her voice shaking slightly as she leaned up in her chair.

"Well Todd, he told me something about warning Zack." Ruiz looked at her his eyes seeming serious and troubled.

"What do you mean he warned Zack?" Kathleen was starting not to like this, why did Todd need to warn Zack? What was happening to her son while he was at school?

"Well, I can't tell you everything because I have to look into this, but was Zack being bullied?" Ruiz looked at Kathleen.

"I- I don't know." Was Zack really being bullied at school? Of course he was, he must have because where else would those bruises come from?

"Was there anything unusual? Did Zack ever come home with bruises?" His voice was gentle and soft. Like as if he was trying to keep her calm.

"Sometimes yes, but he would just blame it on like gym activities...sometimes he wouldn't tell me at all.." Kathleen's voice shook and she covered her face. Her body started to shake and Ruiz could only watch as she cried.

When Kathleen was able to pull herself together she looked up at Ruiz. "Was there anything that Todd said?"

"No." Ruiz shook his head but he avoided eye contact. There was something that he wasn't saying but she didn't push him.

"George wanted to say something to Zack, but I'm hoping that telling you this would make you feel at ease. George wanted to say that he was sorry for everything and that he would like to be friends with Zack if he ever saw him again." Ruiz reached out his hand and rested it on Kathleen's.

Kathleen nodded, "Yes, I hope that Zack will be able to be friends with George again. He was his first friend and at a time his only friend. I watched them grow up." She paused, if she said anything more she would surely start sobbing.

Ruiz smiled at her and stood up, Kathleen did the same and led him to the door.

"If we find anything I will make sure to let you know. But I promise you that we will do whatever it takes to find your son."

Kathleen smiled at him and he smiled back before he turned and walked down to his car. With one last wave Ruiz got into his car and drove away.

Kathleen closed the door and went back to the kitchen to check on the broth. She prayed that something would happen a miracle even and that she will get her boy back. If only that were true..

                                                                    ****

Zack had heard everything that the officer said. And he didn't believe one word, sure George hadn't done anything to him but he still was abandoned. And for what? Just to be bullied?

By what he could remember neither Blaze nor Angelo ever wanted to be his friend so who said that couldn't be the same case for both George and Todd? But what Zack hated the most was hearing how sincere it all sounded, if George really wanted to be his friend then why didn't he say anything?

Why didn't he help him? Where was he when he was getting beaten for the last time and left to rot in the woods? All of these questions and still no answer! His mother was obviously worried he couldn't count how many times her heard her cry out to him and cry herself to sleep.

And what was worse was that all he could do was watch her suffer, he couldn't talk to her and he couldn't help her either. All of this was because of Angelo and Blaze, they were to blame and he didn't give two shits about what happened to them.

He would hurt them for worse than he did and he wouldn't be generous enough to give them death. No, they deserved much worse than death. He wanted to make sure that everytime they thought back to that night they would be filled with guilt and regret.

Zack had made up his mind, he knew exactly how he would make them pay for his death. He was still uncertain about George and Todd but he would think about that another time.

He didn't really like the officer all that much. Him trying to talk his mother the way he did rubbed him the wrong way.

But his mom seemed to feel reassured by him and he was glad for that, someone needed to be there for his mother even if it was a cop. Zack walked to the kitchen his mom still cooking and by her feet was Flash.

He looked bigger than the last time he saw him. Slowly he walked towards him and crouched down but when he moved his hand.

Flash barked and growled, his ears were flat against his head, he looked scared. His mom turned and crouched near Flash rubbing his back.

"It's okay boy, nothings there. Come on let's get you something to eat."  She picked up Flash and walked away.

"But something is here. Why can't you see me mom.." Zack whispered, he sat there his hand clutching his chest as he cried. He was here and he wanted to be seen.

"Mom please don't leave me." But no one was there, right now he was truly alone.