Chapter 6: Route 66 And The Final Ride
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
The words stayed in the air.
He’s supposed to be dead.
I looked at Sam.
“What does that mean?””
Sam leaned back.
“It means Daniel Voss disappeared seven years ago.””
Officer Brooks frowned.
“You said he died?””
“That’s what everyone was told.””
Ray stared at the photograph.
“I went to his funeral.””
Sam nodded.
“So did I.””
“Then how can he be alive?””
Sam looked at the picture.
“Because the funeral was a lie.””
Ray pushed away from the table.
“This is insane.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Ray shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
His voice was getting louder.
“Daniel was there for me after Michael died. He helped me rebuild this shop. He helped me survive.””
Sam didn’t argue.
He simply said:
“That’s why he was dangerous.””
Ray stopped.
“What?””
“The people closest to you are the ones who know where to hurt you.””
That sentence hit hard.
Because suddenly everything made sense.
The helmet.
The replacement.
The fake accident.
The hidden compartment.
Someone wasn’t randomly targeting Ray.
Someone knew him.
Someone understood him.
Officer Brooks stood.
“We need to find Daniel Voss.””
Sam shook his head.
“You won’t.””
“Why?””
“Because he doesn’t exist anymore.””
The officer looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
“Daniel Voss changed his name.””
Ray looked at Sam.
“You know where he is.””
Sam didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Ray stepped closer.
“Where?””
Sam looked tired.
Like he had been carrying this moment for years.
“He’s in Oklahoma.””
My stomach dropped.
“Here?””
Sam nodded.
“He never left.””
Officer Brooks immediately reached for his phone.
“Do you have an address?””
Sam looked away.
“I have something better.””
“What?””
“A location.””
He pulled another piece of paper from his pocket.
A handwritten note.
Ray took it.
I watched his eyes move across the page.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
I asked.
Ray looked at me.
“Route 66.””
The same road where his brother died.
The same road where Ray planned to ride that night.
Sam spoke quietly.
“That’s where it started.””
“And where it ends?””
Sam looked at him.
“Maybe.””
Nobody liked that answer.
But we all understood what it meant.
Someone had arranged everything around Route 66.
Someone wanted Ray there.
Someone wanted him wearing that helmet.
And now we knew why.
Officer Brooks looked at Ray.
“You’re not going anywhere near that road.””
Ray stared back.
“I need answers.””
“You need protection.””
Ray shook his head.
“You think I’m afraid?””
“No.””
Brooks looked at him.
“I think you’re angry.””
That was exactly right.
Ray wasn’t scared.
He was hurt.
And hurt people made dangerous decisions.
But before anyone could stop him, his phone rang.
He looked down.
Unknown number.
Everyone saw it.
Nobody moved.
Ray answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a voice.
Distorted.
Calm.
Almost friendly.
“Still wearing the helmet?””
Ray’s face turned pale.
The room froze.
The caller continued.
“I was disappointed when Sam ruined my work.””
Ray tightened his grip on the phone.
“Who is this?””
A small laugh.
“You already know.””
Ray looked at Sam.
Then at me.
Then back at the phone.
“Daniel.””
The voice didn’t deny it.
“You were always smarter than people thought, Ray.””
Officer Brooks motioned for him to put the call on speaker.
Ray did.
“Where are you?””
The voice laughed.
“Somewhere you should have never gone.””
A pause.
Then:
“Route 66.””
Ray’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?””
The answer came immediately.
“The same thing I wanted eight years ago.””
The line became quiet.
Then the voice said:
“To finish what I started.””
The call ended.
Everyone in the room stood frozen.
Because now we knew.
The enemy wasn’t hiding anymore.
He wanted Ray to come.
He wanted the final ride.
May you like
And somewhere along Route 66…
A man who was supposed to be dead was waiting.
