Runaways (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780692941546)

This book is about a 19-year-old young man named Ace Parks who is involved in a hit and run and decides to flee from Albany, N.Y. to France with his 17-year-old girl friend, Gabriella Capaldi, to avoid possible jail time. Parks is on probation for getting into a fight with a local gang member in a bar so he figures prison is a reality so why not go to France early, get married and then stay there. At first he doesn't tell Gabby why they must go now, but at the airport he tells her point blank--"I gotta go. I want you to come with me but it's your choice." Gabby tries to convince him to turn himself into the police but Ace is adamant, she must come with him or that's it. Gabby loves him and does not want to lose him. Once in France, things do not go as planned. Meanwhile, in Albany, Ace's Uncle Jerry, who is also his lawyer and surrogate father figure, and best friend, Elijah Williams, who is a black Christian athlete up to go after them. Mr. Capaldi, Gabby's dad, is frustrated with the slow work of the police and hires a private detective to bring his daughter home. He decides to send his stone mason, Anthony Scalafoni, as well because he knows French and Italian and is someone who, he thinks, would be a better match for his daughter.