year in high school. His dad never understood the importance of his video games. Who needed history and English when you could develop a game that millions of people would love—and pay—to play? It had been Julie Fraser’s comedy that gave him light and life. She’d saved him dozens of times.
But Carrie Ann was not going to treat him like his dad had and get away with it. She made him want to do bad things. He hadn’t done bad things since he’d released his father from a world of misery.
He’d have to talk to Julie about her. If Julie had grown tired of her best friend’s complaining, then Allen knew exactly how to deal with her. He’d gotten away with murder once already. One more time wasn’t going to kill him. Laughing at his own joke, he adjusted the number. Actually, two more times since he still had to lose the bodyguard.
“Why are you laughing?” Carrie Ann asked. She ran her hands through her hair. It wasn’t long enough to wrap around her neck. A shame. But even if it had been, he wasn’t stupid enough to think hair was strong enough to choke her.
“I was just thinking about how surprised Julie’s going to be when she sees us.”
“That’s the fucking truth,” Carrie Ann agreed.
Allen parked the car in the empty lot and relieved himself in the men’s room. His phone rang as he washed his hands. It was probably his boss wondering when he planned on coming back to work. How about never? In a perfect world his game would sell, he’d be with Julie and he wouldn’t need his fucking IT job. He let the voicemail answer. Once outside, he checked the call log and felt his jaw clench. His mother. She didn’t know how to leave him alone. But as long as he had a minute away from Carrie Ann, he hit Play to listen to the message.
“Allie, it’s me,” her nasal voice droned. “Where are you? What did you do? The police were here looking for you.”
What? Allen’s skin prickled. His heart slammed against his ribs as he walked slowly back to the car. He missed her next words and had to concentrate.
“—in Oxnard, but they left their card and told me to call them as soon as I heard from you. Are you in trouble? Call me as soon as you get this.”
The voicemail ended and he quickly deleted it. Allen took a deep breath to calm his racing pulse. This had to be about Julie. He hadn’t done anything that might get him into trouble with the cops. Not counting offing his father years ago. They had to be looking for strangers who’d sent her mail or packages and he’d done both. He ran a hand through his hair. Okay...not a problem. Once he found her and explained, she’d be able to tell the police that he wasn’t the one who wanted to hurt her. He planned to protect her. There was no better time to meet Julie in person.
Call me as soon as you get this. His mother’s words echoed in his head.
“Not a chance in hell,” he muttered.
When he returned, Carrie Ann sat behind the wheel.
“What’d you do, learn to drive from your grandma? I wanted to have a least another hundred miles behind us at this point.”
Allen clenched his jaw. The lot was empty. No one knew they were there. He could get behind her and snap her neck faster than she could blink. That would warrant a police investigation. He might look like a nerd, but that didn’t make him harmless. “I went over the speed limit,” he said, working hard to control his anger.
“Yeah? By what? Two miles an hour?” She rolled her eyes again and Allen felt his restraint slipping away. If she made one more comment. One more eye roll or gesture or if she even looked at him funny, he was going to fuck her up so bad, she’d beg him to kill her.
“Look, sorry I’m hammering you on this. I just don’t want to be late and we’re going to cut it close.”
Allen rolled his neck against his shoulders before getting in the passenger side. He leaned his head against the seat rest then turned and looked at her. “You asked me to do this so I’m doing it. For you, yes, but mainly for Julie.” And now to avoid a police investigation. “I suggest you stay the fuck off my back if you