the basement apparently opens the safe in the study. At least, that’s what my men decided after deciphering what Gabriel said to Apollo.
I still can’t believe Apollo let him go. Then again…I still can’t believe a lot of the things that happened that day.
When we pull up to my old house on Maude Street, I almost wish I’d let Cass drive us to the nearest Mexican take-out instead. My stomach’s in knots, and I know it’ll only get worse when I’m inside.
I guess word got out about the shooting. Everyone who was home that day must have heard the gunshots. The screams. The ambulance arriving.
As we head for my house, I see a handful of For Lease and For Sale signs down the road. Even the one right across my house.
It’s sad. I lived in this house for close to a decade, and the only neighbor I knew was my babysitter, Miss Langley.
I take the house key out of my purse. I stare at it for a second before inhaling deep, putting down my purse, and turning to Rube.
“Okay,” I tell him. “I’m ready.”
He climbs out of the car and helps me step off the Range Rover’s running board.
Then all the other doors open, my men pouring out of the car and circling me like a bunch of secret service agents.
I hold up my hand. “I got this.”
“You can’t—”
I turn on Zachary. “I can’t walk five yards without adult supervision?” I ask, sugar sweet.
His jaw bunches, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Can’t we just—” Rube says.
“Do you guys think it’s booby-trapped or something? Is the whole place going to explode the second I open the front door?” I walk ahead a foot and then turn on them, arms on my hips. “Seriously?”
They have the decency to look slightly embarrassed, but that doesn’t stop Cass from opening his mouth to argue.
“No.” I lift a finger. “No. I’ll be right over there.” I point at the house. “You’ll be close enough to hear me scream.”
Ooh, bad choice of words.
“Scream?” Apollo says, practically going to his toes. Rube’s hands curls into fists. Zachary’s eyes narrow. And Cass isn’t lounging against the side of the car anymore. He’s standing at the ready.
“Just…” I let out an exasperated growl. “Just stay in the car, would you? I’ll be out in a minute.”
I turn and head for the house, not bothering to find out if they’ll grant me my wish.
I get that they’re concerned about my safety, but Gabriel’s dead. There’s no bogeyman ready to snatch me anymore.
But when will they realize that?
My hand shakes when I try and put the key in the lock, so I take a few long breaths before letting myself in.
I leave the door open, turn around, and give my boys a wave.
Only Apollo waves back.
Why do I have a feeling I’m going to pay for this when we get home?
A faint smile toys around my lips.
I should do this more often.
The air inside my house smells stale. There’s still blood on the carpet where Zachary was shot. The furniture is still out of place.
But Gabriel must have come back at least once, perhaps after the investigation grew cold, because there’s a hint of cigarette smoke in the air.
I pause at the foot of the stairs, and then hurry up them to my room.
It’s still in the catastrophic state Gabriel left it in. I turn and take the framed drawing of the awsum unicorn from the wall, stare around at the place I called home, and head downstairs with a knot in my throat.
My heart starts beating a little faster when I lift a hand to open the study door.
It’s unlocked, but that’s no surprise. I heard Gabriel moving around in the study when I was creeping out of the basement, and then he came running. Guessing there was no time for him to lock the door again.
I step inside my father’s study and stare around. It’s a mess. All the furniture’s been shifted around. Books—mostly theological encyclopedias and leather-bound bibles—have been tossed off the bookshelf and lay scattered over the floor.
How the hell am I supposed to find anything in this mess?
And then I see it. It stands out like a beacon, and I don’t understand how he couldn’t have noticed it.
There’s a large leather-bound bible still on the shelf, snuggled between two thick books. It’s white, and I already know the letters on front will be embossed in shiny gold.
My mother’s bible.
Except…it can’t be. Because I took it from her