around you. Sit your ass down and let me mama you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
◆◆◆
“I was so worried about you when Hank got that call.” I could hear the worry in her voice now, and wished I was there with her. “He said that he wanted me to stay here at his house for a while.”
“I think that’s a good idea, but what about the store?”
“Hank knows a lot of people through his job.” Eliza paused for so long I wondered if she was done talking. “One of those people is very knowledgeable about Robin's mental health. I’m trying to keep from saying something that could reflect badly on this guy or get him in trouble.”
“You can trust me, Eliza.”
“I know I can, but your emotions are running pretty high right now and I don’t want to fan the flames.”
“It’s that bad, huh?”
Eliza whispered, “It’s that bad, honey. And I know you’ll be relieved about it. I am and it makes me feel horrible, but then again, I already….”
“Eliza,” I interrupted. “You don’t have to tell me anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“It’s only you that she’s after. When she’s done this before, she’s been really careful to make sure it was only the guy that got hurt. One time a guy’s neighbor got hurt, and she freaked. I don’t think you have to worry about us,” Eliza rushed out. Then I could hear tears in her voice when she whispered, “We only have to worry about you.”
“So there was a guy that got hurt, and another one who’s neighbor got hurt, right? More than one guy she’s gone after?”
I could hear her suck in her breath before the bomb dropped. “You’re her fourth that they know of.”
“Fuck.”
“But your parents can . . .”
“My parents are on a layover in Denver until tomorrow morning at 4. My mom is losing her shit. I guess she’s feeling a weird mix of emotions - half excited to be going and half terrified that something is going to happen to me. She’ll probably give me and my dad shit about forcing her to leave with only a few minutes notice for the next 50 years, but I’m so glad she’s going. She hasn’t seen her family in four years.”
“By the time they get to where they’re going, you can tell them that Robin’s in jail and you’re just fine.”
I rubbed my hand down my face. “Let’s hope so.”
“Can I come see you since she’s not after me?”
“No, Eliza. She may not want to hurt you, but when she realizes I’m gone, she might follow you to me. I don’t want to risk you getting hurt somehow, okay? And if you’re anywhere around me, getting hurt has a really high probability at the moment.”
“Okay,” Eliza said, audibly deflated. “I’ll stay with Hank. It won’t be long. ”
“No, honey. It won’t be long.”
11.
"Do you know how bad it sucks to not even have your own underwear?"
Rason
RASON
“Wake up.” I heard a whisper close to my ear and jumped, almost falling off the couch.
“Harley?” I whispered. “What the fuck?”
He grabbed my phone from the coffee table and handed it to me. He tiptoed over to the front door and stood in front of it and pointed at the doorknob. I sat up and watched the knob and saw it turn back and forth, then I heard something scratching outside.
“Robin?” I mouthed.
Harley nodded slowly. I dialed 911 and put the phone to my ear. When the dispatcher answered, I whispered what was happening and used a magazine on the coffee table to give her the address. I told her it was an ongoing investigation, and it was my car that was bombed earlier. She perked right up and assured me there were multiple units on the way.
Harley and I watched the door knob twist for a few more minutes and then it turned all the way. My eyes got wide, thinking she'd be able to get it open after all, but Harley pointed to the chain at the top part of the door. No one could get in without breaking the door or at least that brass chain.
The door opened slowly until the chain caught, and I heard a woman’s voice make a hissing sound. A petite hand came in and reached around, feeling for the chain she knew had to be engaged. Her arm was through the opening almost up to her elbow when Harley moved.
His body slammed into the door and braced there, holding her in by her arm. Robin