he has nothing better to do. Maybe we need to dig up some dirt on him. Turn the tables a bit.”
“I agree.”
He looks over at me, hopeful. “I mean…there are still so many things we don’t know. Like—where is he staying? Where does he work? I think you’re right. It couldn’t hurt to understand more about what makes him tick. We need to figure out his weak spots.”
“He sure seems to know ours.”
It’s nice that Greg has come around to my way of thinking, and that I have led him there seamlessly. Maybe it’s not the strong stance I wanted, but it’s better than nothing. I pull out my phone and text Lucy to check in. She sends back a picture of the kids snuggled on the couch. It makes me want to teleport home, to scoop them up, take them in my arms, and smother them with kisses. I love them so much; sometimes it feels like my heart might burst. I reply asking Lucy to double-check the doors and to make sure the alarm is set. She responds instantly. Already done.
“Maybe we should just turn back,” I say to Greg. “Call the police—or we could drive to the station. Make them file a report.”
“That’s exactly what he wants, you see. He acts—he expects a reaction. What if we do nothing? What if we wait him out, let him make the next move, and then we pounce?”
“We should get a gun. I think we should learn how to shoot.”
“There are easier ways, love.”
My brow rises. “Did you not see how offended he got when you offered him the money?”
“I saw. But I think it was a ruse.”
For a second, I wonder whether my husband and I reside on different planets. I wonder how two people could witness the same thing and yet experience it entirely differently.
“I think he’s holding out. He wants more.”
“How much more?” I scoff. “What kind of more?”
“Look,” he urges. “I need you to hear me, Amy—really hear me. It’s not that I think we should do nothing. I know what you’re thinking…and I’m not suggesting sitting back on our laurels. It’s just very important that any action we take should come from a place of strength. Not fear.”
“I hear you, but—”
“So we go to the police—we get a restraining order. What then? You know how those usually turn out.”
I sigh heavily. “At least it gives us some leverage.”
“I’m going to contact the cop again. See what he thinks.”
“He told us what he thinks. He thinks we have to protect ourselves.”
Greg pulls onto our street. “Okay then, we’ll think about that too. Listen, I’m not taking any options off the table here. But can we at least get through tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Thanksgiving.”
“Right,” I snap. My mind is somewhere else entirely.
“If Jack Mooney wanted to do us harm, he could have just as easily done it today. I don’t think he’s going to come beating down our door.”
“Let’s hope not.”
He leans over and pats my thigh. But he doesn’t look at me when he does it.
“Greg?”
“Yeah?”
“When were you going to tell me about the money?”
His attention is on the rearview mirror. “The what?”
“The money you took from our bank account.”
“I told you. The other night.” He turns into our drive and parks. Then he turns to me. “Remember?”
His face is riddled with concern. I don’t detect guilt in his expression, not even a hint. “I sat next to you on the bed. You’d dozed off, and I’d asked if you were asleep. You assured me you weren’t.”
“It was everything, Greg. You took all of it. I think I’d remember that.”
He shrugs. “I’m expecting a transfer from the investors on Monday. There’s no reason to worry, love. It’ll be back in the account by Tuesday.” Sliding the key from the ignition, he gets out and walks over to the passenger side and opens my door. “I told you I’d ask my parents. You didn’t seem interested in that—not that you ever are.” He shakes his head. “And I don’t get it…they’d be so eager to help.”
“Of course they would. Nothing is free though, is it?”
“I wouldn’t know. You never let me ask.”
“I just wish you’d told me before you withdrew it.”
There’s a twitch in his jaw. “I did tell you.”
Chapter Seventeen
I’m up early. Well before the sun, in order to make sure this is handled before anybody else in the house’s feet touch the floor. I dressed in my runner’s gear last night to ensure I would be all set