“What’s wrong, Clarissa. Is everybody ok?” Clarissa sounded as if she had been crying.
“Yes, but these men came to the door and wanted me to ask them in to wait on my Dad. I told them I couldn’t let anyone in when my dad wasn’t home.”
Beck swallowed the panic rising in her throat as Clarissa continued, “They went back out and sat in their car for a while, just watching the house. And, then I saw these other really big guys start walking over toward their car, and they took off. Then the big guys walked all around our house. It was just weird the way they kind of left all of a sudden.”
“I’ll be right there,” Becki promised as she ran into the house to find her keys.
“I’m a little scared. We have the doors locked, but I don’t know when Dad will be home,” Clarissa concluded, sniffling.
Becki knew she was more than a little scared.
“I’m on my way now. Just sit tight and don’t answer the door for anyone. If someone else shows up, call 911,” Becki insisted. “Understand?”
“Yes,” Clarissa responded.
With her heart in her throat, Becki said, “I’m going to put you on speaker, so I can have both hands to drive. You stay on the line with me. Tell me if you see anyone at all.”
Becki activated the Bluetooth speaker system, “Can you hear me, Clarissa?”
“I hear you,” she confirmed.
Becki was more frightened than she had ever been in her life. Even if she could get in touch with the guys, they were out in the middle of the water somewhere. It would take them too long to get home. Please keep them safe, Lord.
“Where are your sisters, Clarissa?” Becki asked.
“They are right here with me. We’re upstairs watching out the windows. I’m getting a little freaked with all these strangers around. No one is usually down here that I don’t know. We are supposed to go out for dinner, so Dad should be home soon. I wish he was home now,” she finished in a whisper.
Becki flew. In the quiet little cul-de-sac everyone stuck together. There was no reason for anyone to be down there that Clarissa didn’t know. A bunch of strangers milling around was quite disturbing.
Her phone beeped indicating a call coming in, but it didn’t display who was calling. Please let it be Royce. Becki’s tires squealed as she made the turn into the addition.
“Hold on, Clarissa. I have a call ringing in. I’m pulling in to the addition right now; I’ll be there in two minutes or less,” Becki promised.
“Ok, I’m going to try to call Dad again. I’ll see you in a minute,” Clarissa said.
Becki clicked over to the new call. “Royce, where are you? Are you back yet? Is Kurt with you?” She was firing off questions without waiting for answers.
“What’s wrong, Doll?”
“Trev,” Becki said with tears of disappointment thickening her voice. “I can’t talk now. There’s trouble, big trouble. I have to find Royce.”
Becki hung up before Trevor could formulate a question.
Her phone rang again, and this time the caller ID chose to work properly. “Royce,” she choked past the lump clogging her throat.
“What’s wrong, Becki?” Royce asked anxiously.
He had just gotten out of the shower and was in the midst of getting ready for their date. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Becki was beautiful. She was also kind and caring. She was not afraid to stand up for herself and what she believed was right. In many ways Becki was like Joanna, who had really pissed him off earlier.
Joanna had pushed too hard today. She had risked her health because of her damn stubbornness. Joanna would fight to the death to protect those she loved. Becki was like that when it came to her family.
Royce didn’t know how he was going to keep Becki out of the middle of this mess. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her, but he couldn’t seem to stay away. He found himself just wanting to be with her. To care for her… protect her.
Recognizing the concern in his voice and because she was terrified, Becki started to cry. “Royce, Clarissa called and there have been people watching the house. They even went up to the door and tried to get inside. I’m pulling up to the driveway now,” Becki explained as she jumped out of her car.