Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Verna Thornton walked back into the room with a glass of lemonade. “Here you go.”
“Here, let me take those toys for you.” Jeff removed them from Rodney’s arms so that he could hold the glass.
Rodney’s eyes never left Tina’s face. He took a step forward. “Hi, Tina. I hear you’re doing well.” He smiled.
The little girl let out a shriek and ran back up the stairs.
The Thorntons frowned at each other.
“I’m really sorry about that. I’m not sure what’s gotten into her.” Jeff scratched his head.
Rodney was pissed. The little bitch obviously remembered him shooting her father and Damon. She would have to die. They all would.
CHAPTER NINE
Mason didn’t think Friday would get here soon enough. All week, the only thing he could concentrate on was holding Brandi in his arms again. He didn’t think he would be able to make it through the week, but Friday night was finally here. He dimmed the lights, and played soft music. He pulled out the nicest bottle of wine he could find.
Absolutely nothing could go wrong. He paced back and forth in anticipation of her arrival. When he next glanced at his watch fifteen minutes had passed. She was running late, which made him a little nervous. Brandi was generally a pretty punctual person; he hoped she didn’t change her mind. Could something be wrong with the kids?
Get a hold of yourself. Give her some time.
He plopped on the couch to look at the television. Maybe if he could occupy his mind, he wouldn’t worry so much, but by the time nine o’clock rolled around, he broke down and phoned her. Mason waited impatiently as the phone rang. Maybe she was on her way.
“Hello?”
Immediately he heard the anxiety in her voice. “Brandi? It’s Mason. Is everything okay?”
“Mason? Oh, my God.” To his surprise, she burst into tears.
“What’s happened?” he asked in alarm.
“I…my house. It’s—Oh, God! Mason, I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll be right over.”
“But—”
“No buts, you’re obviously upset. Are the children with you?”
“No, I dropped them off at my mom’s, but when I came back, the house was ransacked.”
“Is anyone with you right now?”
“No.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes. They came by already and took a statement, but they’re gone now.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in a half an hour.”
“Okay.”
He was pleased that she didn’t argue. “I want you to wait at a neighbor’s house.”
“Yes, but Mason?”
“What?”
“Do you know where I live?”
Damn, he had to stop making these slip-ups. “Yeah, I looked it up the same time I found out where you worked, but why don’t you give it to me again, because I’m going on memory alone.” He waited patiently as she reeled off directions.
“Got it. I will be there in a jiffy. Don’t open the door for anyone until I get there, okay?”
“All right. Mason?”
“Yes, Brandi?”
“Please hurry. I’m scared.”
After hanging up, he ran out to his car and drove to Brandi’s house as though he were in the Indianapolis 500. Several things raced through his mind. Did Brandi come across the intruder? Was the house burglarized?
As soon as he arrived, he rushed out of the car. There was a note on the door that said she was waiting for him at the house across the street. Mason turned to go to her neighbor’s house, when he saw her small figure running across the street. She catapulted into his arms, nearly knocking him over.
‘Mason! I saw your car pull up. Thank God you’re here.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. Tell me what happened.” He cradled her head.
“Look at my house.” She unlocked the door and tugged him inside.
It was a mess. Pictures were smashed, and furniture was knocked over. What the hell? Who would do this? He knew that Brandi got along with all of the neighbors and this was a good neighborhood. He couldn’t remember anything like this happening when they lived here together. “Did anyone see anything?”
“No. The police knocked on a few doors, but no one saw anything. Why my house? Who would do this to my home?” She cried.
He pulled her into his arms and let her get it all out. As he held her, he quickly surveyed the rooms he could see; it didn’t look like anything valuable had been taken. The electronic equipment was still there. What struck him was that all the family portraits that had once been so lovingly displayed around the house were destroyed.
His ’ears of police Ie told him that this was a personal attack, not the work of some random stranger. With nothing apparently stolen, this looked like someone was trying to scare her. But Brandi and he lived relatively quiet lives; who would…? Rodney. It had to be. He didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to him in the first place. What was that bastard up to now? When Brandi’s sobs subsided, he held her away and looked at her.