“This has to be it,” Mrs. Janowski said. “I’ll park back here. The trees should provide cover so he can’t see the car.”
“You’re blocking the entire lane,” Edna said. “The police won’t be able to get through.”
“They can park behind me. It’s not that far of a walk. We can hug the tree line for a bit and then sprint the rest of the way.”
Sprint?
Both Edna and I frowned, knowing that none of us would sprint. Not even Jack in his current condition.
“What if Wade’s not here?” Edna asked. “Then what do we do?”
“Then we try to find out where he lives,” Mrs. Janowski said. “But something makes me think he’s here.”
I had the same feeling. With all his drawings, it was apparent that Aly was on his mind.
When Mrs. Janowski parked the car and killed the engine, we quietly crept out of the car and closed the doors. She motioned to follow her along the trees until we were closer to the front door.
She then attempted to run to the house, but it was more of a hurried shuffle. At least it was something I could keep up with. We huddled at the door as she fiddled with the keys. I was sure the door would whip open at any moment and Wade would jump out at us.
“Got it,” she whispered as the deadbolt slid open. Slowly she pushed the door open, widening it just enough so that she could peek in.
“Anything?” I whispered.
“It’s quiet,” she said. She opened the door wider, revealing a living room that had been ransacked. “He was definitely here.”
A noise from upstairs caught our attention.
“He’s still here,” Edna squeaked.
Chapter 25
Edna and I quietly voiced our protest at moving forward. We both said we should wait for the police.
Jack and Mrs. Janowski were having none of it.
“The police will take too long,” Mrs. Janowski said.
“I can’t,” Jack said. “I can’t turn my back. It’s my family.”
“I didn’t say to turn your back,” I said. “But he’s dangerous, and we’re unarmed.”
“Who said we’re unarmed,” Mrs. Janowski said, flexing her arms. “We’ll jump him before he sees us. Three and a half against one.”
“Half?” Edna questioned.
“Jack only has one arm.”
Jack wasn’t listening; he was already to the stairs. We caught up to him just as he took his first step up.
“If the stairs creak, we run up,” he said. “He’ll hear us, and I’m not willing to turn around.”
Mrs. Janowski nodded. “Rush him. Got it.”
Thankfully, there was no need to rush. The stairs were built solid and softened with thick carpet. We eased our way up, listening for sounds.
Wade’s voice carried through the house as he rummaged, knocking heavy items to the floor. “Where is it?” he repeated several times.
I knew exactly what he was looking for. But why here?
“It has to be here,” he said. “Nhung needs it.”
“He’s delusional,” Mrs. Janowski said. “He’s looking for the necklace.”
We crept up to the landing, seeing an empty bathroom straight ahead. The door to the left was closed. The door on the right was cracked open, sounds of falling objects coming from behind it.
“He’s in there,” Jack said.
“Shhh,” Edna said. “Do you hear that?”
A faint cry came from the closed door on the left.
Mrs. Janowski tiptoed over to the door and tested the handle. “It’s locked.” She motioned for Edna. “Unlock the door while we take care of Wade.”
She nodded and hurried over.
Mrs. Janowski waved Jack and I over to the other door. “We run at him full force and knock him on his ass. Then pile on him. If he can’t move, he can’t hurt anyone or flee.”
Jack and I nodded.
She whispered, “On the count of three. One, two—”
The door opened, Wade grabbed at Mrs. Janowski, knocking her into me. We both tumbled over.
“Where is it?” Wade demanded, lunging at Jack. He latched onto Jack’s bad arm, pulling it.
Jack bellowed in pain.
Mrs. Janowski and I scurried to our feet as fast as we could, but Wade held Jack a prisoner by the neck.
“I’ll break his neck,” Wade warned. “I swear to God I’ll snap his neck in two if you don’t give me the necklace.”
“I’ll get you the necklace,” I said. “Don’t hurt Jack. Please.”
“Jack?” Wade looked down to the man he was holding, staring at him as if in a fog. “Jack?”
“Yes, Jack,” I said, wondering what was happening.
“Did you steal your mother’s necklace?” he asked, jostling Jack to the point where Jack’s eyes rolled back from the pain. He would pass out soon. “Did you steal my sweet Nhung’s necklace?”
“He didn’t steal it,” I said. “Stop it. You’re hurting him.”
“Hurting him? I’d never hurt my son!” Wade shouted, his words not connecting with the rest of his body as he shook Jack.
Jack passed out and slipped away from Wade’s grasp. He sprawled onto the floor in front of us, giving Mrs. Janowski and I the perfect opportunity to pounce on Wade. With my cheesecake weight already subduing one man today, I felt confident I could use it that way again.
Mrs. Janowski ran straight for him, but he deflected her with a swat of the arm. She bounced away into the wall. He backhanded me as I came forward. From the combination of my lunge forward and Wade hitting me, I tripped over Jack and knocked over Wade. He landed with a thud. I wasn’t far behind, falling on his bent knees. Those rock-hard globes jabbed into my stomach, knocking the breath out of me.
Mrs. Janowski had just made it back to her feet. Seeing I was down and Wade was about to strike at me to free himself, she dove on top of him, flattening him.
“Secure the prisoner,” she yelped as he bucked.
Mrs. Janowski’s weight didn’t deter him. He had her knocked off and then freed one foot to kick me. I rolled over, wheezing.
Wade darted across the hall to the door Edna had just opened, pushing her to the ground.
“Where is it?” he demanded.
I could only see a portion of Hank from my place on the floor. “Give it to him,” I yelled. “Give him the necklace!”
“Where is it?” Wade bellowed.
Clutching my side, I hurried into the room before Wade landed a blow on Hank. From the looks of Hank’s bloodied and battered face, he had received quite a few already. “Is it in your pocket?” I asked Hank.
He nodded and said from his swollen mouth, “Left pocket.”
Since his hands were tied and Wade was looming over us, I quickly dipped my hand into Hank’s pocket and pulled out the necklace. I tossed it at Wade.
He caught it and stared at it in wonder. “Nhung,” he said, then he looked at Sandy, who sat near Hank, bound as well. She didn’t have nearly as many bruises, but he hadn’t left her alone either. “I found your necklace.” He knelt in front of her. She strained to escape his reach but couldn’t. Wade slipped the necklace around her neck and secured it. “Remember it? Remember when you said you’d always wear it? Remember how little Jack would play with when you held him? Remember our small home? I promised to protect you both.”
Jack?
I looked over to where he was passed out on the landing, but he was no longer lying on the floor. Jack had just reached the doorway and was looking at the scene in horror.
Tears streamed from Sandy’s eyes. Hank looked from Sandy to Wade and then to Jack.
“He’s not your son,” Hank said. “Reggie is Jack’s father.”
Wade looked at Hank glossy-eyed. “Jack is mine. Tell him, Nhung.”
Sandy trembled but then nodded.
“I took care of Reggie, didn’t I?” Wade asked Sandy.
She nodded again.
“Then we were split apart,” he said. “Y
ou were ripped from me again.” His voice shook. “I couldn’t save you.”
I quickly began to work on Hank’s ties. Wade was becoming volatile again. We either needed to move or stall until the police arrived.
“I’ll never let them take you away again,” Wade said. “I promise. I’ll kill anyone that stands in our way. I’ll—”
A booze bottle smashed over Wade’s head. He slumped over onto Sandy. She screamed and kicked away from him. Ida stood poised over him, a broken bottle neck still clutched in her hands.
No one said anything for a paused moment. With freed hands, Hank pushed Wade out of Sandy’s way. He reached for her, but she slunk away.
“I’m so sorry, Sandy,” he said. “I didn’t know. I should have known, but I didn’t see him like this. I didn’t understand. I’m so sorry.”
Sandy cried, her body shaking from the force of emotions.
Mrs. Janowski pulled cuffs from her purse and proceeded to secure Wade.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Ida?” Hank asked. “I’d have strung him up by his toes.”
“Because I didn’t know either,” she said. “When I found Wade attacking Sandy I thought I’d taken care of it myself. I didn’t know he was alive after that. I didn’t know he had hurt her before that point.” Ida knelt in front of Sandy. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
She shook her head, hair sticking to her damp face. It was obvious she was beyond the scope of words, and Ida didn’t press.
Ida reached to take off the necklace. “He can no longer hurt you.” She chucked the necklace at Wade then wiped tears from Sandy’s eyes. “I can’t believe how much I failed you. I thought I had taken care of you. I thought he was gone. I didn’t even believe you when you said he visited you at night. I thought it was just dreams.” Ida let her head fall to Sandy’s lap, both of them sobbing.
I stood and snuck out the door past Jack. They didn’t need me there. Mrs. Janowski and Edna followed. Even Jack left.
“I’m sorry,” I said to him.
“It was bad enough thinking I had a father who abandoned us and drove my mom to the breaking point. But this?” He looked back at the room and shook his head. “I have two parents who are nuts. What does that say about me?”
“That you’re strong. You came here to help your family even though your arm is trashed,” I said. “Hank and Ida raised you to be strong.”
He turned from the room. “Everyone has their breaking point. What’s mine?”
We watched as Jack walked down the stairs.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Edna asked.
“He needs time to process everything,” I said. “It’s rather a shock to the system.”
“Maybe you should go after him,” Mrs. Janowski said. “Stick with him and make sure he gets to a hospital. Take Edna’s car. We’ll wait for the police and then walk back to the house.”
I took the keys from her outstretched hand and followed Jack. But instead of finding Jack, I ran into Brett.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I was told you’d be here. A legion of security guards came to relieve me and T. The lady at the house gave me directions up here.”
“Emily stole all the guards? I told her we needed some here.”
“She didn’t listen.”
“She never listens!” I fumed.
Brett looked thoroughly exhausted as if a single gust of wind would knock him over. While his muscled frame held him up, his eyelids barely managed to stay open.
“You’re hurt,” he said, scanning my forehead.
“I’ll be fine. Why did you come?” I asked. “You look as though you’re about to fall asleep on your feet.”
“I came for you,” he said. “It sounded like you needed help.”
“The same way Cinnamon needed help?”
He sighed. “Can we talk about Cinnamon later?”
A war brewed in me. One that wanted to say no, and to say yes, and to also stomp away and pout like Emily. But, I still had to find Jack. He took priority.
“We can talk about this later,” I said. “I have to find Jack. He’s upset and has a dislocated shoulder.”
“I saw him,” Brett said. “He disappeared down the path.”
I tossed the keys to Brett. “Give these to Edna and then meet me down at the bottom.”
“Where at the bottom?”
“Did you see a gas station when you drove through town?”
“Yes.”
“Meet me there.”
I didn’t wait for a reply as I raced over to the path that dipped down the hill. Jack didn’t have much of a lead, but he was faster. Where was he going on foot? I doubted he’d go back to the house. He seemed to want to get away as quickly as possible. Did he just need to blow off steam? Was he planning to walk all the way to Madison with a bum shoulder?
I huffed and puffed down the hill, ignoring my burning shins as they took the abuse. Jack was nowhere to be found. I took the last few steps out of the trail and into town before stopping to catch my breath. Where could he be?
And then I saw billowing smoke coming from the direction of the gas station. He wouldn’t, would he?
I jogged down to the station, clutching my side from a cramp that had developed. Flames engulfed the station. A gas nozzle dangled on the ground, pointing to the path the fire had taken.
Chapter 26
“Jack!” I yelled, scanning the area. “Jack!”
Thick black smoke plumed. The gas station wasn’t much more than a skeleton now. The fire had eaten much of the structure.
Brett pulled his car up alongside me. “Get in.”
“I have to find Jack.”
“Get in before this place explodes.”
He had a point. I hopped in, and he gunned it down the street just as fire crews arrived.
“We have to find Jack,” I said.
“Jack will be fine on his own,” Brett said.
“Fine? He just set a gas station on fire.”
“Leave him alone. You don’t want to corner him.”
“But he set a gas station on fire,” I repeated as though Brett had cotton in his ears.
“Leave him alone.”
“I’ll call him,” I said, dialing his number. When he didn’t answer, I left a message telling him to either call me or get to a hospital or both, preferably both. “We should go back to Aly’s house.”
“The police passed me on the way down.”
“Turn around,” I said. “Let’s make sure they arrived and everyone is okay.”
“I’m not turning around.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m exhausted, and the only thing I want to do is crash into bed with you snuggled next to me.”
“Not going to happen,” I said. “Unless you feel like discussing your relationship with Cinnamon, there’s nothing more to be said. So, you can turn around and drop me off at Aly’s house, and you can sleep on your couch or at the cabin.”
With a tired groan, he pulled the car over and got out. He tossed me the keys. “Drive anywhere you want.”
I slid over to the driver’s side, and he took my place on the passenger seat. I hadn’t even fully turned the car around before he passed out, his head slumped against the window.
Why did he have to be so adorable when he slept?
Refusing to be swayed by his sleeping charm, I sped past the gas station, now being flooded with water, and up the hill to Aly’s house. Brett was right. The police were there, the narrow road blocked by squad cars.
A wobbly Wade was being hauled away, trailed by Mrs. Janowski and Edna. Ida came out next with Sandy, who had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Hank followed behind.
I felt as though I should be doing something, but there was nothing more I could do. Wade was caught, and Sandy would go back to the home and hopefully receive extra therapy. It had to be at least some relief to know that he’d be out of her life. Such a tormented life. I felt useless knowing there was n
o way I could help her.
So, I backed down the road until it was wide enough to turn around. I’d go home. Suddenly, the day’s turmoil pressed down on me, and I just wanted the comfort of home.
I looked over at Brett, wondering what I should do with him. I thought about dropping him off at the office or maybe at his cabin, but he was in a deep sleep and there was no way I could move him.
Decision made, I drove home and parked in the driveway. I ran into the house, disarmed the security system, grabbed a thick blanket and tossed it over Brett. Not knowing how long he’d sleep, I didn’t want him to freeze to death in the cold. I might be mad, but not enough to cause him harm. I locked the car doors and ran back into the house.
Staring at the living room, still littered with debris from Wade, I realized just how exhausted I was. Instead of trying to clean, I set the security alarm and trudged upstairs to take a hot shower and then burrow into bed. The sun was about to set anyway. I’d just get an early jump on the sleep that I desperately craved.
* * *
The next morning, I looked outside to find Brett’s car gone. It was a depressing sensation. I tried to shake it off as I walked across the street to Mrs. Janowski’s.
She opened the door immediately. “I saw Brett’s car parked at your house last night. Did you patch things up?”
“No, he slept in his car and then left.”
Her face fell. “Oh, I was hoping for a win. Something has to go right eventually.”
“I saw the police took Wade away. Did I miss anything?”
“Not really,” she said, backing away from the door to let me in. “Ida’s here if you want to talk.”
I followed Mrs. Janowski into the kitchen. Ida was seated at the table drinking coffee. Her eyelids were as heavy as Brett’s were yesterday.
“I guess you want to know what happened,” she said.
“Not if you don’t want to tell me,” I said, sitting down across from her. “I just wanted to make sure everyone was okay and to beg a cup of coffee from Mrs. J. My coffee maker is broken.” Why Wade thought I’d keep a necklace in a coffee maker was beyond me.
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