Page 103 of Lilly

"Let's go back to the hotel," Garret says. "They'll be here any minute."

"Who? Who are you talking about? Who did you call?"

"Come on." He grabs my hand and starts walking. "We can't be out here."

I follow beside him with Rachel next to me. None of us talk until we're back in the room.

"Tell me what's going on," I demand. "Why do you both have guns? I know you practice with them, but since when do you carry them around?"

"We have to," Rachel says. "In case something like this ever happens."

"But why did it happen? Who was that guy?"

"We don't know. It was probably—"

"Mom," Garret says interrupting her. "We can't talk in here. We have to wait until we get home."

"Then let's go." She hurries over to her suitcase and zips it up.

"We have to wait for Dad," Garret says. "He's meeting us here."

"We need to call him." She gets out her phone.

"It won't work," he says. "The signal here is shit. I tried calling you before I got here and I couldn't get through."

She walks to the window. "I can't see anything. Do you think they're coming?"

"They said they were," Garret answers.

"Who's 'they'?" I ask.

"Lilly, I told you. We can't talk here."

I sink down on the bed. "But you'll explain when we get home?"

Neither one of them answers so I give up asking and just sit quietly. Garret and Rachel sit at the small table by the window, occasionally glancing at each other like they're giving each other secret messages. Why won't they just tell me what's going on?

A half hour later, my dad shows up. Garret was waiting for him in the hall and must've told him what happened because my dad runs in the room and up to Rachel, hugging her. "Thank God you're okay." He sees me in the chair. "Lilly, get over here."

I jump up and run over to him. "Dad." I hug him. Even though I've been mad at him for weeks and have barely talked to him, having this happen today makes me want my dad back. He always makes me feel safe and secure and right now I need that more than ever.

"It's okay, honey," he says in that reassuring tone that always puts me at ease. He gives me a tight squeeze and kisses my head. "Wait here with Garret and your mom. I need to go take care of something." He heads for the door.

"Dad," Garret says. "I already called them. They're on their way. Or maybe they already came."

"How?" he asks, seeming confused. "You're not allowed to."

"I gave them my number."

My dad sighs. "Garret, you shouldn't have done that."

"I didn't have a choice. We couldn't leave him out there."

"Pearce," Rachel says as she opens the door. "You should go check."

"I'll be right back." He leaves, I'm guessing to see if the body is gone. But who took it? Who did Garret call?

A few minutes later my dad returns. "Everyone in the car. We're leaving."

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