Page 64 of Fight or Flight

“There’s usually a follow-up question. ‘Why aren’t you married and settled down with a family?’ My stock answer is I haven’t met anyone I want to share my life with.”

Ten minutes later, a young girl wearing tight jeans and a red shirt identical to Willie’s roller-skated over to the SUV, carrying a tray high above her head. Tyler turned the key over so he could lower the electric window.

“Hey, Tyler. Poppy said to tell you the burgers are a full pound,” the girl said.

“That’s my man,” Tyler replied, removing his wallet from the center console and taking out three twenties. “Keep the change, Tressie.”

“Thanks,” she said, and then skated away.

“She’s Willie’s granddaughter,” said Tyler.

Katherine and Tyler ate in silence for the next fifteen minutes. When they finished, Tyler returned the tray before they left. Back in the Bronco, he explained, “Kids take off with the trays still on their windows. Raises the price of a burger. They don’t realize it yet, but they will soon enough.”

Katherine had never thought about money in the sense most people did, because she’d always had access to everything she needed. Though her childhood hadn’t been pleasant, she’d been given the best of everything. Shoes, clothing, books—whatever she’d asked for was hers. What she didn’t get was attention from her mother and father. Looking back, she knew it had never been her fault. They had been older than most parents when she was born, and she’d upset their lifestyle in ways that a child naturally would for a wealthy couple used to traveling the world whenever they pleased.

“Are you ready to see who’s staying at Kyle’s?” Tyler asked, interrupting her thoughts of the past.

Was she? If this is what it took to put this craziness to bed so she could begin a fresh start, she was game for just about anything. “I’m ready. I want this over with.”

“You’re sure? We don’t have to.”

“Let’s get it over with.”

Tyler pressed down on the accelerator as soon as they were on Red Oak Road. “Kyle’s house sits off the road ahead. I’m pretty sure whoever is staying there will see us if we park in the drive. The windows face the road. If this Thurman guy is there, he’ll be watching.”

“It’s worth taking the chance. Let me out so I can walk to the back of this place. Maybe I’ll see Karrie.”This is so ridiculous, thought Katherine. She wasn’t Nancy Drew, and Tyler wasn’t one of the Hardy Boys. Did the Hardy Boys even have first names? If so, she didn’t remember them.

“We’ll both go on foot,” Tyler said, as he pulled the Bronco off the road. “We can walk from here. No one will bother the car, and if they do, we’ll deal with it later.” He got out and shut his door quietly.

Katherine opened her door, careful to close it without making too much noise. “How far is this house?”

“Right there.” He pointed to a white house with dark shutters framing the large windows. Tyler took her hand. “Stay close to me.”

“Okay.” Katherine’s heart began to pound. She feared she was on the brink of another panic attack. When nothing happened, she motioned Tyler to go on. She was good.

When they reached the property, what little bit of light the moon provided was now blocked by dozens of lush trees. Tyler motioned for Katherine to stay close to the side of the house. Every sound they made seemed to be amplified. Once they reached the edge of the house, Tyler glanced around to the back. He nodded, which she interpreted as meaning they were still safe. Rounding the corner behind Tyler, Katherine jumped when she saw a light in the window.

“Shhh.” Tyler placed his index finger on her lips, mouthing the wordbathroom. Katherine nodded. Her adrenaline pumped as they waited for someone to shut the light off. Maybe a minute passed, and then the light extinguished. She breathed a sigh of relief until she heard glass doors glide open. She stopped. Holding her breath, she tapped Tyler’s arm. He held his hand palm up. There again came a whooshing noise, a subtle, almost whispering that indicated whoever had opened the door had now closed it.

Katherine’s senses were hyperalert. Had the person gone back inside? Or were they now outside? Watching. Waiting. Ready to attack.

Chapter Eighteen

Katherine swallowed. Her throat was dry as dust, a sure sign of an oncoming attack. Taking a deep breath while trying to be quiet wasn’t easy, but she managed. Tyler turned to face her. “You okay?” he mouthed.

She nodded. As she anticipated what she knew came next, her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Grappling with the device, she hit the end button. She’d put the phone on silent mode but forgot to dim the screen. If this idiot intruder was here, she would shove this phone down his damn throat. She visualized it, and it had a strangely calming effect on her. Was she a sociopath? No better than the person who broke into her home?

Tyler placed his hands on her shoulders, physically moving her away from the sliding doors. “Stay here,” he whispered, and then disappeared without giving her a chance to ask where he was going or what he was doing. Fearing they would get caught, she removed her phone from her pocket now that she was away from the sliding doors.

Lisa had called and left a message, but Katherine didn’t dare listen now. She felt like a sitting duck at the county fair, just waiting for some punk to blow her feathers off. Why was she having all of these insane thoughts?

Unsure how long she should wait, Katherine surveyed her surroundings. Shadows moved by the fence at the edge of the back lawn. She kept to the side of the house as she inched closer, hoping to see who was there. Not Tyler. He was too tall. Reaching the corner of the house, Katherine knew she had to find Tyler.

Katherine feared this Jameson might’ve overpowered Tyler—stabbed him, choked him, or some other method of killing a person. If the worst had happened, then Katherine would confront him directly. Brave thoughts, but could she really act on them? As she decided she had no choice, Tyler emerged from the shadows.

He tapped her shoulder, scaring the life out of her. “What are you doing? I’ve been visualizing a chop shop inside, with you being the chop-ee,” Katherine hissed.

“There’s an open window on the other side of the house. I saw it when we were heading over.”

---