Page 197 of The Woman Left Behind

It was a security door. Like the one in the front (though that one had windows, this one did not), it was reinforced, and there was a knob lock and a deadbolt.

No one could shoulder through that door.

And apparently, it stopped bullets.

“Come on,” I pushed out to the dogs as I ran to the side door and into the mudroom off the kitchen, pulling my phone out of my back pocket.

I heard more gunshots, and it seemed now there were different ones.

I got the dogs in the house, locked the side door and then raced to the bathroom, the dogs coming with me as I engaged my phone.

That was when I heard a shotgun blast, somewhat close, but also somewhat far away.

Fuck!

What was happening?

Once the dogs and I were in the bathroom, I closed and locked that door too, hit go on Harry and put the phone to my ear.

I wasn’t even sure it rang before I heard a curt, “Lill.”

“Karl Abernathy?—”

“I know,” he said, and I could tell he was running.

Oh my God.

He was probably running to me.

“Where are you?” he bit off.

“Locked in the bathroom.”

“Stay there. I’m coming.”

He disconnected.

Oh God.

He was coming.

And people were shooting.

And Karl Abernathy was there.

Oh God.

Harry

Harry burst through the front door and slammed it shut behind him, shouting, “Lillian!”

She and the dogs came out of the bathroom, dashing to him.

She threw her arms around him.

He gave her half a beat to hug him then he set her away, scanning her head to toe as the dogs clamored around them.

“You good?” he asked.

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