Page 8 of Storm the Night

He popped his head inside the doorway but didn’t come in. “You need help with anything?” I could see him glancing around.

“You can come in. I would love it if you could carry the bag that’s on the bed for me. It’s a heavy one. I managed to stuff almost everything that’s left in there.” He walked in hesitantly and grabbed it. Suddenly my phone rang, making me freeze up. Glancing at the screen, I said, “It’s Colin.”

“It’s ok. I’m right here.” Ryder said reassuringly.

Nodding, I answered.“Hi Colin. Not much, doing laundry… Decided to purge some clothes I haven’t worn in years… no, I am not getting rid of anything you like… I’m not touching your stuff either.”I rolled my eyes. His questions were so stupid. Ryder was just watching, and I could see his brow furrow at my responses.“Yes, I know you’ll be back in two days. The house is clean… no, no one has been here.”That question made me nervous since Ryder wasn't no one and he was literally standing in my bedroom of all places.“How is your trip going?... I was just asking, Colin… Great, ok bye.”

I went to hit end on the phone, but he hung up that quick. I’m sure he was preoccupied with whatever woman he took with him on his stupid trip. Tossing my phone onto the bed, I let out a sigh and turned back toward my drawers. “I think I should leave the less important items so that it’s not all just completely gone. Right?”

“I think if you want to be completely gone, pack it all. I’m planning to pick you up tomorrow night, this way when he returns on Friday, no matter what time it is, you’ll already be gone.”

Clearing my throat, “Right. You’re right. Ok, I’ll keep enough here tonight to shower, sleep, and something to change into tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Yep. Come on, let’s go take one more trip and then I’ll drop you back off.”

“Thank you, Ryder. For everything. I mean it.” The whole situation was such a crazy way for two people to get to know each other. I craved normalcy and I couldn’t wait until all of the bullshit was behind me.

Chapter 6

Ryder

Thursday

Iwas anxious to pick up Calliope.Calliope Grace.She was the definition of grace. She has so much of it given everything she’s been through. I pulled up to her house, shut off my bike and headed to the door. When I went to open it, it was locked. Instantly, an uneasy feeling hit my stomach. Knocking several times, she didn’t answer so I stepped to the window just to the left of the door and tried to look in. “Calliope, it’s Ryder.” There was nothing. I looked at my watch and back at my bike again. I tried knocking one more time and when there was no answer I headed back to my bike.

It hadn’t made sense. We had a plan. I was supposed to pick her up at 6:00 pm and it was 6:15 as I tried to figure out why she wasn’t answering. Something was wrong, I could feel it in my bones. I sat on my bike and waited a minute, then pulled out my phone to call Doc.

“Hey Doc. She’s not answering the door. This doesn’t make any sense. Something’s wrong.”

“Look around. Does anything seem out of place? You’re somewhat familiar with the neighborhood even though you weren’t there long. Look at the cars. Anything look different?”

I paused and blew out a breath. How was I supposed to know if anything was out of place? I looked back at nosey Nancy’s house and her car was on the street. I kept looking around and then I spotted something. “Whose truck is that?”

“What do you see?” Doc asked.

“There’s a truck and it doesn’t belong to the house it’s in front of. I know who lives there. Hold on.” I walked up to the truck and just as I got on top of it a sickness had hit me and then was instantly followed with rage. “Doc, it’s him. He came back early. Fuck. I’m going back up to the door.”

“Don’t do anything stupid, Ryder. If he doesn’t answer orif he does,don’t do anything stupid. You get us and we’ll figure it out. Calliope needs you not in jail.”

“Ok, I’ll call you back.”

Shoving my phone in my pocket, I ran back up to the house and started banging on the door. “Calliope!” Finally, the door opened, and I took a step back. It was dickhead. He was leaning against the doorframe and had a drink in his hand. He came back early and looked like shit.

“Get off my fucking porch.” He looked and sounded drunk.

“Where is she?” I had my hands in fists at my side as I squared myself facing him.

“If bysheyou meanmywife, that’s none of your concern but she’s not here.”

I felt my phone vibrating, but I didn’t take my eyes off the mother fucker. “Where.is.she? Don’t make me ask you again.”

The asshole laughed and it had taken all of me to not send my fist through his fucking throat.

“Don’t make you ask me again? You’re trespassing and I have half a mind to call the cops right now. You’re a no good piece of shit with a rap sheet, I’m sure, so I’m willing to bet you don’t want me to do that.”

“You don’t know shit.”

“Get the fuck off my porch and stay away from wife.” He pointed at me and then slammed the door in my face.

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