Page 88 of Liar Byrd
I chew on my thumbnail, my eyes darting from him to the window as he releases me and stands up. And I watch him strideto the door, clutching his cell phone in one hand and wishing I were strong enough—brave enough—to go with him.
He pauses in the doorway, turning to look at me. “Hide, sweet Byrdie. I’ll come find you soon.”
As he walks out—tall, strong, and imposing—I hope it's not the last time I see him.
Chapter 29
Byrdie
The house is silent.
Crack.
I jump, hearing it again.
Another gunshot.
Tiptoeing to my window, knowing it’s a bad idea before I press my face against the cool glass, I peer down into the garden.
A storm is whipping the branches of trees back and forth, turning innocent shadows into dark, macabre shapes.
Is that a man staring at me?
My heart lodges in my throat.
A gust of wind slaps the branches back, revealing an innocent bush.
Glass shatters, someone screams, and I scramble under my bed.
Two seconds later, heart pounding and my palms sweating around Vonn’s cell phone, I silently curse myself. The first place anyone will look is under the bed. Even the closet would have been better than under the stupid bed.
Stupid, Byrdie. Stupid. Stupid.
A creak of a floorboard just outside my room stops my heart.
The silence is so sharp it’s painful.
I hold my breath, straining to hear any hint of sound that will tell me who it is.
My door squeaks as someone pushes it open wider.
A dark brown boot comes into view.
A sodden dark green leaf clings to the muddy toe, and my palm continues to sweat around Vonn’s cell phone.
Too late to call for help now.
I should have called before. Why didn’t I?
The footsteps draw nearer, and I can hear the faint squeak of leather as the boot creaks.
The dark blue navy jeans make me think this isn’t one of Jeremiah’s acolytes. They never wore those. Always linen or combat-style trousers. Linen and thin cotton are best for staying cool in the thick and sticky New Mexico heat.
Creak.
I clap my hand over my mouth, choking back my terror as someone crouches down in front of me.
Soon, I’ll see his face, and he’ll discover my hiding place.
