Page 62 of The Summer Request
Yes, some time with Michelle would be nice. She called Michelle’s phone, but it didn’t even ring. She might be at the house with no service.
It was worth checking in at the house. It was getting dark, and Michelle would be back from any adventures she’d taken.
Lisa ordered an Uber and when they got to the driveway, the driver asked if she’d be willing to get out and walk. “It’s hard for me to turn around in these long driveways sometimes.”
“Oh, of course! No problem. Have a nice night.”
She got her suitcase out of the back, and once the car pulled away, she realized how dark it was under the trees. She slowly walked toward the house, telling herself not to be creeped out as her bag bumped along behind her.
The rocks couldn’t be good for her suitcase’s wheels, but she realized it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be traveling again anytime soon.
She finally caught sight of the windows glowing in the darkness. Michelle was still there! The car was there, too.
Even if Val were there, it would be okay. They could talk things out. Lisa didn’t want hard feelings between them. Now that they’d all calmed down, they could…
Wait a minute.
There was another car pulled up to the side of the house. The driver’s door was open and the engine was still running. It was a Mercedes.
And there was someone…yelling? It sounded like?
Lisa moved to the grass so whoever it was couldn’t hear her coming. She crept closer and the shouting grew louder.
“Open this doornow!You have no right to be in this house. No right!”
She gasped. It was Lou, pounding his fists on the doors.
Was Michelle inside?
Lisa, hands shaking, pulled her phone out of her purse and promptly dropped it on the gravel.
Lou didn’t notice, thankfully, as he was making enough noise of his own.
She dropped down to her knees and dialed 911.
She pressed the phone to her ear, listening to silence for what felt like thirty seconds.
She pulled the phone away to look at it. It was struggling to connect, proclaiming it had no service.
Of course.
Lou fell silent, and Lisa squinted in the darkness to watch him. He’d moved to another door – the basement door – and started pounding on it with both fists. After a moment, he took a step back and kicked at the doorknob.
She’d never seen someone act so violently in real life. He was in a rage! She needed to do something, anything.
Lisa turned to run to the nearest neighbor’s house. She took a few steps before realizing it might take too long and Lou might get into the house.
She told herself to stop and think.
Her heart was pounding in her ears. What was she supposed to do? Could she distract him? Could she attack him?
No, that wouldn’t work.
Lisa looked up. The Mercedes was just sitting there. She could pop right in and…
It was now or never. Lisa ran, abandoning her bag and purse, breath high and tight in her chest.
Lou didn’t see her until she’d already gotten into the front seat, pulled the door shut, and locked the car. Rage flashed across his face and he ran toward her, screaming.
