Page 75 of The Atonement
Yes. Use that anger. Channel it.
“Well, there is one way, but…it’s… No, it’s too much. We can’t. I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’ll come to her senses. Your mom is smart.”
“What? Tell me. What’s the way?”
“There are some people in this world who don’tdeserve to live, Dylan. Murderers. Terrorists. People who hurt women and children.”
“What are you saying?”
“Matt is going to keep hurting her unless we do something to stop it.”
“What? Like…hurt him?” He waited. When I didn’t respond right away, he added, “Or…orkillhim? You can’t mean that. It… That’s insane.”
“I know. I said it’s too much. It’s ridiculous. I’m just so worried about her, you know? That’s why I have her phone. She brought it to me yesterday, so I have no way to contact her anymore. I guess he doesn’t want her to have one. It’s… It’s all just happened so fast, and the police won’t do anything because she says she’s fine. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Yeah, but, I mean, there has to be a way, right? We could fight him, maybe. You and me. Two against one. Or…we could get proof. Pictures of her. We could hire a private investigator—”
“There’s no more money,” I said, shaking my head. “He stole everything from us. I’m working hard to keep the lights on, but he made her drain the account. And, as for fighting, he’s bigger than us both. It’s not worth the risk. The only way I can think of is to surprise him. Take him out.” I swallowed. “It’s terrible. I wish there was any other way.”
“So, what are you going to do?” he asked after a moment.
“I have no idea. I can’t even get inside. Maybe I’ll try to break in at some point, but I don’t know how long wehave. I’m sorry to put all of this on you, Dylan, but it’s like you said, you’re almost a man now. It’s time you started seeing the world for what it is. It’s time you know how dangerous and evil the world can be.”
He stared out the window, unusually quiet, and I wondered if I’d pushed him too hard. Finally, he looked back at me with a grim expression.
“I’ll do it. I can get inside.”
“No. I can’t ask you to do that.”
“It’s our only choice, Dad. You said it yourself. We have to protect her.”
I chewed my bottom lip, suppressing a smile. “Okay, then we’ll have to make a plan.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
AINSLEY
“Okay, listen, you just have to breathe,” Mom was saying. “I’m sure he’s fine. He’s probably just here to see his friends.”
“He’s not old enough to just…do that, Mom. Not without permission or anyone knowing where he is. He stole from Glennon. He’s run away. This isn’t just sneaking out to see his friends.”
I dialed his number, pressing the phone to my ear.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
“Hey, it’s Dylan. Leave me a message.”
“Dylan, sweetheart, it’s Mom. I need you to call me back, okay? I know you’re home and…and I’m not mad, okay? I’m just really worried. We’re all worried. So, please, just call me and let me know what’s going on.” I ended the call and crossed the room. “Do you have pictures of him anywhere?”
“There’s one on the shelf in the corner,” Mom said, pointing across the living room. “Why do you need one?”
“To show the police,” I said, picking up the photo. “Mom, this was from ten years ago. Don’t you have anything more recent?” I stared down at the photo of the five of us. Maisy was still just a baby. We looked so happy then.
