Page 71 of Comeback
“I think that’s her ex’s car.”
“The fuck? You sure?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “She said he was from Alberta. I missed a call from Alberta just a few minutes ago.”
“That’s fuckin’ weird. You really think it could be him?”
“I don’t know, guys.” I threw the car in reverse again and killed the engine in front of the neighbor’s house. “Let’s just sit and watch for a little.”
We sat in total silence, staring at the darkened house. With my pulse racing, it felt like hours went by—but it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes.
My spine straightened when I saw the front door open.
Out of the house came a hulking ogre of a man—he was huge and he walked with a lazy, waddling saunter, like a possum.
“Is that him?” Dane asked.
“I don’t know what he looks like,” I answered. “But I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
I noticed he was carrying something under his arm. Not somethingbut somebody—Mackenzie. He hurried to his car and tossed her into the passenger seat. The guy slammed the passenger door shut. I was ready to follow his car, but he left Mack in the car and went back inside instead.
I unbuckled my seat belt in a hurry.
“Hey, where you going?” Dane asked.
“I’m gonna get Mack,” I said.
“Not without me.” Dane unbuckled his seat belt.
“And me, too,” Reavo said.
“No. You guys stay here. Reavo, I need you to call 911. Dane, just watch that front door. If he comes out, honk the horn, and get ready to help me fight.”
“Argh. Fine.”
I opened my door and hurried over to the Explorer, staying low. The SUV’s engine was idling—which meant he had to be coming back soon. I knew I didn’t have long.
Mackenzie sat in the front seat. She didn’t have a car seat and she was still in her pajamas. Whatever this trip was, Emma obviously hadn’t planned it.
I tapped on the glass and waved at Mackenzie.
“Hey, cutie!” I whispered.
She looked at me and smiled. “Jack!”
I tried the passenger door, but it was locked. “Can you unlock the door?”
She frowned. “Daddy told me not to let anyone open the door. We’re playing Cops and Robbers.”
Fuck.It really was him.
“Where’s your mommy?” I asked.
She pointed inside the house. “She’s a bad guy. She’s in jail.”
“Mack, I need you to open the door for me, okay?”
Torn, she pursed her lips. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Thinking fast, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my bloodstone.
