Page 3 of The Scenic Route
“I knew that would work.” Charlie’s voice was filled with satisfaction. “She’d come back from the dead to keep us from eating junk food.”
“Thank you, baby Jesus,” Molly said on a long exhale from directly above Felicity. “I’m really glad you didn’t die on us.”
Although Felicity agreed in theory that she was happy to be alive, her pounding head made her wish she’d at least stayed unconscious. She tried opening her eyes again, more slowly this time. The bright morning light still sent spikes through her brain, but the pain dulled as she adjusted. Once her headsettled on a steady throb, she remembered the cause of her unconsciousness.
“Mom,” she gasped, sitting up abruptly.
“Wait… What?”
“Mom was here? Our mom?”
“Of course our mom. What other mom would she be talking about? What happened, Fifi?”
Before she could answer, John and Henry—Molly’s and Cara’s partners, respectively—crowded into the room. “Rest of the house is clear,” John said.
That meant her mom had slipped by them. “How long was I out?”
“Out?” Henry’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “You need medical?” He pulled his cell phone out as if he was preparing to call an ambulance.
“No!” By the way her timid sister Norah jumped, Felicity realized she’d gotten a little loud. “No ambulance. Thanks though.” When Henry, looking unconvinced, didn’t put away his phone, Felicity shoved to her feet, determined to show just how fine she was. Her head hurt, but it definitely wasn’t enough to warrant a 911 call, since that would just bring the wolf in detective clothes to their door.
As she stood, swaying slightly, Molly grabbed her arm to help her balance. “I’m not sure how long you were unconscious, although we just found you, and your text came through when we were about a mile away.”
“You would’ve been proud of our sprint time,” Charlie added.
Felicity offered her the best attempt at a smile she could dredge up at the moment. “You didn’t see Mom or anyone else leaving the house then?” Since four women and two oversize men blocked her exit, she waved everyone toward the door. “Let’s go. We need to search for her and at least one of her friends, since someone knocked me over the head before I could tackle Mom. There wasn’t a car out front—besides ours—which means they’re on foot for at least a couple blocks.”
As everyone moved out of the bedroom and toward the stairs, John asked, “What’s the plan, Pax?”
Molly didn’t even pause before she started rattling off orders.
Despite her tension and aching head, Felicity had to smile. Her oldest sister loved having a plan.
“Okay, Norah and Cara, you’re holding down the fort here. Henry, you stick with them. I’m not thrilled that everyone and their mother…” Molly gave a humorless snort before rephrasing. “Too many peoplehave bypassed that security system for comfort.”
“Also,” Felicity chimed in as she crossed the living room, heading toward the front door, “Mom was searching for something in her closet when I walked in on her. If it’s important enough for her to risk coming here, she may wait for us to leave and then double back for it.”
“We’ll keep our guard up as we do a deep dive into Mom’s closet,” Cara said, stopping next to the couch.
Henry was silent, but he took a protective half step closer to her.
Norah, looking pale and tight around her eyes, gave a wordless nod.
Molly yanked open the door, looking at John over her shoulder. “Carmondy, you’re with me in my car, checking the roads. Charlie and Felicity, you take the forest.” She paused to give Felicity an assessing look over her shoulder. “You feeling up for this?”
“Yes.” She put all her resolve into her answer. There was no way she was missing out on this search. Her throbbing head just gave her extra motivation.
Molly frowned but gave a small dip of her chin. “Stick close to each other.” She and John headed toward the colorful Prius parked in the driveway.
“Let’s take my car,” John suggested, side-eyeing the painted pot leaves withWeed on Wheelsin large pink bubble letters that decorated the passenger door. After Jane had taken the necklace, she’d had one of her shady friends steal the Prius and sell it for cash. Molly had gotten it back, but not before a marijuana delivery service had given it a new, distinctive paint job. “It’s less…conspicuous.”
Molly barely hesitated before switching directions. “Fine. I really need to get that repainted. Be careful, you two.”
Already focused on the hunt, Felicity gave her sister a distracted wave as she picked up a jog toward the trees.
“Ready, Fifi?” Charlie gave her a grin filled with anticipation.
“Beyond ready.” Felicity didn’t even complain about the hated nickname. All she cared about at the moment was finding Jane and finally finishing this endless search.
