Page 25 of Letters Book Two
Then there was another voice in the doorway. The intruder quickly jerked around to the noise. “What do you want, old man?” Another gun blast.
Darkness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Perry
“We can both fly into Columbia and then I’ll rent a car to drive the rest of the way to Beaufort,” I said, holding a plate of bacon for Chad to pick a few pieces to add to his plate. He shoved one in his mouth as he gathered several more.
He quickly swallowed. “It’s good, isn’t it?” he asked, making another strip disappear into his hungry mouth. He and I had prepared breakfast in the vast kitchen. He was amused when he realized that I had no clue where anything was located.
“Yeah, it is good, considering I haven’t cooked a meal in at least fifteen years. Mostly thanks to you though,” I said.
He grinned and patted the top of my hand. “You’ll figure this stuff out. I’m proud of you, Perry. So is Jack.”
“I’m not sure my chef is thrilled.” Actually, Melanie the house manager and chef giggled when she walked in on the two of us cooking. Michael, the butler, once again, not thrilled.
Chad already had our day planned out. Him and Jack would have made a great couple. “So, today we’re going to clean out the green house and get it set up for fall veggies and herbs. They’ll come in handy for your new cooking skills. When do we have to leave for South Carolina?”
“Day after tomorrow. Lucas needs a couple of days to speak with Mr. Howard about taking a month off. I’m going to stay there for a week or so before we head back up here.”
Chad grabbed his cell phone and checked his calendar. “I want to meet him too, you know. Best if we break the ice, and then he can see how happy I am for you two lovebirds.” He filled our glasses with more freshly squeezed orange juice he’d managed to make with a juicer I didn’t even know I owned. “How about Thanksgiving? I can come up or you two can come to my parents place,” he asked.
“Or, we can all jet off to the Maldives, or somewhere warm like that?” I suggested.
“Hold on a second, buddy. I thought we talked about you slowing down on the jet-set lifestyle for a bit. Remember? You know, give Lucas that month to absorb all this.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I guess we could do a tailgate BBQ, with all the fixins. Y’all think that’ll work?” I drawled, slapping my knee for effect.
“Perry! Quit being an elitist. It’s a bad look on a multi-millionaire.”
I was about to make a smart-ass joke when my phone buzzed. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Howard’s gas station. I waved the phone at Chad. “It’s him. He must miss me.” Chad smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I brought my index finger to my lips. “Shhhh.”
“Hey, baby boy. You miss me already?” The voice on the other end was not Lucas. “Hang on ma’am. Slow down a second.” I shot a startled look toward Chad. His face fell and he lifted a brow questioningly.
“There’s been... an incident. It’s bad.” The female voice was shaken. She could barely speak.
“Mrs. Howard?” I asked.
“I need you, Mr. Jackson. We all need you. Right away, if you can, please.”
My heart sank. I’d had a call like this before.Grip. My hand started shaking and I must have turned white because Chad grabbed my free hand and mouthed, “What? What is it?”
I shook my head. I was as confused as he was. “Mrs. Howard, you’re scaring me ma’am.” My heart landed directly into my gut. My nerves recognized a horrid memory and tensed out of fear of a repeat.
“I had no one else to call, Mr. Jackson. They’re hurt. It’s not good. I have no family left. Lucas has no family. Clint has no family.”She had no family left? Where was her husband?Who was Clint?My mind was racing with fear. “I found your number in Lucas’s phone. I’m sorry, but please can you help me?”
I went numb. I froze in terror.Grip.Grip.I couldn’t do this. Not this. Not again. I shoved the phone at Chad and shook my head. “I just can’t,” I choked out.Please, God. No! I cannot survive another one. Jack? Jack, help me.
Chad put the phone to his ear. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but Mr. Jackson is in a state of shock. I’m Chad, a close friend of his. Please tell me what has happened, is happening. Please, whatever you can.”
He listened. His face pinched and he appeared worried as he listened to Mrs. Howard. “Surgery? Mmm hmmm, and Lucas?” He looked at me, careful to not alarm me. “He is? Ok. Are you ok, ma’am? Are you safe where you are right now?” He reached for my hand and squeezed it tightly. “Of course, yes, ma’am. We will be on the next flight out. You’ve got Mr. Jackson’s number. Can you write mine down too?” He recited his number to her. “Call me, not him. Please call us immediately after they give you any news. Can you do that?” He waited for a response and listened to additional information. “And you’re heading back to the hospital now?”
A few more words from her end of the call. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but please stay strong. I know it seems impossible, after what you’ve shared, but I feel that things will get better.” He paused and listened. His head was nodding up and down. “I promise you, ma’am. As soon as I hang up, we will leave. Call me as often as you need to. Are you sure you’re somewhere safe?” A brief response came from Mrs. Howard. “Good. We are on our way. Yes, I will. Goodbye, ma’am.”
He disconnected the call and calmly gazed at me, trying to put the right words together. He knew what he said next would be pivotal to how things went from that moment on. “Can you remain calm, Perry? I need you to listen to me.” I nodded and gripped his hand tighter. “Don’t ask me how I know this, but he’s going to recover, I promise.”
I let out a sob and a sound that I’d never heard. Chad stood and came up behind me, bending over and wrapping me into his arms. “You need to be strong now, my friend. Can you do that for him? We need to leave as fast as we can, but I need you to assure me that you can pull yourself together. Can you do that?”
Chad knelt, and I turned to him, tears flooding my face with anguish. “Is he dead? He can’t be dead, Chad. He just can’t be... I won’t survive this,” I whispered, bending over and clutching my stomach. I needed to puke. I needed air.
