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SEPTEMBER’S EYES BURNED, her feet throbbed, and she smelled—no, scratch that. She stank. Amazing how pungent a person could get, even in icy weather.
Teddy’s worn sofa soothed her sore muscles but did little to ease her guilt. So many dead or at risk, all because of Pottinger’s damned flash drive. Now she’d involved Teddy, another innocent bystander.
She should have left him at the mall, but that would have been like kicking a puppy. It would have been better to drop him off at his house and leave, before he got hurt, too. But once here, he’d insisted on calling the police. She’d managed to beat him to the landline before the storm took out the phone, but he’d overheard about Pam and Gentry Park. She’d put him off for now. That was good, because otherwise he’d have insisted they kill themselves driving to the nearest police station, hospital or fire department.
In the nearby kitchen, Teddy dished cold cuts from a baggy onto a battered pie pan while Shadow watched and drooled. The pup must think he’d gone to heaven. She used slivers of cold cuts for training rewards. Shadow’s butt hit the floor, the puppy-polite request she’d taught him. Once the pan touched down, he scooted it halfway across the kitchen to lick it clean.
Lovely to be a clueless dog delighted by simple things like treats from a kind stranger, not haunted with visions of brains splashed against walls, or the fear she’d doomed April and Steven to a similar fate just by coming here. She’d gotten people killed. Cops inside her house meant Mom and Dad gave them keys. But she’d be damned if she’d drag more family into the mess.
September held the flash drive in one hand, and felt the outline of the phone in her pocket. She could end it now. Ring up Lizzie. She could reach her through April’s phone, arrange to trade the flash drive for April and Steven and get them back safe. If she could do that, maybe it would assuage some of the guilt over Pam, Freda, and Wilma. She had beaten the 24-hour deadline when she found the flash drive, but that didn’t count until the ransom exchange. Steven was still lost. So was April.
“You want coffee? I’ve got decaf or the real stuff. My doctor doesn’t like me having caffeine, but I keep some gourmet around for guests.” Teddy chuckled, a nervous unhappy sound. “Or, there’s some diet Coke, or Dr. Pepper.”
“I need to be fully caffeinated, so coffee would be great. Thanks.” She’d never finished the mug from this morning. No wonder she’d zombied her way through the last several hours.
Teddy set a chipped ceramic bowl of water on the floor. Shadow’s toenails ticked on the linoleum. He slurped.
“Hungry? I could scramble some eggs.” Teddy pulled a cast iron fry pan off a wall hook. “When was the last time you ate?”
September realized she’d not eaten all day. “Been just a tad busy.” Maybe the lightheadedness wasn’t just from dodging bullets. “I’ll grab a burrito later.” She didn’t want Teddy to waste any more time. Coffee would have to do. The sooner she got away from him, the safer he’d be.
“You need to eat.” He stood in the doorway, pan in one hand and three eggs cradled in the other.
“Not hungry. Just the coffee will do me fine. High octane, the stronger the better.” Decaf was a waste of beverage.
Shadow trotted to her, his ears flat. He shoved his wet muzzle into her arms to dry himself. He’d had a rough day, too. He offered a sly grin as he climbed onto the sofa beside her. “Shadow, off.” She corrected him out of reflex. April didn’t allow dogs on her furniture.
He flattened himself against the cushions, squirmed and wagged, doing his best to look pitiful.
“Let him be. More dogs have been on that sofa than people. Fur’s part of the fabric by now.” Teddy pulled a chair close. “Don’t you ever let him on your furniture? On your bed? That’s one of the joys of a dog, I always thought.” He smiled. “Me and my wife had an old shepherd named Max. He’d start out all polite at the foot of the bed and by morning he was my pillow, shoving me half off the mattress.” He showed stained teeth. “German shepherds are the best.”
Like Dakota. He’d been more than a dog. Losing him and Chris at the same time nearly killed her. September considered Shadow, and her lips tightened. No dog would ever replace Dakota. The pup was sweet but he was no Dakota. “Shadow isn’t my dog. I’m training him for Steven.” She glanced at her watch, surprised it was closing in on eleven. “How soon will coffee be ready?”
“It’s brewing. Steven doesn’t live with you? Is this a custody fight?”
Her hands sought Shadow’s black fur and rubbed his ears. “Not a custody battle. It’s hard to explain.” She stared at the dog so she didn’t have to look at the old man. “It’s dangerous. I don’t want you involved.”
“I’m already involved.” He huffed. “I get that it’s dangerous. Freda got killed. I would’ve got shot, too, if he’d seen me. I’d like to know why.”
No you don’t, she wanted to say. You really don’t want to know.
“You owe me an explanation.” Teddy took off his glasses and polished them on his sweater, and replaced them. “That friend you told the cops about, Pam, she got hurt, too. I heard. I might be old, but my ears still work.” He pointed an accusing finger. “And now those goons have your son. Is it ransom? Where’s your husband in all of this?”
She winced. Lord, what would Chris do? She missed him so much. . . Abruptly she stood up. “Can I use your bathroom?” She could make the call to Lizzie in the privacy of the toilet. Get out of here before Henchman #12 showed up. Lizzie could have dozens of bad guys on call. She had to get away before the phone lines were fixed and Teddy got fed up and called the cops on his own. That would get Steven and April killed. And him, too.
Shadow whined at the tension. He yawned and turned away.
Teddy didn’t answer for a long moment. “Down the hall, to the right. I’ll get you towels. And I’ve got some sweats that might fit you, once you get out of those wet things.”
She struggled to walk but her balance was off. She grudgingly accepted Teddy’s hand. Shadow hopped off the sofa and leaned against her as if afraid to lose contact.
“Coffee will turn on the brain cells. Everything feels like mush.” She tried to smile and failed. “Don’t trouble yourself over the clothes, I’m okay.”
“You’ll change clothes.” He shrugged to soften the harsh tone. “Clean clothes will make you feel human again.” He’d changed out of his stained yellow sweater and jacket as soon as they’d arrived. Teddy led the way and motioned at the open bathroom door.
Metallic owl wallpaper aimed dozens of creepy bird eyes at September. She shuddered, and Teddy smiled. “The owls came with the house. You get used to them.” He pointed. “There’s a new toothbrush, even some deodorant in the cabinet. I’ll scramble eggs and pour coffee.” He raised a hand to cut off more protests. “Later we’ll discuss.” He glowered at her. “No excuses.” He hurried to a nearby bedroom, and metal coat hangers jangled when he rummaged for the promised clothes.
Shadow pressed into the tiny room with her, and September didn’t have the heart to kick him out. She closed the door and waited until he’d settled, and then she sat on the floor beside him to pull out her cell phone. She leaned back against the wall and silently rehearsed what to say. It was time she called Lizzie.
