Chapter 45

 

“Friggin’ old house!”

Sara had approached the apartment in the dark, was nearly to their front door, when she heard the rant. Someone was cussing up a storm. She saw Matt standing near Mom’s Explorer, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else on earth.

“I swear, I have tried everything and can’t get in there. The damn window glass won’t even break. And now the old lady has other people hanging around.”

The older guy—skinny, jittery Kurt with the bad skin—who’d been at their place a few times was blocking Matt’s path to the apartment. This was the first time she’d gotten a clear view of him. His screaming face was almost purple with rage. The way his fists clenched, Sara was afraid he intended to hit her brother.

She wanted to duck inside and lock the door but something snapped.

“Hey!” she shouted. “You leave him alone!” She took a few brave steps toward them.

The man spun toward the sound of her voice.

“Who’s this?”

Matt spoke up. “Leave her alone. Sara, go inside. This is nothing to do with you.”

“Wait a minute … wait a minute. Your little sis?” The guy’s expression switched from angry to friendly.

Matt stiffened and Sara stood frozen to the spot. She felt her defenses go up.

“Little sis, you could help us out with a small problem we have,” he said, an oily smile on his face. He had rotten teeth and about a million zits. Her guts began to churn.

“There’s an old lady who’s not letting us get something that belongs to us,” he said. His breath made her want to back away but she was stuck in place.

He was talking about more of that money—she knew he was.

“The lady would trust a sweet little thing like you. She’d let you inside and allow you to take back our property for us.”

Matt stirred. “Kurt … no—”

“Shut up!” It was creepy how quickly this guy switched the rage on and off.

He turned back to Sara with the gross smile again. “We’d give you a ride over there.”

Like I’d get into a car with you.

“You’d go up to the door and ask real nice, say you used to live there and you left some things behind …”

Oh, yeah, and she’ll just believe me and give me anything I want?

“We get our property back, we’re done.” His eyes sparkled. “And we aren’t forced to hurt the old lady.”

“Kurt! You can’t mean—” Matt’s fists were clenched at his sides.

“I can mean any damn thing I please.” Kurt’s voice was barely above a whisper, scarier than when he shouted. “I’m giving this thing one more try tonight. I don’t get my money, tomorrow when that bakery lady’s there, we’re going with little Miss Plan B here.”

Sara felt her last meal rise in her throat.