Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Luke followed the lad as he moved quickly along the wall at the north property line and toward the cliffs at the rear of the lot.
“Of course, I know. They let me wander the grounds but I can’t go out to the street.”
“I’m surprised they let you out of the house.”
The boy pointed to the pool house. “I stayed there and not in the house. It’s got like guest quarters and stuff. They put in a big television and lots of video games — Xbox and everything. I think they just wanted to keep me quiet for a couple of days.”
Abel moved through the darkness like a cat; Luke struggled to see but managed to keep up with the boy. Both moved hunched over, like special forces soldiers in the movies.
“Abel!” The voice rolled across the grounds, loud but without alarm.
“Uh-oh. It’s him.”
“Who?”
“The man. The evil man. He calls himself Mr. Pennington, but I think he’s lying about his name. Maybe I should distract him — ”
“Not a chance, kid. If I return without you, your mother will fry my liver for lunch.”
“Eww.”
“Just stop talking and lead on. I’m trusting you.”
Abel nodded and continued forward until they reached the cliff’s edge. The sound of waves pummeling the beach rose from the sand below. The darkness prevented Luke from seeing how long a drop it was to the beach below but he felt sure that a fall would not turn out good. He hoped that Abel wasn’t entertaining the idea of climbing down.
“Be careful,” he whispered.
“Abel! Time for dinner.” This time the voice carried an edge.
Luke knew dinner had nothing to do with it. With the police gone, they had figured out that Abel wasn’t where he was supposed to be. Seconds became crucial.
In an effort to maintain privacy and the separation of estates, the builder had erected a wall that ran from the front of the property to the very edge of the cliff. A simple three-foot high wrought-iron fence that matched the front gate, except for the metal screen meant to keep prying eyes from prying, ran the back of the property — a barrier to prevent someone from slipping over the edge. Abel climbed it in a second. Before Luke could speak, the boy stood on the other side, holding onto the fence with one hand. Luke’s heart shuddered.
“Come on,” Abel whispered.
Then he disappeared.
Luke sprinted to the fence and looked over, hoping Abel had been able to grab onto something to prevent his fall.
“Over here.”
Luke turned his head and saw Abel scampering over the neighbor’s back fence; a fence made of anodized metal posts and clear plastic panels. One didn’t pay twenty million for a house overlooking the Pacific just to block the view with some opaque structure.
Now Luke understood. He slipped over the metal fence, shinnied to the neighbor’s side of the wall and joined Abel in his trespass. In the dim light shed by the neighbor’s house, Luke saw Abel smile and wiggle his eyebrows. The boy had adventure in him.
Wordlessly, Abel started along the wall again, this time moving toward the front of the property. In moments, they were hunkered down in a corner of the perimeter wall. Abel leaned forward and whispered in Luke’s ear. “Can you lift me to the top of the wall?” Luke nodded. “You’ll have to climb it by yourself.”
“I can do that.”
“He’s not calling for me anymore.” Abel’s breath tickled Luke’s ear. “He knows I’m gone. We have to hurry. He’ll start searching the neighborhood next.” He turned, stood, and Luke placed his hands on the boy’s hips and lifted. If he felt nervous about climbing a seven-foot high wall, he didn’t show it.
Luke had a greater struggle. Even as a child he showed greater mental agility than physical. It took three tries before Luke made it to the other side and only after leaving several layers of skin on the surface of the wall.
“This way.” Luke guided Abel north along the road. A short distance away, he could see the rental car. “That’s ours. Your mother is in the backseat — ”
Luke’s feet left the ground. By no conscious action of his own, he turned and saw the grimacing face of the Fresno man Abel called Mr. Pennington.
“We meet again.” He seemed to hiss his words.
Before Luke could raise a hand something hit his head and flecks of light burst in his eyes. The man had delivered a near skull-cracking head-butt. Something thick and warm ran down Luke’s face.
The man turned, dragging Luke with him. “You picked the wrong man to mess with, pal.” He drew a fist back. Luke tried to raise an arm in his defense but the head-butt left him stunned and slow.
“Hey!”
The attacker turned to the voice and Luke saw a swift, blurred motion. The man screamed and dropped Luke who slumped to his hands and knees. He tried to rise when something heavy rolled over his back. He heard a loud thud and got a glimpse of the attacker’s head bouncing off the pavement. He had been pushed over Luke’s back.
“Come on. We’ve got to go.” The voice belonged to Judith.
“Woozy … head hurts …”
“Pass out on your own time, buddy. We’re not waiting on you any longer.”
Luke struggled to his feet, aided by desperate hands pulling on his shirt. He staggered toward the car. “I could have handled him.”
“That’s right, Rocky. You had him right where you wanted him.”
“It’s not my fault. He hit me.” Luke’s senses were returning. “Abel?”
“He’s in the car.”
“Smart kid. He’s the one that got us out.”
“We’re not out yet.” Judith helped Luke into the front passenger seat.
“You okay, mister? He hit you real hard.”
Luke recognized Abel’s voice. “Did he? I don’t think I noticed.” He touched his forehead. “Great. I’m gonna have a knot the size of a baseball. There goes my rugged good looks.”
Judith started the car and made a quick U-turn. “What rugged good looks?”
“Easy. I have a fragile ego.” He felt sick. “You slugged that guy?”
“I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I broke your new cell phone.”
Luke had to think for a moment before he caught her intent. Then he laughed. Not from the humor of her comment but from the release of fear that had held him in its grip.
From the back came the sound of gentle sobbing and the soft words, “My boy, my precious little boy.”
The dark of the night slipped into Luke’s mind.