Nineteen

Rusty jumped out of bed and ran to the window. A car alarm wailed. His rental car was partially blocked from view by a maple tree. But he could see broken glass shining from the ground next to it. His heart sank and his pulse raced.

The alarm continued to shriek, undoubtedly waking everyone within earshot. He spun around and ran for the door. He stubbed his toe on the dresser. Right. He’d moved it to protect the briefcase.

Holding in a curse, he shook his foot to work out the sting. Then he pushed the dresser back into place.

The briefcase. He double-checked the lock and then slid it under his luggage, hoping no one would find it and try to open it. At least it didn’t smell like rank Chinese food anymore.

His car alarm continued to scream. Where had he put the keys? 

Rusty checked the nightstand. Not there. He wouldn’t have been so stupid as to leave them out. But where had he put them? He checked his pocket and felt them.

Relief rushed through him. He pulled out the key chain. The sobriety chip fell to the ground.

A fresh wave of guilt washed through him. He wouldn’t need that anymore. Once he got home, he would have to start over, and it would take a long time to get back to where he had been.

Footsteps sounded in the hall, followed by Chris grumbling about the idiot who needed to turn off his blasted car alarm.

Rusty went over to the window, aimed the key chain toward the car, and clicked the button. The noise stopped. He spun around and hurried outside. The front door was already open. Chris stood on the steps, looking out. Rusty passed him, the rocky cement digging into his bare soles, and he ran down to his car, stopping in the grass.

From his angle, it looked like all the windows had been smashed. The doors were dented up. He moved closer and the overhead streetlight flickered on. Broken glass shone all over the sidewalk. Each window except the back one was smashed.

Hushed conversation sounded not far away. Neighbors stood together, whispering. He wanted to scream at them.

“Oh my gosh,” came Laura’s voice from the shadows. “Are you okay?” She appeared at his side.

“I am, but the car’s not.”

She stopped next to him and gasped. “Who did this?”

He glanced around at the whispering neighbors. “Could’ve been anyone. Think someone’s sending a message?”

Laura’s eyes widened. “Have you called the police?”

Chris swore behind them and a door slammed.

“Someone’s tired of seeing the police,” Laura said.

Rusty tried to pull himself out of the shock. “I haven’t called them. My phone’s inside.”

She handed him hers. 

“Thanks.” He called 9-1-1, reported the vandalism, and handed her the phone. “They’re on their way.”

Laura put it in her bathrobe pocket. “Do you need anything?”

“Other than for people to leave me alone? Or a full night’s sleep?”

“Exactly.” She frowned.

“I can’t think of anything.”

“The car’s insured, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I paid for extra coverage.”

“Good.” She stepped closer and examined the mess. “I just can’t believe anyone would do this.”

“Maybe I should have left the windows open after all.” He tried to smile at his weak attempt at a joke.

“Not funny.”

Sirens sounded in the distance. 

Rusty felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples. 

“It’ll be okay.” She put a hand on his arm.

“Will it?” he snapped. “Sorry. I know none of this is your fault.”

“And I know how stressed you are.”

The sirens grew louder, and red and blue lights lit up the street. A police cruiser pulled into the driveway. 

“This is going to be fun,” he muttered.

“I’ll stay here with you if you want,” Laura said.

He nodded and then turned to the officers. They introduced themselves, and then one looked around the car while the other took Rusty’s statement.

“You didn’t see anyone?” he asked.

“Nothing. The noise woke me, but by the time I got to the window, whoever did this was gone. But maybe someone else saw something.” He gestured around at all the gawkers.

The officer waved his partner over. “We’ll have to talk to the neighbors. Someone might have seen something, or maybe a home security managed to get something. A perpetrator running away, or maybe even in the act.”

“Thank you,” Rusty said.

He handed Rusty a card. “If you think of anything else, call us. Be sure to call your insurance tomorrow.”

“Will do.” He turned to the mess. “Guess I’d better clean it up.”

“I’ve got a broom in my garage,” Laura said. “I’ll grab it.”

“And I better get my shoes before I get more than a stubbed toe.” Rusty spun around and headed for the house. He stepped on a sharp rock in the middle of the yard. It dug into his flesh and broke the skin. He bit his tongue, not wanting to say anything unbecoming within Laura’s earshot.

Limping, he made his way through the yard, up the steps, and into the house. 

“Are you okay, Uncle Rusty?” asked Brady. Both kids stood at the top of the stairs.

“It’s all going to be fine. You guys go back to bed.”

“Someone broke into your car?” Kaylie asked.

“Yeah, but they’re gone now. Everything’s fine.”

Neither appeared convinced.

“I’m serious. Get some sleep.”

Kaylie grumbled, but turned around. She grabbed Brady’s arm and pulled him down the hall. Rusty made his way to the bathroom and cleaned his foot. The wound didn’t look nearly as bad as it felt. His stubbed toe, on the other hand, was swollen and throbbing. 

He went into his room and slid on socks and shoes. By the time he got outside, Laura was already sweeping.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Sure I do. It’s not like anyone is offering to help.” She glared at a cluster of neighbors barely twenty feet away. None of them responded.

Rusty reached for the broom. “Let me do that.”

She shook her head. “Take care of the car. I’m sure there are shards inside. Who knows what other damage?”

He shrugged, too tired to argue, and then stuck his hand inside and found the switch to unlock the doors. Glass fell around his feet as he opened the door.

“Wonderful.” He reached in and swept his hands across the seat, careful not to cut himself as he guided more shattered glass outside. The bottom of his foot throbbed, reminding him of the rock that had cut him. He didn’t want to add his hand to the list of injuries, so he opened the glove compartment and pulled out some papers. He used those to get the rest of the glass from the seats. 

By the time he and Laura were done with the mess, most of the neighbors had disappeared.

“If you want, I can help you vacuum tomorrow.” Laura leaned against the broom.

“You certainly don’t have to.”

She chuckled. “I know. That’s why I’m offering.”

Rusty yawned. “I’m going to call the rental agency in the morning. They might take care of that.”

“Yeah, but you don’t want to risk sitting on a shard. We should at least vacuum the front seats before we return it.”

“We?”

“Someone has to drive you back.” She smiled.

“Unless I rent another one.”

“Gotcha. Well, let me know what you need in the morning. I’m going to get some more sleep.”

“Me, too. Thanks for everything.”

“It’s nothing.” She spun around and headed into her garage with the broom.

She was something else. He was sure glad to have met her. Once her garage door closed, he looked over the car one more time and went inside. Tomorrow would be a long day, and he was already going off too little sleep and too much stress.

Inside, he locked the deadbolt and headed upstairs. Chris stepped out of the kitchen. “What was that all about?”

“The break-in?” Rusty asked.

“No, the lunar eclipse. Yes, the break-in.”

Rusty bit back a sarcastic comment. “No idea.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Me, neither. You’d think with a neighborhood watch like you guys have, that wouldn’t have happened.”

Chris folded his arms. “No. I mean I don’t like what you’re bringing to our home.”

“Excuse me?”

“We’ve never had anything like that in this neighborhood until you showed up.”

“So, you’re blaming me for this?”

Chris narrowed his eyes. “Yeah. It was your car. You’ve brought this in.”

“How, exactly? I flew from almost across the country, put my own life on hold, and have been taking care of your family. I’ve been dealing with the loss of Mandy, also, through all of this.”

“You haven’t seen her in years! What, like twenty?”

Rusty furrowed his brows. “She’s my sister, and nothing can change that. Those kids are my niece and nephew.”

“Then where were you all those years?”

“Look,” Rusty said and straightened his back. “We’re all tired and under stress. Let’s talk about this in the morning when we’re feeling better.”

“I have a better idea. How about instead of that, in the morning, you pack your stuff and get out of here? Stay away from me and my kids. Take the trouble you brought with you.”

Kaylie appeared in the hall. “Dad! No.”

Chris didn’t even acknowledge her. “I’m serious.”

“Who’s going to watch the kids all day?”

“They can watch themselves! Kaylie’s almost fourteen. Thank you for your help, and if you’d like me to pay you back, I will.”

Rusty shook his head. “Forget it.”

“I don’t want you thinking we owe you anything.”

“You don’t. You’re family. Let me be here for my niece and nephew.”

“Just leave us alone. We don’t need anything from you. I want you gone by the time I get back from work tomorrow. Then I never want to see you again.”

“You can’t keep me from them.”

“Watch me.” Chris turned and stormed down the hall.

“Dad!” Kaylie’s voice wavered. “Don’t do this.”

He turned and faced her. “I’m responsible for you two. It’s my call, and I want him out of our lives.”

“But—”

“No more. Go back to bed.”

She turned to Rusty, tears shining in her eyes. “Don’t let him do this.”

“I’m sorry.”

Kaylie turned to Chris. “I hate you! All of this is your fault, you know.”

Chris spun around and stepped closer to her, stopping only about an inch from her face. “Never say any of that ever again. Do you hear me?”

“Or what?” Kaylie demanded.

“Or you’ll regret it. That’s what.”

“What will you do to me?”

“Just do what I say!” He punched the wall next to her head. His fist went through and drywall flew in all directions.

Kaylie turned to Rusty, fear in her wide eyes. Then she looked at Chris. “I really do hate you.” She spun around, went into her room, and slammed the door.

“What are you looking at?” Chris demanded. He went into his own room and slammed the door. It clicked as he locked it.

Rusty went into the guest room. He shoved the dresser back in front of the door and sat on the bed, his mind reeling.

How could he leave those kids with someone so temperamental? Mandy sure wouldn’t want to, and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something happened.

At least he had until the next evening to figure something out. He could talk with the kids and see if they felt safe. If so, maybe getting a hotel would be for the best. No reason to further ignite Chris’s anger. Rusty could still visit the kids while he was at work. He’d just have to be careful none of the neighbors saw him and reported back to Chris.

He climbed under the covers and rested his head on the pillow, closing his eyes. Thoughts continued to race, despite his best efforts to shut them up. His mind took him back to the restaurant and the two glasses of wine.

Guilt punched him in the throat. What had he done? Why had he given into the temptation? Now he would have to start all over, and not only that, but go back to his meeting and admit to failure.