“You’re a psycho.”
“Perhaps. But I love that woman. And I love my kids. Life’s no use without them.”
“You probably should have thought about that before you knocked her around.”
Tim shoved me. “You don’t know anything about our marriage. She says things were all bad now, but you don’t know anything about how we feel about each other.”
“She loved you a lot. That much is clear.” At least she loved the idea of him. Strong, powerful, in control. Isn’t it the illusions that always keep us engaged?
“Jen still loves me. She’ll always love me.”
I kept talking to buy myself time to wiggle out of these ropes. Although he somehow subdued me, he didn’t tie knots very well. After only a minute of wiggling, it was starting to open up. Underestimating a shapeshifter’s pain tolerance was a big mistake. “Well it seems like you need to speak to her, not me.”
“Oh, I will. Her and Wes are on their way. I’ve left them a note.”
What about Frank? Where was he in all of this mess? I could hardly believe he wasn’t involved. I decide
d to throw all of my cards on the table. I needed to keep Tim talking, keep him close. Because when I got loose, I was going to have to kill him quickly.
“You are cleverer than I gave you credit for. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Shit. A voice as familiar to me as my own echoed in the darkness.
“Hello brother. We need to have a chat.”
Chapter 41
Jennifer
I had to read the note on the door several times before I could comprehend it.
Plan changed. Stay in the house until I get back. If I’m not back by dinner, get the girls and your mother and run. I love you madly.
-W
He’s left me alone. What should I do now? It wasn’t as if I could go inside and bite my nails, take a nap, or watch television. How could I help them? I rubbed my belly. How can I help you, dear one? There’s nothing you can do right now except do as Wes says. He can take care of himself and you aren’t going to do him any good to get caught up in another problem. Staying put is helping. A sudden wave of tiredness overtook me. I needed to lay down. After unlocking the door, I stepped into the quiet of my house. During the daytime, the neighborhood was nearly silent. I went upstairs and changed into pajamas. After flipping on the television, I dozed in and out of consciousness. A loud stirring downstairs woke me up with a jolt. Someone was in the house. I grabbed a decorative clock from the dresser and tiptoed downstairs. A noise from the kitchen erupted. The clattering of a dish. I moved forward quietly, until I reached the entrance to the kitchen. I ran out towards the noise with the clock raised. Frank stared at me with a sheepish grin. Something about the way he looked, knocked me off guard. We suspected him of conspiring against us, but he was in my kitchen stuffing pastry in his mouth.
“What are you doing here Frank?” I shouted with my voice raised.
“What are you doing? Put that down you idiot.”
“What the fuck are you doing in my house?”
“I came to talk to you.”
“Where’s Wes?”
“He’s busy.”
Oh my God. Was he okay. What happened to him?
“Don’t worry. He’s with Tim.
“What?”
“It’s not important.”
“It is important. What the hell is going on?”