“I’ll meet you someplace with one of the other cops to get a statement. But I don’t want you going back to your place. I’ll take care of your stuff in a few days.”
I scrub my hand through my hair and glance into the car to find the girls watching me.
“Okay, I have to get some things for me and the girls.” I rattle off the location of the nearest discount department store and hear Sully sigh over the phone.
“Be careful. And text me Montgomery’s number.”
“Okay.”
The line goes dead as I hop back into my car and smile reassuringly at the girls who are watching me with wide, scared eyes.
Kids are so much smarter than people give them credit for.
I scramble in my purse for my phone and text Stacy’s husband, Isaac. The Montgomerys’ will know what to do.
With shaking fingers I type: Plz call me when ur alone.
I dig in my purse again to make sure I have my wallet and all my necessities, and realization hits that I definitely can’t to go back to our house to collect our things.
My phone rings, Isaac’s name on the caller id and I answer it quickly.
“Isaac.”
“Bryn? What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go into detail because the girls are in the car with me, but I have to come to Seattle right now.”
“Bryn, slow down. Are you hurt?”
“No, we’re all fine, but I don’t think we’re safe.”
“What do you mean?” His voice has taken on a hard edge and it steadies me.
“I just saw something I shouldn’t have. I’ll explain when I get there. I just wanted to let you know that I’m driving home.” I glance back to find the girls watching me with wide, somber eyes.
“You’re driving?” He asks incredulously. “It’s almost December, Bryn. The roads are going to be horrible.”
“I know. I’ll take my time. I’m going to have to stop at night for the girls anyway. It could take me a week to get there.”
“I don’t like this,” he responds grimly.
“Me either.” As the shock catches up with me, tears run unchecked down my cheeks.
“We’ll be here, Bryn. Call me every day to let me know where you are. I’m going to talk to Matt.”
“I’m going to need to talk to Matt as soon as I get there, Isaac. And a detective from Chicago should be calling him any time.”
“Are you in trouble?” Isaac’s voice is calm and cold, and I know he’s thinking the worst.
“Not like you’re thinking, but it’s bad.”
“Drive safely. Keep me informed.”
“Okay,” I agree, hang up and pull into a WalMart parking lot. “Come on girls, we need to grab a few things.”
“Are we going to see grandma and grandpa in Seattle?” Josie asks.
They’re so damn smart.
“Yes, sweetie, so we need to get some things to take with us.”
“Yay, we get to see grandma and grandpa!” Maddie dances beside me as we walk into the store to buy necessities such as toothbrushes and underwear.
The girls have a few days worth of clothes packed with us, but all I have is my purse.
Maybe some hair dye for me.
I also pull my cell phone apart and throw it in the trash, adding a new cell to my list of things to buy.
I guess we’re going back to Seattle sooner than I expected.
Chapter One
Bang! Bang! Bang!
My alarm shouldn’t be going off yet.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I wake with a start to the sound of someone trying to beat my door down, and my heart immediately slams into overdrive.
I jump from the bed, not bothering to throw anything on over my skimpy tank and panties and search madly for a weapon of any kind.
“Mommy?” Maddie asks sleepily from her bedroom doorway.
“Go back to bed, Mads.” I usher her back into the bedroom and give her my best smile, which feels more like a grimace.
“Someone’s at the door,” Josie informs me and pulls her baby doll into her small arms.
“I know. I’m going to go answer it. Stay in your room.” My voice is stern as I shut their door behind me and race down the stairs to the living room.
All of the blinds are still closed, so I can’t see outside.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I grab the screwdriver I was using yesterday to put a set of shelves together and open the door just a crack.
“Who is it?” I ask wearily.
“Bryn, it’s just Caleb and me,” Matt Montgomery answers, his handsome face grim.
I step back and open the door wide, sighing in relief.
“You scared the hell out of me!”
“What are you doing with the screw driver?” Matt asks and props his hands on his hips just as his younger brother, Caleb, scrowls at me.
“It’s my weapon,” I tell them both and raise my chin stubbornly.
“Right.” Caleb steps forward and plucks the screwdriver out of my hand. “It’s very effective.”
“I could have stabbed you if you were a bad guy.” I step back and push my hair off my face. “Why are you here at six in the damn morning?”
“Maybe you should put some clothes on,” Matt suggests, and I squeal as I realize that I’m practically naked.
“Shit!”
“Mommy, you’re not supposed to say that,” Josie speaks up from the bottom steps of the staircase. “Maddie! Matt and Caleb are here!”