She could find him before he got here, she reasoned. There were only two ways to get to the old equipment shed, through the field or by the road Bobby had taken.
“I’ll just leave it here for Gianna,” she said and dropped it on the table. It fell to the floor. She stared at it, then quickly picked itup and put it back on the table. “Have her call me, okay? I’ll just get going.”
Avery turned. The man blocked the door. She tried to smile and completely failed.
“I think Gianna would like some company,” he said.
Rose shook her head. “Just let her go, please.”
Rose was scared. Her voice quivered and Avery knew then that something bad was happening.
The man sighed, picked up the book from the table.
“Holly Jackson… I don’t think I’ve read anything by her. Is it good?”
“Y-yes,” Avery said. “It’s a mystery?” Why was she speaking like a question? She needed to get out of here, now.
He handed it back to her. “Take it in to her. She’s in her room.”
Maybe Avery was reading way too much into the situation. Families could be weird, with a lot of drama. Even the McKennas argued, especially now that Mom and Jake were arguing about whether Jake should go to college.
Gianna would tell her what was going on.
She nodded slowly, left the kitchen, and walked down the hall to Gianna’s room in the back of the house. The door was closed. She knocked.
“Go away!”
“G, it’s Avery.”
“Oh my God, come in!”
Avery entered. Gianna was in bed, and her wheelchair wasn’t in the room. It was after nine, and Gianna hated lying in bed, especially after the accident. She said it made her feel like an invalid.
“Close the door.”
Avery did so, put the book on her nightstand.
“Are they gone?”
“Your cousin?”
“I’m so sorry!”
Avery glanced at the door, then whispered, “What’s going on?”
“Those people came in the middle of the night and they won’t leave. One of them is hurt, he was shot! With a gun! And I don’t know what’s going on. The big asshole said they’d be out of here tonight, but he’s probably lying. I’m scared, and they took my chair and my phone. Do you have your phone?”
Avery shook her head, feeling stupid that she’d left her radio with the ATV. But maybe… maybe she could get to it? Reach out to her mom, she would get help. “Who are they?” she asked.
“I don’t know! They said if anyone talked, they’d hurt me. My mom is so scared, and Dad feels helpless, and I can’t do anything to help because of these stupid legs!” She slapped at them under the comforter. “Go out the window and get help.”
“But they might hurt you.” Or worse, Avery thought.
“I don’t care!”
“You don’t mean that.”
Then Gianna started crying and Avery sat on the edge of her bed and held her.
