Then she saw them. Through the skeletal beams of the home under construction, deep inside the structure, engulfed in shadows.
The kids.
She ripped off her high heels, leaped off the porch, and ran.
Chapter Eighty-Eight
Kiersten
It took about half a second for the fog of alcohol shrouding her brain to lift as Kiersten pulled her addled thoughts together.
Something is wrong.
Piper ran down the sidewalk, barefoot, hair streaming behind her, oddly elegant with her athletic gait and long strides, toward the flashing police cars in front of the half-constructed home.
She squinted. Through the beams, inside the house, a flash of red.
Then she knew.
Johnny.
Johnny’s entire wardrobe was Minnesota Twins red.
She ripped off her shoes, too, jumped off the porch, and began to run, legs working like pistons, catching up to Piper.
She arrived at the building site, out of breath, sides heaving as Rosamund skidded in beside her a few seconds later.
The house stood on the left side of the lot, near Richard’s house, framed, with a roof, beams delineating the eventual rooms, and empty squares awaiting the installation of doors and windows.
Anyone could wander inside, and she knew many of her neighbors had. People were understandably curious. Where would the dining room go? How many bedrooms did it have? But she’d told the kids never to venture onto someone else’s property without permission.
Her heart lurched. So why did she hear children’s voices coming from inside the half-constructed house?
She entered and squinted into the dim light, following the sound. The house had no electricity yet, and the only light came from the gaping openings where the windows would eventually go.
Suddenly Luke slammed into her, hugging her around the waist. “Mom. We didn’t do anything wrong.Tell them.”
She rounded the corner and found Chip and Trey Davis talking with two police officers, while the kids stood huddled a few feet away.
“Here they are,” Chip Davis said, shooting a look at her, Rosamund, and Piper as they entered a large open space likely designated as the kitchen and family room. “Maybetheycan explain why their kids are allowed to roam free in the middle of the day, vandalizing building sites when they’re supposed to be in ‘school.’”
His lip twisted, mocking the wordschool, as his face contorted into a scowl.
Piper scowled back. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“See for yourself.” Trey extended his arm and pointed at the Sheetrock wall where the kitchen cabinets would eventually go.
Kiersten’s gaze followed his pointing finger as her stomach plummeted into her shoes.
Lewd pictures. Graffiti. Curse words sprayed across the Sheetrock.
Caitlin gripped Piper’s hand. “Mom, we didn’t do this.”
“Officer, this is obviously a misunderstanding—” Piper began.
“I can smell the alcohol from here,” Chip muttered, waving his hand in front of her face.
One of the officers approached Piper.
