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8
Mont Belvieu, Houston, Texas
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 8:15 A.M.
I don’t like this,” Manny said for the tenth time as he pulled up to the curb in front of Xavier’s house, close behind Mr. Lott’s white BMW.
The blue Camry was gone.
“I know,” Xavier said, hearing the strain in his own voice. “But do you have a better idea?”
“No,” Manny admitted. “I don’t like that he ignored you when you asked for Rocky’s son.”
“I agree,” Xavier said. “But if you don’t have a better idea, I’m gonna go with this one.”
Manny growled softly. “I’m going in with you.” Reaching under his seat, he pulled out a handgun and a knife.
Carlos stared at the weapons. “Jesus, Manny! Why do you have a gun?”
“Because I work the night shift at a convenience store that gets robbed at least once a month. Don’t worry. I’ve done the safety course and I practice once a week. I know how to shoot.”
“Does Mom know?”
Manny shot him a look. “No. And don’t tell her. She worries enough about me as it is.” He opened his car door. “Are we doing this or not?”
Xavier drew a steadying breath and opened his door, looking around for... he wasn’t sure what. His house looked the same. The abandoned house next door looked the same. Everything sounded the same. A few birds. The dog that belonged to the lady who lived behind their property was barking, just like normal.
Then he saw the drops on the driveway. Brown. Dried.
Blood.
I hit him. But if he left on his own, I didn’t kill him.
At least there was that.
Mr. Lott got out of his SUV and started up the driveway, his steps quick. When he got to the garage door, he turned and gave them an impatient come-here gesture. “Don’t stand out in the open like that,” he chided.
They obeyed, running up the driveway to meet him. His impatience melted away, replaced with concern. “Are you boys all right?”
Xavier shrugged. “As all right as we can be, I guess.”
Mr. Lott looked around. “I didn’t expect you to live in such an isolated area. Do you have neighbors?”
“No, sir.” Xavier pointed at the house next door with the For Sale sign in the front yard. “They moved out a year ago.” He pointed to the next-closest house, at the end of the street. “They go north for the summer. Too hot down here for them.”
“So no one was around to hear your shot?”
Manny snarled. “How do you know Xavier fired?”
Mr. Lott rolled his eyes. “Because he said he was ‘prepared’ and that he wasn’t sure if the guy was still alive. I connected the dots.” He turned to Xavier. “Did anyone hear your shot?”
“Maybe the lady behind us,” Xavier said. “But it was late, and she goes to sleep early. She also takes out her hearing aids at night. She says she’ll sleep through the Rapture if it happens when she’s asleep.”
“Good to know,” Mr. Lott murmured. “How did he get into the house?”
“The intruder entered through the side door,” Carlos said, all professional. They followed him to the door that went into the laundry room. It was ajar, the frame splintered.
Mr. Lott pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket.
