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CHAPTER 34
Hank
Grass and twigs crunched beneath my feet as I ran as fast as I could across the field. It might’ve been the fastest I’d ever run in my life. My steps were pounding just as loudly as my heart.
I was sound asleep when my phone alerted me that the alarm went off in Skylar’s house. It took me a second to realize what it was, but when I did, I jumped out of bed and raced out the backdoor as I tried to call her. It had gone straight to voicemail.
My head was racing even faster than my legs at the different scenarios that could be happening. I tried not to let my mind run wild with images from those damn true crime shows Pops used to love to watch. But I couldn’t help it. My brain’s default was going to the worst-case-scenario.
I tried to work with the reality of the facts I had. Her Explorer was parked outside, the kitchen light was on, but the blinds were shut so I couldn’t see inside. When I got closer to the house, I heard voices. Plural. One of them was a man.
I’d made it to the first step of the porch when I heard Skylar shout, “You need to leave. Now!”
Before I’d even processed what I’d heard my instincts kicked in. With all my might I put my shoulder into the door frame and burst through it. The wood around the lock splintered as the door flew open.
“Ahh!” Skylar screamed and her hands flew to her face. It took me a split-second to realize that she was screaming at me. She wasn’t the only one who screamed, the man standing in front of her did as well.
I moved so that I was standing between them, Skylar behind my back. And that’s when I got the first look at his face. His eyes specifically. They were Luna’s eyes staring up at me.
Skylar must’ve thought that I was going to attack him—which I might’ve done if I hadn’t recognized who he was—because she grabbed my shirt and tried to pull me back as she yelled, “Hank! No! This is Richie. He’s Luna’s father.”
I stepped to the side no longer blocking her from him and looked down at her. “Are you okay?” I sensed that there was no real threat here, but I needed to look in her eyes and make sure.
“Yes.” She nodded emphatically. Her hand was on her chest as she looked up at me like I was a madman. Which, in fairness, wasn’t a total leap considering I’d just broken into her house. “What are you doing?”
“The alarm,” I explained as I lifted my phone. When I’d installed the security system, I’d told her that I was going to send an alert to my phone as well as the response center. “I tried to call you but it went to voicemail. Were you on the phone with ADT?”
“What? No.” She picked up her phone which was on the ground. “Oh it must have shut off when it fell.”
She powered it back on and a voicemail alert was on her home screen. “They called but I didn’t answer so they left a message.”
“The police are probably on their way.”
“What? No!” Richie shouted.
“Relax,” I told him before turning to Skylar. “You call the alarm company. I’ll call Dawson.”
It was Tuesday night, so I knew exactly who was on duty. I walked to the door and checked to make sure that the deadbolt still worked before walking out onto the porch. It did which told me that it hadn’t been locked when I’d busted in. I was going to have to have a talk with Skylar about that.
I closed it behind me as I walked out into the dark night and called the chief. Dawson answered in two rings. “Comfort? What in the hell are you doing calling me in the middle of the night?”
I didn’t know if I should be flattered or offended that he had my number saved in his cell. “The security system was tripped at the Thompson place, but it was a false alarm.”
“Is that right?” Dawson asked suspiciously. “You two are mighty deserted out there. This wouldn’t be a domestic that you’re trying to cover up would it? You know your daddy had quite the temper.”
My hand fisted at my side. My pop wasn’t anyone’s hero, and he was a loud drunk, but he’d never laid a finger on my mother. If he had, he would have ended up in a grave a lot sooner than he did. “Skylar’s clearing it up with ADT now, but if you want to drag your ass out here to see for yourself, be my guest.”
I hung up before the jackass with a badge could talk any more shit. As I turned to head back inside, I inhaled slowly and did my best not to let what he’d said rile me up any more than I already was.
“You can see Luna tomorrow. I know she’d love to see you but you can’t be here.” I heard Skylar say as I opened the door.
When I walked in, I saw that Richie was now standing with his back to the front door.
“You need to leave.” She held her hand out, pointing toward the door.
“Come on, I just need five hundred. That’s all.” Richie grabbed at her outstretched arm, but she pulled it back.
“She asked you to leave.” My tone was deadly calm, but that couldn’t be further from what I was feeling inside.
