Apple Juice?
A carton of eggs?
Someone’s been in this house.
Are they here right now?
I hurry up the stairs, phone in hand, already dialing Detective Jameson’s number.
“Hello?” Her voice comes through the speaker at the same time I pace through the rooms on the top floor.
“He’s here. Or–or, hewashere. I’m not sure.”
“Wait. What? He couldn’t be. We’ve been watching your house every night.”
“Well, your guys fucked up. Or something, because I can feel it.” I step up to Jude’s old room. A deep sadness fills my body as I grasp the handle.
I… I can’t open it.
“Woah, slow down. What’s going on?”
“T-there’s groceries here. Food. In the fridge. I didn’t buy it.” I rush out, turning back down the hallway. “Where the hell are you!?” I call, making my way into the guest bathroom.
If he’s here…I’m going to kill him. I won’t wait.
“Tobias, is there a chance that you forgot? You’ve been busy—”
“No!” I yell, whipping open the shower curtain. Seeing no one there, I stand still for a moment. I can feel my heart thumping. “I…I’m not crazy,” I say, softer this time.
“No.” Jameson sighs. “Of course you aren’t. Let me just check in with my guys and see if there’s anything weird that’s come up.”
I nervously pull at the hair on the nape of my neck. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Do you want to stay on the phone with me while I do so?” She asks, patiently.
I nod my head, even though she can’t see me. “Oh–uh, yeah.”
“Okay, one moment.”
I hear the dial tone, alerting me I’m on hold.
I walk through the hallway to Elijah’s room—ourroom.
I will my heart to slow down. Whatever happens. Whatever may come. I’ll handle it. For us.For him.
He’s all I have and I’ll protect that with everything I’ve got.
Opening the door, I see there’s no one inside. I sit on the edge of the bed and blow out a long breath.
“Hey,” Jameson’s voice comes back on the phone. “You still here?”
“Yes. I’m here.” I sniff, rubbing my hand down my face.
“You texted a list to us the other day of individuals that we shouldn’t flag if they came by the house. Do you remember that?”
My eyebrows knit as I remember texting them only a few, like they asked. “Yeah. It was only Elijah, Claire and…” My face drops. Shit.“Gwen.”
“It looks like she came by the other day. Around eight-thirty p.m. You were at work and she only stayed for a half an hour or so. Sounds to me like she was dropping off—”
