Chase reaches out and takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze.“Call the sheriff.Let’s get that inside and safely tucked away.”
“Fine.”
Finn picks up the phone on the first ring.“Finn?It’s Lou.”I press the button for the speaker so Chase can hear too.
“Lou, can I give you a call back?I’m in the middle of something.”
“But my dad isn’t—”
And then the phone goes dead.
Turning to face Chase, fear starts to creep beneath my skin.“I think we’ve got a problem.”
I think of my beloved Zodiac Hills, my dad and then— “Bella.”Turning to Chase, I say, “We need to get back to town.I can’t just sit here and do nothing.What if Bill does something crazy?”I press Bella’s number.She picks up.“Hey, Lou Lou.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m with Mom and Kip.”
Dad.Thank goodness.
Wait, my dad is with Bella and Mom?
“We’re on our way home from Omaha.We saw the specialist.Good news—”
I don’t have time to hear the rest.I’ve got to keep her from getting any closer to town.“Donotgo home.Turn around and head back the way you came.”I have to think for a moment.“Or come to Excelsior.Head to Excelsior.”
“But—”
“Bella.If you love me.Just do it.”
“Okay.Sure.I need to stop at the bakery for a sec.”
“No!”I yell into the phone.“Do not stop at the bakery.”
“I’m almost there.”
“Bella Marie Truman….”I’m tearing up.“Do not stop.You’re in danger.”
“Weird.What’s Bill doing standing in the middle of the street?”
Turning to Chase, I’ve got tears starting to pool in my eyes.“Please.”My voice is scratchy.“Bella?Do not stop for Bill.He’s the one who destroyed my house.”
I can hear the shock in her voice.“No way.”
“Yes.Way.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“That cock-sucking motherfucker.”Her voice is a growl.I recognize it because she gets like that whenever anyone’s mean to me.
“Bella?”And that’s when I hear her car rev and tires squeal.Bella’s voice sounds far away, but it’s loud enough for me to hear.“Yeah, you’d better run, you pathetic piece of shit.I’m about to put my foot up your ass.And by foot, I mean my car.”
“Bella?”I’d laugh if I weren’t scared to death.
“I’m here.He ran away.I was a yard from him—almost got him.”There’s satisfaction in her voice, until there isn’t.“Oh, shit.”
