Page 130 of Lethal Weakness

“She brought us here today. I think Kay would know we’d check here.”

I nod in agreement. “Let’s go.”

We get to the building, but the doors are locked. That doesn’t mean anything, though. I’m sure Kay has a key.

“What do we do?”

“I could break the door in, but I’m afraid it will scare them.”

“I need to know if my baby is in here, Jack.”

“Let me try one thing, and if it doesn’t work. I’ll kick the lock.”

She nods, watching closely as I raise my fist and knock in a sequential pattern. Slow. Knock, knock–then fast. Knock, knock, knock.

“That was it? That was your grand plan?”

“Kay used to knock on my door like that when I was a kid to wake me up in the morning.”

“What if she can’t hear it? What if she doesn’t rem–”

The blinds on the windows in front of us shift slightly, and then spring open. Kay’s standing on the other side, shaking her head from side to side in relief.

“I knew you’d find us,” she says after she opens the doors.

“Where’s Avery?”

“I hid her under the bean bags in the reading corner.”

Linden takes off running, and I follow her because she seems to know where she’s going. I haven’t been here in a long time, and I don’t remember where each hall leads.

“Avery!” Linden yells as soon as she turns a corner.

“Mommy!” A bean bag flips to its side, and Avery’s head pops out.

“Are you okay?” Linden falls to her knees in front of her, wrapping her up in a hug.

“I otay,” her voice wobbles as she clutches Linden’s neck.

“I’m so sorry. I never wanted you to be scared like that again,” Linden cries.

“I wanna go home,” Avery murmurs, and Linden pulls back to look at her, swiping the hair out of her face.

“I, uh…”

“Mr. Jack! You’re home!” Avery calls out once she notices me over her mom’s shoulder. She doesn’t let go of her, but she reaches for me.

I kneel beside them, wrapping my arms around both of them. “I won’t leave again. You guys are safe.”

“You go home with us now, Mr. Jack?”

“Of course, I will.” I glance at Linden. “Do you mean Aunt Kay’s house? Or somewhere else.”

She nods. “Aunt Kay said I could have ice cream if I ran fast.”

Linden drops her head in relief, and Kay chuckles from behind us. “Yes, I guess I did say that.”

“You can have all the ice cream you want,” I tell her, kissing her head.