Page 42 (1/2)
She screamed
LUC pulled up in front of the house he had shared with Alyssa Parked Stared She’d beat hi rooht?
During the long drive, he questioned hiic that always drew him back to one conclusion: He had to talk to her face-to-face, try to reconcile with her again He wasn’t letting Alyssa go without a fight Somehow, he had toto betray her trust again
Armed with his conviction, he turned off the car, stepped out to the still night and chilly Nove as he approached the door
A faint feht The sound seared its way down his spine It wasn’t the TV It was real and hu to the door, he grabbed the knob and wrenched it But it was firmly locked
"Fuck!" Windows? Other door? All locked, he knew Jack had wired her house tight Which begged the question: Who had gotten to her and how had they broken in? Later He couldn’t worry about details now
Luc would also have to break in, somehow He had to make some decisions--and fast--or Alyssa could die
Nine-one-one was the first logical choiceexcept Reet into the house Calling Tylerhis phone from his belt, he hit his speed dial, thankful he’d filched the nu"
Tyler answered before the second ring "What?"
"It’s Alyssa There’s soet in since she changed the locks"
"Don’t try to bullshit ain"
"God’s truth" Then Alyssa screaain--loud
"Shit!" Her bouncer cursed, and his de to have to get in and handle this until I get there I’ll get you inside"
"How?" They were losing time Every second, another opportunity to keep Alyssa froate, around to the side of the house In the side yard, there’s a door that leads into the garage On the right of the door, there’s a holly bush Behind it is a tiny film canister It should be half buried"
Luc sprinted around the side of the house and was now directly below Alyssa’sHe heard her screaut with fear and dread Why couldn’t he just break the fucking thing down and save her? He needed her in his life, da"
Frustration ency flashlight While there, he also pulled out the seotten was in his car and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans, at the small of his backjust in case
The seconds back to the side door seemed to take forever, but he quickly located the canister, extracted the key, and shoved it into the lock
"I’e"
The stuffy air was dusty and sht, but at least he knew his way around
"Shut and lock that door behind you in case the assailant isn’t working alone No need to alert anyone to the fact you’re there yet They could kill her before you have a chance to save her"
"Right" He did as instructed
Edging around her lawn equipment and the front of her little convertible, he sidled up to the door that led into the den
"Standing in front of the door to the house"
"You can’t use it It should be locked, and I don’t knohere she keeps a key And if you open it, the alared, will h the attic"
"Gotcha" Luc eased back around Alyssa’s car and pulled on the string hanging froed into the e the way
Inside the space, he found Christmas decorations in boxes, tax records boxed up neatly and arranged one year after another, and virtually nothing else but enawed at him
"I see two sht Never knew helping her fix her cable one day would come in handy," Tyler tried to joke, but the quip came out tersely
"The one ahead see rooht Once you’re inside the crawl space, it will angle up The exit is at the end, in the hall just outside her bedroom"
"I know exactly where" He’d noticed the attic entrance as he’d traversed the hall
Luc h the door and, on hands and knees, crawled up into the rafters of the house
"This will take a fewand narrow, but you’ll keep the element of surprise"
As reed this was the best plan
"Any idea who the fuck we’re dealing with?" Tyler asked
"No clue"
"Peter was extradited to Florida He had a pending sexual assault charge there, so it’s not hi Primpton made bail"
"You think he’s that stupid?"
"He’s that tenacious And he ain’t right in the head"
Luc couldn’t agreeelse I should tell you, just in case this asshole is our probleuessed that I’uts seized up What the hell was the ?