Page 74 of Grim

Damn.

I stepped over to the window and glanced outside. My chest tightened when I realized Jenna’s car wasn’t in the driveway. I was so fixated on getting inside to her that I hadn’t even noticed. It was almost midnight. She should’ve been home hours ago. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and quickly glanced down at the screen. I had no missed calls or texts, so I dialed Jenna’s number.

When I got no answer, I called again and again. I sent message after message, and still no response. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I dialed Jud’s number. After several rings, he finally answered, “Yeah?”

“Hey, Jud. It’s Grim.”

“Hey, man. You got any idea what time it is?”

“Yeah, I know it’s late, but I was wondering if Jenna was still around?”

“Jenna?” he asked with surprise. “Nah, she left out of here a couple of hours ago.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I saw her myself. She and the kid left right after we closed.”

“Damn.”

“Something wrong?”

“Won’t know until I find her.”

“Well, let me know what you find out.”

“Will do.”

I hung up the phone and tried Jenna again. When she didn’t answer, I nearly lost it. I had to do something, so I grabbed the keys and drove over to Rosie’s. As I feared, there was no sign of Jenna or her car, but that didn’t stop me from getting out and calling out to her. “Jenna! Luna!”

I called again and again, but neither of them answered.

It didn’t make any sense. They should’ve been there. I looked around once more, and that’s when I spotted it—Luna’s little tennis shoe. I walked over and picked it up, and as I held it in my hand, every instinct I had told me they were in danger.

I knew it without a doubt in my mind.

I also knew I’d burn the world to the ground to get them back.

Jenna

It felt like my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. I was petrified and wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of there, but I couldn’t leave without at least looking for that stupid bag. It had been months since I’d dropped it off at Jimmy’s house, and the chances of it still being there were slim, but it was my only hope of getting Luna back. I had to see if it was still there.

I parked on the side of the house and crept over to the back window. I pushed it open, then heaved myself up and wiggled my way inside. That’s when I realized I had to be quiet. Jimmy’s brother, Brandon, was in the living room with one of his buddies. They were watching TV and smoking a joint.

So far, neither of them had a clue that I was there, and if they heard me, I would never get out of there alive. I prayed that TV and marijuana would be enough to distract them while I made my way down to Jimmy’s room.

The entire house was dark, and the shadows seemed to swallow the small light coming from my phone. Every rustle, every creak, felt like a nail going in my coffin, but I kept inching down the hall until I eventually found his room. With trembling hands, I eased his door open, and its hinges creaked with a warning to stop and turn back.

I didn’t listen.

Instead, I continued inside and closed it behind me.

I quickly scanned the room but saw no sign of the duffle bag.

I tiptoed over and checked the closet but only found a pile of dirty clothes. It wasn’t on the dresser or on the floor. I was starting to lose hope when I spotted a black strap at the foot of the bed. I rushed over and grabbed it, and relief washed over me when I saw that it was the same bag I’d given Jimmy months ago.

I quickly opened it, and when I saw the plastic bags of marijuana, I thought everything was going to be okay.

I was wrong.

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