Page 29 of Echoes of Fear

“No problem,” he says. “Is it alright if I take your truck? I brought your bike back but I also rode mine here earlier.”

“Let me grab Knox, and it’s all yours.”

“So, you claiming that boy as yours?” he asks.

“Right now, I’m going to take him inside and take care of him,” I sigh. “But, when he’s in his right mind, we sure as fuck will be having a conversation.”

“Lucky bastard,” he sighs.

“Don’t worry, brother, you’ll find your baby one day.”

“You could always share little Knox,” he teases.

I freeze with my hand on the truck door and glare at my soon-to-be-dead best friend.

“Mine,” I claim. “I don’t fuckin’ share.”

Smirking, Reynolds holds his hands up and backs away.

“I was only teasing, you greedy fucker,” he laughs. “Besides, Knoxy boy and I are going to be best friends and gang up on you when we want to get our way.”

I lower my head to hide my smile.

I’m going to kill that man one day.

“Come on, baby boy,” I say after opening the door. “I’m going to carry you into the house. Keep those eyes closed.”

“Hey Knoxy boy, it’s Reynolds. I’m going to head over to your club for a bit. Do you want me to grab anything for you on my way back?”

“Hard drive,” he answers quietly. “Laptop.”

“Alright, sweetheart, I’ll look for them.”

“Passcode. Atomic number. Potassium and Pi.”

“Passcode?” Reynolds asks. “Are they in a safe?”

“Hard drive,” he answers. “Tassium.”

“He’s not wanting to talk,” I explain. “I think he’s saying his hard drive is in the safe. The passcode is whatever the atomic number is for potassium and the digits of pi.”

“Oh boy! I just need you to talk one more time, sweetheart,” Reynolds says softly. “Then you can go inside and not speak again for as long as you want. Can you tell me what the passcode digits are?”

“Three, nine, zero, nine, eight, three, three, one, four, one, five, nine.”

“Damn, I would have never figured that out,” Reynolds mumbles as he types the code into his phone. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

“If the stores are open, stop and grab some protein drinks,” I say. “I have a feeling he’s not going to be eating much, and I need to get as many calories into him as easily as possible.”

“No problem. I’ll break the fuckin’ windows to get inside if I need to.”

Shaking my head, I squeeze my bundle and head inside.

I know without a single doubt that Reynolds really would break down the windows to get this boy some protein drinks.

Hoping he doesn’t misunderstand, I head straight for my bedroom.

“I’m going to sit you on the bed, Knox,” I tell him. “Then I’m going to go and grab you some dry clothes to wear until we can get some of yours here. Is that okay?”

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